N-Gage to Get Another Overhaul

MSNBC has the news that the ever unpopular N-Gage not only isn't going into that good night, but it's going to be receiving a redesign sometime in the future. From the article: "We're looking at new colors, a new look and feel for the QD in the next few months,"

Comments

Re:Article text, in case of slashdotting

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

The risks of MSNBC getting /.ed are very very slim. However, the risks of MSNBC going down because of an earthquake, a staffer tripping on a power cord or a staffer spilling a beverage into a server are quite good (Note: All 3 have happened to hotmail).

Not going to help.

[gimpynerd]

Even if Nokia release something with specs that put the PSP to shame I doubt it would help them any. The fact that three well known handhelds (GBA SP, DS, and soon to be PSP) are already on the market proves this. When the console market had four consoles in the past one of them failed (Dreamcast). N-Gage would be this one because of its bad reputation and the fact that hardley anyone knows about it compared to the other three.

fuck the games.

[gl4ss]

n-gage: free supported official sdk's(c++), shitload of applications(including ssh client, web browsers, movie players), python scripting support(official too), j2me support, bluetooth, mmc support(1gb going at somewhere around 80 bucks)... even flash now if that's your cup of tea for development.

should be a pretty good nerd toy, no? and a bargain at the price they're going at.

(besides.. even one of the penny arcade guys admitted that the qd is a pretty fun device - but congrats on your newly acquired karma you're sure to get from posting what you posted, a post without any real information)

Re:fuck the games.

[Dehumanizer]

The portrait screen is there because, at the time, that's all that Series 60 supported, I believe.

As for games, it depends on whether you think $30+ is fair for NON-cellphone games (GBA, PS2, PC, etc.). If you think that games are just something to fill a couple of minutes, then no - you're not a gamer, no matter the platform.

Also, the N-Gage plays 3 kinds of games: Java games (usually $3 or less, but a bit limited), Symbian games (usually less than $10, but more powerful - think "better than Amiga / SNES") and full N-Gage games (they're the most expensive, come in MMC cards). These ones vary from the first batch, which was poor (Tomb Raider, Sonic N, etc.) to some brilliant stuff later (Pathway to Glory is reason enough to buy an N-Gage, IMHO, and Pocket Kingdom is great too).

Add to that everything the other guy mentioned, and more (web browser (real thing, not just WAP), ssh client, email client, ebook reader, several emulators), and you see that I'm perfectly happy with my N-Gage. If they make a backwards-compatible one with a landscape screen and more powerful hardware, I'll buy one immediately.

Please -- every vote counts

[Tom7]

Sign my online petition to bring back Sidetalkin'!

Why don't they just give up?

[Mooga]

The N-Gage just sucks.

The idea is good: a cellphone with kick butt games. But talking is hard and the games aren't to good (to my knolage).

This is like the PDA/Cellphone combos. Good idea but no one can get them right. They are eather to big or they lack something. But mainly, as good of an idea as it is, people aren't ready for it. But if tomarrow someone came out with a something which can REALLY do both gaming and being a cell (and even a PDA) the thing could sell but no one can seem to make something that can do more then one thing well. It's sad really.