N-Gage
A mobile phone and handheld game console combined.
The N-Gage, released by Nokia on October 7, 2003, was a hybrid device that combined a GSM cellular phone with a handheld game console. Officially called the "game deck," it ran on the Series 60 platform over Symbian OS v6.1. Its goal was to pull players away from the Game Boy Advance by offering an all-in-one unit that could make calls, send SMS texts, and play games. Software came on MultiMediaCards that slid into a slot inside the device. Nokia also ran an online service called N-Gage Arena, which supported multiplayer matches over GPRS for certain titles. Over its three-year lifespan, more than 50 games were released, including contributions from major third-party publishers like Eidos Interactive, Electronic Arts, Sega, Gameloft, Activision, and Taito.
The N-Gage failed commercially. Its buttons were poorly suited for gaming, and its shape—often compared to a taco—earned it the mocking nickname "taco phone." Less than a year after launch, Nokia released the N-Gage QD, a redesigned model that fixed many of the original's widely criticized issues. But the revision failed to turn things around. With only 3 million units sold in two years, the N-Gage was discontinued in November 2005. Nokia then shifted its gaming efforts to selected Series 60 smartphones, announcing a new platform called N-Gage (or "N-Gage 2.0") in 2007.
Nokia first introduced the N-Gage on November 4, 2002, at the Mobile Internet Conference in Munich. The device was meant to replace the two separate gadgets—phone and handheld console—that people were increasingly carrying. Its development codename was Starship. The project had a reported development budget of over $100 million, and each game cost between $600,000 and $1.5 million to produce. Many of the preloaded ringtones and sounds were composed by former demoscene musician Markus Castrén, who worked at Nokia in mid-2002. He wrote ringtones in various dance genres and also created a small set of chiptune-style sounds inspired by 1980s arcade games, because he felt video game music at the time didn't sound distinctively game-like.
Nokia tested the N-Gage across Europe from August 2003 until its release, as part of the N-Gage Tour. The launch price was $299. In its first weeks in the United States, the Game Boy Advance outsold it 100 to 1.
Quick Facts
- Codename
- Starship (original) / Aquarius (QD)
- Manufacturer
- Nokia
- Generation
- Sixth
- Release Date
- 7 October 2003
- Discontinued
- 26 November 2005
- Units Sold
- 3 million
- Media
- MultiMediaCard
- Os
- Symbian OS 6.1 (Series 60)
- Cpu
- ARM920T
- Cpu Speed
- 104 MHz
- Related
- Nokia 7650, Nokia 3650, Nokia 6600
- Connectivity
- HSCSD, GPRS, Bluetooth
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Nokia officially introduced the N-Gage at the Mobile Internet Conference in Munich on 4 November 2002, under the development codename Starship. The device integrated the functionalities of mobile phones and handheld game consoles, which some people were increasingly carrying side by side. Its reported development budget exceeded $100 million, and games cost $600,000 to $1.5 million to develop. Nokia attracted major third-party publishers including Eidos Interactive, Electronic Arts, Sega, Gameloft, Activision, and Taito.
The N-Gage ran on the Series 60 platform atop Symbian OS v6.1 and operated on the GSM cellular network. Game software was packaged on MultiMediaCards inserted into a slot behind the battery, requiring removal of the plastic cover and battery to swap games. The speaker and microphone were located on the side edge, leading users to hold the edge against their cheek, which contributed to the 'taco phone' nickname. Multiplayer gaming was accomplished via Bluetooth or the N-Gage Arena online service using GPRS data connections.
Less than a year after launch, the N-Gage QD revision was introduced on 26 May 2004, fixing widely criticized issues such as the cartridge slot placement (moved to the bottom) and moving the earpiece to the face of the device. However, it removed MP3 playback, FM radio reception, and USB connectivity. Despite the redesign, the QD was unable to make an impact, and Nokia discontinued the N-Gage in November 2005, later moving gaming capabilities onto selected Series 60 smartphones as the N-Gage platform (or 'N-Gage 2.0') in 2007.
Reader's Guide
The N-Gage is notable as an early attempt to merge a mobile phone with a dedicated handheld game console, predating the smartphone era. Its commercial failure—selling only 3 million units against expectations and being outsold by the Game Boy Advance 100 to 1 in its first weeks—is often attributed to awkward design choices, including the side-mounted earpiece and the need to remove the battery to change games. The device's 'taco phone' nickname became emblematic of its ergonomic shortcomings. Despite its failure, the N-Gage attracted major third-party publishers and produced over 50 games over three years. The N-Gage QD revision addressed some hardware flaws but could not revive sales, and the platform was discontinued in Western markets in November 2005, though it continued in India and parts of Asia. The N-Gage name later lived on as a software platform for Nokia smartphones. In 2023, the Finnish Museum of Games opened a travelling exhibition about the N-Gage titled 'A Fantastic Failure'.
Did You Know?
- The N-Gage's development codename was Starship.
- The N-Gage QD revision removed MP3 playback, FM radio, and USB connectivity.
- A prototype for a cancelled revision called the 'N-Gage IC' was discovered in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the N-Gage?
The N-Gage is a hybrid device from Nokia that merged a GSM mobile phone with a handheld game console into a single unit. It launched on October 7, 2003, and ran on the Symbian OS v6.1 platform.
What made the N-Gage different from other handhelds of its era?
Instead of being a dedicated gaming device like the Game Boy Advance, the N-Gage could also place phone calls, send SMS texts, and handle data services in one package. Nokia marketed it as a "game deck" to emphasize this all-in-one identity.
How did games load and run on the N-Gage?
Software came on MultiMediaCards (MMC) that slid into a slot built into the body of the device. The hardware was driven by an ARM4T-based processor at 104 MHz and featured a 2.1-inch TFT screen at 176×208 resolution.
What was N-Gage Arena and how did multiplayer work?
N-Gage Arena was Nokia's online service that connected players over GPRS for competitive matches in select titles. It represented one of the earlier attempts at wireless multiplayer on a handheld gaming platform.
How did the N-Gage fare commercially?
Nokia shipped roughly three million units over the device's three-year production run before ending the line. Despite its ambitious phone-plus-console concept, it ultimately failed to dethrone the Game Boy Advance in the handheld market.
More in Video Game Consoles by Generation, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced