GCW Zero vs. PSP, Running SNES Star Fox

[Another World]

maybe it can emulate Yoshi's Island!

according to zear (via IRC), one of the software porters mentioned on the kickstarter page, Yoshi's Island does run. there is apparently a vid of it floating around youtube.

-another world

 

[The Catboy]

according to zear (via IRC), one of the software porters mentioned on the kickstarter page, Yoshi's Island does run. there is apparently a vid of it floating around youtube.

-another world

I no longer care what the price is, I am buying one now!

 

[Another World]

check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3t0aR4W3KRQ#t=930s

-another world

 

[The Catboy]

check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3t0aR4W3KRQ#t=930s

-another world

My year has been made!

 

[Another World]

i do believe that video was shot by someone who received one of the early pre-order devices. there is the chance that the software running that game will only get better by the time the kickstarter units ship. =)

-another world

 

[taydor_b]

So PS1 emulation is possible on this device. However, is there any development going on for it?

I read that the resolution is a perfect fit for SNES games, but how is it for PS1 games? Do the PS1 and SNES use the same resolution?

 

[Felipe_9595]

Can this play CPS3?

 

[Rydian]

but really, in one way or another we can already play almost all the classics, that's the reality of it. Be it NDS, PSP, Android tablets, whatever...

"Almost all the classics" isn't good enough for most people. There's a few games I'd like to play portably that aren't considered classics and/or don't run properly on something like the DS.

As for android that's got a lot of power and versatility, the issue is getting some goddamned controls... and that's where devices like this come in.

I have a GP2X Caanoo, I loved it, but I didn't get the most out of it for it still lacked that extra processing power needed to run SNES games full speed.
That had a 533Mhz ARM(?) processor, overclockable to around 750mhz safely and then a bit more. If you wanted transparency in your SNES games then not much luck.
This GCW Zero appears to have a 1Ghz MIPS processor and it seems to be doing, well fantastically.
On top of just having a nicer looking design and form factor, with an actual d-pad for primary input, it has Gmenu2X as the primary front-end, this device does look really attractive to me, but I don't want to fall into the same trap of buying an open-source handheld I end up shelving after losing interest.
Though I'm more hopeful about this one, but if their kick starter doesn't go well then maybe nobody will get these. :\
I dunno man, I dunno. I'd love one but...

I have some of the same concerns, though the whole "transparency" option in the emulator is a bit concerning, once I saw star fox running smoothly I was definitely impressed and assume the function is for use on older devices or from when less hardware control/support was available (like how ZSNES DOS can't do transparency in video mode-X, needs VESA).

check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3t0aR4W3KRQ#t=930s

-another world

Gotta' appreciate that "just get through the damn into" A-button mashing he does. XD I do it too.

 

[potato3334]

omg this SNES emulation.... I am very interested.

And the screen is perfect too!

 

[VatoLoco]

This handheld keeps gaining more points for me. I saw a video of Descent be played/steered with the accelerometer feature. Cool stuff=)

 

[2ndApex]

Can this play CPS3?

This and N64.

This certainly looks more affordable but I'm not convinced it can do more than Open Pandora.

 

[orion4874]

Can this play CPS3?

It does though it's not quite full speed..... yet.

 

[Hielkenator]

Hmm the reviewer might get into numbers. Mixing up the values of the Hz badly.
Anyway, great review.
Seems as if starfox actually runs TOO fast.
I also looks like the resolution is a lot lower on the GWC.
This might explain the speed bump also, looks like the GWC uses the SNES native resolution.

 

[TemplarGR]

This and N64.

This certainly looks more affordable but I'm not convinced it can do more than Open Pandora.

Since it uses a MIPS CPU at a much higher frequency than the N64 and the PS1, it should be able to smoothly emulate both in theory. In practice, it depends on the emulator...

 

[Ericthegreat]

I dont find it worth $135.... Once 3DS/vita is hacked it will prob be higher spec.... now how long for hax + development of emu I do not know lol....

 

[Its_just_Lou]

I'm curious about this device, but as others have mentioned, I'm not sure it will be able to out-balls the Vita at the end of the day.
(The Vita is more powerful than the 3DS, yes?)

I need something that can flawlessly emulate PS2, GBA, and SNES games, and roughly the size two PSPs...maybe one day...

 

[Rydian]

Seems as if starfox actually runs TOO fast.

That's a common emulation issue yeah.

I also looks like the resolution is a lot lower on the GWC.
This might explain the speed bump also, looks like the GWC uses the SNES native resolution.

Well if there's an actual GPU involved then scaling shouldn't get a performance hit. PSP can do scaling/filtering without an FPS drop.

I'm curious about this device, but as others have mentioned, I'm not sure it will be able to out-balls the Vita at the end of the day.
(The Vita is more powerful than the 3DS, yes?)

I need something that can flawlessly emulate PS2, GBA, and SNES games, and roughly the size two PSPs...maybe one day...

Vita's hacks are still in PSP-mode.

 

[Surkow]

"Almost all the classics" isn't good enough for most people. There's a few games I'd like to play portably that aren't considered classics and/or don't run properly on something like the DS.

As for android that's got a lot of power and versatility, the issue is getting some goddamned controls... and that's where devices like this come in.

I have some of the same concerns, though the whole "transparency" option in the emulator is a bit concerning, once I saw star fox running smoothly I was definitely impressed and assume the function is for use on older devices or from when less hardware control/support was available (like how ZSNES DOS can't do transparency in video mode-X, needs VESA).

Gotta' appreciate that "just get through the damn into" A-button mashing he does. XD I do it too.

This particular emulator originates from the Dingoo A320, where this option was needed for speed reasons. The option is not needed on the GCW Zero.

 

[Another World]

I dont find it worth $135.... Once 3DS/vita is hacked it will prob be higher spec.... now how long for hax + development of emu I do not know lol....

realistically, we may be talking years. by the time they are fully understood, hacked, exploited, and a toolchain is developed. with the gcw zero you get a ton of great emulation, homebrew, apps, and games, right out of the box. remember, they aren't targeting users who already have devices and hope for them to get hacked. instead they are providing a device already ready to go. get your fix now, not in 2 years.

-another world

 

[VatoLoco]

I just made a pledge at the Kickstarter campaign.
Here's to seeing the GCW Zero succeed =)