doraemi
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    Oct 21, 2003#11

    well...i'm just saying as in shape wise
    its like putting a GBA up ur year...isn't it?
    i dunno...its neat but.....a phone is a phone- Instant Noodle is the way for a healthy balanced meal -
    - Instant Noodle is the way for a healthy balanced meal -

    HitokiriMoonKnight
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      Oct 22, 2003#12

      i wonder how many of you are just jumping on the "ngage sucks" bandwagon.
      being an employee at ebgames *cough* i got a chance to try it out, and as jim says, it really is a good mobile phone. you gotta admit, the graphics are amazing for something that small. and you have to break it open to pop out the mmc cards? oh fucking well. i'd rather have to pop it open to change cards rather than having some kind of slot and then having it ganked by someone.
      don't want to hold it to your face? get an earpiece.
      moonBLOG | AIM: TTM MoonKnight

      Jim
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        Oct 22, 2003#13

        It's a good idea, but it's flawed, both in design (load times for a game on a memory stick?) and Nokia's attempts at marketing.
        The target group, based on their ads and such, is pretty much someone who fits my description (18-25 year old male geek/gamer), along with a few others here. Yet, that's probably not the best target for a $300 electronics device that happens to play games. It also doesn't help that they're trying to sell it as a gaming system, as opposed to an all-in-one electronics device. They should be looking for people who want a cell phone/PDA/MP3 player/gaming system/etc in one handy little package, not some college student who would like to play Monkey Ball and Puzzle Bobble between classes.
        Personally, I think Nokia should have stuck with TMobile (and other) stores for the NGage, and only after it had won acceptance over the general public should they branch out to the EBs and GameStops (perhaps for the NGage 2). Instead, even if the NGage2 is everything we'd want it to be (and more), most people probably won't give it a second look.

        Gestahr
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          Oct 22, 2003#14

          People are jumping on the "NGage sucks" bandwagon for any number of reasons. Yeah, the graphics are incredible for a handheld, but the fact that most of the 3D games are plagued with framerate issues mars even that. The fact that you have to take apart the system to switch games may not seem like a big deal when you're sitting in a store, but imagine doing it on a crowded train or bus. I mean, shit, it's a portable system.
          Another thing that's getting people riled up is the fact that Nokia doesn't fucking care about the horrible design flaws with the system. They've been testing it for monthes and monthes and monthes, and the response has always been the same : "If it's a game system, why isn't there a button to jump directly into the game?", "Why isn't there an external audio control?", "Why do you have to take the system apart to switch games?", etc.
          This isn't like when the X-Box came out. When the X-Box came out, there was a HUGE anti-X-Box bandwagon, and most of the people didn't really have any good reason other than the fact that they hated Microsoft. The product, despite it's size, was actually pretty good. It's not the same with the NGage. The NGage has serious flaws that need to be addressed before it can even be considered a gaming console. not allowed

          HitokiriMoonKnight
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            Oct 22, 2003#15

            that's the thing though, it ISN'T a gaming console. first and foremost it's a mobile phone. at ebgames we're told to sell it as "a mobile phone with internet access, mp3, radio, pda, etc etc etc that also lets you play games".
            the problem about switching games on a bus? i read about that on insertcredit i think. you know what? don't switch them out on a bus/subway, simple as that.
            there's no button to jump directly into a game because it's a mobile phone. it's not even that hard to get into a game! you open up the menu, scroll down to the game, hit a button and whammo you're in the game.
            common sense, simple common sense.
            moonBLOG | AIM: TTM MoonKnight

            Jim
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              Oct 22, 2003#16

              Well Moon, that kind of goes along with my point that even Nokia misses what the NGage is (or should be) about. THEY are pushing it as a gaming system, and because of that, they're going to suffer the consequences of GBA vs. NGage comparisons.
              The loading and unloading of games is an issue, but I'd say it's more for commuters as Gest pointed out. The five or so steps necessary to change games could be a real problem for anyone on a crowded train or bus, especially if you only have a limited amount of space to put your back cover, battery, the old or new game, etc.
              Nokia has a product. And in many ways, it's a good product, despite such flaws. But since they don't seem to realize WHAT the product is, they're making some big mistakes that they can't afford to, if they plan on ever having their share in the gaming industry.

              vidiotY2k
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                Oct 22, 2003#17

                Lets not forget Nokia's little stunt by having one of there press morons coming out and spamming on the GBA. They said that grown people are scared to even pull a GBA out in public and that its a child's toy.
                Great way of alienating most hardcore gamers out there morons.
                Each time I see a commercial I think about that stupid statement. So yeah, Ive very quickly jumped on the hating NGage bandwagon.
                This little statement made it quite clear Nokia was and is still trying to compete against the GBA. A declaration of war in the handheld industry.
                They also have bad timing for this, Sony's psp is going to be shown soon and its supposed to rock. Once thats released, I don't think the NGage could last that long. Unless its already died by then.
                -vidiot-
                Jim: Your idea of what Nokia should have done is spot on.

                katyjag
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                  Oct 23, 2003#18

                  www.gamespot.com/all/news/news_6077184.html
                  Well there's some reading for you regardless of what you think of the N-Gage. She's entirely over-hyping the European market, however. Yes, people are more mobile-savvy in Europe than they are in America (please don't take that as any kind of slight, those of you reading from the other side of the pond, I don't personally see it as a good thing...) but the trend over here is certainly based around the cult of the small, stylish, multifunctional phone. The N-Gage seems neither to please new phone addicts (just the kind of people she cites as their key market in Europe) or gamers.
                  Incidentally, what does she mean about Americans not knowing about SIM-card technology? How do you make a mobile phone without a SIM card? o_0
                  img>
                  katyjag

                  Jim
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                    Oct 23, 2003#19

                    People don't bother with SIM cards here. When they switch providers, they tend to just get whatever new phone that comes "free" with the plan, none of which have a slot for a removable SIM card.

                    katyjag
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                      Oct 23, 2003#20

                      Bit of a pain in the arse if you've got a lot numbers stored on your old phone...
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                      katyjag

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