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Nokia to expand N-Gage gaming

New range of smartphones will feature N-Gage compatibility and enhanced games

Nokia to expand N-Gage gaming
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N-Gage gaming is set to arrive on regular Nokia phones in the first half of 2006, according to a recent announcement from the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia. The N-Gage handset, with its dedicated gaming hardware that includes a 3D graphics processor, joypad and stereo sound, has long enjoyed games that are technically too advanced for regular phone handsets to handle. A new range of N-Gage enabled smartphones, to be launched between January and June of 2006, will boast a powerful enough specification to play the more complex games and will be able to link to the existing N-Gage device via Bluetooth and the N-Gage Arena. “With the N-Gage platform, we’ve been able to deliver a superior gaming experience to mobile gamers, but only on a small range of devices. Now we want to expand rich, connected gaming across the Nokia smartphone range”, outlined Gerard Wiener, Director and General Manager of Games at Nokia.

Early details suggest that the games will be available to download directly onto handsets or via the internet, as well as on the MMC memory card format that’s currently used by the N-Gage. Downloaded games can be saved on PC and then re-installed onto a handset at a later date if they’re deleted.

Further information is expected to be announced by Nokia in September, along with details on the games that will be making the leap from the N-Gage to the new smartphones. Stay tuned to Pocket Gamer for all the information as it emerges!