With N-Gage coming out in less then 2 weeks, maybe we should start a threead for it? I for one may get one if I decide to trade in a PS2 system and knock the price down to $200. Anyone else getting one?

Update:

EB is giving a $100 rebate if you purchase the system and 2 games at the same time. May be a decent deal for those considering (like myself)

Someone is actually thinking about buying one? I for one am shocked.

I always wanted a HUUUUGE hand held.

Mmmmm the reviews are already starting to pour in for the games. Check out the great scores they're receiving...

LINK

Ouch!

You know something's wrong when the "most popular" game for your system (especially at launch) is Tomb Raider. I read that this system has a huge frame rate problem on just about all its games.

my friend is working for a marketing company who gave him one to push for launch. i wasnt really impressed. also you look pretty dumb while your talking since you have to hold it in an odd position.

your friend might need to find a new job..

luckily nokia contracted the company, so he's not working directly for them on the N-Gage. i tried playing a game, radio, and making a call, it does everything, but i dont think it does anything particularly well.

I don't think many people are interested in the N-Gage other than to watch it crash and burn....

Most EBGames store managers got one for free at our company's vendor show. I am not impressed at all. While it is a cell phone also as a gaming system, I think it is was too bulky to be used as a primary cell phone. Unless, you get that $100+ bluetooth headset thing.

So far I have played pandemonium, tomb raider, and super moneky ball. I would give pandemonium and tomb raider a 4/10, maybe even a 3 for tomb raider. Super monkey ball is a sold 7/10, a good but not great game. I enjoyed playing monkey ball the most out of the three.

The graphics are just below a ps1 system but come very close. But the menu system sucks and how you have to change the games is just a pain in the @$$ to the tenth power This really sucks because our company is really wanting us to "push" these things. Oh well....

Guess who's trying to buy their way into the games industry? Hey, it kinda worked for MS...

As I understand it, to change games you have to pull the back off the thing, remove the battery, remove the cartridge/media, then put in the new game, put the battery back in, and then put the cover back on.

What a pain. There is no way I'd buy this thing. Way too much $$, way to much of a pain to change games. I'd rather play games on an IPAQ or something than this thing.

-You have to talk in the side of the phone.

-You have to disassmble the whole thing to change games.

-$300 !

-"Near PS1 quality graphics"


....Wait, Does stating facts about the N-Gage count as console bashing?

It sure does look like crap. I am kind of interested in the Zodiac, though.

No, but you may want to learn the definition of Mongoloid lest you really offend someone.

That said, I can't believe anyone would actually buy one of these things. The last time I was in EB a pretty scrappy lady was asking if she could get one with a pre-paid plan.

four words
tax writeoff for Nokia.

It's gotta be. There is no other explanation for this mess.

It's a beta product. Even Nokia has acknowledged this. I'm not trying to excuse it's flaws, as there are many and they are well documented. I was actually hyped for the N-Gage until I got a mock up of the actual product and tried playing around with it for a few days. It's a great idea, and it could have been great, but it has too many flaws. Here's what I expect for N-Gage 2.0:

1. Correctly oriented screen. I know that cell phones have traditionally had screens that are taller than they are wide, but it doesn't work for a gaming platform. Change it.

2. Correctly placed card slot. Something tells me that originally, games weren't swapable, and only downloadable. Maybe the card was originally just supposed to be a memory card for mp3s and such, and rarely removed. I can't believe that this glaring of a fault was missed or intentionally designed in. It had to be a change midway through the product cycle and changing the engineering process was too costly.

3. Better orientation for talking. Everyone agrees that talking into the side of the phone looks stupid. I'd expect this to change.

4. Better menu systems. Again, I think the menu is probably ****ed because they kept changing the specs throughout the design process. I've been involved in engineering projects like this.

It's a great idea, and I wish it were better, I'd buy one. Personally, and this is just me, here's the criticisms I think aren't valid:

1. You should just get a GBA and separate phone, it's a better solution. Sure, it probably is. But, it's still flawed, and I can't justify carrying a GBA everywhere, considering all the other stuff I already carry in my pockets. However, if it was integrated with a phone, then I can very well see it. My current cell phone (nokia 8260) is currently too small anyway. I actually want a bigger phone. Not so big I can't put it in my pocket, but big enough I don't feel awkward talking into it. The fact that I have real games to play during those random periods of 'downtime' is icing on the cake.

2. It costs too much. Yes, $300 is a lot to pay for a phone or a game machine. However, it will probably come with rebates of some sort, and you'll never pay full retail for it. The only cell phone I've ever had to pay anywhere close to full retail was my Sprint phone. Every other phone, I've managed to get for at least $150 less than the MSRP. Most of the premium phones I see these days run right at $300, so I don't see why this should cost less -- it's a phone, an MP3 player, and a gaming platform.

3. It's not powerful enough. Christ, how powerful do you want a handheld? Most of the N-Gage games are ported over from the PS1 (including Tony Hawk Pro Skater). I personally think that's a pretty remarkable achievement. Especially considering the GBA just ports over from the SNES. Granted, we may have all played these games before, but I think expecting a PS2 handheld is a bit extreme right now, and it's more powerful than any other handheld.

Like I said, it's a great device with a lot of promise, they just have some poor execution and attention to detail in the first product -- just like any other beta product. I want an N-Gage, but I'll wait for them to get it right with v. 2.0.

I'll get one when they offer it for 1c with a $50 MIGift card with free activation, free headset and free car charger.

I thought handhelds were for little kids - what do they need a cell phone for? If it's to call the cops when someone tries to kidnap them, then they should have a phone with a camera so they can snap the license plate.

ditto

After further reading reviews, I'm passing. I had really hoped the would improve it since E3, and Nokia didn't. However, if this ever drops to $100, and games become uber cheap (sometimr around March/April Im guessing) I'll pick one up.

No. It's a $300 beta product.

I wonder how many of these they'll actually sell.

http://dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread....hreadid=172249