Author Topic: Exciting looking emulation portable - GCW:Zero. Now kickstarted (Read 52283 times)

opt2not · « **on:** January 09, 2013, 12:57:08 pm »

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gcw/gcw-zero-open-source-gaming-handheld

I've been really excited about this little piece of hardware. It's an upgrade, well, more of a leap from the dingoo portable. Open-source, Linux-base, hdmi-out, wifi...all good sounding stuff!

For the last little while I've been using my DS as my portable emu device and haven't jumped on some of the others 'cause I never thought they were worth it. I also never kickstarted a plege before: Both, till now. The Zero is boasting emulation capabilities all the way to PSX. A lot of the prototype play-testing videos shows off some really good benchmarking.

opt2not · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2013, 06:13:25 am »

18 days to go, and at 10% of the target. This is definitely aggressive!

Well Fed Games · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2013, 10:53:59 am »

That seems like a really nicely designed handheld. I've never tried any similar devices (Caanoo, etc.) but this one looks great.

Franco B · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2013, 11:19:12 am »

I've backed it, I really want to get my hands on one of these. They look ace

404 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2013, 09:01:13 am »

FYI, this isn't really new at all. This is an ODM ordered device and its on its second production run already. The first set were developer consoles with double the ram sold and given out to reputable dingoo developers. The second batch sold real fast. They used kickstarter for the third round in order to ramp up production.

It is quite literally a dingoo on steroids and runs the same Igenic SOC family line as the original, only faster. The same processor is also being used in the Neo Geo X.

opt2not · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2013, 01:35:12 pm »

Yup, no one in this thread said anything about it being new. Like the first post states, it's a leap beyond the dingoo.
It just seems the best option for portable emulation right out of the box. Comparing it to the NGX is a moot point 'cause this device is specifically built for the open-source community without any hacking/SD modding required.

Here's a nice video outlining the history of this unit:

ark_ader · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2013, 10:21:40 am »

This is better than a modded PSP because?

Well Fed Games · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2013, 12:55:48 pm »

Quote from: ark_ader on January 12, 2013, 10:21:40 am

This is better than a modded PSP because?

Quote from: opt2not on January 11, 2013, 01:35:12 pm

built for the open-source community without any hacking/SD modding required.

Seems like a pretty big "pro" to me, to be purpose-built rather than hacked.

ark_ader · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2013, 02:29:13 pm »

Why cannot someone come out with a portable case for mobile phones that have the controls via bluetooth.

opt2not · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2013, 03:16:55 pm »

Quote from: ark_ader on January 12, 2013, 02:29:13 pm

Why cannot someone come out with a portable case for mobile phones that have the controls via bluetooth.

I was reading that this year's CES featured a lot of this. I'll have to dig up the article, but apparently this is the year developers realize that touch-controls for digital buttons suck-ass.
We'll apparently be seeing these pretty soon...

On topic - the kickstarter is over 20% now. Still a bunch to raise,but hopefully with 16 day left the climb will stay steady as she goes!

ahofle · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2013, 05:39:43 pm »

I'll definitely be picking this up.
The dingoo has very mature emulator ports of the popular PC versions -- my only complaint is that it's a little small/underpowered and the dpad isn't the best. This sounds like it will fix both of those issues.

opt2not · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2013, 05:59:44 pm »

Quote from: ark_ader on January 12, 2013, 02:29:13 pm

Why cannot someone come out with a portable case for mobile phones that have the controls via bluetooth.

Ark, here's that article I read (#4):
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/184571/The_5_things_game_developers_should_take_away_from_CES_2013.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GamasutraNews+%28Gamasutra+News%29#.UPM7uVy9LCR

opt2not · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2013, 05:07:33 pm »

Quote from: ark_ader on January 12, 2013, 10:21:40 am

This is better than a modded PSP because?

opt2not · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2013, 05:56:28 pm »

Here's a couple more great videos of this thing running:

Ported/Homebrew games:

Emulators:

Bender · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2013, 10:24:47 am »

Just backed this
hope they makes their goal
The GPX Wiz is out of production and there's no D-pad on the caanoo plus this has much better specks
This thing looks awesome

opt2not · « **Reply #15 on:** January 15, 2013, 12:35:47 pm »

Quote from: Well Fed Games on January 10, 2013, 10:53:59 am

That seems like a really nicely designed handheld. I've never tried any similar devices (Caanoo, etc.) but this one looks great.

