Why the plastic cases? Are the games not durable like the GBA's?

In addition like the enviorment thank you.

It might have something to do with the fact that the game cartredges are the size of your thumbnail. I'd imagine they'd be pretty easy to lose by themselves.

I played one at E3 this year and the bottom line for me is that the ergonomics are awful. As has been mentioned, the controls, REALLY suck, and without that what's the point?

Gizmo, don't do it man!

Good point. I totally missed that.

Commenting...

What I do Like:
- The boxes! Man, I REALLY love the plastic amrays instead of the boxes. I really hated the fact that the cardboard boxes would get damages so easily if you took the game out to much.
- The MP3 Player/FM Radio.
- The Phone. Keep in mind, you CAN hold it like a regular phone, or, well, like a taco
- The games. Its neat to see some 3D Games.

What I don't like:
- The price. $300 is VERY expensive for a handheld system.
- The availability. My store will not be carrying the N-Gage. I will have to goto compeition to purchase games.
- The way of putting in games.

Regardless, expect a full review in a week or so.

Hope the place you buy it from has a return policy ;)

Damn, I would never trade in my GBA plus 7 games for a "whopping" 100 bucks. Although I never sell any of my systems or games anyway.

They should put a picture of Gamestop and EB in the dictionary next to "Highway Robbery".

No shit. Much less for $100 off a portbable system that just has some crappy ports and spinoffs and will be lucky to get more than even a handful more of these types of games before it dies.

:up: agreed!

Yeah, a old GBA I got for $10, and 7 games I got for $2.50 at Wal-Mart...yeah, what a bad deal.

Well, good for you. You ripped off the game store, like you guys usually do to us. :D

Still the you'd have probably of had more fun with the 7 $2.50 GBA games. ;)

Josh, not when they were all Boxing Fever and WWF Road to Wresltemania....

Regardless, I have to own every handheld system, and the N-Gage is one albiet an expensive one.

"it’s quite easy for the more ham-handed to hit multiple buttons at once."

ham-handed? this thing isnt intended for yahoos who cant figure out how to use cellphones or are generally technically inept.

"Moreover, with no shoulder buttons, your thumb has to do all the work during games, which quickly becomes no fun."

yeah, no arcade or NES games were EVER fun.

"Well, to be honest, it’s the most idiotic idea to come across in gaming. Ever."

guess he missed the 32x and the VB....

think I'll just quit reading now... this guy is a complete moron.

j

You missed his point. It's not a problem to use the phone. You can take your time and make sure you hit the right buttons. When playing a game, you have to hit buttons fast. The game buttons on NGage are just part of the phone numbers, and are bunched in with the rest, thus it is easy to hit the wrong button when playing a game.

It has nothing to do with being "technically inept." It's just port design. Just like having to take it apart and take the battery out to change games. The people that made this obviously put very little thought into making it a comfortable and convenient portable gaming system. Hell they didn't even put any though into making it a comfortable and convenient phone as you have t hold it sideways to talk and it's too big for a cell phone to begin with. It's one of the worst designed pieces of hardware I've ever seen.

i understood what he was saying... the guys still an idiot IMO. Any1 who says a game cant be fun without shoulder buttons? PLEASE. theres really nothing else to discuss after that.

j

The shoulder button comment was lame, as I personally hate shoulder buttons.

But the rest of the buttons are lame. You can't put the buttons in with the rest of the phone buttons and not expect to hit the wrong buttons all the time.

It's just retarded design. I can't believe a company of this size so half assed the design on this thing.

I can't believe the screen is so small. I have a GBA (though I never play it), and my major gripe is with the size of the screen, and I have 20/20 vision.

The N-Gage screen may be smaller then GBA, but it is still decent. The only game that I found it to see with is Sonic.

If you're in Southern California, they are having a launch party for the Nokia N Gage at the Howard Hughes Center Promenade EB Games. It's from 9pm to midnight I believe. I heard about it on the radio and Super Steve from KROQ is supposed to be there. Heard there will be some giveaways(shirts, hats) and a raffle. Also I believe they will be giving you 5 games free if you buy the NGage during the launch party.

I work across the street, but it's too late for me. I really wanted to get a freebie too.

For the record, I got a free N-Gage and a free copy of Tomb Raider. I also snagged a Super Monkey Ball early from my store. I think it's pretty damn cool overall. Except Tomb Raider. Unless your "Moo Moo Homer" sized the buttons aren't that much of a problem.

I will say that I wouldn't pay $300 for it, but for free it's the coolest thing ever.

Games say "press start"
N-Gage has no start button

obviously Nokia has no clue what they are doing.

You know it feels good to be able to pretty much bash a system and not get in trouble for it :D

I guess its ok to pick on one just as long as everyone agrees its bad.

I have heard 2 EB employess and a Gamestop employee telling people to stay away from the N gage and to instead get an SP with a ton of games.

Its not a good thing when employees arent recommending something that is advertised throughout their store.

I was at an EB this past weekend. There was a customer in the store who was about to wet himself in anticipation of getting his NGage this week. I think he was hoping the EB guy would sell it early, but he just let him drool on the box. Apparently the EB manager really likes the one he got.

Well, Im leaving later this afternoon to pick my up, with possibly all the launch games as well...