232w ago - Showing what a master spy he is, Solid Snake - protagonist of stealth-'em-up Metal Gear Solid Mobile - sneaked out onto the N-Gage showroom yesterday evening when we were least prepared for it.

While the majority of the (almost) ever-vigilant Pocket Gamer staff were drinking themselves into a stupor at the PG chrimbo bash, Konami made its move.

"Metal Gear Solid Mobile features dramatic 3D art displays and camera work that greatly surpasses the quality standard of today's mobile games. Players will face the extreme tension of solitary infiltration in this version of the tactical espionage action game." Said a spokesman, just prior to snapping our neck and scrambling back into the shadows.

Metal Gear Solid Mobile is set between Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, which were released on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 respectively. The series eschews the usual run-and-gun gameplay in favour of a more considered, stealthy approach.

To complement the release, official website N-Gage.com has posted a handy who's who guide so that new players can keep track of what on earth is going in Konami's latest opus.

For those who haven't played a Metal Gear Solid game before, each title features a labyrinthine plot that's equal parts 24 and Eastenders....

276w ago - After delays, Nokia has begun to roll-out its N-Gage gaming service and its media sharing site.

The company twice delayed N-Gage's launch last year due to unexpected software difficulties.

The service has now been opened to owners of Nokia's N81 multimedia phones around the world, with the company asking for feedback before opening the service to a wider audience.

"These are the first steps on the long journey towards becoming a competitor in the Web 2.0 services space," CCS Insight research director Ben Wood told The Washington Post.

"It now faces the challenge of building awareness for these and other services with consumers who have already gravitated towards established web brands such as Google."

Nokia released the original N-Gage, a combination phone, handheld gaming device, MP3 player, PDA, and FM radio, in 2003. A year later, a subsequent redesign - the N-Gage QD - removed radio reception and MP3 playback features.

The latest iteration of the N-Gage is an application, built into or downloaded to a supported Nokia phone, that acts as a central hub for content including games.

Nokia's social networking site - "Share on Ovi" - allows people to share photos and videos and is built on technology acquired last year with the US firm Twango.