Good news for all you N-Gage fans that read Spanish… Spain’s #1 videogame site, Meristation.com, has added an N-Gage channel to their popular Website.
Along with the new channel, they’v recently posted reviews of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, System Rush: Evolution, Dirk Dagger and the Fallen Idol, and Brothers in Arms for N-Gage. Be sure to visit the site and let them you know you appreciate the inclusion of N-Gage as a gaming platform.
A new N-Gage site on the scene is the N-Gage News Network. They recently posted a couple of interviews focused on System Rush: Evolution that you should definitely take a look at.
Here’s a snippet from the first, an interview with the Ideaworks 3D team:
“Whilst developing System Rush’s multiplayer aspects we have been given the opportunity to give our opinion on what features we would like to see in future from N-Gage Arena. Other features we are looking forward to in the future are the launching directly into a multiplayer game from sending a challenge from the N-Gage App and simpler integration with community features such as tournaments.”
And here’s a quote from a second interview, this time with Gordon Thornton, the game’s producer on the Nokia side:
“The multiplayer component in System Rush: Evolution is a result of the Developer exercising their creative juices in designing a true realtime Head-to-head online feature that could be possible using the GPRS networks.
“With not everyone having the luxury of being on 3G networks, we had to design a head-to-head mode that did not require a substantial amount of data to be sent back and forth between the 2 users and the server. “
Great work Phalnax, digging up some interesting information on System Rush Evolution.
Go take a look!
Another site I can pass along, for those of you who speak German, is Symbian60.mobi, which is dedicated to N-Gage and Symbian news.
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!
Good morning N-Gage fans, although after spending all of this morning in a meeting planning for our next meeting, it’s rapidly becoming afternoon, but such is the Nokia way. Now, on to the rest of today’s news…
Behind the Scenes with Creebies
Pocket Gamer has put up an extensive, two-part interview with Lida de Araujo, the game designer of Creebies, which of course is the upcoming creature nurturing game for the N-Gage platform. In it, she talks about the game’s influences, target audience, dynamic breeding mechanics (heh), and community aspects of the game. Here’s a snippet:
I’m really so proud of Creebies. I think it’s an incredibly rich and deep title that could easily hold its own on a console or PC. It’s quite difficult for me to say what I’m most proud of because it was a huge team effort that everyone put so much time and creativity into.
Be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2.
All About Symbian Podcast #70
The lads at AAS have posted up podcast #70, this one goes over Nokia Q1 results, a talk about Orange, and then they discuss N-Gage releases FIFA and SIKB. I’m going to give it a listen during lunch. Here’s the link.
System Rush Review
All About N-Gage wraps their big, beefy hands around System Rush: Evolution and gives it a good shakeout. All in all, they like the game, scoring it 85/100 and noting:
System Rush Evolution sums up the new N-Gage platform perfectly. The gaming is perfectly suited for a mobile device, and offers a comparable challenge to console based gaming, thanks to the strong consideration of the devices the game will be played on.
FIFA 2008 Review
Next up, Pocket Gamer takes EA Sports FIFA 2008 out onto the pitch and gives it a thorough examination. Here’s a snip:
In true FIFA style, the game offers plenty of modes. You can set up an individual match involving international teams, or teams from a host of domestic leagues, including England, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland, the USA, South Korea, Portugal and Mexico, as well as a grab-bag of teams from ‘Rest Of World’.
Asphalt Series Tops 10 Million in Sales
Congrats to Gameloft, whose ‘Asphalt’ series of racing games has just topped the ten million units in sales mark. Obviously that’s across all platforms, not just N-Gage but still an impressive number!
All About N-Gage has posted its first review of N-Gage game, this time Block Breaker Deluxe. They give it a 78/100 overall, noting:
“Block Breaker Deluxe is one of the cheaper games available on N-Gage, and at 7 euros it’s not going to break anyone’s bank. If you enjoy Breakout/Arkanoid then you will definitely enjoy Block Breaker Deluxe. It’s also a very casual game, with a nice relaxing feel to it.”
They weren’t able to help me past this one boss level I’m stuck on though 
Next up, Pocket Gamer turns its attention to Tetris:
“The reason to shell out £6 on N-Gage Tetris isn’t the game modes. It’s the connected aspect, which sees you posting your scores to N-Gage Arena, then finding out how you compare to the world. It’s a simple feature, but one that will double your compulsion to play this already super-addictive puzzler.”
We end today’s trio with another review from Pocket Gamer, this one about the breakneck racer System Rush: Evolution:
“Superb, strongly structured racer that looks incredible, sounds great, and works seamlessly online. Many will wish it were a bit easier, though.”
So that’s what they think. Now it’s your turn, how would you rate these games?
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s encouraging write up of Creatures of the Deep, Pocket Gamer is on the ball once again, this time with a hands-on preview of System Rush: Evolution for the next generation of N-Gage.
Here’s a little snippet from the intro:
“System Rush: Evolution aims to blend fully three-dimensional graphics and furiously fast racing into a compelling experience for handsets. It’s a formula that’s worked for other formats, so how’s it shaping up?
“Pretty well.”
Read the whole thing here.
