1st Official Gp2x Game And Application Development Contest

[TelcoLou]

screw homebrew games
i wanna play 1000's of gba games on my soon-to-come gp2x.
emulator is going to draw lot more customers then a good homebrew game is. Come on you gba or psx emulator!

... if you'd spend less time trying to think up clever & unique user names, you'd have noticed the PSX emu already in development, and you'd know why a GBA emu isn't going to happen.

 

[DaveC]

So emulation is mediocre now? blink.gif What would be one of these GBA/PSP-quality applications you're talking about (games aside)?

Don't be so critical, I was just restating the title of the topic.

Would an emulator REALLY be worth $5000? Or even $1000 to say the least? Sure emulators are great to have, but do they provide anything UNIQUE or inspiring for the GP2X. This contest would be such a waste and a fault on GPH's part if all the entries are like typical releases that people upload to GP32X. A first place game should be of at least Payback quality.

Well since this contest is done by GPH I think they would just want what would sell the most systems. The truth is the existance of a full speed GBA emu would sell ALOT of systems.

Payback wasn't that great anyway. I watched the demo and it was pretty framey, like something you would see struggling it's way out of a GBA screen.

 

[DaveC]

"Just some old homebrew game" are the entries that I hope wouldn't end up being submitted to the contest in large amounts ... And you see how the announcement says "teams." That indirectly means that the entries shouldn't look like they were made by one person.

I suppose Stargazer: Luminence is probably worth submitting then. It's far from 'some litttle generic thrown-together homebrew game' and is being developed by a proper team; myself (Lead programmer), an artist (soon to be two)-- HydraLancer on this forum .. an assistant programmer (who does not post on this forum) who is mainly providing tips and algorithmic advice, and two music composers. Only thing is, it's not some rush-job game project, it's something we intend to be marketable as a proper commercial product! So I hope a playable technology test or demo would be acceptable for such a contest ...

I assume that this game is going to be 3D? I got this from the fact that you were talking alot about 3D. If it is no matter how good you make this game it will look pretty bad when compared to what is out on the PSP or DS. Of course it isn't your fault, it is the hardware. There is nothing you can do to get comparable 3D out of the GP2X without a polygon engine and FPU like the other systems have. Basically it will just draw attention as to how weak the GP2X is for 3D. Now to US that doesn't matter as if we want wizzbang 3D stuff we will get a PSP. We accept the GP2X as a 2D system and that is fine for most of us, I mean we have a glut of 3D with the current systems anyway. For others looking to buy the system though they will just look at the 3D capability and say "Wow the GP2X sux, the PSP is way better"

A fantastic 2D game would be great but I doubt any HB stuff can come close to emulated for even 2D. Just load up any NeoGeo game under GNGeo. Look at Pulstar, Viewpoint, Blazestar, Last Resort etc. Can a HB 2D shooter come close? All of that art takes huge amounts of time to do. With an emu you get top quality much faster. That iswhy we should not knock emus.

To me the best HB games are not the ones that try to mimic a commercial title and fall short. Those little hacky types like Lacuna or spout, Vektar, that don't try to do too much but do what they do well seem to be the best.

I wish you luck with it though, hope it turns out well.

 

[Epicenter]

Stargazer is fully 2D-- the hardware strictions 3D titles must face limit their ability to properly exploit the GP2X's abilities. It is written on an original engine using 0 floating point code, specially optimized for operation on ARM9-series processors. It utilizes the GP2X's blitter and memory allocated as VRAM for all graphics operations and is able to achieve the full 90-FPS framerate the LCD is capable of in gameplay (capped to VSYNC) and >140FPS uncapped. This is with the ARM920T set to the default 200 MHz setting. I haven't optimized the engine yet.

The GP2X truly is MUCH more powerful than most homebrewers have thus far given it credit for.

Graphically, things are looking to match a unique graphical style sitting somewhere around 2D games for the Playstation or Saturn with some slight stylings of 16-bit era games. Qualitywise, the existing artwork is far beyond anything I've yet seen for homebrew titles. I'm quite impressed with how the music is coming out, as well.

