Nokia N-Gage

[ivar]

Anyone know if Nokia's new NGage is going to have a gaming capable JVM ? It looks like it'll have more oopmh in the processor department, so it'd be disappointing to have a lame J2ME VM.
I couldn't find any info, but on a hunch (and given Nokia's leaning towards Java)  I'd say it's likely.
Anyway, this looks to be a very promising platform.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=nokia+n-gage+java

[ChrisM]

Nope.  MIDP.

-Chris

[JasonB]

Anyway, this looks to be a very promising platform.

Does anyone know how much the N-Gage is likely to cost?  I haven't heard any details so far... personally I'll defer judgement as to whether it's really a promising platform, until the price is announced.  It vaguely looks like a GBA, and to be any competition at all in the mobile gaming market, you'd tend to think it'll have to be competitively priced against the GBA.

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[ChrisM]

In my opinion, price of the device isn't the primary concern with the N-Gage.  What will happen when consumers realize that their GBA looking device dosen't play games that look or play as well as GBA games?  Basically, it's a standard cell phone, with a color screen, oriented like a game device.

"But LOOK! It had a joypad!  It MUST be a great game device!"




I smell backlash  

-Chris

[JasonB]

I have to agree.  Much as I wish there was a handheld, java-capable device out there, aimed at the games market, I can't see this doing very well.  Whoever okayed this idea at Nokia needs a slap to the back of the head....

[shawnkendall]

Some info and links on the Nokia N-gage platform.
Hard data for those interested to examine.

"Yesterday in Munich they introduced the N-Gage, a gaming device based on the Nokia Series 60 platform (7650, 3650) that works as a mobile phone but was designed with one thing in mind: Fun."

Nokia 7650
http://www.nokia.com/phones/7650/specifications.html

ARM9 (the processor)
http://www.bdti.com/procsum/arm9.htm

The OS Specs and minimum requirements
http://www.symbian.com/press-office/series_60_version10_po.pdf

[jbanes]

Bah! That's nothing. What I REALLY want is one of these: http://www.nokia.com/phones/6800/

[retrosoft]

Bah! That's nothing. What I REALLY want is one of these: http://www.nokia.com/phones/6800/

yeah thats a nice looking phone

[slu@gh]

I have to agree.  Much as I wish there was a handheld, java-capable device out there, aimed at the games market, I can't see this doing very well.  Whoever okayed this idea at Nokia needs a slap to the back of the head....

Check out Sony Ericsson P800. It have Personal Java and MIDP. Really cool gaming devices (it will come with two 3D games preinstalled!), with touthscreen, plus, what could be really important, removable Memory Stick. It looks that Sony is doing really great job.
BTW. they added Memory Stick to Multimedia Home Platform (interactive TV) so Your game could run on mobile phone and TV at least on devices done by Sony.