Quote from: Franco B on January 10, 2013, 11:19:12 am

I've backed it, I really want to get my hands on one of these. They look ace

Quote from: Bender on January 15, 2013, 10:24:47 am

Just backed this
hope they makes there goal
The GPX Wiz is out of production and there's no D-pad on the caanoo plus this has much better specks
This thing looks awesome

Having the caliber of these gents backing this, it's pretty clear this thing is quality!
At < 50% and 13 days to go, it's going to need a push to get there. C'mon folks, support this awesome piece of hardware, even if you are on the fence about it, a $5 pledge helps! What's $5? A Starbucks coffee, a Big Mac and fries, bus-fare to and from...any little bit helps get this baby off the ground and in the hands of people like us that want easy, full-speed, portable emulated and homebrew (not forgetting ported) games on the go!

Help us obiwan...you're our only hope!

Also this was just announced:

Quote

After some serious debate in the comments section here on our Kick Starter page and other forums, we have decided to upgrade the RAM from 256MB to 512MB.
We have also decided to upgrade the internal storage capacity from 8GB to 16GB on the console.

We think both of these upgrades will provide more value for the money you are pledging to get this great gaming console we call The GCW-Zero.

Bender · « **Reply #16 on:** January 15, 2013, 11:44:47 pm »

opt2not

you should post this on the main page so some more people see it, I only saw it by chance in your signature in a completely different thread

opt2not · « **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2013, 10:07:46 am »

Quote from: Bender on January 15, 2013, 11:44:47 pm

opt2not

you should post this on the main page so some more people see it, I only saw it by chance in your signature in a completely different thread

The mods are good.

Jumpman64 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2013, 12:11:38 pm »

Backed it, but it's not looking good for reaching the goal by the deadline...

404 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2013, 02:18:28 pm »

Quote from: Jumpman64 on January 16, 2013, 12:11:38 pm

Backed it, but it's not looking good for reaching the goal by the deadline...

probably would have if they had issued review samples like they originally promised. Friend of mine who runs a gaming website was offered a sample last year after the GCW guys announced their project. Friend put up multiple posts about the GCW on his website plugging the product. First two batches were sold off and no review sample were ever issued. he says he knows of another website that came across the same issue with them.

Last i heard, they were just contracting the work out from an ODM and hong kong company Success and Blaze were going to offer their own model possibly as another variation of the game-gadget.

Anpanman · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2013, 03:11:29 pm »

I don't understand why so many people are trying to fund these sorts of things when there are already similar products being marketed cheaply by the Hong Kong companies. It's a nice pipe dream and everything but I can't see it going anywhere.

opt2not · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2013, 05:24:14 pm »

I've been watching a lot of the youtube vids lately, Nick Nillo has been updating daily ones of emulated (so far SNES) games. He's been calling it "challenge accepted", and is taking requests of games people want to see running on this thing:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkXdWqQxb8AlH5E5H5sAgMg?feature=watch

WindDrake · « **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2013, 07:54:07 pm »

If I hadn't just built a new cab, I'd be all over this.

404 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 17, 2013, 09:13:07 am »

was just slashdotted
http://games.slashdot.org/story/13/01/17/1339205/open-source-gaming-handheld-project-wants-your-money

opt2not · « **Reply #24 on:** January 17, 2013, 01:14:50 pm »

Wow the slashdot comments are so idiotic. People actually think the older consoles like the SNES run higher than 320x240?

