Hello GamePark GP2X!
Get ready homebrewers, Gamepark is about to stealthily launch their GP32 successor upon you. The XGP, eXtreme Game Player was confirmed by GamePark earlier this year as the follow-up to their cult-fav GP32. Even though no specs were released at that time, the rumors and geek gossips of the import scene speculated a 64 bit processor with some true multi-media capabilities. With the DS, Gizmondo, iPod Video, and PSP sucking in the mainstream with their games, movies, GPS, Desperate Housewives and puppies, it was a wonder of what GamePark might do to keep interest in the system alive. The simple answer: Keep it OPEN. The Korean-technolust-online-mag Minivian had a unique privilege to see and hold something and help announce the latest GamePark handheld console. Their review of the GPX2 (wait, I thought it was XGP?) found that indeed the system was Open to the homebrew crew and media codec collectors. With support for MP-Anything, DiVX, XVID, WMV, WMA, Ogg, and your standard image file types, the system can handle most medias out of the box. Even more future codecs will most likely be released by the avid homebrew community that surrounds GamePark.
The name may be a bit tricky, but the specs are hot. A Dual Core(!) ARM processor, 64MB of NAND Flash Ram (what does it take to get 512 these days?) SD Card support, 3.5″ TFT LCD screen, runs Linux (yes it will play that 10 year old version of Doom, give it up already guys.), supports video playback at 720*480 with a smooth 30fps rate, and can play video continuously for 6 hours. All on 2 AA batteries. Oh, and one more thing: it supports TV-Out (video, games, photo slideshows, audio. Pretty much everything.) from the get-go. Geektastic!
The GamePark GP2X launches November 30th for $179 USD.
Official GP2X Site.
Pre-Order the GamePark GP2X At Lik-Sang.
UPDATE 10/18/05: From Wikipedia: The GPX2 began as a project by the Korean company GamePark as a successor to the GP32 but was eventually discontinued. This prompted many of the staff (including the majority of engineers) to vacate and create their own company, GamePark Holdings (GPH) to create, produce and market what would eventually come to be known as the GP2X. GamePark continues to produce their own hand held, a 3D handheld system similiar to the PlayStation Portable known as the XGP, a device more contrary and abstract to the originial 2D nature of the GP32 (contrasted with the logical evolution of that device in the GPX2).
Comments
… Yeah unless you want a clunky ass wrist watch that’s not happening anytime soon. Good luck on that proposal.
The whole point of this console is that it’s completely open. meaning any jow shmoe could run in and make a game for it, I guarantee there will be lots of games for this thing, granted alot of games will be utter crap, but you know there’ll be damn good games aswell, and a BULK of em too.
The thing about the GP2X is that the makers positively encourage you to roll up your sleeves and develop for it (they even hand out a free SDK). Try that with a PSP! To find out more, have a look at my FAQ at http://www.mygp2x.com/faq. This really is a refreshing little handheld! Just being able to tinker with it is amazing.
Leave a comment
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
What games does it play, CD’s? Cartridge?
Based on the description, GamePark doesn’t really attain my interest.
Now an idea about a multi purpose wristwatch…game, etc.
E-mail me if someone will actually creates one, I want to be the first one to buy one.
angelcyreneq@yahoo.com
or if you need a sketch or idea for one, I’ll brew one up - email me.
Come on, I need a game consul allowed in school, a wristwatch would be the perfect consul.