N-Gage Mobile Games

N-GAGE MOBILE GAMES SERVICE
Phone models N81, N82, N95, N93i, N93, N73
From Nokia
Price: $4-$16 each game

Mobile phone technology has improved to the point where your humble handset has become a viable gaming platform. One of the leaders in the push to make mobile gaming more commonplace is Nokia.

Their clunky phone-gaming hybrid device, the N-Gage, may not have taken off back in 2003, but a newly released N-Gage application can now be installed on a variety of different Nokia phones for use with the new N-Gage mobile games service.

This virtual store allows you to browse and sample games in demonstration form on your phone before purchase. The application also provides a user profile that tracks your scores (similar to the Xbox Gamercard system), as well as a friend's list so you can easily tee up multiplayer games. The current catalogue spans classics like Tetris, The Sims and FIFA Football, with games like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Metal Gear Solid Mobile on the way.

While there's no denying the software has evolved, actual mobile phone hardware still isn't very gamer-friendly.

The N81 has a few dedicated gaming buttons so you can hold the phone horizontally, but responsiveness still leaves a bit to be desired. At least you can now try before you buy.

source : http://www.smh.com.au/