WindDrake · « **Reply #25 on:** January 17, 2013, 04:12:34 pm »

Most folks have issues wrapping their heads around the concepts of 1080i vs. 1080p. 80's/90's game console resolution is asking way too much.

opt2not · « **Reply #26 on:** January 17, 2013, 04:58:21 pm »

I think this is a by-product of today's retro gamers. Most people play retro games on emulators, and naturally have their computers, xbox's, PSP's set to higher resolutions with upscaling happening. So they think, that's the way its supposed to be. Back in the day, no one talked about TV resolutions as extensive as now. Most people don't know that Standard Resolution is 640x480, but those older consoles outputted half of that, some a little < 320x240 and were interlaced to display at standard def.
Now we have people saying "it's not 640x480 so it's crap", but it was never *really* that resolution in the first place...

Also, today the GCW broke it's #1 spot for pledges in a day, and it's still raising! Go go go!

Malenko · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2013, 01:01:32 pm »

I backed it today. I hope these guys deliver.

RandyT · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2013, 01:27:07 pm »

RE:Resolution

320x240 is fine for a screen this size, given the purpose of the device.

But I'm wondering what the effect of gearing everything for that screen size will have on the mini-HDMI output. Not that I ever use a handheld on a big screen, but it seems that this question is still unanswered.

Then there's the other question as to exactly how far the Chinese manufacturers are behind on producing a device with similar capabilities, possibly at a lower price point, given their penchant for cranking out these types of handheld devices en masse. Definitely looks like a fun device though, and it has me seriously considering joining in.

Bender · « **Reply #29 on:** January 21, 2013, 10:06:49 am »

Looks like pledges have picked up the last few days and that they will make their goal
And we'll be able to get our hands on these

Pretty cool!
I'm pretty psyched about the possibilities for this thing

Malenko · « **Reply #30 on:** January 21, 2013, 11:37:11 am »

yup, under 17k to go and 1 week left

opt2not · « **Reply #31 on:** January 21, 2013, 02:28:20 pm »

I am so psyched to get my hands on this thing.
According to the podcast interview, Justin is planning on shipping these out mid-march after the kickstarter ends. awesome.

I think I'm going to go with a Black one, to match my iphone. I think it'll look more "professional" too, for some reason I find white devices like this to look more toy-like.

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #32 on:** January 21, 2013, 03:37:45 pm »

Looks like they are gonna make it...

WindDrake · « **Reply #33 on:** January 21, 2013, 04:14:28 pm »

Was on the fence till I saw the Genesis Emulator running SegaCD games.

Backed. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

gamepimp · « **Reply #34 on:** January 21, 2013, 08:47:35 pm »

So does anyone know if the emulators available for Dingoo or Caanoo will run on the OS for this device? Or would we have to wait for emulators made specifically for this handheld?

Dcpmark · « **Reply #35 on:** January 21, 2013, 09:56:28 pm »

Ok, I'll be the guy that asks.....will this do anything that my GP2X or Dingoo A-320 won't do? I still can't believe my little A-320 does MAME and Neo Geo games....

WindDrake · « **Reply #36 on:** January 21, 2013, 10:32:17 pm »

It's a lot faster then the Gamepark and the Dingoo. More ram, etc. It'll run games the others would have struggled with.

Emulators are already out and running on the GCW-Zero, but you've got to have one to get access to all that stuff.

Dcpmark · « **Reply #37 on:** January 21, 2013, 11:24:07 pm »

It's certainly one of the best-looking units I've seen, and I'm a sucker for these things. My only concern is the size of the screen. How does it compare to something like this? I bought one, but cancelled when shipping got delayed a few months:

http://www.wholesaleonepiece.com/droid-x360-game-tablet-5-inch-capacitive-allwinner-a10-android-40-ics-8g-hdmi_p4536.html

WindDrake · « **Reply #38 on:** January 22, 2013, 12:14:55 am »

3.5" 4:3 Ratio screen versus a 5" 16:9 Widescreen on the Droid thing.

The GCW-Zero's screen should be as tall, but not as wide. Which is no big deal as old consoles & arcade games are 4:3 ratio, not widescreen.

Malenko · « **Reply #39 on:** January 22, 2013, 08:19:01 am »

THEY MADE IT!


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