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Enter the N-Gage 2.0

Support within the publishing community is growing for the N-Gage 2, which was unofficially announced via a Nokia blog. EA is throwing the might of its mobile division behind the system, as is mobile device developer Gameloft. No games have been announced yet, but consider this Nokia's way of getting its hype machine rolling.

Debuting at $299, the original N-Gage sold less than 5,000 units in its first week at retail, and just 1.5 million units since its October 2003 inception. Despite a few noteworthy titles, the original N-Gage was a total flop and an industry laughing stock. Famous only for a few rather ridiculous PR stabs at popularity--while providing the internet with a few jokes at its expense--there were few days the device was taken seriously as a game machine.

To put things in perspective, the Nintendo DS sold 500,000 in its first week alone. The Sony PSP sold the same amount in its first two days. We know where these two stand as of now, but it goes to show what familiar branding does for a new product. Nokia has a long road ahead of itself if it wishes to compete with either.

The support from big dogs at EA is notable, considering it may spur other companies to jump onboard. However, this is the mobile handheld business, where success has proven fleeting here in America. Only time will tell if the market can tolerate yet another convergence device.

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