539 replies to this topic

[craigix]

While I'll be selling this and all I cannot believe they are going with 2 Dpads and no buttons, so any game which requires 2 or 3 buttons pressed at once can't be played unless you weirdly map them to the shoulder buttons? Whhyyyy?

Any game which has a run button is in trouble. Actually the design reminds me of the angry video game nerd review of that batman game using the Mortal Kombat engine, where they use the Dpad instead of the buttons for most of the controls, see how frustrating it is in that review: http://www.gametrail...ayer/37368.html 5:30ish in.

They really really have to reconsider this design as the first edition or they will just end up changing it anyway in an MK2. I really hope they are not trying to save moulding costs by using that dpad twice.

Anyway, preorders in a month according to GPH, I'm trying to establish if drivers for the 3D chip exist for linux, as they don't seem to be using it in any of their demos.

[EvilDragon]

Prices depend on where you buy it, should be around the same as the old F200 has been.

It's not directly compatible with gp2x games since they are statically linked.
It should be compatible with dynamically-linked gp2x binaries - and for the rest a simple recompile should be enough.

ME is currently working on the 3D drivers for Linux for this device.

[PlopperZ]

I find it interesting how Space Varments 2 is announced for the system.
Any info on pricing? If the Wiz is cheap, I think it could be a great little handheld.

[craigix]

It's a bit more (about £10) more than the GP2X was, so I think we are looking at £135ish.

Now, to see if we can get some videos to show off the system

[juanvvc]

- Good: double CPU speed, maybe 3D, internal clock.
- Bad: no network, no USB host, battery (they say a lifetime of 5 hours... the same that their claims for the Gp2x!)
- No opinion: double pad.
- It needs: minilib!

Edited by juanvvc, 26 August 2008 - 04:24 PM.

[EvilDragon]

Since I'll be with GPH at the IFA in two days, I can post daily pictures about the device
I'm gonna test it - and you can ask questions.

[Orkie]

- Good: double CPU speed, maybe 3D, internal clock.
- Bad: no network, no USB host, battery (they say a lifetime of 5 hours... the same that their claims for the Gp2x!)
- No opinion: double pad.
- It needs: minilib!

The battery life is a reasonable estimate, I have tested it and got something like 4.8 hours, though I've no idea if it was fully charged at the time. I don't know about USB host - there is a USB socket on the BoB, but I've not actually tried using it for anything.

[jbrodack]

There's a lot of things I like about this though some a few I don't. Among what I like is that GP2x and GPH are definitely not dead. The sudden announcement of stopping gp2x production sucked and was out of nowhere so I'm happy to see there will be a new GPH system here soon. From the logo and box they definitely seem to be using "Wiz" as short for wizard so not so bad a name and I'm really happy to see that gp2x is actually part of the name too. Though random letters to some its become somewhat of a brand and has is recognizable over the net so its very clear that its THE gp2x successor.

Nice to see increased commercial game support too. Gp2x didn't have enough commercial games especially not coming officially form GPH. I hope with this we'll see more games released in English and not just released in Korea like previously. I'm not sure if the fighting game is a sequel to blood cross or just a rename. Are all the "official" games commercial pay game? I see "battle jewel" listed is that the same as the gp2x battlejewels game? Lady Killer is also listed as well. Kaiten Paisserie is listed too which was previously released freely. The most exciting bit for me is seeing Space Varments 2 listed as an official game. Been looking forward to that.

The built in game list is quite nice and seems they got both permission and seemingly participation this time. I see some gp2x games got makeovers like Myriad and Minigame project though the latter is probably just to keep copyrighted characters out of it. Woohoo Blingo 2008 is listed as a built in game. Boomshine looks to have new shapes. sqdef seems to be the old 1.3 version though. I tested 1.4, its great.

Built in batter with 5 hours of play is nice. I liked being able to easily have spare AAs around but hopefully 5hrs will be accurate and having a built in battery should make a lot of people more happy.