We're using existing shooters as reference and comparison-- games like Dodonpachi, Esp.Ra.De, Guwange, Dangun Feveron, Mars Matrix, Giga Wing and the Strikers series are a good indication of the sort of graphical quality we are shooting for (no pun intended), while maintaining the intensity not present in games like Pulstar or most 16-bit/8-bit/NeoGeo shooters.

 

[JaqMs]

I sure wouldn't buy a GP2X just for a GBA emulator. If I were a commoner, I would rather buy a GBA and go through the trouble of buying a flash cart, or just get a PSP. Think of this, no one will ever say "Man you gotta try this game called Super Mario Brothers on GP2X." That would be lame. And another thing, since when is "new" solely 3D games? Cannot quality games be in 2D? Think if a game like say, Liero, was originally made on the GP2X. That would make the GP2X more attractive because the game is fun and you would not be able to experience the game anywhere else. Remember, 2D games can be modern too, they just have to be full-featured and well-executed.

 

[Azure]

Yes, most people wouldn't buy a handheld just for emulating one platform (But I would! SNES! ), but it would definetly help attract people. And I disagree; I think most people would rather emulate the GBA rather than go the more expensive flash cart route. Plus, you could throw GBA emulation in addition to all the other things the GP2X has to offer, and this would further turn a person away from the flash card route and towards the GP2X. I don't think the commoner is GPH's target consumer, but rather someone with decent knowledge of how to use a computer effectively and probably someone who is aware of emulation, roms, etc. In this case, this person would most likely pick up the GP2X over a GBA. A $200 GBA (w/ 1GB SD) with every GBA game would still be attractive to people, probably enough so to solely attract buyers, but couple that with everything else the GP2X can do...

Sadly, to most people, new games = 3D or at least some degree of 3D. 2D is unfortunately dying and is regarded as a step backward to most people nowadays (Sadly, people categorize 2D with NES/SNES and GENESIS and even regard the Neo-Geo's games as being of the same graphical standard as the formers). Yes, 2D games can be modern, but I doubt a homebrew 2D game can live up to the average gamer's standard of "modern."

 

[PSyMastR]

I personally dont see 3d as new. I played Super Princess Peach and Casatlevania for DS, and they both have AMAZING visuals in 2D. 3D isn't everything, but the average consumer doesn't believe that.

 

[gaterooze]

The truth is the existance of a full speed GBA emu would sell ALOT of systems.

You're probably right, but it just seems bizarre to me. For $100 TOTAL, you can get a GBA SP + Supercard, which will play ROMs, er, perfectly.

 

[circle_that_pit]

Personally, I'd be thrilled to see some kind of 3D raceing game come out of this with upgradeable cars/parts and whatnot. The little 2D overhead ones don't really do it for me.

 

[DaveC]

Personally, I'd be thrilled to see some kind of 3D raceing game come out of this with upgradeable cars/parts and whatnot. The little 2D overhead ones don't really do it for me.

Then it sounds like you want a PSP with Ridge Racer or Wipeout.

 

[PSyMastR]

Personally, I'd be thrilled to see some kind of 3D raceing game come out of this with upgradeable cars/parts and whatnot. The little 2D overhead ones don't really do it for me.

Then it sounds like you want a PSP with Ridge Racer or Wipeout.

Thats exactly what I thought.

 

[NoidZ]

I'm more a retro gamer. I still play what I played when I was 5 years old For me a 3D game often gets boring after a couple of hours. (in that time I probably completed the game though ) Except ofcourse the big RPG's. But ow man... the teasers of MGS4 and Halo3 both gave me goosebumps (for the first times a game preview does that to me)

Dunno... Everytime a new console-war is comming, al those brand new, superspec. consoles show so much beautifull stuff! (especially this time) Games look so damn great now! Now I must buy a next gen console

 

[nickspoon]

screw homebrew games
i wanna play 1000's of gba games on my soon-to-come gp2x.
emulator is going to draw lot more customers then a good homebrew game is. Come on you gba or psx emulator!

Come over here, I want to rip your liver out and eat it in front of your face, at which point I will reach down your throat and slowly pull out your spinal cord, beat you around the head with it and then shove it up your arse. I will then remove your brain through your nose with a fork and eat that too.

It's people like you that make me wish doing that was actually legal.

