Ask Nokia: The GDC Podcast
During next month’s Game Developer’s Conference, we’ll be recording a podcast with some of the top people involved in delivering the next generation of the N-Gage experience.
Currently slated to appear in this broadcast are:
- Jaakko Kaidesoja — the head of Nokia’s next generation mobile gaming efforts
- Gregg Sauter — the head of N-Gage’s third party publishing program
- Mark Ollila — director of Technology and Strategy and head of Nokia Games Publishing
As a special treat for our Future Watch readers, we’re giving you a chance to submit questions that we can ask during the podcast.
So if you have a question, please leave it in the form of a comment attached to this post. And while we can’t promise to answer every question, we’ll do our best to consolidate and cover as many questions as possible during the show.
Thanks for your questions and stay tuned to Future Watch for your next generation N-Gage news.
February 19th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
hi my one question.
We will see cheap n-gage phone? or n-gage based phone.
widescreen mp3 player radio etc
cheap and smart?
thanks
February 19th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
* Will N-Gage work on non Nokia phones running S60?
* Will N-Gage work on UIQ?
* Are there any games planned that take advantage of the GPS functionality of future Nokia devices?
* Will there be a “gamer tag” similar to the XBOX Live platform?
* Will the games sold be tied to the phone you’re using or to an N-Gage account a user would create?
* Can you buy N-Gage games on your mobile phone?
* How are you going to stop (plan to stop) piracy?
* If there are multiplayer games, will be there be a buddy list type system? Can I send messages to my buddies?
* What current devices out on the market now support N-Gage?
* Do you plan on selling anything other than games on the N-Gage platform?
* Will there be free games that are ad supported?
* Price range of games?
* Can I get a review unit? (Just kidding)
February 19th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Nokia will be doing an N-Gage podcast! They want to answer your questions…
Straight from the Future Watch blog: During next month’s Game Developer’s Conference, we’ll be recording a podcast with some of the top people involved in delivering the next generation of the N-Gage experience. Currently slated to appear in this…
February 19th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
hi!
1. how is the difference in hardware performance adressed, will there be special versions of games for 3d-chip ready handsets like n93 and n95?
2. will 3d acceleration become standard for new n-gage devices or is nokia going to continue this “dual approach”?
February 19th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
another question just came to mind:
will it be possible to change landscape orientation by 180° on the N95, so that the d-pad is controlled by your left hand? thanks!
February 19th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
N-gage Blog Sorularýnýzý Bekliyor…
Nokia N-gage Nextgen blog sitesi sorularýnýzý bekliyor. BU linki takip ederek açýlan sayfada yorumlara sorularýnýzý yazýn. Ikona sorularýnýzý n-gage den sorumlu kiþilere sorsun. Daha sonra bu cevaplar podcast (sesli yayýn) þeklinde…
February 19th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Since all games are going to be “downloadable” content, is there going to be an option to buy a physical copy instead of a virtualcopy? If so, is shipping to the USA included?
February 20th, 2007 at 2:27 am
When will a detailed list of all compatible devices be available? More specifically, will E-series devices be supported?
I think it is too bad all new devices announced recently (say at 3GSM) were not mentionned as N-Gage compatible or not. In others words, we must either wait until September or take the risk to buy a (not so cheap) phone which will be already outdated in some months …
Will end-users be able to develop their own (free?) games using some SDK, or will it be reserved to commmercial development companies?
Can I also get a review unit? (not kidding :D)
February 20th, 2007 at 4:26 am
hi Ikona,
1 - As of yet, there is no confirmed “RElaunch” date for the next gen platform, but rumor has indicated a September 2007 launch. Can anyone confirm this?
2 - Our community has been suffering with the long wait for the next platform, so we’re gonna need something to really bring the gamers to us - is there anything planned like a Summer Tour from 2004?
