BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Nokia will close its N-Gage service in September 2010.

    "We will no longer publish new games for the N-Gage platform," Nokia said on its N-Gage blog Sunday, to which a user calling himself Jon replied: "It's a sad day for N-Gage fans."

    Nokia said the N-Gage games could be purchased until the end of September 2010 and the community site would remain in operation throughout 2010.

    According to Nokia the move is part of the Finnish phone maker's master plan to integrate its games service onto a central platform -- its Ovi Store which opened last year, a smaller rival to Apple's popular App Store.

    Nokia is looking for new revenue from online services as its traditional handset market matures, with games and music being the first focus areas.

    Nokia's leading position in the cellphone market had attracted all the top mobile game makers -- including Electronic Arts, Gameloft, Glu Mobile and Digital Chocolate -- to create special games for N-Gage.

    After closing the N-Gage service, Nokia will continue to sell mobile games at its Ovi Store.

    "It's a sign of a more realistic approach. It's time to bury the dead and focus on the future," said Tero Kuittinen, analyst at MKM Partners.

    (Agencies)