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Paid Apps in Danger at Ovi Store for Nokia N900

Mark Guim — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:56:36 +0000

The Ovi Store for Maemo just arrived for the Nokia N900 and some users already found a way to bypass the payment gateway. An example is that users were able install the extra level for Angry Birds that costs $3 directly from the Nokia N900 for free. I’m assuming Nokia found about the security breach right away because the extra level is no longer listed at the store.

Developer of Angry Birds concerned about the Ovi Store problem

I actually purchased the extra level for Angry Birds while it was still available because I love the game! I discourage piracy and will not share how these users were able to download it for free, but here’s the ongoing discussion from the Maemo community where this issue was brought up.

The Ovi Store is clearly labeled as beta, but I hope this incident does not discourage other developers from creating awesome apps for the Maemo platform. I also hope Nokia sorts this out as soon as possible because I know plenty of Nokia N900 users want to get that extra level for Angry Birds!

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Review: Reset Generation on N-gage

Mark Guim — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:07:13 +0000

Beware of Reset Generation! I am currently addicted and can’t seem to put my phone down once I start playing. If you haven’t been excited about N-gage on your phone before, this game will make you. The main difference from the other N-gage games I’ve played is that there’s a multiplayer option that enables me to play up 3 other players.

Reset Generation on Nokia N85

I tried earlier games on N-gage before, but I wasn’t intrigued and moved on. When my Nokia N85 came with free activation code for any game, I gave it another try and asked others to recommend one. Reset Generation was mentioned a few times, so I got curious.

Intro

Reset Generation is a fast-paced, multiplayer puzzle game where players must guide their heroes to rescue other players’ princesses. It’s not as simple as you think because there are many aspects in the game to consider. Building combos, firing cannons, picking up weapons, and summoning monsters are all part of the game and it requires chess-like thinking if you want to pull off a win.

Playing the Game

Each character has their own special powers or weapons that can only be activated when the special power meter is full. You can find out about their powers when you play the tutorials, or when others use it on you during multiplayer games.

Nokia found the right formula to keep your thumbs on playing Reset Generation. It is really addicting learning the ins and outs of each character, discovering the combination of moves, and the frustration of losing against other players. I lost 18 multiplayer games until my first win… but I’m getting better. Each multiplayer game is about 5-10 minutes long.

Reset Generation gameplay screenshots

Graphics and Sound

Reset Generation is not as visually appealing as the more recent games, but graphics is not really important in puzzle games. The audio is pretty good. It stays in sync with the fast pace of the game.

How to Get the Game on Nokia Phone

If you have an Ngage-enabled phone, you can play a demo of Reset Generation easily in the games menu. You’ll need to enter an activation cade for the full version. There are different ways to get an activation code:

People who purchased the Nokia N85 will have an activation code that came with their phone.
Nokia flagship stores gave out free activation codes for Reset Generation. Visit or give them a call.
… or buy an activation code through the N-gage menu.

Play On PC

You can also play the full game of Reset Generation for free on your PC (no Mac support). You use the arrow keys for movement and Control or Shift for actions. The experience is very similar to the phone. I really like the fact that the availability of this game makes sure there are almost always other people to play with whether you are using Ngage on a Nokia phone or in front the your computer at home.

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Vlog: Playing Pandamanda Game On Nokia N95 8GB With Motion Sensor

Mark Guim — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:00:57 +0000

I made a video of PandaManda, a cool game for my Nokia N95 8GB that should work with other Nokia phones that feature a motion sensor or accelerometer. You control a panda wearing cape and goggles riding a tiny bicycle by tilting the phone. Can’t get any cuter than that! Check it out.

Note: The video below might not be visible in RSS readers.

If you don’t like Vimeo, this video is also available on Youtube.

You basically have to go through each level to collect purple gems and find an exit. You also have to beat the clock, avoid falling, as well as other hurdles.

I like the graphics and sound quality… impressive when playing this game on the Nokia N95 8GB. It plays just like Marble Maze that I previously showed on video, but with better graphics and sound.

Pandamanda costs 7 euros and can be downloaded at BubbleGames