Dozer
Efram the retarded rabbit
For the newbies out there, I thought that it would b cool if they were given all the options before they pull out their cash and buy a gp32, I've only really become aware of the alternatives since buying my gp and others might find this information valuable. This is just covering the main alternatives for portable emulation and gaming, I am aware there are others, these are the main ones tho ok
. Feel free to correct mistakes that I have made or to add your own thoughts.
Firstly, there's the gba (sp if u want) + linker.
The gba advance community is apparently one of the most active on the net at the moment. It also has many of the emus that are available for the gp. I believe that there is nes, pc engine, spectrum, and many other consoles emulated at good speeds. I'd also say that it looks a lot better (in my opinion) and probebly has better quality construction than the gp. There is also a MUCH bigger and better library of commercial games. One last point is that the linker cartridges can go up to 256mb(!), although this is v. expensive, it does leave tons of space for your games, a lot more than the 128mb smcs.
However, the gba does not have the power to have full speed emulation of, say snes, which is widely believed will happen one day on the gp. Although the quality of construction is better than the gp, the gp is definitely not shoddily made and has the advantage of a much bigger screen. This screen allows for better viewing of games and the like as well as being able to show emulated games at their correct resolution. Another thing the gp has over the gba is that it can play videos and music. The media that the gp uses is a lot cheaper than the gbas also and can be bought from most electronics shops. One last point that the gp32 has over the gba is that it seems to be easier to dev for (I cannot prove or disprove this point as I have no experience in programming).
The next alternative is the pocket pc.
I've always thought of the gp as a gaming pocket pc in a better shell so here's what the real thing can do.
The pocket pc has the advantage of being the most widely used platform that I am giving a quick review. Now the pocket pc has a LOT more to tinker with than the gp, (as long as u are running the right os and have a nippy enough unit). There are literally thousands of homebrew games, emus, image viewers and editors etc. There are also video players and audio players. Pocket pcs can also surf the net (wirelessly if u have the right hardware). Storage is also good on the pocket pcs giving users a range of media that they can use. From our own smart media cards to giant 1 gig micro drives. So far, looks like it has the gp beat. But...
The gp also has some major improvements. The gp is basically designed for just games. And it excels in this area. Where the pocket pc has been designed to do everything, they had to cut corners on some things to allow for others. For example, the controllers for the majority of games are much better on the gp and definitely enhances game play. Price is another point, you are going to be paying hundreds for even a second hand GOOD pocket pc. For the gp you could pick up a flu for £130. I know I’m a lot more comfortable watching Bill and Ted in the car with my gp, than I am carefully holding my friends mint pocket pc, if press the damn on switch too hard I might have to pay 80 odd quid to get it fixed
.
One last up point for the gp, and one of its best is that the community is so cheerful and quick to respond to any questions or issues that you may have. I have had my gp for hardly anytime at all and during this time there's been massive improvements on snes emulation, a Neoga pocket colour emu has been released. The 15 day competition games rock and all the doom games are now full speed high res! I can't wait to see what this little thing can do by this time next year.
All I can say is that I am very happy with my purchase and I'm glad I chose the gp32, although there are alternatives, if you want good games and help, a gp32 is the way to go.
Firstly, there's the gba (sp if u want) + linker.
The gba advance community is apparently one of the most active on the net at the moment. It also has many of the emus that are available for the gp. I believe that there is nes, pc engine, spectrum, and many other consoles emulated at good speeds. I'd also say that it looks a lot better (in my opinion) and probebly has better quality construction than the gp. There is also a MUCH bigger and better library of commercial games. One last point is that the linker cartridges can go up to 256mb(!), although this is v. expensive, it does leave tons of space for your games, a lot more than the 128mb smcs.
However, the gba does not have the power to have full speed emulation of, say snes, which is widely believed will happen one day on the gp. Although the quality of construction is better than the gp, the gp is definitely not shoddily made and has the advantage of a much bigger screen. This screen allows for better viewing of games and the like as well as being able to show emulated games at their correct resolution. Another thing the gp has over the gba is that it can play videos and music. The media that the gp uses is a lot cheaper than the gbas also and can be bought from most electronics shops. One last point that the gp32 has over the gba is that it seems to be easier to dev for (I cannot prove or disprove this point as I have no experience in programming).
The next alternative is the pocket pc.
I've always thought of the gp as a gaming pocket pc in a better shell so here's what the real thing can do.
The pocket pc has the advantage of being the most widely used platform that I am giving a quick review. Now the pocket pc has a LOT more to tinker with than the gp, (as long as u are running the right os and have a nippy enough unit). There are literally thousands of homebrew games, emus, image viewers and editors etc. There are also video players and audio players. Pocket pcs can also surf the net (wirelessly if u have the right hardware). Storage is also good on the pocket pcs giving users a range of media that they can use. From our own smart media cards to giant 1 gig micro drives. So far, looks like it has the gp beat. But...
The gp also has some major improvements. The gp is basically designed for just games. And it excels in this area. Where the pocket pc has been designed to do everything, they had to cut corners on some things to allow for others. For example, the controllers for the majority of games are much better on the gp and definitely enhances game play. Price is another point, you are going to be paying hundreds for even a second hand GOOD pocket pc. For the gp you could pick up a flu for £130. I know I’m a lot more comfortable watching Bill and Ted in the car with my gp, than I am carefully holding my friends mint pocket pc, if press the damn on switch too hard I might have to pay 80 odd quid to get it fixed
One last up point for the gp, and one of its best is that the community is so cheerful and quick to respond to any questions or issues that you may have. I have had my gp for hardly anytime at all and during this time there's been massive improvements on snes emulation, a Neoga pocket colour emu has been released. The 15 day competition games rock and all the doom games are now full speed high res! I can't wait to see what this little thing can do by this time next year.
All I can say is that I am very happy with my purchase and I'm glad I chose the gp32, although there are alternatives, if you want good games and help, a gp32 is the way to go.