Nokia's handheld went on sale today, but fears remain about what likely success the game deck/mobile platform will enjoy. It is an expensive device, with prices for the handset alone ranging from 299-360 Euros, though many European operators have suggested that cheaper handsets (around 99 Euros) will be available to those signing up to a tariff in excess of 25 Euros a month; deals between operator's, store's and of course country's do vary wildly however. Nokia has said that it aims to sell between six and nine million units in its first year - between now and the end of 2004. That's quite a lot of units though the Finnish mobile giant are splashing over 150 million Euros on launching the wee beast; so expectations are clearly high.

As one analyst told Reuters today, "this is a very big investment for Nokia and it was prepared so thoroughly that it does not hinge on one day. The market will be decisive here," commented a Helsinki-based broker.

Of course, the N-Gage being the first gaming/mobile product ever to go on-sale, this is a big risk for Nokia, but one the company felt was necessary amid declining handset sales. Naturally, the firm hope to take a bite out of Nintendo's dominance in the gaming handheld market - and will want to build up a strong base of customer's ahead of next year's launch. Regardless of the end result, these are certainly fascinating times for the newly competitive gaming handheld sector.

By Luke Guttridge

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  1. Jason 6 years ago Staff

    I've seen about 20 billboards, heard about 5 radio ads and read tens of articles on the n-gage in the last week. Do you not get out much Ben? ;-)

    I'd love to see the n-gage do well as well - get a bit of competition in the GBA saturated portable market. However - having fiddled with one it does suffer a few design flaws (such as the changing of game cards from behind the battery, and having to look like a dipstick whilst using it as a phone).

  2. Ben 6 years ago Staff

    Me? Out?

    remember that I live in the sticks here and articles may be numerous within the right type of magazine. I was really trying to point out that the advertising isn't as high as it should be for such 'landmark' technology. In the US there where guys in the shopping malls demanding that you give it a go and while your at it have a pepsi and some candy free of charge... THAT'S advertising ;)

  3. Sam 6 years ago Staff

    I think it was the Eurogamer preview which killed any interest I had in this. A comment from a 'man on the street' who said "using the phone made you look like you had a taco attached to the side of your head". Not for me - it shouts out bad design - would you buy a TV that you had to press your forehead against to see a good picture?

    Well there.

    Put some of that financial clout into it and buy up rights for old arcade roms, stick some MAME into whatever version of windows the phone could ring on, and play Galaga or Moon Patrol on the...

    ...way back from the shop where you purchased such a device for 100 quid.

  4. Ben 6 years ago Staff

    I had a play around with one today and alas, Sam is quite right, it IS a taco. A great big faux carbon fibre taco and it doesn't even come with sour cream...

    I couldn't see myself jamming it into my pocket to use as a phone and there goes half of it's usefulness straight away. I already have a great little phone, why would I want to pay another line rental for something that I won't use?

    Damn. Such a shame... I just hope a game comes out that amazes me to such an extent that forget all about the 'taco'.

  5. Jaz Unregistered 6 years ago

    You can always use the ear piece to stop the taco look. And you can get games from www.Allack.co.uk