Pushed to the Edge #8: Indie To Go
Jan 23, 2006
Quick, without searching on Yahoo!, how many gaming handhelds are going to be launched before summer? The answer is three, though you'd never know it to peek at most gaming websites. No giant fanfare will accompany the launch of the Gamepark XGP, Gamepark Holdings' GP2X, or iRiver's G10. Best Buy won't be clogged with long lines, perhaps because the chain probably won't even carry them.
So what are they? All three are portable media players with gaming overtones, backed more by underground interest than mainstream appeal. Instead of hard drives, all are configured with Secure Digital card slots and USB 2.0 ports. There won't be any mascot-driven platformer to generate sales, though the option to play all sorts of media and software might do the trick for some people.
A few years back, GamePark released the GP32 exclusively in Korea. The portable media player/game system was enough of a hit to spawn imports, a few revisions, and for the company to spin off into two separate entities.
 A color revision of the GP32 with backlit screen  The GP2X, which also ships in white |
One of the two, GamePark Holdings, is responsible for the GP2X, a Unix-based platform that encourages user development and plays a plethora of video codecs and audio formats (DiVX, Xvid, Ogg Vorbis, etc.). The 3.5" screen supports a 320x240 resolution. The Unix base also makes it an ideal platform for homebrew games and emulation; it's that function that has already spawned a small but rabid Internet community that imports the device from sites such as lik-sang.com and playasia.com.
Unfortunately, build and battery issues have dogged the GP2X. Operating on two AA batteries, the system isn't kind to the power supply, draining juice in about eight hours. Firmware updates have proved problematic, and the build quality of the buttons has caused consternation for some users. But GamePark Holdings continues to refine the platform with further firmware, and plans a wider distribution of the device.
GamePark, the other half of the company known formerly as (er...) GamePark, plans its own platform later this year. The XGP (Extreme Game Player) is, as the title implies, a dedicated game system. The 4", 480x272 screen beats the GP2X and might even compete with the PSP if the build quality is up to snuff. Current prototypes show a glossy black console with a pop-up swivel screen. It's more like a stealth fighter than a handheld, and who knows how we'll use the phone-styled keypad under the screen, if that is the final design.
While the GP2X can be had for just over $200 shipped, no price has been set for the XGP. We don't yet know if the XGP will feature the same Unix base as the GP2x, and therefore the hacker appeal.
 The proposed XGP design. Hopefully this will see some revision...  iRiver's far more attractive G10... but is it comfortable? |
Depending on your leanings, the iRiver G10 could be even more promising than the two GamePark devices. It's got a bigger screen -- 800x480 displaying 260,000 colors -- and runs Windows CE 5.0, making it easy to run emulators and plenty of other applications, including Flash and Shockwave to play the great web-based games emerging of late.
Current designs show the screen sliding up to reveal a twin set of keypads; the form factor might not be so comfortable, but the design is definitely slick. Much as with the trio of GamePark offerings, iRiver has complicated things a bit with another media player dubbed the U10. Looking much like the G10, this player isn't geared towards games, but can play Flash.
With the PSP still locking out as many homebrew possibilities as possible, these platforms all look like intriguing ways to enjoy the massive amount of emulators and new independent games begging for attention on the web. iRiver seems to be in the best position, with a solid North American distribution setup already in place and a version of Windows running on the G10.
 Everyone seems to want a white PSP... how about a GP2X instead?  A detailed view of the GP2x analog stick |
As much as I love the potential for both of these little systems, don't color me too optimistic for the future. The Tapwave Zodiac offered a lot of the same functionality and with a great PDA base to boot. But it barely made two years on the shelf before Tapwave had to pull the plug. Tiger Telematics is in a similar position with the Gizmondo, a far more expensive handheld that has yet to find an audience.
Without a slightly lower price (less than $150) none of the three has much of a chance in the States outside the curiosity and import market. There's no specific software to drive sales, and a perception of unreliability without a recognizable "name" behind the hardware.
Still, indie is good, especially in an industry more dominated by the mainstream than film or music. The web is already a flexible platform for independent, fringe, and user-created games, but a little portable hardware couldn't hurt.
Pushed to the Edge is a regular commentary covering elements of the video game industry that cause elation, dismay, outrage, or some combination of the above.