GCW Zero Handheld, pricing announced

RupeeClock · May 31, 2013

Anacobra said:
Not super excited for this but I'm glad it doesn't run Android.

Seems like every "game" device be it console or handheld that isn't Nintendo/Sony has Android on it.

It's like, oh goodie, another device to play Angry Birds on just what I wanted. Not like my phone does this already.

I might get one though if the emulators work better than my PSP. The device is certainly stronger than one, so I hope.

Isn't that the truth? Too many Android devices as it is, but these Linux powered handhelds have always offered something quite interesting in my opinion.
And emulation-wise it appears to be far more capable than the PSP, the SNES emulator in particular seems to be superb on GCW Zero and appears to be capable of running troublesome titles like Starfox, Yoshi's Island and Super Mario RPG at full speed.
Plenty of YouTube videos up and running to prove this too.

chartube12 said:
I would like to add that the smaller LCDs are increasing in price nearly every other week. The reason is less and less devices are using them right now. Yeah 2-3 years ago the screen would've been cheaper. However back than the rest of the components were more expensive, if they were available. So overall the price isn't too bad. It is actually right around where I expected to be. Hopefully willgoo or some site similar picks these up in bulk so they can get them cheaper and pass that on as free ship to buyers.

Hmm, are LCDs increasing in price because there are less systems that make use of them now? Seems that way.
The 3DS/XL might be one of the last handhelds to make use of QVGA/QWVGA LCD displays, you know? The next Nintendo handheld might very well go for newer screen technology at last.

Qtis · May 31, 2013

Another World said:
the devs on irc are already talking about n64 and ps1 emulation. if/when those things are worked on i think they will top out the feasibility of the hardware.

-another world

How well do PSX games work in general with one analog? I know quite a few games (especially the first gen PSX games before the Dual Shock) use only the Dpad. While I'm interested in this, I'll probably wait for it to have (almost) flawless emulation before I buy it. Hate to have games I'd love to play not work

emigre · May 31, 2013

Qtis said:
How well do PSX games work in general with one analog? I know quite a few games (especially the first gen PSX games before the Dual Shock) use only the Dpad. While I'm interested in this, I'll probably wait for it to have (almost) flawless emulation before I buy it. Hate to have games I'd love to play not work

I think a better question is how can you play N64 gaems on the GCW Zero setup? The comfort in playing the gaem is going to be compromised. Look at how many buttons there:

The mapping of the C buttons is going to be a concern. Using the D pad to control the camera whilst moving with the analog nub is going to be fun.

Mario92 · May 31, 2013

emigre said:
I think a better question is how can you play N64 gaems on the GCW Zero setup? The comfort in playing the gaem is going to be compromised. Look at how many buttons there:
snip

Well most games only used left side or center buttons only so not much games need both Z and L or dpad and stick. Based on this it's pretty easy to just map both of those on same buttons. Of course there would be problem with games that uses both left and center of controller at the same time but then it's easy to just make some remap button which changes layout on the fly (like select button)

PSX with stick support will be harder of course but not impossible and device does support external joypads (up to 4 in fact)

Seems really nifty machine but how many will actually throw money towards this one as there are PSP and android devices everywhere. Of course this updates and has actual physical buttons which I miss about phones but still.

E: forgot about that controlling camera when moving lol. At least Mario 64 had decent automatic camera

Chocolina · May 31, 2013

RupeeClock said:
Stuff

It is poor performance for the price you're paying. I don't want Bluetooth any version, I'm just using it as an example of there being no reason the CGW Zero being $150. And the support thing can be argued, because I see most programs outside of emulators being useless. Just think what $150 could get you. I wouldn't be surprised if it's impressive battery size was the thing that cost the most.

the_randomizer · May 31, 2013

Chocolina said:
It is poor performance for the price you're paying. I don't want Bluetooth any version, I'm just using it as an example of there being no reason the CGW Zero being $150. And the support thing can be argued, because I see most programs outside of emulators being useless. Just think what $150 could get you. I wouldn't be surprised if it's impressive battery size was the thing that cost the most.

Gee, how much would be a reasonable price according to your tirade, $10?

Chocolina · May 31, 2013

emigre said:
I think a better question is how can you play N64 gaems on the GCW Zero setup? The comfort in playing the gaem is going to be compromised. Look at how many buttons there:

The good (or bad) thing about the N64 controller was that half the controller was unnecessary. You wouldn't need to map the directional buttons and L button in most games. Also in most games with a 3D camera, you could ignore the left or the right C and use just one button as a camera angle changer. And it might be inconvenient, but you could change and focus button mapping on a per-game basis. Rarely was there a game where using all buttons were required.

And the PSP used it's analog stick to emulate 2 buttons and 2 combos with ps1 emulation due to the lack of a R2 and L2 button. It's analog could be R2, L2, or R2+L2 combo based on the direction you flicked it.

the_randomizer · May 31, 2013

Too bad they'll never use a GOOD version of Snes9x on there.

