N-Gage won't merge with Ovi Store, at least for now

[Tzer2]

The upcoming Ovi Store application is due to replace Nokia's existing Download!, MOSH and Software Market services, and there has been speculation about what else it might absorb. However, Nokia has now gone on record to say the N-Gage application will be kept as a separate service, at least for the moment, though they also said that their medium term goal is to "converge everything into a single distribution channel".

Read on in the full article.

[ccraig]

the only purpose ovi store should ever serve for n-gage is the distribution of n-gage games and then i'd want to see them in there own sub-category imo
i wouldn't like to see any dev just beable to release games on n-gage without nokia imposing strict rules of code for them to follow
as for xbla not anyone can just develop a live arcade game for microsoft
there is a community games section added now on live arcade and if you game does well you can get it put into live arcade
so maybe nokia could adapt something like adding a different tab in showroom where indie devs can get there games listed kinda like xbla

[Tzer2]

Just to make clear, when I say "Xbox Live" I'm not talking about Live Arcade. What I'm talking about is the "Xbox Live" sub-brand which indicates that an ordinary Xbox game has online features.

My idea is that Ovi Store games which supported N-Gage features could have a little logo next to their name (maybe "N-Gage", maybe some other name, or maybe just an orange "N" logo).

The N-Gage online gaming community infrastructure could be opened up to Ovi Store publishers for free, to encourage users to stick with Ovi Store compatible phones, and to encourage publishers to publish on Ovi Store.

[sandy_1988]

From the interview:

Argenti said that from the start the store will sell mass-market games, but Nokia has decided for now to keep separate its gaming service N-Gage, which is targeted more at hard-core gamers.

Either Nokia is making fun of us (by allowing super-casual content like Boom Blox or Tetris) or they are going to change path soon, regarding N-Gage. I hope the 2nd happens.

[Tzer2]

Either Nokia is making fun of us (by allowing super-casual content like Boom Blox or Tetris) or they are going to change path soon, regarding N-Gage. I hope the 2nd happens.

That's what I thought too. The current N-Gage lineup is clearly aimed at casual gamers, it's very odd to describe it as a hardcore gamer service.

There's nothing wrong with casual games by the way, they can be very cheap and great fun to play. It's just weird that Nokia is describing N-Gage as non-casual.

[MD90]

Sorry, not related to the topic, but do you guys know where I can find the old n-gage game covers? I googled and I only found a few like ashen and pathway to glory. But is there someplace that I can find them all?

[Tzer2]

MD90, there's a forum for general N-Gage discussion:

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/forum...=96&styleid=23

...and of course the official forums are a good place to post general questions too:

http://forums.arena.n-gage.com/

[wampyre]

At first when I read your article it seemed like a good idea, but taken the fact that for instance EA, Glu and other makers of games releases their own versions of the same games shortly after (or before) they release it for the N-gage it would prove to be difficult for Nokia to offers N-gage games as a 'exclusive' service.

It is also the case that if you install the .sis version of a particular game you can't install the same game meant for the N-gage.
(Difference is there's no pointsystem on the .sis version)

That would lead to lesser sales for Nokia.

I really do however agree on what you wrote about the N-gage branding being haunted by old memes, and that they could offer it as an Xbox Live service.
In fact that's what some of my friends compare it too when I talk about the N-gage point system. (I don't own an Xbox myself)

To offer the same games on the OVI store would lead to more competition and this against Nokia themselves.
Why buy the N-gage games when the same games are offered as java games or 'symbian' games?
(It could be doable if the price of those games were priced higher and the N-gage games lower)

Surely their promotion and advertising must have had some impact on what the (new) N-gage is all about.

What I'm basically saying is that if you offer different versions of the same games the N-gage will not be exclusive anymore.