Archive for the ‘Space Impact’ Category

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.

Mobile Game FAQs takes a look at the commercial launch version of Space Impact Kappa Base in this new review. They like the game for the most part and give it a score of 86%.

They also note that the version currently available has had some major improvements since the version released during N-Gage First Access:

Unlike some of the other First Access titles, Space Impact has slightly changed. The background graphics appear far more detailed and crisp and it seems to play a little faster (the shots from the yellow bee-like enemies seem quicker if nothing else). It seems that the first couple of levels have had the most re-working but things soon fall back into place after that.

Read the full review here. And for more on Space Impact, don’t forget to check out this peculiar blog from Space Impact researcher Dr. Mordecai Egan.

Hello gamers, it’s a beautiful day for play, and for rounding up N-Gage news.

• First up the “official” N-Gage news. I have received a mysterious tip that a certain Dr. Mordecai Egan has quite an extensive blog regarding alien abductions and visitations. Normally such matters are handled by Nokia’s Crashed Saucer Recovery Unit, and not the N-Gage Blog, but I’m told the man is associated with the Space Impact project in some manner, so perhaps this requires further investigation on your part.

• In other news, The Great Gameloft Giveaway is still in full swing this week, so jump on in and play a Gameloft game for your chance to enter fantastic prizes. Operators are standing by.

• Next up, Tzer2 on All About N-Gage has posted up some N-Gage related videos, including the Human Snake viral, the Making of the Human Snake Viral, and what looks like (and I’m only guessing, first time I’ve seen it) an N-Gage tribute from our test department.

• All About Symbian wants to know what N-Gage games you’re looking forward to, so they have a new poll up. With close to 200 votes already in, Star Wars and ONE are in the lead. No sign of Project White Rock on the list, although it will be unveiled at a press event this Friday.

• Symbian Guru has posted a two-piece post about Nokia, the N95, and some of its competitors: “What are the next challenges for Nokia? Software, software, software, that is the first and biggest challenge.” Check out parts I & II here.

• And finally, N-Gation has posted up its review of Electronic Arts’ Tetris for the N-Gage platform, nothing: “My first impressions for the game were great nother Tetris game? Soon as that downloaded and installed – My mind was completely changed. It’s a fantastic game.”  

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!

I just got the good word from the Boys in Vancouver that the Space Impact Kappa Base website has gone live!

Pound this link for tons of new gameplay footage, free wallapers, new screenshots, and tons more goodies … including a crazy guy digging a hole and rambling about space aliens.

I kid you not.

I have just received word from the Boys in Vancouver that Space Impact Kappa Base has been released!

While it is not yet for download available on the N-Gage.com website (that should happen Monday morning, approximately 9 AM PST), it should now be available on the application itself.

Just navigate to the Showroom module and view Available Games, and if you don’t see it right away, be sure to select the option ‘Update Now’ (like krisse explains in the Comments section).

 Update: The game is now available in the Web showroom, if you don’t want to download the trial over the air.

Normally I’m not one to believe in the paranormal or the mysterious, but I thought I would pass this one along. A colleague of mine up in the Vancouver office recently sent me this panicky email:

I just got this video from a N-Gage fanatic in Asia!?!?! Seems something is approaching and he captured this video… Can mankind be saved?

Along with the email, he attached the video, which I’ve uploaded to our server. What it all means, I’m not sure, but it could be the start of something big…

We were busy today installing some new office equipment to help with our N-Gage research (see picture), so let’s do a quick roundup of the news: 

• I added six new Space Impact Kappa Base videos today. An exciting side-scrolling arcade shooter, SIKB was available in First Access and is expected back in the Showroom “real soon now.” 

• Ewan Spence over at All About N-Gage has got Quake 2 shareware running on his N-Gage compatible Nokia device! Definitely for the more technically inclined amongst you, and remember, it’s totally unsupported and unofficial. 

• Pocket Gamer has launched a new “industry insider” column called “The Bee.” It’s all very mysterious: “Who is The Bee? I am The Bee. I am busy with the video gaming industry. My name is private so I am The Bee!” No N-Gage tidbits yet, but this might be one to watch.

• I got a note RedLynx today, whom you know as the creators of Pathway to Glory and High Seize for the original game decks as well as the mysterious “Project White Rock” for the new generation. They tipped me off about a totally different game they’ve created, RedLynx Trials 2 Second Edition. It’s a full-fledged 3D PC game, not a mobile game, but there’s a free trial you might like.

• Redrum was sent home today for disciplinary reasons. There was only one donut left on the kitchen counter, and as everyone knows, the last donut belongs to Congested. Nah, just kidding. RR took a much needed personal day. Have a good one, bro, and bring us back more donuts.

And all of you out there have a great weekend!

Two New Reviews of Space Impact Kappa Base

Pocket Gamer takes a look at Space Impact Kappa Base, the arcade shooter developed by the team over at Method Solutions. The reviewer finds the game challenging yet addicting, noting:

“We’ve become genuinely addicted…. We’ve been going back to earlier levels with our newly-bought weapons to improve our score and rating, and discovering the quirks of those various guns, lasers and missiles…. If you’re prepared to put in the time and effort, Space Impact opens out into a wonderful shooter that you’ll be playing for months.”

Hot on the heels of the Pocket Gamer write-up is this review from All About N-Gage. They also like the game, going into great detail about the background and with a smattering of screenshots. Here’s a snippet:

“Whether you like SIKB depends on what kind of gameplay you enjoy most. Although the offline game is called “story mode”, the aim is really to play and replay levels constantly chasing after a better grade, and to unlock more items. If you just want to play through the game once, then you will be missing the point of SIKB. This is an “old school” scrolling shooter where high scorers receive the greatest rewards.”

For screens and videos, check out the game page, and remember the game is currently available through N-Gage First Access.