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N-Gage QD

N-Gage QD

Written by Charles Husemann on 4/14/2004 for
More On: N-Gage QD
The first N-Gage from Nokia didn't quiet measure up to the expectations of the users. Nokia promised us a gaming unit that could also be used as a cell phone and a MP3 player but the device turned out to be a jack of all trades and master of none. One year later Nokia has gone back to the drawing board and will be releasing the N-Gage QD to the public later this year. The new device looks to fix some of the short-comings of it's predecessor.

We don't have a lot of information right now but we'll be following the N-Gage QD as it launches. For your reading pleasure you can continue on to the official press release from Nokia below and then head over to page 2 to check out the specifications on the N-Gage QD.



Nokia Welcomes The N-Gage QD Game Deck To The Mobile Gaming Family!

Great mobile gaming in a compact package with new design and enhanced gaming features

Helsinki, Finland - Nokia today announced the N-Gage QD mobile game deck, the latest addition to the N-Gage platform. The N-Gage QD is a compact device with a hot-swappable multimedia (MMC) slot for instant gaming, longer battery life, improved gaming controls, brighter screen, powerful smartphone features and the new N-Gage Arena launcher application. Gamers will be able to play all of their favorite N-Gage titles, connect to the worldwide mobile gaming community over mobile networks via the N-Gage Arena as well as take part in close-range mobile multiplayer gaming via Bluetooth wireless technology.

Ranging in price from EUR99/$99 with a contract to EUR199/$199 as an unsubsidized retail price, the N-Gage QD game deck is expected to be available in May 2004 for Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific and in June 2004 for the Americas. The N-Gage QD will be available in two versions: a GSM 900/1800 variant (Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific) and a GSM 850/1900 variant (Americas).

"After six months on the market with the N-Gage platform, we wanted to expand our device portfolio based on the feedback we've received," said Nokia's Senior Vice President of Games, Ilkka Raiskinen. "With improved gaming ergonomics, gamers can now start to play games at the push of a button and enjoy the increased responsiveness of the game keys. We also added support for hot-swap MMC and extended the battery life. For phone calls, we reoriented the speaker and microphone to support 'classic talking'."

The N-Gage QD game deck supports existing N-Gage game titles as well forthcoming N-Gage exclusive titles like Ashen, Pathway to Glory and Pocket Kingdom: Own The World, and blockbuster hits like The Sims: Bustin' Out, Crash Nitro Kart and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2004.

The new N-Gage Arena launcher makes accessing the N-Gage Arena even easier than before. The launcher is a software application preinstalled on the N-Gage QD device that allows gamers full access to the N-Gage Arena community directly from their game deck. Once installed, the launcher is accessed from an icon in the game deck's main applications menu, similar to other N-Gage software. Using the launcher via a GPRS connection, N-Gage Arena members can communicate with one another, download exclusive content, access rankings statistics, participate in events and activities, and more. Existing N-Gage users will be able download the N-Gage Arena launcher from www.n-gage.com in May 2004.

The N-Gage QD game deck also supports advanced smartphone features such as personal information management, XHTML browser, email and the possibility to download and install additional Series 60 applications.

The N-Gage QD game deck will be showcased at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California from May 12 to 14, 2004. The N-Gage booth (South Hall, 1524) will also have the latest in high-profile exclusive N-Gage titles and blockbuster hits. For more information on the N-Gage QD game deck, log on to www.n-gage.com/qd.

About N-Gage
The N-Gage game deck is an innovative mobile device that is creating an entirely new market for the games industry. Built for active gamers, the N-Gage platform is the first mobile and connected game deck to feature online high-quality 3D multiplayer gameplay over Bluetooth wireless technology and GPRS. The N-Gage device also offers unique online games services as well as a comprehensive and growing games catalogue from the leading game publishers. Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Nokia and N-Gage are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation.
Features
  • 8-way Rocker (select function removed for better gaming)
  • Separate OK-key for selecting in menus
  • Games auto-start when Game Card is inserted
  • Game Manager application for memory management
  • N-Gage Arena Launcher for community and games services access
  • Data support via GPRS and CSD
  • Hot Swap MMC-card as external memory
  • Bluetooth (for gaming and connectivity)
  • Series 60 UI that enables multitasking
  • Voice Recorder
  • XHTML Browser
  • Multimedia Messaging (send, receive, forward)
  • Personal Information Manager (Calendar, To-do list, contacts)
  • MIDI, WAV ringing tones
  • Java MIDP 1.25
  • Offline profile, e.g. for gaming during flights
  • Voicedial for 20 names
  • T9 Predictive text input
  • Screen Shot application
  • E-mail (SMTP, IMAP4, POP3)


Under the Hood
  • CPU 104 MHz ARM9 Processor
  • Operating Frequency: Dual Band GSW 850/1900
  • Weight: 4.7 Oz (with standard battery)
  • Dimensions: 4.65 X 2.68 X 7.51 in
  • Display: Active Matrix Color Display (176 X 208 Pixels)
  • Screen Size: 1.38 X 1.63 in
  • Battery Life: Talk Time 2-4 Hours, Standby up to 240 hours, Games 5-10 hours

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.


About Author

Hi, my name is Charles Husemann and I've been gaming for longer than I care to admit. For me it's always been about competing and a burning off stress. It started off simply enough with Choplifter and Lode Runner on the Apple //e, then it was the curse of Tank and Yars Revenge on the 2600. The addiction subsided somewhat until I went to college where dramatic decreases in my GPA could be traced to the release of X:Com and Doom. I was a Microsoft Xbox MVP from 2009 to 2014.  I currently own stock in Microsoft, AMD, and nVidia.
 

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