# History of video games/Platforms/N-Gage
## History
### Development

Prototype N-Gage units were styled differently from production models. Prior to launch there was a degree of skepticism about the N-Gage.

### Launch

The N-Gage launched on October 7th, 2003 as a game console and mobile phone combination. The N-Gage cost $400 USD.
Reception to the N-Gage was lukewarm. At launch it was panned by the press. The form factor of the N-Gage lead it to being nicknamed the "Taco Phone" by the public.
The improved N-Gage QD was launched in 2004.

### Legacy

Unable to find success as either a phone or console, the N-Gage was discontinued in 2005.The N-Gage was fully discontinued in 2009.
The N-Gage ultimately sold 3 million units and 3 million games.
Later on, the N-Gage would become a symbol of an unusual era in mobile gaming. In contemporary media, the N-Gage is typically referenced either wistfully, or satirically, depending on the tone of the work.

## Technology
### Compute

The N-Gage and the N-Gage QD used an ARM architecture 920T processor clocked at 104 megahertz.
The N-Gage and N-Gage QD both ran Symbian 6.1 as their operating system.
The N-Gage and N-Gage QD both supported Bluetooth 1.1.

### Technical Flaws

Like other Symbian devices, the N-Gage would become unbootable when the user partition was filled, resulting in the White Screen of Death.

## Notable games

* The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey
* SonicN

## Gallery
### N-Gage

* Nokia N-Gage
* N-Gage with ports visible.
* The back of the system, with cover on.
* The battery must be removed to swap game cartridges.
* The system with battery, game, and SIM removed.

### N-Gage QD

* N-Gage QD front
* N-Gage QD back
* N-Gage QD ports
* N-Gage QD with open back
* N-Gage QD with open card
* Empty QD

### N-Gage Internals

* N-Gage motherboard
* N-Gage battery
* N-Gage assembly

### N-Gage QD Internals

* N-Gage QD motherboard top
* N-Gage QD motherboard bottom

### Marketing

* N-Gage logotype.
* Alternate logotype.

## Notes

* N-Gage is noted to sound like "Engage".

## References

* ↑ "I Got a Prototype Nokia N-Gage | Rare Retro Handheld Game System History". Retrieved 25 December 2021.
* ↑ "Will Nokia's N-Gage engage the competition?" (in en). ZDNet. February 6, 2003. https://www.zdnet.com/article/will-nokias-n-gage-engage-the-competition/.
* ↑ "N-Gage Launch - IGN". Retrieved 4 November 2020.
* 1 2 "10.2 The Evolution of Electronic Games". Understanding Media and Culture. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition, 2016. This edition adapted from a work originally produced in 2010 by a publisher who has requested that it not receive attribution. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
* 1 2 "Flashback: Nokia N-Gage - the gaming phone ahead of its time". GSMArena.com. https://www.gsmarena.com/flashback_nokia_ngage-news-38735.php. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
* ↑ Kent, Steven (30 October 2003). "N-Gage fails to engage". The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2003/10/30/digital/n-gage-fails-to-engage/.
* ↑ Lewis, Peter (8 December 2003). "Hold On, My Taco is Ringing Nokia says it has the phone for Gen Y: N-Gage offers voice, gaming, and music, all for $300 and in a taco shape. Question: Has Nokia gone insane? - December 8, 2003". money.cnn.com. https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/12/08/355130/.
* ↑ "Failed_Product_Nokia". Museum of Failure. 12 April 2019. https://museumoffailure.com/nokia/.
* 1 2 McCaskill, Steve (22 September 2017). "Tales In Tech History: Nokia N-Gage". Silicon UK. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
* ↑ Minkov, Rado. "How engaging was the Nokia N-Gage? – Odd Phone Mondays". Phone Arena. https://www.phonearena.com/news/how-engaging-was-nokia-n-gage-odd-phone-mondays_id134032.
* ↑ Overell, Clancy (10 December 2017). "Nokia Still Not Sure Why The N-Gage Didn't Take Off" (in en-AU). The Betoota Advocate. https://www.betootaadvocate.com/uncategorized/nokia-still-not-sure-n-gage-didnt-take-off/.
* 1 2 3 "Nokia N-Gage - Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
* 1 2 3 "Nokia N-Gage QD - Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
* ↑ "Fix Your Nokia’s White Screen Of Death". Hackaday. 9 May 2021. https://hackaday.com/2021/05/09/fix-your-nokias-white-screen-of-death/.
* ↑ "The Failure Awards for defunct branding | #3 Nokia N-Gage". The Drum. https://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/08/29/the-failure-awards-defunct-branding-3-nokia-n-gage.