Chocolina · May 31, 2013

the_randomizer said:
Gee, how much would be a reasonable price according to your tirade, $10?

$100 I don't know where you got $10 from. Did you even consider the prices of the battery, screen, CPU/GPU/Wifi, body, buttons included cables, overall circuitry, and the box and materials that come with it, as well as any labor costs to compensate the makers for?

I mean you don't expect to pay next to nothing for apple crap, but most people are pretty upset to find that their $30 earbuds cost the company $3 or less to make. I believe most product's value should be 80% cost of materials and 20% cost of labor. I'm just taking a wild guess here, but maybe the handheld cost $70-$75 to make, which would make paying $100 sound reasonable. Spending $150 on it only sounds justifiable to me if the materials alone costs like $110-$120

Processors, GPU, and Ram are incredibly inexpensive to make, even though they're often the parts in gaming that matter the most. And when you skimp on the screen, you can manage to save a ton on your budget. I look down on the Zero because I don't believe the unit itself justifies the $150 price tag.

dickfour · May 31, 2013

With all the inexpensive quad core rock chips hitting the market the GCW is under spec'd and overpriced. This would have been great a year or two ago but the best you'll squeeze out of his will be perfect snes emu maybe good PSX at some point I. The future. He GCW brings nothing new to the table and a lot less than what's currently available

mrtofu · May 31, 2013

deleted

The Catboy · May 31, 2013

Yeah I am actually buying one of these, if not me, I told my boyfriend to buy one for my birthday. I looks amazing and it plays Yoshi's Island.

FAST6191 · May 31, 2013

Chocolina said:
I believe most product's value should be 80% cost of materials and 20% cost of labor.

I'm just taking a wild guess here, but maybe the handheld cost $70-$75 to make, which would make paying $100 sound reasonable. Spending $150 on it only sounds justifiable to me if the materials alone costs like $110-$120

Presenting Master electrical engineer "Chocolina" people.

chartube12 · May 31, 2013

Android is a battery killer. Just saying. I get barely 5 hours out of galaxy tab 2 7.0 with the screen brightness on the lowest, wifi, bluetooth and gps off.

TripleSMoon · May 31, 2013

chartube12 said:
Android is a battery killer. Just saying. I get barely 5 hours out of galaxy tab 2 7.0 with the screen brightness on the lowest, wifi, bluetooth and gps off.

Considering I get a lot more than that on my tablet with everything on, I highly doubt android is the problem there.

Anacobra · Jun 1, 2013

chartube12 said:
Android is a battery killer. Just saying. I get barely 5 hours out of galaxy tab 2 7.0 with the screen brightness on the lowest, wifi, bluetooth and gps off.

I play PS1 games on my android phone with wifi and GPS on and my battery typically lasts 20 hours before it needs a charge. Not an android issue. Check what you're running in the background, the amount of widgets, and if you go into the battery information it'll show you what's using the most power so you can try to fix it.

TripleSMoon · Jun 1, 2013

Anacobra said:
I play PS1 games on my android phone with wifi and GPS on and my battery typically lasts 20 hours before it needs a charge. Not an android issue. Check what you're running in the background, the amount of widgets, and if you go into the battery information it'll show you what's using the most power so you can try to fix it.

Also, the Android version. Versions earlier than 4.0 (at least in my experience) have significantly worse battery life.

The Milkman · Jun 1, 2013

Anacobra said:
Not super excited for this but I'm glad it doesn't run Android.

Seems like every "game" device be it console or handheld that isn't Nintendo/Sony has Android on it.

It's like, oh goodie, another device to play Angry Birds on just what I wanted. Not like my phone does this already.

I might get one though if the emulators work better than my PSP. The device is certainly stronger than one, so I hope.

I agree that too many "game" devices run Android, but I think we can ALL agree it has much more to offer then just Angry Birds or Temple Run.

A unified OS that runs a cross multiple devices, has near universal compatibility with support for devices that run from budget to high-end near PC performance (not counting the latest x86 based builds and handsets coming out) which is updated consistently and has quite a few means of distribution.

Hell, if I were a indie dev looking to release on a handheld, Android would be the first place I would look.

Don't let that hardcore elitism blind you from the truth, short of building a gaming specialized OS that's open-source and near-universal, android is best we got.

dickfour · Jun 1, 2013

Is it just me or does he shell look really cheap, poor quality. You'd think 150 clams could buy something a little nicer

NeSchn · Jun 1, 2013

Damn if it can play SNES and PSX pretty much flawlessly I want it, but I just can't drop $150 bucks on something like that, knowing that Im not much into gaming so I would use it for about a month or so and then stop. But I would love to play me some portable Legend of Gaia or Symphony Of The Night.

GCW Zero Handheld, pricing announced

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