Nokia N-Gage QD Extensive Look

PALGN Feature | We take an in-depth look at the new gaming device / phone launching next month.

The Nokia N-Gage launched in October 2003 to a mediocre reception. Units were left unsold and the price quickly dropped from $499.95 to $349.95 including three games. Several design flaws, such as including having to take the battery out to change games and having to talk on the side of the phone, brought down the overall accessibility of the N-Gage.

Last month Nokia introduced a new addition to the N-Gage, the N-Gage QD. Launching next month in Australia for an expected price of $300 - $400, the N-Gage QD improves upon a lot of the flaws of the original platform.

To make the N-Gage QD more accessible Nokia have had to remove a few features from the game deck. The features for the original N-Gage are:

N-GageArena
Bluetooth multiplayer
True 3D graphics
4096-color screen
Gaming-optimized design
GPRS and Internet
MMS and email
MP3 player
Stereo FM Radio
USB port
Side talkin'
Bright backlight
Tri-band GSM

Whereas the Nokia N-Gage QD features:

Hot Swap
Shortcut game key
Pocket-sized
Classic talkin'
Brighter backlight
Dual-band GSM

The Nokia N-Gage QD is missing a USB port, MP3 and radio playback. The speakers are now in mono. It seems Nokia haven't learnt from some of their mistakes and managed to create new flaws for the N-Gage QD. Both version of the N-Gage will be sold beside each other. The N-Gage QD also weighs more than the original N-Gage, despite being smaller in size. The Nokia N-Gage QD is designed to compete against the Nintendo DS and the Playstation Portable in the future.

At E3 2004 Nokia should be unveiling new titles in development for the N-Gage as currently it is lacking a game which is actually worth playing. Upcoming games which are expected to impress are Pocket Kingdom and Pathway to Glory.

Earlier leaked shots of the N-Gage QD in operation had a camera option selectable on the menu. Nokia have not commented on this but they are not touting it as a camera phone so we expect this was a planned inclusion which has been removed. (once again to save on costs) (original camera photo pictured below)

Currently there are 14 titles available for the N-Gage QD

FIFA 2004
MLB Slam!
Moto GP
NCAA Football 2004
Pandemonium
Puzzle Bobble Vs Puzzle
Puyo Pop
Rayman 3
Red Faction
Sonic N
Super Monkey Ball
Tomb Raider
Tom Clancy?s Splinter Cell
Tony Hawk?s Pro Skater

Most of these games are unfortunately ports of games released on either earlier consoles or handhelds.

Upcoming Games of the Nokia N-Gage are as follows:

Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer
Sega Rally Championship
Bomberman
Alien Front
The Sims Bustin' Out
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Crash Nitro Kart
Operation Shadow
Taito Memories
Xyanide
Worms World Party
Requiem of Hell
Pocket Kingdom: Own the World
Ashen
Gekido
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm
Virtua Cop
Call of Duty
Pathway to Glory

At E3 Nokia will be showing more of the Nokia N-Gage QD at E3 and PALGN will be reporting information as it comes through.

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13 Comments

mrcivic

7 years ago

It's still the same **** console/phone in a different disguise.

Why does Nokia even bother?

Quin

7 years ago

And why is it called the N-Gage if the bluetooth capibility was removed? (Or did I misread the article?)

Hyperworm

7 years ago

I think you misread the article... ?
(Besides, why would the loss of Bluetooth invalidate the name "N-Gage"?)

Quin

7 years ago

N-Gage = Engage, their original selling point was that you could "Engage" anyine using the Bluetooth multiplayer system. In the article, look at the list of original features, and the list of features that the QD has.

mito

7 years ago

How I interpret the features is that all of the features from the original N-Gage are on the QD with the adjustments and aditions on the QD list.

I may be wrong, but I don't think that Nokia would be dropping features with a failing product like this.

Quin

7 years ago

Hm, true, it still sucks though

mito

7 years ago

Damn right it sucks.

I personally believe that if this version of the N-Gage does anywhere near as badly as its predecessor, then Nokia will throw in the towel.

One thing that article fails to tell us is if the game changing situation has changed at all. If you still have to remove the battery to get access to the game, then the QD is condemned to the bottom shelf where it will stay, forever.

Luke

7 years ago

1. You can change the game without taking out the battery
2. The USB port has definitely been removed and so far no confirmation has come across as to whether it will have blue tooth compatibility or not. Nokia had some problems with piracy and this is a piracy measure.

Quin

7 years ago

N-gage is now doomed. If I was Nokia, I really wouldn't place loads of money on this piece of crap, look what happened to Sega with the Saturn and DC

Brendan

7 years ago

...Well that's only a gigantic slap in the face to those who bought the original N-Gage. Rediculous.

sonicwired

7 years ago

crusen86 wrote

...Well that's only a gigantic slap in the face to those who bought the original N-Gage. Rediculous.

All 5 of them

I heard something about the MP3 player feature being removed from the QD. According to this, the QD has bluetooth but no mention of MP3 playback.

Quin

7 years ago

Theres always a VG Cats strip for situations like these

Gtpod

7 years ago

And one from Penny Arcade

I actually printed this one off at school and pinned it up in our form room..

On topic though, I'll probably never ever buy a Nokia product in my life now that Sony and Motorola have brought their heads out of the ground and made decent phones, and the N-Gage will never change that no matter how many times they re-release it.

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