If you have a look at the Cooking Mama game page on Ovi Gaming, you'll see we've added a brief review of the game, several screenshots and a 7 minute video of the game in action on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. We'll be gradually adding more and more to the game pages over time, so that they build up into a place where you can find out what Ovi Store games are really like.
Over on AAS's sister site Ovi Gaming, we've been taking a look at the long-awaited Worms World Party and can finally present our long-awaited review of the game. Lots of people love Worms to bits, and it was one of the most popular and critically acclaimed games on the original gen N-gage, but what is the next gen version like?
MooLan is a new, Lunar Lander-like game for S60 5th Edition and is one of the first breed of Ovi Store-only titles. Pity it's not that deep or that good, though, as I found out in one of my shortest ever game reviews, here on Ovi Gaming.
A Chinese website has posted screenshots and video of the N97 running the N-Gage application, see the third video for N-Gage. It seems the N-Gage app has been redesigned somewhat for horizontal use on the N97's large touch-sensitive screen, but the only game shown (Asphalt 4) seemed to be running at 4:3 aspect ratio rather than the full 16:9. (via brainimpact on Twitter)
The Nokia 5800 has a very large high res screen which is compatible with many touchscreen Java games in full-screen mode, for example Cooking Mama works on the 5800 in full screen. Unfortunately the default setting for many Java games and applications (including Cooking Mama) seems to have the on-screen "virtual keypad" switched on automatically, which makes the game or app shrink into half-screen mode. However, there is an easy solution to this problem which should let touch-compatible Java software use the 5800's entire screen. See below for a quick step-by-step guide...
Bobba, the mobile online virtual world from the makers of Habbo, has added all non-Nokia S60 2nd and 3rd Edition devices to its official compatibility list. Practically every Nokia S60 2nd and 3rd Edition phone is on the list, and now so are Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Lenovo S60 models. There are no S60 5th Edition devices on the list yet, but the publishers Sulake say they are working on this and should have a rough version out soon, with a more touch-optimised version later.
If you click on the Ovi Gaming site's menu bar item labelled Ovi Store Games, you'll see it now contains pages and brief info about all of the games currently in Ovi Store, along with reviews and screenshots for a few of them. Over time we'll be adding a lot more reviews, screenshots and perhaps even some videos too, slowly building up a comprehensive guide to Ovi's gaming world.
Over on sister site All About NGage OviGaming, Ewan's been putting a new implementation of the card game classic Uno through its paces. And, barring a token multiplayer mode and all-or-nothing sound, the developers seem to have knocked this one out of the park. And done it in Java, no less. Now all you've got to do is master the rules...
In All About Symbian Insight 72 (AAS Podcast 131) Steve, Ewan and Rafe round up an eclectic collection of news including Google Calendar Sync, Spore, recent MOAP devices, recent stats and Omnia HD availability. In the second part of the show discuss moments of change - times when we've seen a device of technology that marks a significant shift. You can listen to AAS Insight 72 here or, if you wish to subscribe, here's the RSS feed.
Managing a football team is easy, countless games have shown you how, on all platforms. But owning a football team and trying to make money... that's a different matter. Can Football Tycoon show us the way forward? Ewan, a Scotsman with an eye for money, takes a critical look at this new S60 game...
The rather brilliant N-Gage-exclusive 3D platform game Bounce Boing Voyage has been updated to include motion control on those phones which have accelerometers, where you can tilt the phone to control the main character (or you can use the traditional button controls if you prefer). If you've already bought the game you can get the updated version free, and if you haven't bought the game you can buy it from the N-Gage showroom tab. Instructions for updating existing games are below.
It all started with a tweet of mine: "Why is almost EVERY game on the iPhone better than ANY game on S60?", penned in a fit of frustration after reviewing yet another batch of insanely good iPod Touch (iPhone) games. And this got retweeted plenty, so before I get burned at the stake by the N-Gage boys I thought it would be worth expanding on my necessarily brief original Twitter post. Read on for my thoughts, especially apposite given the Ovi Gaming site launch and imminent Nokia Ovi App Store...
Our sister site, All About N-Gage, has evolved into Ovi Gaming. The new name reflects an expansion in the coverage of the site. In addition to providing the usual comprehensive N-Gage coverage, Ovi Gaming (OG) will provide coverage of games available via Nokia's forthcoming Ovi Store, which we expect to arrive very soon. As before, we'll continue to feature the best of Ovi Gaming content, here, in AAS's news stream.
EA's life simulator Spore Origins is now available through the N-Gage application, just open it on your phone, go to the Showroom tab, select "Options" and then "Update Now". Alternatively select "See All Games". You can see a list of N-Gage-compatible phones (and more about the platform) on All About N-Gage's FAQ page.
The world of gaming for the Nokia 5800 is certainly in its infancy, if QuickBlock is representative. It's a simple touch-screen 'dodge the blocks' game and gets the review treatment from Ewan here. Maybe the Ovi Store, next week, will bring a raft of new, whizzy 5800 titles - we're starting to suspect a number are being batched up to launch with the store...