Nokia's novel N-Gage mobile game deck is set to launch in Australia on 7 October.

The mobile phone-cum-gaming platform will be sold at 1,500 stores across Australia for an RRP of $599 without a service plan.

Rick Gawdat, business manager for Nokia's entertainment and media unit, said that the N-Gage would have a larger retail presence than any other games deck or mobile phone on the market. This is because it would be sold at mobile phone retailer outlets, as well as mass market electronics stores and specialised games retailers.

Apart from sophisticated colour 3D gaming capabilities not found on other mobile devices, the N-Gage is an MP3 music player, an FM radio, email client and GPRS, tri-band mobile phone.

Nokia's partnership with major games developers -- including Activision, THX and Eidos -- will see the release of 10 titles throughout October, 20 by Christmas and up to 100 by Christmas 2004.

Games are stored on MMC memory cards that can be inserted into the N-Gage and cost between $59.95 and $69.95. Titles available at the 7 October launch will include Tomb Raider, Pandemonium, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, SonicN, MLB Slam, MotoGP, Puyo Pop, Super Monkey Ball, Puzzle Bobble VS and Virtual Tennis.