 

[freddykreuger666]

ur wish will come true, cos i live in essex, england too.
i'd rather have a full speed gba emu then a homebrew game that is really good. Hope someone decides to give a gba emu a go to try and win this competition

 

[OrR]

Personally, I'd be thrilled to see some kind of 3D raceing game come out of this with upgradeable cars/parts and whatnot. The little 2D overhead ones don't really do it for me.

Then it sounds like you want a PSP with Ridge Racer or Wipeout.

Thats exactly what I thought.

Well, what we've GOT is a GP2X. I'd rather buy a nice 2X racer for 40$ than get a PSP + game for 250$, even if the PSP game looks and plays a little better.
I like emulators but they are not the reason I got my GP2X. I can emulate most of those systems on my Zodiac and all on my PC already.
By the way, you can also make minimalistic 3D. You don't need PSP power to pull that off. Some games profit a lot from being 3D, for example racers. Look at the Ha Toda Pastila previews. That doesn't need extremely realistic models and textures. Still, it's a lot better than a Mode7 racer because it's 3D.
About Payback: It plays much nicer than the original GTA due to you always looking up (which is possible thanks to the 3D engine, by the way). Sure, if GTA is not your type of game, you probably won't like Payback too much but it was one of my favourite GBA games.
I don't need a GBA emu. I've got a DS for that as everyone should. What I need for my GP2X is some original games that give me a reason to play it. That's what I loved about my Zodiac, that's what I love about my DS and that's what I want to love my 2X for.

 

[freddykreuger666]

i didnt like payback that much
i thought gta advance was better
the camera angles and graphics on the gba version of payback were terrible.
bit of a rip off to gta 1

 

[Mr.Jabberwocky]

If this is actually funded by GamePark would they want to be seen promoting an emulator ie. another console? It would be like advertising for their competitiors. Surely the intention is to encourage applications that use the full potential of the GP2X. The processing power wasted on emulating another system should be put to use creating better gameplay.
Over 5 years the emulation scene prevented the GP32 ever having any games written for it that fully exploited the hardware.
This looks like a further attempt to wrest the GP2X from the clammy, tightfisted grasp of the 'free software' mentality and open it up to new users who are prepared to support development by paying for software. For this to happen there are going to have to be developers like Epicenter, and this is a way to encourage them to show what they can do. This is more than likely a head hunting exercise.
Gamepark will make much more money from software than by selling more units on the back of a free emulator.
Unfortunately, the likes of freddiekreuger666, seem to represent the majority in not giving support to our homebrew contributers. I can imagine many have been discouraged by the general lack of interest and negative attitude towards homebrew and moved on.
It is encouraging to see that the people who are actually capable of doing something, other than string together a sentence containing the terms 'I want', 'full speed' and 'emu', seem to be behind native software. I guess that is inevitable since they are the creative ones in this community.
Since freddiekreuger666 et al are not there to show support perhaps Gamepark can provide the motivation to keep them interested with this kind of event.
Hopefully the rules will exclude emulators and we will see something new come out of this. I don't think it is safe to assume that the entries will be available for free once the competition has ended either.

 

[paulobecker]

If this is actually funded by GamePark would they want to be seen promoting an emulator ie. another console? It would be like advertising for their competitiors.

Not to mention the huge legal complications, with Nintendo now claiming emulators to be trademarked by them -_-' Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a full speed 100% compatible GBA emulator as well, I just don't think it's the way to go for an official competition. But I think that people like freddykreuger666 should be banned from this community. If you're not willing to support homebrew games which are the heart of the 2X, you probably shouldn't get one in the first place.

 

[mrsnature]

As far as GPH are concerned it doesn't matter which entries they choose as the winners, the games/apps will still have been made. I.e. just because an emulator might lead to more sales of units, doesn't mean they necessarily should make this a winner (and would help avoid legal issues).

The prizes will just result in more entries being made

 

[icurafu]

But I think that people like freddykreuger666 should be banned from this community. If you're not willing to support homebrew games which are the heart of the 2X, you probably shouldn't get one in the first place.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who only brought the GP2X to play emulators.

However people who only brought it to play "GBA" and "PSX" are setting themselves up for dissapointment.