Nokia's 70,000 euro game concept competition closes tomorrow (8th of September) so you'd better get your skates on if you want to take part. They're not looking for any actual code, all they want are detailed ideas for Symbian, Java or N-Gage games optionally including mockup images and/or video too. Note that the competition is only open to professional development companies, private individuals cannot enter.
There's a new episode of Sauna Talk on the N-Gage developer site, where once again host Arnold Faber discusses mobile gaming with Nokia's Miikka Skaffari while not wearing any clothes.
As the N-Gage platform has recently been released for the Nokia 5320 XpressMusic, All About Symbian has updated its review of the phone to take account of this expanded functionality. It definitely adds a great deal of value to an already-inexpensive device, and you can find out more (including the new score) by clicking on the link.
For completeness, I've updated my comprehensive guide to S60 hardware of the past, present and future, adding Nokia's new devices and also camera flash information. Hopefully worth bookmarking, if you haven't already....
The N-Gage application is now available for download for the Nokia 5320 XpressMusic. If you want to download the app directly onto the handset, just go to the 5320's Games folder, click on the N-Gage logo and then click on the 5320 XpressMusic link from the list of downloads. If you prefer downloading the app via your computer, click here to find out how to install using the PC and Mac method.
Forum Nokia has published the official tech specs for the upcoming Nokia N79 and Nokia N96-3 (which is a variant of the N96 for the Americas). Oddly they don't list free RAM for either device, but that's possibly because the release firmwares aren't finished yet. You can also see the tech specs for the original Nokia N96 too.
Utility developer Warelex has produced Wi-Fi enabled versions of its popular Mobiola Screen Capture, Mobiola Web Camera and Remote Control applications, claiming that the new connection method is "much better for presentation and frame rate". In addition, there are two new applications that I'd not heard of: Mobiola Headset and Mobiola Headset for Skype which (as they sound) make use of a S60 phone as a PC headset. Also worth noting is that Warelex is now part of SHAPE Services, another established Symbian OS developer.
The puppy simulator Dogz is now available from the N-Gage application's showroom section. If you can't see it in the showroom, select Options and then Update Now. If you still can't see it, click on Available Games and then scroll to the bottom of the list. (Thanks to ccraig for alerting us!)
According to their official website, Nokia's firmware update service is currently unavailable for the 6220 Classic, so you can't update that phone's firmware for the moment. Support will apparently be restored ASAP but they haven't said when that will be. (via S60inside)
Over on All About N-Gage we've reviewed the new adventure game Dirk Dagger And The Fallen Idol, a noir detective story with a good sprinkling of humour done in the style of the classic Lucasfilm and Sierra adventures. Has Nokia resurrected this long-forgotten genre? Click on the link to find out...
This is something All About N-Gage has been calling for for a while now, and finally it's happened: Nokia has teamed up with Zeemote to produce a wireless gaming controller compatible with all existing N-Gage and Symbian S60 games and applications. The controller's application can be installed on any S60 3rd Edition handset and lets you map the controller's buttons to any of the phone's buttons. While a separate controller for mobile phones sounds crazy, it actually makes perfect sense for handsets with TV Out, as it effectively turns them into home games consoles.
Yahoo has released a native Symbian application which puts a shortcut to its oneSearch service on the Idle screen of your phone (N70, N95, N73, 6120, and E65). The stand out feature is Search Assist that suggests terms and phrases as you go and aims to save you time and provide related concepts for more refined results.
Nokia has extended the deadline for entries to its Mobile Games Innovation Challenge to the 8th of September. The contest is looking for innovative game concepts (actual code isn't required) for S60, Java or N-Gage, with the top 3 concepts getting money and contracts to actually create the games. The concept can take the form of text, mockup images and optionally video too. It's only open to professional development companies though, private individuals cannot enter.
The N-Gage platform's first ever adventure game Dirk Dagger And The Fallen Idol is now available to download through the N-Gage application. If you can't see it in the app's showroom, click on "Options" and then "Update Now". If you still can't see it, click on "Available Games".
You can now play the excellent N-Gage multiplayer title Reset Generation for free through Facebook (click here to visit the game's Facebook page) and Google Gadgets (click here to visit the game's Google Gadgets page). You can also put it on your own website or blog for free by copying the HTML code included below, and of course you can play it on your phone through the N-Gage application. All versions of the game share the same game world, so it should be very easy to find opponents.