GAMEBOX Multi-Game Platform TV Video Game Console -MAME-

[Dr Zero]

Has one seen this yet?

Could be the basis of a bartop or other small cab. The EU plug looks like it could be swapped for a US ac adapter.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.54070

- Model: GBX-1001
- NTSC/PAL output
- CPU: GameBox dual-core 500MHz processor
- Memory: 128MB
- Flash: 2GB
- Game FORMATS support: MAME, CPS3, CPS2, CPS1, PGM, SFC, MD, PCECD
- Features micro SD card interface
- Support 720P (1280*720P) TV-Out
- Support media formats: RMVB, ASF, MKV, WMV, MOV, MP3, WMA, WAV. FLAC, APE, AAC, OGG
- With dual shock vibrating Joypad gamepad
- Comes with 60 Arcade games
- Plug and Play on your TV
- Powered by AC 100~240V EU plug
- Ultra low power consumption
- Package included:
- 1 * Game console
- 1 * Dual-shock gaming controller
- 1 * TV composite audio and video out cable
- 1 * 100~240V AC adapter (EU plug)

[Donkbaca]

THat is interesting.  Is the only storage it uses SD cards?  Wonder what kind of front end/OS it uses and how customizable it is.  That would be the main thing.  For 50 bucks, someone should give it a shot.

[MagicManPA]

So who's gonna try it out & report for the rest of us?

Looks promising. I'm sure it needs some fine tuning, though.

[FlatEarth]

It does look interesting.  I wonder how hard it would be to get a US power adaptor?

Also, only composite video out?

[Bender]

something aint right threre, it aint doin 720 thru composite
and what version of mame does it support

EDIT: looks like they took the 720 specs off the page

[DJ_Izumi]

The composite out only seems like a weakness in this modern age.  It should offer component and RGBHV over a HD15 connector at least.

[ids]

look interesting

ordered

will post details upon arrival

[opt2not]

Interesting. $53.50 for a emulation computer w/ TV out is the right price. I wonder if those gamepads are easily hackable...

[Vigo]

Sounds like a console version of a Dingoo. I doubt it uses any commercial OS with a FE setup, but probably has a deticated interface built into its flash memory. and I agree the composite video seems to be it's achilles heel.

Here are my questions. For anyone is testing it out, thanks in advance to taking the plunge 

*Does it accept other brand/style usb gamepads? I wonder if it is possible to plug in a usb arcade joystick setup rather than hacking the gamepad. On the same vein, are button layouts programmable, can the MAME options even be accessed?

*How does the interface look?

*At what point will there be lag and slowdown in games. I am assuming it can handle just most 2d, but any form of benchmarking would be appreciated. I'm not holding my breath on getting Gauntlet Legends working on this. 

*I am assuming you put the game roms on the SD card and it will load them, but I wonder about games with samples and such...

Thanks again to anyone willing to check into this 

[bkenobi]

The DX page says it's a "USB DualShock" controller.  So, any playstation compatible USB game pad should work at a minimum.

[ids]

I may not be the first person to receive one, but if I am, I'll post pics of its innards, answer all questions, etc.

I like the list of questions - I think it's a good idea to post all questions here.  I'll answer them all when I get it.

I do have a variety of USB gamepads I'll try.  If it supports USB HID in general, it may support more than a simple gamepad - I'll give it a shot.

...unless someone beats me to it.

[bkenobi]

The pictures show it has 4 USB connectors.  If it doesn't support 4 game pads...

[Vigo]

I may not be the first person to receive one, but if I am, I'll post pics of its innards, answer all questions, etc.

I like the list of questions - I think it's a good idea to post all questions here.  I'll answer them all when I get it.

I do have a variety of USB gamepads I'll try.  If it supports USB HID in general, it may support more than a simple gamepad - I'll give it a shot.

...unless someone beats me to it.

Thanks, ids! I look forward to your review!

