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When we first heard about the Nokia N-Gage back in November, it seemed more of a dream than a reality. Hardly any specifications and absolutely no game information was known about it, and any possibility of it taking on the Game Boy Advance seemed very remote indeed. However, last week Nokia unveiled their nifty little handheld properly, with big events in London and Austrailia to show it off to the gaming press, revealing its wide range of cool features and announcing solid information about the games that will be appearing on it. You wouldn't believe how much difference two days could make to a console, but in that time Nokia were able to change people's perceptions of the N-Gage from a horizontal phone into a fully-fledged pocket games machine ready to burst into the market later this year!
Probably the most impressive part of the console's unveiling was seeing its specifications; the Finland-based company have managed to pack in a surprising amount, especially considering that its dimensions are less than those of the Game Boy Advance. As well as being a mobile phone, the N-Gage will also be able to record and play music such as MP3 and AAC files, include a stereo FM radio, browse XHTML (XML) webpages and allow you to check e-mail! Other neat additions include multimedia messaging support, with the ability to take screenshots during games and send them to your mates, as well as Bluetooth-compatibility, a USB port for hooking the console up to a PC, a built-in rumble feature and the ability to use MP3, AAC, Midi or WAV files as ringtones. Yep, this little wonder is packed with stuff alright!
The games will come on either thin MMCs (Multi-Media Cards), which can store up to 128 Mb of data, or will be downloadable off the Internet (expect this to be used only for smaller titles though). With HSCSD and GPRS included, data can be transferred across the 'net at a respectable 40 kbps. However, the best connectivity feature has to be the inclusion of Bluetooth technology, which uses radio waves to allow several N-Gages within a local area to connect to one another and share data without the need for any cables. This means that you can take part in multiplayer games with anyone who happens to be in-range without having to physically connect up the consoles. Although it may be a while before games start to fully take advantage of the device's connectivity features, Nokia are trying to ensure that all games include either wireless multiplayer gaming or the ability to download extra levels across the 'net.
Speaking of games, a load of big third party publishers have pledged support for the console, and we've finally got our hands on some solid game information! First up, Sega are busy producing titles such as Sonic N, Super Monkey Ball, Virtua Tennis and Sega Rally Championship! Eidos have also confirmed support with ports of two of their classic PlayStation games, Tomb Raider and Pandemonium. THQ are also producing titles such as Moto GP and a port of the excellent Red Faction.
Of course, for many of these games to be possible, the N-Gage would have to have some pretty meaty processing power, and while specifics are still being kept secret, there's no doubt that its capable of handing 3D graphics, almost to the level of the PSOne. Nokia demonstrated this by showing off a range of technical demos, which included showing the original Tomb Raider running on the device with textures and lighting both supported. Although suffering from some framerate issues, for early code this is still a highly impressive feat, and expect any problems to be sorted out as well as three extra N-Gage exclusive levels added before the game's release. Pandemonium was also said to be looking particularly impressive, and should retain all the fast-paced action and nice graphics of the original title.
Although none of the titles shown off by Nokia looked finished, they certainly gave a good indication of what to expect. With the current release date of the device set for Christmas this year, the developers have a good nine months in which to apply plenty of polish and learn more of the console's ins-and-outs. We should also bear in mind that it took the Game Boy Advance several months to produce good, full-3D games, so the fact that the N-Gage is managing it from the start bodes pretty well for the future.
Overall, Nokia's first foray into the world of handheld games consoles is looking very, very exciting. Whether it can take on the might of the well-established GBA is still highly uncertain, but I for one can't wait to see it try. For features alone, the N-Gage certainly has to win hands-down, but the crucial point will be the cost of the console, which is still being decided deep inside Nokia's Finland HQ. You should certainly expect it to set you back at least £100, and all that the company would say at the unveiling was that it would definitely be under €500 (£330). However, no doubt they realise that most gamers don't have a bottomless pit of money and will sell the hardware for less than its production value and recoup the costs from the games, so we think that £180-£220 is a fair estimate.
Unfortunately, no screenshots from any of the N-Gage's games or tech demos have been released by Nokia at this time, so we're only able to bring you hardware pics. However, keep your eyes on our main page for further news and hopefully some first screens very soon!
Marc Hull
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