N-Gage

This article is about the hardware device. For its successor mobile gaming service, see N-Gage (service).

N-Gage
Original "Classic" model
CodenameStarship (original)[1]
Aquarius (QD)[2]
Also known asN-Gage "game deck"
ManufacturerNokia
TypeHandheld game console and mobile phone[3]
GenerationSixth
Release date7 October 2003[4]
Lifespan2003–2006
Discontinued24 February 2006[5]
Units sold3 million (as of 30 July 2007)[6]
MediaMultiMediaCard
Operating systemSymbian OS 6.1 (Series 60)
CPUARM920T @ 104 MHz
StorageMultiMediaCard, 3.4 MB internal memory (1st gen N-Gage)[7][8]
Display2 inches (5.1 cm) (11:13) TFT LCD 4,096 colors, 176 × 208 pixels[9][10]
ConnectivityHSCSD, GPRS, Bluetooth[7][8]
Online servicesN-Gage Arena
RelatedNokia 7650, Nokia 3650, Nokia 6600

The N-Gage is a mobile device combining features of a cellular phone and a handheld game system developed by Nokia, released on 7 October 2003.[4] Officially nicknamed as the game deck,[a] the N-Gage's phone works on the GSM cellular network, and software-wise runs on the Series 60 platform on top of Symbian OS v6.1.

N-Gage attempted to lure gamers away from the Game Boy Advance by including telephone functionality, including SMS texting, in an "all-in-one" device.[11] Game software was packaged in a MultiMediaCard to be inserted into the N-Gage's slot. Nokia also ran an online service community, N-Gage Arena, which also supported multiplayer on some titles, using the phone's GPRS data connection.[12] Ultimately over 50 games — which included titles by major third-party publishers — were released for the system in a three year period.[13]

The N-Gage was unsuccessful, partly because the buttons were not well-suited for gaming, while it was described as resembling a taco, which led to its mocking nickname "taco phone".[6][14][15] Less than a year later, the QD model was introduced as a redesign of the original "Classic" N-Gage, fixing widely criticized issues and design problems. The revised model was unable to make an impact, and with only 2 million units sold in its two years, the N-Gage was a commercial failure and discontinued in February 2006, with Nokia moving its gaming capabilities onto selected Series 60 smartphones; this was announced as the N-Gage platform or "N-Gage 2.0" in 2007, carrying on the N-Gage name.[16][17]

  1. ^ Tiwari, Aditya (8 December 2016). "10 Mysterious Phones Nokia Created In Its Days Of Glory". Fossbytes. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Nokia - N-Gage QD". www.mobilephonemuseum.com. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Get out and play — with N-Gage games in your Nokia device". Nokia. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Let the sales begin! Nokia N-GageTM game deck sales to start". Nokia. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  5. ^ Evans, Mike (26 November 2005). "Nokia kill the N-Gage". MobileMentalism. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b Blake Snow (30 July 2007). "The 10 Worst-Selling Handhelds of All Time". GamePro. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  7. ^ a b "N-Gage Game Deck Tech Specs". Nokia. Archived from the original on 5 February 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  8. ^ a b "N-Gage QD Game Deck Tech Specs". Nokia. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  9. ^ Grumet, Tobey (June 2003). "Dial-A-Game". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines.
  10. ^ Ang, Terence (April 2003). HWM. SPH Magazines. p. 15. ISBN 0219-5607. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ^ "Nokia makes a play for wireless gaming". GameSpot. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  12. ^ https://www.theregister.com/2004/04/14/nokia_interview?page=5
  13. ^ "N-Gage Games". GameSpot. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Hold On, My Taco is Ringing Nokia says it has the phone for Gen Y", "CNN.com" 8 December 2003, Peter Lewis.
  15. ^ Saylor, Michael (2012). The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything. Perseus Books/Vanguard Press. p. 81.
  16. ^ "N-Gage First Access Begins!". N-Gage Blog. Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  17. ^ "N-Gage First Access". Nokia. Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2007.


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