Flash support is great. Something that really didn't go anywhere on the gp2x and something I really wanted on the gp2x.

From looking at processor seems like devs should be able to port gp2x stuff pretty easily.

320x240 display is a good thing to keep for emulators though the screen is unfortunately smaller.

Controls? 2 dpads?! Upon close look I'm not sure they're suitable for use as either a dpad or buttons. This is really the biggest problem I have with it. I was unsure about the pandora being comfortable to play games with but this doesn't offer a keyboard and looks horrible layed out. Plus home and select on different sides? We needed those as buttons for games. Volume on the bottom yet still no dial? Looks like we'll still be able to use for rotated games like emulated shmups but really lose them as extra buttons for other games.

Also the all important price point. Should be relatively cheap but would have helped to announce a suggested price with it.

Everything looks good about it except the controls. Maybe wait for a revision to get this as I'm still happy with my f200. Pandora is nice but too expensive and kind of trying to be too much. Trying to avoid comparisons with EEE notebooks yet supposedly going for full OS style menus...

[wraggster]

The speed of it is jaw dropping 533MHZ with 64mb of ram, shame about that design, reminds me of the wank xgp designs.

with a better designed shell and buttons instead of 1 of the pads, this could be kickass.

reminds me i still havent brought a f200 console

[Don Miguel]

god bless america!

i love you, Wiz!

8)
going to buy it... the 2nd batch, i think//.

my gp2x work isn't done yet!

[NightShadow]

While I'll be selling this and all I cannot believe they are going with 2 Dpads and no buttons, so any game which requires 2 or 3 buttons pressed at once can't be played unless you weirdly map them to the shoulder buttons? Whhyyyy?

I think that just games with 3 simultaneous button presses will be affected, as you can still press 2 buttons at the same time (like a diagonal).

That does not mean it is not a flawed design.

But we all have to consider that the Wiz has double the speed of the GP2x, and will be extremely compatible with the available software (just need to recompile).

All the emulators that are struggling on the GP2x will work like a breeze on the Wiz.

I'll stay tuned to see where this ends

[pepone]

- Good: double CPU speed, maybe 3D, internal clock.
- Bad: no network, no USB host, battery (they say a lifetime of 5 hours... the same that their claims for the Gp2x!)
- No opinion: double pad.
- It needs: minilib!

The battery life is a reasonable estimate, I have tested it and got something like 4.8 hours, though I've no idea if it was fully charged at the time. I don't know about USB host - there is a USB socket on the BoB, but I've not actually tried using it for anything.

good to see that the battery life is acceptable. Even with good rechargeable, my gp2x never go beyond 2 hours...
too bad they put a second pad instead of traditional button

[skeezix]

November Battle Jewels release?

Guess I better get started on that...!!

jeff

edit: Looks like a pretty good device actually; the only big hurts I see is the lack of 802.11 (serioiusly, in this year..) and the really strange d-pad for the right hand side. Now, most apps use only 1 button at a time for firing, so fine .. but the trick there is how does it feal? accidental presses? Still, if the screen is good, it ought to look sharp at that size! The big win there would be pocket MAME, in that form factor. Different market thatn Pandora for a lot of people, and for its target audience .. could be really nice. Woudl be nice if they could keep the price down more, but thats a hard one.

[ati]

For now, I'm going for Pandora as this nice little thing has neither communication, nor keyboard. A badass CPU and 3D accel are great but I am already satisfied by my good old f100. The sexiest part is the OLED screen, IMHO.

[anexanhume]

OLED screen and only 180 bucks? That is win! Second D pad for face buttons: that is not so win. The promo pics and box art are top notch, but that second d pad really sucks (especially if they got the d-pad right this time).

After looking at the pics, it looks like the dpads might be segmented by the internal "V" structure going on so that button presses can be exclusive. In that case, it would just be an awkward design, but nothing more than something to get used to.

Edited by anexanhume, 26 August 2008 - 05:48 PM.