Nokia have already begun their E3 2003 campaign with impressive announcements and an even more impressive list of titles for their fledgling handheld the N-GaGe. With Nintendo being the established force in the market and with Sony just about to enter, Nokia are pushing their online aspect to its maximum potential in order to create their own little niche in the market. If it won't be the top handheld console, it might as well be the phone all gamers buy.
The main theme was the expansion of the titles for the Nokia N-Gage game deck at the annual E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) in Los Angeles, California. The Nokia N-Gage is an innovative mobile game deck device that creates an entirely new market for time, place and context sensitive game genres. Built for active and hard-core gamers, the Nokia N-Gage allows for online, mobile, multiplayer game play with today's hottest titles. In addition to gaming, the Nokia N-Gage mobile game deck also features a digital music player (MP3/AAC), stereo FM radio, as well as a tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 mobile phone.
Several blockbuster launch titles will be available for the Nokia N-Gage. Tomb RaiderStarring Lara Croft from Eidos has been extended to include such mobile gaming services as advanced wirelessly networked gaming as well as the ability for players to direct, edit and share their own cinematic gameplay sequences over the mobile network. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell from Gameloft is the next generation blockbuster adaptation to the Nokia N-Gage, where two players can join together in co-operative mode to solve special situations. Other exciting titles from Gameloft include Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Rayman 3 and Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer. In addition to superb graphics and compelling gameplay, these titles take advantage of the unique features of the Nokia N-Gage, to enable multiplayer game play over Bluetooth.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is the next generation blockbuster adaptation to the Nokia N-Gage. Gameloft's title will offer stealth action at its best on the Nokia N-Gage as well as a fully original 2 player co-operative mode.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, adapted from PC game blockbuster, will be a 3D tactical FPS, providing the player with a unique feeling of "war immersion" as well as an outstanding real time multiplayer experience. The game will include a training map, tactical exercices, several campaign missions and multiplayer maps.
Marcel Desailly ProSoccer will be the adaptation of one of the strongest soccer simulation for mobile devices to the Nokia N-Gage, with 6 games modes (exhibition, cup, league, career, training, penalty), and a two player versus wireless mode.
Rayman 3, inspired by Ubi Soft's big hit on all formats, will present a vibrant graphic universe. The originaly-paced gameplay offers a fresh and exhilarating experience to the action-adventure genre. A unique multiplayer arena will allow players to confront simultaneously.
The Nokia N-Gage is creating a unique entertainment platform for the games industry, together with major game publishers, developers, network operators and service providers. For game developers, the prospect of network aware games, operating over Bluetooth and mobile networks, gives new opportunities for innovation. Working with publishers, including Activision, Eidos, Gameloft, Sega, Taito and THQ, we want to create a game portfolio which not only features something familiar, but also totally new game scenarios that gamers haven't seen before, said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia Mobile Phones. Mobility is the next big thing in games, and the online elements and services will offer modern ways to consume games and connect with gaming communities.
Nokia is also acting as a game publisher to create branded Nokia N-Gage game titles as part of the evolving games portfolio. Pathway to Glory, an online warfare community and original Nokia title, is due to be released in spring 2004.
Nokia also announced the expansion of multiplayer games for their handheld, The Nokia N-Gage offers us a new level of interactive gaming. From this year on, thanks to innovations like the Nokia N-Gage and the creation of dedicated quality games, wireless gaming is becoming a major video game format, available to more than 100 million users from 2003 and one billion users in five years' time, said Michel Guillemot, President of Gameloft.
We are delighted to support Nokia N-Gage game deck with Gameloft through our game brands, says President Yves Guillemot of Ubi Soft Entertainment.
Nokia believes that mobility plays an important part in the evolution of games, and the Nokia N-Gage game deck allows users to play the latest high quality titles in a new way - multiplayer games connected locally via Bluetooth wireless technology or over-the-air games over mobile networks. For example, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell brings the current bestseller to the Nokia N-Gage with new unique mobile features like the co-operative multiplayer mode, which are unavailable anywhere else, said Ilkka Raiskinen Senior Vice President, Entertainment and Media Business Unit, Nokia Mobile Phones.
The Nokia N-Gage game deck devices and games (sold separately on game cards using the MultiMediaCard standard) will be available to consumers in volumes across five continents in early October 2003. With roughly 20 game titles available for the holiday shopping season, hot new titles will be added on a regular basis. Nokia N-Gage game deck devices and game titles will be available in major retail outlets, game-specific and video game retail outlets, as well as in regular mobile phone delivery channels in all major markets.
The Nokia N-Gage game deck features a high quality color display with backlight, and eight-way direction controller (called the 'Rocker') and an ergonomic design optimized for mobile game play. Games for the Nokia N-Gage game deck, featuring excellent graphics and enhanced sounds, will be sold separately on game cards
