Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: nokia, ngage, ovi, store, games | Themes: Smartphones, Digital Entertainment, 3GSM
Bye bye N-Gage, it was a courageous run.
Nokia's still the largest cell phone manufacturer in the world, no matter the number of BlackBerrys and iPhones you may see floating around you. And with that, you'd figure that the Finnish mobiles company would have a successful gaming platform with the surging growth of cell phone games. Well, in some ways, the N-Gage was Nokia's dream, but the dream is now over.
Nokia last week revealed that it is pulling the plug on N-Gage at the end of September 2010. That doesn't mean that Nokia has thrown in the towel for games, but rather now all apps will be rolled into the Ovi Store.
Here are some other clips from the official blog post to answer some of your other questions:
So, you might ask, what will happen to the current N-Gage platform?
N-Gage games can be purchased until the end of September 2010. While the N-Gage.com site together with the N-Gage Arena and other community features will remain in operation throughout 2010, the Ovi Store will be the new central place for all the mobile games that Nokia and other publishers offer from this point forward. We will no longer publish new games for the N-Gage platform.
What will happen to my games?
Your games are safe - all your purchased N-Gage games will continue to work on your N-Gage compatible mobile device and they’re yours to keep. However, community features of the games will not be functional after 2010.
Why doesn’t Nokia keep N-Gage as a separate gaming platform?
As mobile gaming evolves and begins to encompass social gaming, we want to offer one store front with an even broader portfolio of games – games for everyone. It’s much more convenient to have one place to get all your mobile games, and this it what Ovi Store https://store.ovi.com/games provides. Mobile gaming is one of the most popular activities in the Ovi Store, with games being the #2 most downloaded category for premium content. And besides having all mobile games in one place, people can access other services like Mail, Maps, Music and many more via www.ovi.com.
Do you have an N-Gage phone? If so, is this a sad day for you?
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yawn
what gage? I thought this thing failed 4 years ago...
The move makes sense.
yawnwhat gage? I thought this thing failed 4 years ago...
Indeed.
I remember when it came out. Cool idea, but too big for a small screen.
If they stopped selling it a few years ago, fair play to Nokia for supporting it this long.
can i find it ironic that taco bell was recently advertising a black taco?
N-gage, never saw a real one in my entire life.
I thought it was only a gadget for the freaks, but even the freaks took their PSP with them instead of this!
I found it was just a plain ugly looking device, and it's death was pronounced the moment it was released!
I was just surprised that the device actually still existed!
It's window of sales was probably 2 to 3 months (unlike eg: the first gen gameboy, which sold strong for about 10 years, and lasted 15 years or so..).
It wasn't just a physical device any longer. It was primarily a software platform for their phones, from what I understand.
So, stopping support doesn't make sense, unless they're just trying to get away from the n-gage name that people are so quick to mock.
wow I didn't think anything related to this thing even existed anymore. last time I remember seeing one was probably 4 years ago at least and even then it was a rare beast. Not that it was anything great back then lol
yawnwhat gage? I thought this thing failed 4 years ago...
Seriously, I don't think I've even heard it mentioned in YEEEEARS
N-gage, never saw a real one in my entire life.
haha yeah it never did get that popular. I've only seen 1 in my entire life, back when it first came out, somebody at my school had one
I loved my N-gage, kept going for 3 years till i physically broke the screen. I hoped I'd be able to move my games to my Nokia 5630 but no such luck. Anyway, it was worth a try
I remember thinking the device was a really good idea when it first came out. I wanted one
Still not a bad idea, if it could really keep up with dedicated handheld gaming machines such as psp and ds. There are some great games for current non n-gage Nokias, so it makes sense for them to merge their software and get rid of the somewhat shameful n-gage name.
yawnwhat gage? I thought this thing failed 4 years ago...
yes , it was game over ! from the beginning .
i tought ngage died 6 years ago?
a freind ha done
it SUCKSSS Lol
Wait, I'm sorry, what? This thing is still around? Damn, can't say Nokia didn't try... and try... and try.
Weird how so many of u emit opinions on something they never saw and tried. But hey, we do live in a free country...
BTW, all the top of the line cell phones from Nokia support the NGage as a gaming platform and even if the games where pretty simple and not too complex they were fun.
I thought they killed it years ago when the GBA came out?
What a piece of garbage.
I worked at gamestop for a few years ago and managed to pick up an N-Gage for free when nokia phased out the floor models.
Needless to say its been dead for years.
I got a N81 and it has N-gage, I guess its all stopping. Good thing I dont give a hoot...
Yeah, nice try nokia.
It would take nintendo or sony to make nice portable gaming phone.
I would like to see a ZuneHD cell phone with games on it... BUT... I don't think it would have as many games as it would if it was made by nintendo... they are the kings of portable gaming.
My cousin got one and then sold it about a month after because he was tired of holding a taco up to his face everytime he made a call.
I_still_have and use my 4 year old N-Gage QD...
I still own and use my 4 year old N-Gage QD. Tough lil cookie that phone is,but sure could use a new one
I saw one at an EB Games once years ago. The first models were ridiculous, having to hold the thing perpendicular to your head to actually use it as a phone (apparently they fixed that on a later model). I remember the commercials, they were playing Madden 2002 or something. I just remember how SLOW the game looked being played on the N-Gage. You think you'd speed up the game image and slap on the old "Screen images simulated" disclaimer. Oh well.
Never heard.
If i had to choose a bulky phone/game device I'd rather the Nintendo DSi have a cell phone built in it.
1. bigger screens.
2. touch screen
3. one 8GB microSD holds hundres of games.
4. ?
N-gage, never saw a real one in my entire life.I thought it was only a gadget for the freaks, but even the freaks took their PSP with them instead of this!I found it was just a plain ugly looking device, and it's death was pronounced the moment it was released!I was just surprised that the device actually still existed!It's window of sales was probably 2 to 3 months (unlike eg: the first gen gameboy, which sold strong for about 10 years, and lasted 15 years or so..).
what the hell....
15 years?
where the hell do you live man?
OK, maybe today, with HTC Diamond, Iphone and Omnia II (my next phone), N-Gage seems ridiculous, but 4 years late, it was very cool for casual games, use messenger, dictionary and several others symbian apps. Every one wants to see the "thing". My is working for 4 years with the original battery
I didn't know these were still around, like many others I thought it failed a long time ago.