3 - It’s still unconfirmed which handsets will support the new platform, but yet you guys are holding competitions to win the N-Series, and the promo graphics are all showing N-Series handsets -Gamers are beginning to get equipped, ready to start the new level with a fresh set of lives - can you confirm the handsets yet?
4 - The gameshop has been a frustrating experience for all - license codes not being accepted, only being able to purchase in Euros and the need for a credit card - gamers can be extremely young and don’t have that means! People also like to know how much they’ll be charged in their currency - surely this needs to be reviewed ready for gamers to buy their games through their handsets, as you seem to be pushing.
5 - Now, some new handsets like the N93 are supporting WiFi connections - will there be any plans to launch “hotspots” where N-Gagers can hook up in major cities via WiFi for free, similar to Nintendo’s system?
6 - The gamers (including myself) have been frustrated at the ‘lack’ of information over the past few months, what was released was already known by means of rumor, and so far, Nokia seems a little slow to confirm anything.
7 - What’s going to happen to the servers for the current generation N-Gage games? a lot of us are seeing issues such as the leaderboard not being updated for Arena Enabled games, or weird glitches that no one wants to deal with?
8 - Will “The Deck” software be available as a download to handsets that don’t have it? It seems a given N-Gage will be supported on N-Series (E3 demo’s, advertising materials).
Thanks and have fun with the podcast!
February 20th, 2007 at 4:43 am
is there going to be a new device dedicated for gaming or just the n-series with a preinstalled application?
February 20th, 2007 at 7:31 am
My current N-Gage hardware is dead.
I’d like to ask about the new N-Gage
that,will there be new N-Gage dedicated device?
I meant this question….
February 20th, 2007 at 7:41 am
1. Will the new N-gage run the Symbian 3rd edition?
2. what will be the price range of the new phone?
3. Will it be positioned as an entirely gaming device or will you be highlighting the cheapest s60(if it is) 3rd gen phone?
4. The Arena, whats new there?
5. Will the top scorers get an incentive on the new phone?
6. what about piracy of games?
7. Stephan’s last question: Me too! (not kiddin, still kiddin!)
Suggestions:
1. Open a forum or a wiki so that current users of the ngage can suggest and express what they like about the phone and what they expect from the new phone. . .
2. Price it right, but don’t go cheap on the hardware. . .
————————X—–X—-X————-
February 20th, 2007 at 10:13 am
(1)WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE SOME NEW FEATURES LIKE GAME SHARING FOR THE NEXT GEN NGAGE GAMING?
(2) IS THE CURRENT NGAGE PLATFORM BE REVIVIED,fr instance the rankings,leaderbords,shadow racing of all the leading games are not upto date at this moment.
(3) I really want to own an Ngage classic, so any possiblity that we may see LIMITED EDITIONS OF Ngage Classics for sale,so that ngage fans like me can be the proud owners of it?
(4) Will the ngage arena launcher & pc clubhouse be connected simultaneously so that people can always stay connected to the the Clubhouse from both pc & Ngage(etc mobile devices/multimedia computers)?
(5)Hope we see the next gen ngage,with wifi,3d graphics etc Soon! Amen
February 21st, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Nintendo DS (lite) 4ever!
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:04 am
1. As has been brought up before, will there be a device oriented towards playing games rather than used for all sorts of multimedia? I, for one, would be a lot more interested in gaming content than in content of pretty much any other kind, and releasing such a device would also appeal to the rest of the gaming community.
2. Which games can we expect will be revived for the next generation? Do you have any plans of releasing content from previous platforms in the style of Wii Shop Channel and X-Box Live Arcade? And are there any sequels of N-Gage classics in the making (which?)?
3. Naturally, we must all expect to only download games in the future, but would you consider, given enough backing from fans, to release titles physically to a limited market, only available from Arena (as you can see, I’m limiting the market as much as possible for you)?
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:06 pm
*When is Next Gen going to be launched?
*Which games will be available on the launch?
*What level of graphics are going to be in next-gen?
