GP32X or PSP for portable emulation?

[M3talhead]

I've been keeping up with the development of the GP32X since about the winter of '04 and I'm thinking now its time to make my decision on whether or not to get one. I know there have been developmental problems, but in the course of just over a year, I watched it come from being a little-known opensource platform with a very small fanbase, to something that's been Slashdotted and made its way into nearly every emulation/handheld forum I've come across. Its really picking up steam and I need to make a choice here shortly. I'm either going to go with a PSP or GP32X. I could care less for the PSP's official game library (I'd just end up rolling it back to 1.5 anyways).

Anyway, I made up a little side-by-side comparison spreadsheet to weight the benefits of the 2 systems. As I said before, I'm looking for only a few things in a handheld.

1) The best console emulation (up to N64)
2) Best MP3 player capabilities (including battery life/storage)
3) Developmental backing

What do you guys think? The spreadsheet below lists the things that separate the 2 units. Characteristics not listed are shared between them.

[yalborap]

Well, consider this:

To my knowledge, not a lot of the emulators on the GP2X are running at the best they possibly could at the moment, whereas PSP has NES at full speed and SNES at near it.

So, it depends if you're willing to work through developmental issues and wait for further development on your emus to get a potentially better product.

[ptpeter]

I think one of the problems with this thread is that people are getting mixed up. The GP32X (from what i understand) came out last year. That was more a handheld for dev's while the GP2X is coming out this quarter and from what i hear is more user friendly and more powerful.

Personally i would wait a month and get that. Dont bother with the psp. The psp isnt built to play emulators, although it does. The GP2X is made for emulators. Also sony has firmware upgrades that doesnt allow you to play copied games, if thats something you wanted to do.

I plan on getting a GP2X in a few months. From what i've heard this things popularity is spreading like wild fire.

[Lilwolf]

The GP2X has two of the same processor.  And since mame can't use multiprocessing it wont help.

BUT

They have the processors doing very different things.  So (if I remember correctly) the second processor handles all sound... so enabling sound might be 'free'... and some other items thrown over there and you might get another groups of games running well.

wait and see the reports who try it... but get it for other uses.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

I just wish the thing didn't run on AA batteries. Yikes. And from a design standpoint, it looks like the volume buttons will get in the way when using the analog stick.

Nitpicky, I know. The thing is still a great idea, and potentially, a great product.



mrC

[2600]

I just wish the thing didn't run on AA batteries. Yikes. And from a design standpoint, it looks like the volume buttons will get in the way when using the analog stick.

What's wrong with AA batteries?

[versapak]

I just wish the thing didn't run on AA batteries. Yikes. And from a design standpoint, it looks like the volume buttons will get in the way when using the analog stick.

What's wrong with AA batteries?

Yeah, what's wrong with AA batteries?

[mr.Curmudgeon]

For me the biggest issue is that they aren't rechargable. If you went on vacation with this thing you'd need to bring a big-ass pack of batteries.

I prefer my electronics with lithium-ion or nicad or whatever. I doubt you get 6-10 hrs off two AA's, with the screen on.


mrC

[versapak]

For me the biggest issue is that they aren't rechargable. If you went on vacation with this thing you'd need to bring a big-ass pack of batteries.

I prefer my electronics with lithium-ion or nicad or whatever. I doubt you get 6-10 hrs off two AA's, with the screen on.


mrC

Ummmm

Then buy rechargable AA batteries then.






I'd much rather have AA, so I could use rechargables, but then easily put in some store bought alkalines, in case I forgot to charge or something.

AA, AAA, 9v, etc... Using standard batteries like that gives more choices. Choices are good.

[clanggedin]

Why don't you buy a PocketPC that has at least a 412mhz processor in it??

You can play MAME, SNES, NES, PSX, TGFX 16, GENESIS, GBA on it as well as play MP3s and watch movies.

I have an ASUS  A716 that is a few years old that I bet you can get for around $200. It's pretty good for gaming and all of that stuff.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

For me the biggest issue is that they aren't rechargable. If you went on vacation with this thing you'd need to bring a big-ass pack of batteries.

I prefer my electronics with lithium-ion or nicad or whatever. I doubt you get 6-10 hrs off two AA's, with the screen on.


mrC

Ummmm

Then buy rechargable AA batteries then.

That is a good point. I guess I don't think of them too highly because I had some when they first came to market...and they sucked. Didn't charge well, etc.



mrC

[pointdablame]

For me the biggest issue is that they aren't rechargable. If you went on vacation with this thing you'd need to bring a big-ass pack of batteries.

I prefer my electronics with lithium-ion or nicad or whatever. I doubt you get 6-10 hrs off two AA's, with the screen on.


mrC

Ummmm

Then buy rechargable AA batteries then.

That is a good point. I guess I don't think of them too highly because I had some when they first came to market...and they sucked. Didn't charge well, etc.



mrC

they have 2500 (and maybe 2600) mah AA rechargeables now.  They last a very long time.  My digital camera has seen something like 5000 shutter presses, and I think I've recharged the batteries 3 or 4 times now.

[M3talhead]

Wow.

I'm actually amazed at that comment about AA batteries. You obviously havn't seen what is currently out there. Technology has come a LONG way since rechargables first came out in the late 80's. The 1.2v C-SUB batteries I use in my RC10B4 are 3330mAh and I've got a set of 2850 AAs in my Tx. Last month, IB released a 1.2v 4400mAh battery, so its not you ust throw away batteries anymore. They last a long time. Come to think of it, I havent bought a Duracell or Energizer battery in years.

Thanks for all the input though. I'll consider the Pocket PC/PDA ideas.

[farmecologist]

Beware of PDAs when used for emulation.  PDAs are great as far as emulator support goes.   However, on most PDAs the control scheme SUCKS.  While PDAs are great for puzzle gaming ( i.e. - stylus use ),  the D-pad and buttons are usually NOT intended for action gaming. 

[MameMaster!]

for my 2 cents....I've never owned the GamePark but, I do have a 1.5 PSP with EMUs, games and movies.

The ability to play ISO's, movies, TV shows, photos etc etc really easily on the PSP wins my vote.

So far the on only EMU that I'm really impressed with on the PSP is the Neo Geo CD. It plays about 19 games flawlessly (no music though) and they are of course mostly "marquee games" (ex. Metal Slug, Fighters History etc).

The SNES and Genesis emus are interesting but don't work very well.

The Visual Boy advance for now is more concept than actually working....and so far that's about a far as I've personally dived into the EMUs.

I have a feeling though based on the user installed base for the PSP, you're going to see the most advancements on that machine over the GP32. I'm sure most of these EMUs will only get better on the PSP over time.

 

[pointdablame]

[quote author=MameMaster

[MameMaster!]

[quote author=MameMaster

[Harpal]

oh man you should have told me i would have made a deal with you for 200USD for both consoles......
anyway sorry to say havent got any left, but if you ask me nicely i might let you into a secreton where to buy them from so you would save half ur money......
PM and find out