GCW Zero - upcoming handheld console.

[NoeL]

I just wanted to spread the word on what I think is a very promising handheld, and deserves a bit more visibility.

So, I recently got a Yinlips YDPG16 which turned out to be okaaaaaaaaaay but far from great. There were enough faults to make it unenjoyable, and the quality control on these Chinese devices just isn't up to scratch.

Since then I've got more into the obscure handhelds market and the next big thing everyone is raving about is the GCW Zero [http://game-consoles-worldwide.com/] (click for videos!). It's fully open source running a modified Linux kernel, with a 1GHz CPU and a 496MHz GPU, which is good enough to emulate anything up to the PSX/N64 level. The developers have been working closely with the community to develop something really solid, and it's obvious they actually care about producing a solid system with a long lifespan.

The Dingoo A320 (which I bought last year, or maybe the year before) was/is a very popular system, with a large homebrew community (people were able to dual boot the device with Linux, and the Dingoo devs encouraged the modding). The Zero looks to be a kind of spiritual successor to the A320, with a similar layout, OS and functionality, though with much beefier specs, Wifi (and multiplayer), better shoulder buttons, HDMI out, and possibly an app store type repository for developers to share/sell their apps from a single location.

They're offering a limited release of Special Editions for people that pre-order the console, which may or may not already be sold out (I think there's still some available). The SE comes with 512mb RAM and 16gb internal storage, whilst the standard edition has 256mb RAM and only 4gb storage.

It was scheduled for release early August, but a few OS bugs and app porting has pushed the release date back (should be out in a matter of weeks though). Apparently they're loading them up with games and apps from the Dingoo kernel (called "Dingux") so people will be able to do plenty with it straight out of the box. In any case, I'm excited.

More here [http://obscurehandhelds.wordpress.com/tag/gcw-zero/], and here [http://boards.dingoonity.org/other-game-systems/gcw-zero/] (I post on that forum).

 

[NoeL]

Am I really the only person that finds this interesting?

 

[lemby117]

I'm afraid this thread may have died, oh well I will chip in. No I am not particularly interested in it, I have just got a Vita and I think that if they get some more games out for it then it will be the best handheld console out there.

 

[Rednog]

Uhhh they're only up to the PSX/N64 era? That's a bit disappointing to be honest, hell my PSP can run some of those games (granted some of them had problems) and was released 2004/2005. My interest would be peaked if there was a handheld with ps2/xbox era stuff but damn near every other electronic device can run anything pre PSX/N64.

 

[Dragoon]

It honestly doesn't sound that interesting, it just looks like a cheaply made knockoff and those specs are bad compared to mainstream handhelds.

 

[NLS]

Uhhh they're only up to the PSX/N64 era? That's a bit disappointing to be honest, hell my PSP can run some of those games (granted some of them had problems) and was released 2004/2005. My interest would be peaked if there was a handheld with ps2/xbox era stuff but damn near every other electronic device can run anything pre PSX/N64.

The keyword here is emulation. Since they are not running any last-games natively (as that would require special hardware and co-opereation with sony/ms/nintendo), they have to emulate the consoles, and that's something even modern PCs are struggling with when it comes to last gen. The PSP obviously had an advantage at this, since it was developed internally at Sony.

OT: It looks interesting, but I'm currently waiting for my 1Ghz Pandora [http://www.icontrolpad.com/opiix/index.html#!home] with much similar specs (although better screen and full keyboard), so I can't afford ANOTHER device when my Pandora is shipped to me later this week.

 

[NoeL]

The keyword here is emulation. Since they are not running any last-games natively (as that would require special hardware and co-opereation with sony/ms/nintendo), they have to emulate the consoles, and that's something even modern PCs are struggling with when it comes to last gen. The PSP obviously had an advantage at this, since it was developed internally at Sony.

OT: It looks interesting, but I'm currently waiting for my 1Ghz Pandora [http://www.icontrolpad.com/opiix/index.html#!home] with much similar specs (although better screen and full keyboard), so I can't afford ANOTHER device when my Pandora is shipped to me later this week.

Good to see someone that actually knows what they're talking about. Xbox emulation on a handheld? You daft, son?

The Pandora has never interested me, to be honest. It's outrageously overpriced (~6x the Zero), and like you said, the specs are comparable to this thing. Different markets though. I'm just more interested in a gaming console than a pocket PC.



Anyway, to those comparing it to something like the Vita, you're not really getting the appeal of something like this. The Zero is designed primarily for retro gaming, so if you're looking for the latest and greatest by all means look elsewhere. This will retail at a little over 100 bucks (compared to the $350 Vita price tag), so you shouldn't be expecting Vita-quality specs. The Zero is also open source, meaning (1) you don't have to hack the system in order to play emulated games, (2) there will be fair deal of community support making the device better and better every day. You can also make your own games/programs for it if you're into that stuff.

As for being a "cheaply made knockoff", wow, you really have no clue when it comes to the obscure handheld market. The Zero looks to be a sturdy rock in a sea of cheap Chinese shit, given that it's produced by an American team that actually gives a damn about its product. It uses Chinese parts, yes, but compared to Chinese developed handhelds, in which a new version gets pumped out every month and no money at all is spent on quality control or maintenance... hell, there's a very good reason people in the know are excited about this device. Like I said, I just bought a Yinlips YDPG16, which is an Android handheld disguised as a Vita... and it sucks. It can also emulate N64/PSX, and run everything else on the Android market, but the build quality is horrendous.