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N-Gage Launch Hardware/Software Probed
Thanks to IGN Wireless for giving hands-on impressions of the hardware and some of the leading software titles for Nokia's N-Gage 'mobile game deck' phone/handheld console, which will be released on October 7th. Games checked out include Sonic-N, which is "...a port of Sonic Advance released on the Game Boy Advance back in January 2002... [and] identical in graphics, gameplay and level structure to the GBA edition", as well as Tomb Raider, which they say has "very impressive visuals", though "navigating the environments takes some finesse", and Super Monkey Ball, of which they claim: "As well as the GBA pulled it off, the N-Gage can do it better" - the lack of brand new, non-converted launch titles does seem a little disappointing, though.
Things wrong with N-Gage:
1. Already a sub-par fone is made even more mediocre.
How does making it play video games make it less of a phone? The two abilities are mostly seperate. If anything, the fact that it's able to play (decent) video games likely means that the screen on it is much nicer than most cell phones I've seen.
Not only that, but even though this is meant as a games machine, it might be a smart idea for them to make a cartridge that provides some PDA functionality... could be useful. Seems like the fact that it has a cartridge slot could make it a BETTER phone than most.
2. You have to hold the thing sideways when talking on it
Uh... so what? You're holding it against the side of your face, so who cares? It could be argued that instead you're holding it sideways when you're playing games.
3. A whole face of buttons, you get a digital pad and 2 buttons for games, wth!
I'm not even sure what your complaint is here... I don't see why games wouldn't be able to use as many buttons as they want.
4. 3-d Graphics = battery drain
The processor that it uses probably doesn't drain batteries any faster than the one that's in the GBA. Processors are actually quite low power things these days, and the ability to do 3D graphics is not likely to be the reason for poor battery life. Things like backlighting and bluetooth probably drain a LOT more battery power.
Besides, if they leave out 3D graphics, they'll get completely swept out the door when Sony comes out with their machine. If this thing isn't any better than a GBA, then it really has no chance at all (At least the way it is, it has a slim chance).
5. Fully 3D graphics on a screen barely able to draw one poly = waste of space
Completely your opinion... and I'm guessing that you've never actually used one of these things, so you really have no idea what things are actually like with it.
Yes, the screen is fairly small... but there are 3D games on the GBA as well, are those a waste of space too?
6. 6 hour battery life? WHEN NOT USING IT AS A FONE?!??!
Ah, finally a valid complaint... 6 hours of battery life isn't very good... that's as much as my Lynx and Game Gear get, and that's using 80's technology. I sure hope they're not using flourescent tubes for lighting anymore....
7. No easy access to games for changes.
Another valid complaint... the N-Gage gets a lot of heat for this, but it's probably not as bad as people think... battery compartments are easily accessible in handheld devices these days, and I doubt that this will be any more obtrusive than having to open the lid on your Gamebox, your X-Station or your PlayCube. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's a bad idea... but I don't think it's worth bashing Nokia for.
8. Hey, you get to take the battery off every time you change the game, at least you won't get any important fone calls in that time!?!
Gosh, how long does it take to unclip a battery pack? 5 seconds at most? I doubt many people get so many phone calls that 5 seconds will be a huge problem.
I really think people should have to try a device before offering their opinions on it. Ignorantly repeating rumors you've heard about something really isn't useful. I haven't used the N-Gage either, but I'm not going to judge it based on what everyone else says about it. I think the machine actually looks quite interesting... the only reason I'm not bothering with it is that I really don't want a cell phone (or "fone" as you seem to call it)
-"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
Hmm. I like dick :p