Technically, I guess it would be the third coming since they tried a new model after their disastrous taco-design.

Pocket Gamer is reporting that Nokia is finally getting around to their software launch of the new N-Gage platform. This time around, instead of spending money developing really, really bad hardware platforms, they're just going to stick the gaming operating system into a bunch of their phones.

We can reveal that behind the scenes, activity is ramping up, following a top-secret workshop for publishers and developers, held in Santa Monica last week.

The two-day event saw Nokia fully unveil the new platform for the first time, with a series of technical and business presentations to fill attendees in on the specifics. And check the calibre of some of the companies rumoured to have attended, according to a reliable source:

Disney, Sega Of America, Sony Online Entertainment, Universal, Square Enix, Capcom, THQ Wireless, Glu Mobile, Digital Chocolate, EA Mobile, Tecmo, Namco and Vivendi Games were reportedly all there, along with first-party developers (firms developing games to be published by Nokia) including Backbone Entertainment and Foundation9.

The event seemed to outline exactly how the platform would be developed on, rolled-out and make money. Another two day event is set for Madrid, according to Pocket Gamer.

Will it work this time. I think there's potential to provide deep gameplay on phones, just not sure if this is the way to do it. Or if it isn't already being done. Brian Crecente

EXCLUSIVE: It's all systems go for next-gen Nokia N-Gage [Pocket Gamer]

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