The team over at NokNok has put together a review of Brain Challenge, the mental exercise game for the N-Gage platform.
What’s different about this review is that it’s a nice, quick video review, so you can enjoy gameplay footage and commentary while seeing what the game really looks like.
Take a look here.
Hello everybody. A little birdy tells me Mile High Pinball will likely be released into the Showroom over the next 24 hours, or at the latest, by Monday. For those of you fully completed your First Access survey and are looking forward to getting your N-Gage points and a complimentary Activation Code, be sure to read this message from our Community Manager, redrum.
Now onto today’s links of interest:
N-Gage First Impressions
Ben Smith of SMS Text News takes a look at the Ovi suite of software services on his new Nseries, including the N-Gage experience:
“N-Gage immediately feels like a well polished product. From within a single well-presented client I’m able to create my profile to utilise the social features and browse a catalogue of games.”
More First Impressions
Mark Wilcox over on Forum Nokia also offers up his first impressions of the new N-Gage service:
“Teething problems aside, these are the best games I’ve ever seen on a phone and they are generally very playable and they all have a free trial.”
Space Impact Review
Mobile technology site Net 9 takes a look at Space Impact Kappa Base in this new review. They like the game, giving it four out of five stars and noting:
“The graphics are astounding with the whole 2D mixed with 3D thing going on. Overall, this game rocks, and in it I see much promise of success for the new N-Gage platform.”
Nok Nok Reviews Brain Challenge
Here’s another N-Gage game review, this time it’s Nok Nok taking on Brain Challenge:
“It won’t dazzle you with stunning graphics buts it simple and addictive game play that will keep you occupied for hours and hopefully improve your IQ in the process.”
Personally, I really enjoy this game too. I like to do my morning mind exercises while my Nokia laptop slowly, slowly boots up.
Project White Rock Unveiling
And finally, All About N-Gage reminds us that Project White Rock will finally be revealed at a press event being held tomorrow evening:
“All we do know is it probably has something to do with classic retro gaming and is being made by RedLynx, the people who made Pathway To Glory and High Seize (so we are assuming PWR is a strategy game).”
Maybe next week I can start using the game’s real name. 
Great Gameloft Giveaway: Week One Winner
Congratulations to Vlart, our first winner in the Great Gameloft Giveaway! Be sure to enter yourself for your chance at a new Nokia device, a stylish N-Gage backpack, and other great prizes.
Brain Challenge Review
Pocket Gamer gives their noggins a workout with this review of Brain Challenge. Read the whole thing here.
Another Music Store
Nokia’s keeping it busy with the other services too. This time, we’ve opened another music store, this one in Singapore.
Fast and furious, here we go…
• Tzer2 over at All About N-Gage has put up a new editorial about the full potential of N-Gage. I thought that this was a good article because it serves as a reminder that we are still in the early stages of N-Gage, with only a handful of games as of yet, and no devices with the application pre-installed. Read the rest here.
• Andrew Podolsky over at 1up.com has posted his first impressions of the new N-Gage platform. He notes: “However, the N-Gage is clearly attempting to become the new standard-bearer for mobile gaming, and from what we’ve seen and played, we’re hopeful that it will find an audience this time around.” Have a read.
• And finally, I’ve been tipped off about a new blog (new to me, at least) covering the N-Gage scence. Called N-Gation, it’s put together by hOAx, whos is tossing up videos, reviews, and previews of N-Gage games as fast as he can get his hands on ‘em. Looks like good stuff so far, go ahead and give it a click.
Here are his reviews so far:
• Asphalt 3
• Hooked On: Creatures of the Deep
• System Rush: Evolution
• Brain Challenge
• FIFA 2008
• Space Impact Kappa Base
Have a great weekend everybody!
Here’s the latest news, reviews, and buzz about N-Gage from around the web and beyond. First, let’s take a look at some reviews of the latest N-Gage games:
Asphalt 3: Street Rules
Pocket Gamer takes A3 out for a test drive (you saw that one coming, didn’t you) and like what they find, giving it an 8 out of 10 and concluding that, “Asphalt 3: Street Rules is an excellent driving game that’s a great showcase for your N-Gage handset.”
Brain Challenge
Next up All About N-Gage breaks down Gameloft’s Brain Challenge, the daily puzzle game that educates even as it entertains. Reviewer Ewan Spence concludes, “Coupled with the ten minutes a day nature of the game, I think Brain Challenge is going to do very well.” Check out the full review.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Finally, Pocket Gamer (those guys again) have posted a two-part interview with Henri Roth, creative director at Universomo, the developer working on the N-Gage version of this multi-platform LucasArts game.
Here is just a little snippet from the interview, with Roth talking about developing for the N-Gage platform:
The N-Gage platform has been a dream. It is just great to be able to develop in native C++ and not care about Symbian. But, being our first N-Gage game, we had to spend a lot of time and effort in building our engine and tools pretty much from scratch. After that, the biggest difference to a Java game project has been the gargantuan amount of content we had to create and manage for the game.
Be sure to check out Parts I and II of this interview, and for even more Force Unleashed take a look at my interview with the developers over on the official N-Gage site.
If you have any more links to news or reviews, post ‘em!