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:11 am
* Is there going to be a dedicated device (or two, like the N-Gage and N-Gage QD)?
* If yes, is this device going to have special features, like a touchscreen or a motion-sensor (kinda like Nintendo´s consoles)?
* What about the current N-Gage and its Games?
* Will there be a possibility for developing homebrew-games?
* What will be done against piracy (and btw, i don’t think a key that makes full versions out of demos is very secure)?
* Will it be possible to buy Games offline (not everyone has a 3G-flatrate)
* Graphics: PS2-level graphics should be the goal…
February 23rd, 2007 at 3:50 am
What is the main thing you learnt about the N-Gage (QD) you will improve?
February 23rd, 2007 at 8:23 am
I assume Nokia will be supporting Open GL ES 1.1 for the initial launch. Will Nokia then supoprt Open GL ES 2.0 in the near future as some chip manufactures have already indicated silicon available in early 2008. This would mean the quality of gaming experience on handhelds will increase again in the next 12 to 18 months?
February 23rd, 2007 at 9:31 am
you guys said that the Next gen N-gage will support S60V3 so what happens to Version 2 and 1 .Should we count them dead?lots of people in India bought The N-gage in Hopes of nice games.whts the Saying that games will be continued to be made for this platform ????????????And as for Cracking do u really think after the cracking of the Blu-Ray disc Nokia can be spared?well i dont.Lets see wht you Guys Disclose at the Gdc before i say anything else
February 24th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I know that at CES Nokia said they were not going to make a dedicated game phone for next gen but are they going to put out any phone with a dedicated d-pad or stick like on the 9300 or are we going to have to figure out interesting ways to hold our phones and still play the games we want to play?
February 24th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
This is excellent actually being able to put a question forwared to the likes of Jaakko.
1. There have been rumours of the Next gen not being launched is this true or not. Hows the stability of the process at the moment from early development to launch.
2. Will there be an example of Grand theft auto type game play in some of the series of games being launched.
3. Which handsets are absolutely confirmed to be Next-gen compatible.
4. When exactly will the launch commence
5. Will there be any chance of people doing beta testing, or even demo releases soon. (I understand that there were demos of “The One: Who’s next? and if there is a playble demo available)
6. I herd a rumour that Nokia was ready to take on Sony and Nintendo for the gaming devices. What perspective was this approach is it for pure popularity or gaming quality.
7. Will there be much publicity i.e advertising for next-gen in NZ. A lot of people here are only familiar with the typical playstation and xbox genre. What approach will there be to push people to make the move to mobile gaming. (hardly anyone even knows about N-gage 1st edition let alone next-gen)
8. Can there be an easier way for us to be updated with the development of next-gen.
Thanks guys for this oppertunity. Even if my questions don’t get asked this is the closest that I’ll get to getting my questions answered.
February 24th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Sorry one more question I wish to impose:
Will there still be work with Square-enix mobile. I saw a while back that Nokia was going to release Before crisis final fantasy 7 on most of the series 60 platform. Will there be any development in that direction.
Thanks again
February 26th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
1) will it play original n-gage games?
2) will it have the ability to record off the FM radio?
3) Will any features of the original n-gage be removed? (hopefully not)
February 27th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Hi I just have one question and one only.
Can we “n-gager’s” expect a game oriented phone, or will we go back to the way mobile gaming has been for years? In my opinion the QD was a step in the right direction but still needed some work, as well as the developers began to truly understand the platform late in its development cycle. And yes I want to see a new splinter cell game for the n-gage.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:54 am
Why hello people of Nokia.
Will the best and most sold game Pathway to glory be ported to the next gen?
If so, it would be nice with a update pack to the game with some new maps and weapons.
Greetings from me.
March 1st, 2007 at 11:28 am
Thanks for all the questions guys, I have collected them and sent them to the Podcast team.
Our plan is to post the podcast up some time next week.
March 4th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
your the man ikona