GCW Zero Review, now live

Another World

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Games Consoles Worldwide has released the Zero, their first retro-supportive, homebrew, and Indie software video game system. Featuring hardware carefully chosen for retro experiences, the Zero supports a variety of emulation out-of-the-box. The hardware includes a 1 GHz MIPS processor, 512 MB of RAM, an FM radio transmitter, G-Sensor, microphone, HDMI port, WIFI (local and world-wide multiplayer), an open source operating system, and more. Intrigued yet?

I have finally wrapped up my review of the GCW Zero linux-based handheld video game system. Did it stack up to all the hype? Is it really as easy to set-up as everyone says? Is it a true spiritual successor to the Dingoo handhelds? Give the review a read and find out!

Please, refrain from posting Kickstarter rants and hardware comparisons to modern Android systems as review comments.

:arrow: GCW Zero, Official GBAtemp Review
 

ZAFDeltaForce

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At that price point, I'm curious as to how the GCW Zero compares with the PSP in terms of emulation.

Having bought a Dingoo, I was not very pleased with the build quality (especially that brittle LCD, that tanked out in the first week), so I might pass on this and go for a second hand PSP for my emulation needs instead.
 

Surkow

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If you want PSX emulation and native PSP games, stick to a PSP. Considering a PSP for other emulated platforms wouldn't be the greatest choice. The LCD from the Dingoo A320 wasn't exactly the best (and it was sideways causing different viewing angles from left and right). The GCW Zero screen has no such issues.
 

ZAFDeltaForce

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If you want PSX emulation and native PSP games, stick to a PSP. Considering a PSP for other emulated platforms wouldn't be the greatest choice. The LCD from the Dingoo A320 wasn't exactly the best (and it was sideways causing different viewing angles from left and right). The GCW Zero screen has no such issues.
Thanks for the input :)
 

Kouen Hasuki

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In fairness mind you AW, Comparing to Android based units to me does sound fair, as fair as comparing the GCW Zero to a PSP for instance :P

But that's my opinion
 

Costello

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In fairness mind you AW, Comparing to Android based units to me does sound fair, as fair as comparing the GCW Zero to a PSP for instance :P

But that's my opinion

oh, it's perfectly fair - he just doesn't want to have such comments *in the actual review comments*
but feel free to say anything you want right here.
 

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what costello said. that review was years in the making. i was talking to Justin back when the zero was a design on pen and paper. after getting the review written, i didn't want the comments section to turn into just another place for the same people to have the same debate, yet again. i worked to hard on the review to have actual comments about the zero get lost in the same repetitive discussion.

with that said, how would you compare it to an android device? it runs dingux, it has its own emulators, software, apps, homebrew, etc. the only comparision left is the cost of the zero and what it does vs. the cost of an android device and what IT does. but the two couldn't be more different.

-another world
 

Kouen Hasuki

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what costello said. that review was years in the making. i was talking to Justin back when the zero was a design on pen and paper. after getting the review written, i didn't want the comments section to turn into just another place for the same people to have the same debate, yet again. i worked to hard on the review to have actual comments about the zero get lost in the same repetitive discussion.

with that said, how would you compare it to an android device? it runs dingux, it has its own emulators, software, apps, homebrew, etc. the only comparison left is the cost of the zero and what it does vs. the cost of an android device and what IT does. but the two couldn't be more different.

-another world


You make a very valid point about how much of a world apart a Dingux based device is from an android based one. but as I stated way back when they was demoing the unit (as memory serves me showing SNES emulation) they was comparing it to the PSP which in itself is also a world apart since that has a proprietary Sony OS not to mention being many years behind the hardware of the GCW Zero. That was a comparison there own PR was making and I was kinda fine with that though I thought it was more one of those "No S*** Sherlock" moments when it emulated it better with far better specs 333MHz CPU 64MB Ram at best vs 1GHz CPU 512MB Ram :P

What I would look at in comparison between the GCW vs a Android Device made with a similar idea in mind is what it would bring to the end user in the same space. Emulation.

Tech Specs aside its not how beefy the hardware its what you do with it that I think is most important as well as the given hardware controls and battery run time, I have messed around with emulation with my aging Galaxy S2 and that ran very well so I can see android being a decent alternative and I feel the GCW will have to raise the bar in many area's to continue to be noticed. This however is all thoughts on a guy who has not personally had a chance to actually use a unit but have followed it some and as such I cant make a full judgement call on it. I'm not gonna condemn the GCW but I just call it as I have been able to see it.

wow... this turned into a novel and I hope I didn't bore anyone to death :P

TL;DR - GCW Team took the time to make a comparison during the making to a PSP which is also very different and I feel if that's game then at emulation it should be fair to compare to an intended purpose
 

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