Video: Mega Blast from the bast – Huge N-Gage Games Collection

Nokia’s N-Gage was a prophecy to the mobile world that gaming was turning mobile. Years from now, we’ll be all playing console level gaming on our phones, and mobile phone games will be so popular we’ll see it on mainstream media and TV and it will be a multi-billion dollar industry.

Unfortunately, like many of Nokia’s starts, they didn’t perfect the execution, leaving other folks to capitalize on their failures and lost effort. Now it’s all about iPhone games, Android games even. Sony Ericsson has just launched their own “N-gage”, i.e. playstation phone Xperia Play. And Nokia – well we’re on that catching up stage. Perhaps we can get some Xbox phone loving soon?

Anyway, check out the collection from RetroGameTech. Look at all the actual games packaging. No unified app store. It came in boxes, and was sold in game shops like your playstation games. I still remember checking out tomb raider in 3D on the N-Gage when every other phone was playing some crappy 2d ping pong. Most of it is still unopened. This also isn’t the full collection (11 left). But just look at the high quality titles on Nokia devices. Nokia could have really had it all if they got this right. Too early? Too many mistakes? There was somewhat of an online community, and games were available to download – play against others online – perhaps too little, too late?

Of course, hail Taco calling. Nokia’s designs back then were so daring. Unlike now where every phone is pretty much the same rectangle. N-Gage then died and was resurrected into Nseries devices, but it never achieved what it needed to. We doubted gaming on just touch would ever work – hardcore gamers said we need buttons. But then just look at what happened with the Wii. It captured the hearts of folks who game just occasionally – which is what iPhone did.

Well, there’s some more random ramblings at 2am for  you.

RetroGameTech

“Atari Masterpieces vol 1 – CIB
Ashen – CIB Sealed
Asphalt Urban GT – CIB Sealed
Asphalt Urban GT 2 – CIB
Bomberman – CIB Sealed
Call of Duty – CIB Sealed
Catan – Missing Manual
Colin McRae Rally 2005 – CIB Sealed
Crash Nitro Kart – CIB Sealed
FIFA Football 2004 – CIB Sealed
FIFA Football 2005 – CIB Sealed
Flo Boarding – N/A
Glimmerati – CIB
High Seize – Missing Manual
King of Fighters Extreme – CIB
Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer – CIB Sealed
Mile High Pinball – CIB Sealed
MLB Slam! – CIB Sealed
MotoGP – CIB Sealed
NCAA Football 2004 – CIB Sealed
ONE – CIB
Operation Shadow: Theatres of War- CIB Sealed
Pandemonium – CIB Sealed
Pathway to Glory – CIB Sealed
Pathway to Glory: Ikusa Islands – CIB
Puyo Pop – CIB Sealed
Puzzle Bobble VS – CIB Sealed
Pocket Kingdom: Own the World – CIB Sealed
Rayman 3 – CIB Sealed
Red Faction – CIB Sealed
Requiem of Hell – CIB Sealed
SonicN – CIB Sealed
SSX Out of Bounds – CIB
Spider-Man 2 – CIB Sealed
Super Monkey Ball – CIB Sealed
System Rush – CIB
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 – CIB Sealed
The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey – CIB Sealed
The Sims Bustin’ Out – CIB Sealed
TC’s Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm – CIB Sealed
TC’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory – CIB Sealed
TC’s Splinter Cell: Team Stealth Action – CIB Sealed
Tomb Raider – CIB Sealed
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater – CIB Sealed
Virtua Tennis – CIB Sealed
Warhammer 40000 Glory In Death – CIB Sealed
WWE Aftershock – CIB
Worms World Party – CIB Sealed
X-Men Legends – CIB

**– EXTRAS –**
Pandemonium Pre-retail Packaging Prototype – 2x CIB Sealed + 2x CIB
System Rush Gold Press Kit – CIB + Extra Sealed OST CD
Fifa Soccer 2004 – NFS Beta – Cart Only
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc – NFS Gold – Cart Only
Virtua Tennis – NFS Gold – Cart Only
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell – NFS Gold – Cart Only
Red Faction – NFS Gold – Cart Only
Original N-Gage Dummy Sim Card – Unused on Tabbed Card
Flo Board – x2 Spare Carts

I have 49 of the 56 needed for complete PAL retail collection

**– I NEED –**
X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse
Xanadu Next
Rifts: Promise of Power
The Roots: Gates of Chaos
Atari Masterpieces vol 2
Civilization
Sega Rally Also needing – Manuals for High Seize and Catan **– DEFINITIONS –**
CIB – Complete In Box – Includes Everything = Manual, Cart, Box, Install Manual, Game Holder
CIB Sealed – Complete In Box And Fully Factory Sealed (outer cellophane + inner security seal)
NFS – Not For Sale = non retail review copy
Gold – Review copy non retail

Category: Applications, Games, Nokia, Symbian, Video