Yes, the Nokia N95 DOES have gaming keys

[krisse]

If you run N-Gage games on a Nokia N95, its multimedia keys automatically turn into gaming keys equivalent to those on the N81 or N96. There still seem to be a lot of people unaware of this, or even claiming that we're mistaken, so we've done a very short video showing this feature in action. Click on the headline to see it...

Read on in the full article.

[argh]

Works fine on my N95-1 (rebranded to EURO1). I thought this was pretty well known, as a lot of the games default to 270 degree rotation - it was the first thing that I tried!

[fernando20]

But you have to admit, gaming with those flat keys sure is hard.

It's worked in my N95-8gb!
V20.0.016
28-02-08
RM - 320!
Nokia N95 (05.01)

[mcpezza]

The keys, or key work with Creatures of the Deep on my unbranded N95 8Gb (0558787) if used in the default screen orientation. Nothing with the trial version of FIFA 2008 though.

im surprised it has taken this long to figure it out! its no secret the multi keys can be used in ngage games + fifa08 (full version) works well with the multi keys.

[2more]

Its a pity that it uses only 2 of 4 multimedia keys... :(

now for Nokia to use the 3D accelerator (MBX) on the N95....

[fyatwyrio]

The media keys don't work for N-GAGE on my N95-3. I have the latest firmware. I also only have the option to 'rotate left' the display for some reason. I can't get it in the orientation pictured where the d-pad is on the left.

V 20.2.011
13-05-08
RM-160

At last a use for those silly multimedia keys,does anyone use them at all?
They are horrible to press and will drive you up the wall gaming with them.
Nokia please give on your next phone, no double slider, no side buttons and make the shutter button the pad center like every other phone

They work great on my n95 - didnt know about it until the AAS article last week though. As to the previous post I use the multimedia keys all the time, my N95 is my main music player so when i have a large playlist on shuffle and it comes to a song i dont feel like listening to, slide the phone and click next; or pause if i need to talk to someone. as for camera keys its far easier to use the key on the side LIKE A REAL CAMERA SHUTTER as apposed to center joystick.
My mate has an n95 8gb - ill check with him to see if multimedia keys work on his

[krisse]

It's worked in my N95-8gb!
V20.0.016

Thanks for the feedback! So why do some other people with N95 8GBs claim it doesn't work? Operator branded firmware? Regional variants of the hardware?

The keys, or key work with Creatures of the Deep on my unbranded N95 8Gb (0558787) if used in the default screen orientation. Nothing with the trial version of FIFA 2008 though.

Hmm... interesting. So it may be a software issue to do with particular games themselves?

im surprised it has taken this long to figure it out! its no secret the multi keys can be used in ngage games + fifa08 (full version) works well with the multi keys.

We did already publish stuff about this a while ago in our "N95 as a gaming device" review but there are still people who claim it isn't possible, so this video proof seemed an appropriate way of showing that it does work.

But you have to admit, gaming with those flat keys sure is hard.

They're not as immediately useable as the N81 gaming keys, but IMHO you do get used to them, or at least I did. :-)

Its a pity that it uses only 2 of 4 multimedia keys.

Well, the games have to be designed for two gaming buttons because some phones (the N81, the 5320) only have two gaming buttons. It's not that bad though, most of the games barely use the second button (and technically you don't actually need the gaming buttons on COTD because the d-pad button does the same thing).

Someone suggested allowing the other two buttons to be redefined as personal shortcuts (for example mute sound or stuff like that), which might be an interesting idea.

On my n95 8gb(n95-2) they work and i've never even upgraded my firmware im still on like v10 something.

[malerocks]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

On my n95 8gb(n95-2) they work and i've never even upgraded my firmware im still on like v10 something.

Why? Dont you want the improvements that Nokia has brought in the n95 with firmware updates???

Well this is nothing new to me. I have discovered this and posted on my blog months ago.

Here’s the link:
http://voiceofteenagers.blogspot.com...or-n-gage.html

Anyway, congratulations on discovering it, i’m sure you’re enjoying the N-gage experience much more than before.

One thing i notice is that on my N95-1, the buttons are a little stiff (even after i sent them to NSC for a replacement recently). Making my fingers and wrists a littel sore after gming for too long. I guess Nokia didnt really give console-like gaming comfort much tought into their design.