A story about a guy, his smartphone, his dogs and everything else in between.
Archive for May, 2008
Did Nokia’s Marketing of N-Gage Miss the Boat?
May 20th
After it’s trial run on Nokia N81 devices and then it’s lackluster launch, the gaming world still snickers at N-Gage. Why do I say this? After reading Konami’s announcement to back the N-Gage platform and bring solid titles to it, including Metal Gear Solid, I was dismayed to read the comments left after the article.
Bearing in mind I read the release on Joystiq which I’d like to believe is a site for informed gamers, the comments that followed the article really shed some (dim) light on the lack of promotion of the N-Gage as a gaming platform (at least here in the States).
For example, the first comment to start the thread was "…Does anyone here even have an N-Gage?".
Obviously, people and more importantly, gamers, still believe that the N-Gage being referenced is the N-Gage Classic QD and gamers are unaware that N-Gage is now a platform that is available on numerous N-Series devices. Bad Nokia !
One commenter did clear it up for the person who made the comment above, explaining exactly what N-Gage was and that it was no longer a device but a platform, much like Xbox Live.
To this, the once under-informed commenter posted, "That clears it up…I don’t think I’ve seen any advertising for N-Gage as a service ever." And on this side of the world, this is very true. There is no advertising for the N-Gage (or N-Series phones) anywhere. The only reason I know is because I am a self-informed consumer. I chose the Nokia N82 because of its camera and gaming abilities. And I knew where to purchase the handset online.
To everyone else though, the N-Gage platform might as well be a unicorn or sasquatch.
Where is the shared User Profile for Nokia Step Counter and Nokia Sports Tracker?
May 17th
I really enjoy seeing the Nokia Beta Labs’ updates for new applications that enhance what my Nokia handset can do. I use Nokia Sports Tracker from time to time to map out my jogging routes (but try to jog lightly, so I don’t jog with my Nokia N82 often). It’s a great way to utilize the N82’s GPS and being able to save your routes and share them with friends and fellow joggers is a treat.
When the Nokia Beta Lab released the Step Counter I was very much intrigued. I enjoy seeing data about my personal fitness right on my handset as soon as it happens. I just started the application and my first qualm rears its head: Why can’t the Nokia Step Counter use the same user profile that I created to use Nokia Sports Tracker?
Let’s face it: The Step Counter was derived from the Nokia Sports Tracker. Just by using the application, one can tell that it is very similar to Sports Tracker. So why am I entering a new user profile to use the Step Counter?
It is really that hard to have some consistency amongst Nokia applications and the user profiles that we create for them? I see no reason why I couldn’t use my Sports Tracker profile with Step Counter. I even searched the menu to IMPORT my profile from Sports Tracker because that just seemed RIGHT.
I’ve ranted…now it’s time to step.
Why is there no single login for all of my Nokia Web Services?
May 12th
As an informed consumer and a gadget lover, I was definitely happy when I got my Nokia N82 in January. It is a powerful device: 5MP Camera, GPS, Wifi and 3G and N-Gage compatibility made it the device that I needed.
As I continue to learn more and more about my phones many abilities, one thing does baffle me: why is there no single login for all of my Nokia Services. I have signed up for Share on Ovi, N-Gage,Nokia Sports Tracker and Mosh and I have to remember every login for each of my Nokia Services. If the hardware device is supposed to unify my end-user experience by giving me all of these great features, why am I encumbered on the software end because I have to remember logins for multiple services.
For each of these services, all of my login information is stored on my phone. I can easily login from the N-Gage client with a few key presses and the same goes for Ovi and Sports Tracker and Mosh. The agony comes when I am on my PC and I need to venture into Ovi, for example. I understand that each service is different but if Nokia is building communities around each of these services, why can’t they intersect for the users who use them all (or use more than one) and why can’t a user login with ONE username and password for all of these services.
I am JadedMoon on Ovi, jadedmoonstudios on Mosh, jadedmoonstudios on Sports Tracker and JadedMoon on N-Gage. With one single login, I could just be me on all of my favourite (yes, european spelling) Nokia Web Services.
Why I’m not happy with Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core (or what I like to call "Press X to Complete the Game")
May 4th
As far as handheld gaming devices goes, I think that the PSP fits the mould of what I was looking for: a robust handheld that has a solid library of games that take advantage of the system.
Final Fantasy Tactics, Puzzle Quest and Tekken are but a few titles that make the system worth purchasing. But some titles (and this is VERY subjective) which should be Grade A titles are just parading as Grade A titles.
I say this because I am currently playing Crisis Core and the experience is bitter sweet. Crisis Core is remarkably stunning visually and the audio is not far behind. From start to finish, the game seems to be worth the money I paid for it. It’s nice to see the game compared to Final Fantasy 7 and realizing how much more pretty Crisis Core is.
Then you compare game-play (which I believe to be the most important part of any game !!!) and you’re left with a very shallow gaming experience. I keep pressing ‘X’ to progress through the game. And it has not failed me yet. Crisis Core feels more like an interactive story than it does a Square-Enix game.
Does anyone remember "Bouncer" on the PS2? It was a side-scrolling fighting game that showed off what early PS2 games could do on the system. It was a nice but short and shallow gaming experience. I feel the same way about Crisis Core. It shows off what the PSP is capable of but there isn’t much more.
Why all of this blasting of such a decently reviewed game? I played one of the side-missions yesterday and the objective was to kill 1000 shinra soldiers. This mission took me about 3 hours to complete and all I did was press ‘X’. All of my attributes, Health, MP and AP were on ‘break’ (unlimited) and all I had to do was press ‘X’ to finish the mission. I had no opportunity to die during the mission. It became a boring quest of pressing one button just to finish it.
In addition, the DMW (Crisis Core’s roulette system that enables special attacks, summons etc) was no help. With 1000 soldiers killed, the DMW did not initiate one summons. You’d think that the DMW system would some how assess what you’re trying to accomplish and help you out (since you cannot initiate a summons yourself) but it did not. And to add insult to injury, after killing all 1000 enemies, I was rewarded with a Phoenix Down.
So I continue to rant but I’m going back to playing the game. Like I said, it’s bitter sweet: I need to finish what I started, I need to finish this game. But all in all, I really dislike Crisis Core’s:
- DMW system: The player has no control over it so there is no strategy to how you play. Just attack and hope for the best.
- DMW effect animations: Even after you kill an enemy, the game may still play AND can only press ‘X’ to skip summons animations, nothing else.
I may change my mind later on but currently, Crisis Core is the PSP’s equivalent of "Bouncer".
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