[ids]

Order:	######## placed on 1/14/2011 9:21:42 AM
Status: (of current shipment)	On 1/14/2011: Waiting for Supplier see all processing steps
Latest Shipment:	by Air Mail

Playing the waiting game - will keep everyone posted.

[ark_ader]

Order:	######## placed on 1/14/2011 9:21:42 AM
Status: (of current shipment)	On 1/14/2011: Waiting for Supplier see all processing steps
Latest Shipment:	by Air Mail

Playing the waiting game - will keep everyone posted.

Did the same thing to a $15 Thin client and Puppy Arcade.

Looks the same too. SD Cards and HD.



Well it does if cleaned up. 

[lodoss118]

theres a jamma version aswell :@

[lodoss118]

http://www.gamebox.hk/

[Donkbaca]

ooh, can you post more info on the thin client?

[lodoss118]

if you goto features section and scroll down there is some info but basically the same as the console version

[ids]

My order status has been updated on DealExtreme.  Last item I got from them took a few weeks, so it could be a while before I can review it.  Fingers crossed it comes quickly.

Order:	######## placed on 1/14/2011 9:21:42 AM
Status: (of current shipment)	On 1/19/2011: Packaging see all processing steps
Latest Shipment:	by Air Mail

[Bootay]

Yea, DealExtreme is slow. I ordered something from them on the 5th of January and it just reached the shipped status yesterday. It was pending status for almost a week and a half. Then packaging status for a few days and now shipped. And the email I got said shipping takes 3-14 business days. So I am still waiting.....oh well.

[clok]

I also ordered one whenit showed up on Deal Extreme, from my readin and speculation and such its not a copy of another system in anything but looks. There is somthing called a ZEEBO? that it looks exactly like, but from my reading that is the only thing that is the same. There was some speculation you might have been able to use an external HD, but it sound like that is a no go.  SD cards only from my reading.

Guess we all wait and see.

[ids]

That sums up my understanding also.  A sufficiently large micro-sd card should hold enough games; worst case scenario, you may have to swap cards.  I think the better solution, however, is to trim your ROM list.  I've not found any information on which version# each of the emulators are on there, which could be another minor issue.

Looking forward to building a bartop out of it.

[opt2not]

Looking forward to building a bartop out of it.

What I'm wondering as well is if the FE is better than what those 60-in-1 boards have. I can't stand that grid layout with the multi-coloured font and gray background.
If this has a better FE then I'd be sure to pick one of these up for my bartop instead of the 60-in-1! 

[lodoss118]

if anyone knows here to get jamma version let us know :@

[ids]

status changed to shipped....only 3-4 weeks to go now 

[lodoss118]

Hi guys i got some more info via email:

Thanks for your mail and very glad you are interested in our product.
 
Arcade Box Jamma is designed and manufactured only our factory.It is patented for us.
But it is not mass-production now.So the price is not sure.You are informed once it is producted in a large number.
 
At present,arcade box is in stock.Maybe you are interesred in it,too.Attached specification of arcade box for you reference.

Arcade box specification

colour:  Black and white
Size: 19cm*16cm*4cm
G.W: 980g
Memory: 128MB
Video RAM: Video RAM shared with main memory
Video Output: AV Cable.PAL/NTSC supported
Audio Output: Dual channel stereo
Expander Port: USB 2.0 device and wireless keyMac gamepad
Expansion slot: Gamepad slot, AV slot, memory stick slot
Expansion Slot: Gamepad slot, AV slot, Memory stick slot.
Power interface: 5V AC
CPU: Gamebox dual-core processor (500 MHz X2), 32-bit SDRAM memory
Graphic: Built-in graphics manipulation, zoom, wing, distortion, multi-reel
Game support
1.Game formats supported: MAME,CPS3,CPS2,CPS1,PGM,SFC,MD,PCECD
2.Build-in marco-operation-system, perfect zooming facility
3.Mega-memory card
Video Support
1.game card supported, web-downloaded supported
2.Built-in operating system, instant save, tutorial, no-battery save information, reset supported.
3.Video is viewed at maximum resolution of 720p(1280*720)supported.
4.Audio formats supported: RMVB,ASF,MKV,WMV,VOB,MOV.
Audio support: audio coder engine build-in, dual channel stereo, over 20 video output formats supported:MP3,WMA,WAV,FLAC,APE,AAC,OGG.
Power: Xpower technology is a power-saving consumption.
Consumption: utilize with less power consumption
Memory system: 32-bit SDRAM memory, video RAM shared with main memory
Video slot: TV OUT-AV OUTPUT(PAL and NTSC supported)
Gamepad: 4 gamepad supported, update to 4 wireless gamepad supported
Arcade game：mame, cps3, igs, mvs, snes, gba, md.
Others: clock built-in, calendar built-in, GB-4GB nand flash,
Operating system:
1. keyMax technology-faster speed of game pad responsiveness
2. enpreview technology-instant game video review supported
3.enautosave technology-instant gamesave support

