One of the most innovative game from Ovi is about to emerge…
It’s a game based on GPS location, maps and your driving skills.
Behold! OVI MAPS RACING!
Basically when you launch the game, it will detect your location via GPS and then present you the map of the area you are in and then you can start racing in your neighbourhood.
Here are more screenshots of the game.
The game will soon be available for download, so for now, enjoy the game trailer first.
This is gonna be one very sad news from Nokia. According to them in the latest N-gage blog post, Nokia will be shutting down the N-gage gaming service under the OVI umbrella by 2010 and they will ‘no longer publish new games for the N-Gage platform’. That doesn’t mean the end of the gaming segment for Nokia because according to the same blogpost, the games will be provided via its Ovi Store service instead.
Some important notes on this:
Nokia will no longer publish new games via the N-Gage service. Instead games will be made available via the Ovi Store.
N-Gage games can be purchased until September 2010. Other parts of the N-Gage service, including N-Gage Arena, will be availale throughout 2010.
The N-Gage application will continue to ship on some older devices. However new devices will not ship with the N-Gage application.
All current N-Gage will continue to work. The online (Arena) elements will continue to work throughout 2010. However, subsequently, the online elements of N-Gage games will no longer work.
Nokia’s future gaming strategy will be based on Ovi Store distribution.
Looking back at some games I really loved playing on the N-gage…
The N-gage application is finally made available to the N97 worldwide. Previously it was just for certain regions. Of course, someone posted the N-gage app online and I tried installing it and it worked BUT I could not connect to the arena probably it was because of the region difference.
All those were history, as the N-gage app can now be downloaded from the official site itself! (and yes, we can go connect to the arena with this version[v1.30 built 1541]).
No games came preinstalled with app so we have to do it by ourselves. As you can see in the screenshot above, I was in the midst of installing Spore and some other games. To get games, just download them from the games page on the site or the showroom tab in the N-gage application itself.
Once installed, all the games will be listed in the games tab and you can access to any of them with just a simple tap. You can also view your account details and game history too.
In order to submit your scores, chat with your friends and view new games, you have to connect to the Internet and it can be done by just accessing the options menu.
Watch this video as I briefly talk about the app and some games.
Dance Fabulous, the one of a kind dance party game is finally out on N-Gage!
It’s a dancing game that lets you dance to your own songs. You can also create your own unique dance moves and boost your music experience to a totally new level!
Connect this game to the network and beat your friends’ score points!
You wont see it on the N-gage website for now, since it’s scheduled launch date is 11th June… but you can get this game now by accessing the “showroom” tab on the N-gage app on your Nokia phones. Just make sure you click on options > update now!
Here’s the official trailer for Dance Fabulous.
Check out this video too! It’s Rafe from AllAboutSymbian trying to beat my high score (spot my name Jason G at the high score chart on the left of the LCD) at the Dance Fabulous party, Monaco recently.
I recently got the chance to play with something futuristic. Haha. It’s the Cinemizer eyewear produced by Zeiss.
It was at the Nokia Developer Summit where I got exposed to this device that allows users to have 3D experience with stereo sound watching movies(and playing games) on mobile phones.
According to Zeiss website; “Whether you want to watch a whodunit inside the sanctity of your own four walls, or a thriller while riding an exercise bike at the gym – cinemizerplus allows you to enjoy a blockbuster wherever you are”
To get it to work on the mobile phone, we need to have the software installed and the dock that plugs into the 3.5mm headphone jack that has a cable connecting to the eyewear.
The Cinemizer eyewear made me look like Cyclopse…. but the 3d experience was mind blowing… with earphone plugged deep into your ear… one get get immersed into the movie right away.
Here’s a video demonstration of the eyewear plugged onto an N86 that I recorded at the event in Monaco.
Calling all Asphalt fans… it’s time again for you go visit the N-gage showroom cos Asphalt 4: Elite Racing is out for you to download!
Face the world’s richest drivers in high-speed races through traffic or take on your friends in the exclusive multiplayer mode!
Some screenshots of the game:
Experience amazing 3D graphics and a unique feeling of speed. Choose from 28 licensed dream cars and bikes from the world’s most prestigious manufacturers, such as Ferrari and Bugatti, and zoom through the streets of Monte Carlo, New York, Shanghai, Paris, Dubai, and Beverly Hills to make your mark. Check your rides in your own garage and spend millions on fine tuning them. Take on the police in each city as they try to stop you with roadblocks and helicopters in order to seize your expensive toy. Can you become the ultimate VIP of urban racing?
This is my 2nd post about the new 5800 touchscreen music phone from Nokia.
Let’s talk about one of the accessories that comes with the 5800.
The casing.
It’s a hard case, that feels a bit rubberish… not quite sure of the material used but I just love the look of it.
Here’s a closer look at it. As you can see, the tiny holes allows us to catch a quick glimpse of the screen so if there’s a notification of any sort, we will get to see it.
Now gaming.
The 5800 comes with 2 games.
Bounce.
It’s a 3d version of the famous bouce game from Nokia. In this game, you control the movement of the rubber ball by sliding your fingers across the screen. Slide up to move the ball forward, slide down for backwards, slide left to turn left and slide right to turn right. Double click and you can make it jump… very useful when you need to jump across moving platforms.
Grand Raging Thunder
Note: This is not a screenshot of the version from 5800. This is a racing game that is controlled by tilting the phoen left and right, utilising the built in accelerometer. Watch the video below to see hwo this game is played on the 5800 XpressMusic.
One more thing I have to tell you… N-Gage is not supported in this device. So if you are an N-gage player, then think if you really wanna get this 5800 ok.
Firemint has come out with a new game. It’s called Firemint Real Racing.
What so great about this game?
Well, it uses the accelerometer to control the car and when u tilt it left and right, the interface will always be straight so you dont have to turn ur head.
Don’t know what I mean? Watch this superb demo.
The most exciting HD racing experience on mobile
* Ultra realistic HD graphics * Multi channel surround sound * Realistic dynamics with natural accelerometer control
A truly competitive experience with “just one more go” gameplay
* Head to head multiplayer via WiFi or OTA * Track your friends’ performance using Real Racing’s Facebook and OpenSocial applications
Relish your achievements
* Publish your best laps to YouTube with the press of a button * Mash up and publish your results with web tools from Real Racing’s user portal
Somehow this game is still in development. So there’s nothing much we can do but to wait for it’s release.