[Bender]

I still don't get the output resolution
the very best you could hope fore over composite is 576i and only if you have a PAL enabled Monitor/TV
and what version of MAME?

guess we'll just have to wait for Ids to his in a month

[shin_akuma]

..............

[micky4fun]

Hi all

just joined the forum , will get busy reading all the post soon as poss ,
i see this from a link from another site , so i have also got one on the way to me
to be honest i am not expecting much for $53 , £34 it just seems to cheap to be any good , dont think it will be any way near as good as a low grade pc emu
but soon find out , was looking for a all in one small box system that i can link to a lcd display or projector
anyway wait and see what the box holds

mick

[RandyT]

I still don't get the output resolution
the very best you could hope fore over composite is 576i and only if you have a PAL enabled Monitor/TV

It's a simple composite output.  The annoying part is that the chip is capable of putting out component, but the designers did not take advantage of it.  I tried hacking one to get even S-Video, but it appears that this needs to be set up internally as well.  Oddly, the composite is decent looking.  I may have improved it when I took out a capacitor joining what should have been the Luma and Chroma signal outputs from the chip.  Looked a little sharper afterwards, and it was still in color so I didn't bother trying to put it back.  

Be forewarned that you cannot change the contents of the built-in memory.  I have not tried any other games on a memory card.  It seems to do surprisingly well with most of the ones it came with, but they were likely "cherry picked".

The build quality is pretty good for what it is.  Touch sensitive lit controls on the console (just POWER and RESET), piano black plastic, a mostly decent feeling PS knockoff control design, etc.  There's even a fan and heatsink on the PCB, which I don't expect will last too long, but who knows.  Very light-weight, which adds to the cheap feel.  

Very simple selection menu, and no way, other than the reset on the console, to exit a game.  Shows a graphic to the left and a list to the right.  That's the extent of the menu system.  Not sure what happens yet when a TF card is inserted.

Don't know anything more about it, and don't see much of a way to find out more about the system, with such a limited interface.

[ids]

Thanks for the info.  Too bad you weren't able to hijack a better video out option.

Still waiting for mine; according to tracking info, it's still in Shenzhen.

[iscariot]

RandyT,

Can you post more?  Pics, dimensions, etc?

I'm thinking about getting one of these just to pull it apart.

Have you tried plugging in a keyboard?

[Dr Zero]

RandyT you got a game list you could post?

Maybe a scan of the info / instruction sheets?

 

[ids]

Some of this is linked to from DealExtreme, in the questions area.  For example:

http://img827.imageshack.us/i/301364078333.jpg
http://img837.imageshack.us/i/301364082144.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/i/301364079454.jpg
http://img823.imageshack.us/i/301364081393.jpg

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

http://img823.imageshack.us/i/301364081393.jpg/

That's some prize winning Engrish right there, folks.

[ids]

I think i spotted "All your base...." 

[shin_akuma]

.....................

[micky4fun]

hi all

mine is in the van for delivery so sould get it today , will post what i find asap

mick

[Kokapetl]

will post what i find asap

Thanks for this, I'll be looking forward to your post.