Muzzaro
Still Fresh
Hi, after finding the GP32 on Lik Sang site, and doing some research it seems this is much much more than a better designed GBA (which I own). I was thinking about getting a flash cart for the GBA so I could play some emulator games, but it seems this machine does much much more than the GBA in both emulation and also music/vids/file storage.
The only thing that kinda deters me from purchasing it asap, is it's future.
Many of the posts i've read so far have said that the company producing these machines are not very organised. Also, that they have stopped production, and couldn't come to an agreement to bring them to Europe (and possibly the UK where I reside). There is rumors of a GP64, or GP32 II, which I think was said in some post, that the company have said will be scheduled for 2007, but considering it's limited official support in hardware and software, and that the only thing holding this thing above water is the fanbase, is it worth getting? I looked at the Zodiac too, barring it's ram and graphics (and buttons) it seems to be a GP32 with a purpose, and for the price I'd probably be better with the GP32, as I prefer 2d games to all these 3d things (I have a DC, PS1 and PC and GBA for flashy 3d games).
The other thing is, it seems that people are trying to get around the hardware limitations, by expanding them. Upgrading the 8mb ram with 32mbs, some talk of upgrading the ARM processor etc. Personally I think it's amazing, that people have got to the point where they would say "Ah hit it's limits, toss it and find a new machine", and instead are ready to install a new limit onto it, but the thing that really is a downfall in my eyes, is the buttons. 2 regular, 2 shoulder. 2 buttons less than a SNES, which seems to be the golden emulation that everyone is trying to hit. Zodiac seems to have hit this problem well, even getting a thumbs up by Sega, who want to put their genesis games onto it. Would it be possible then, seeing people are messing with the insides of the machine, to somehow tag an extra button or three onto the machine? Yep I know this calls for drastic electronics, and possibly can't be done, but more buttons would give rise to better gameplay, when the SNES emulator hits it's peak. The other way, I thought would be could it be possible to make some sort of shell, that plugs into the GP32 port, and adds those extra buttons needed? I remember there was devices for the original gameboy that turned it into some kind of base-station, but then the downfall would be, the GP32 would be even chunkier, and also where to place the buttons, so that people have good access to them.
Sorry for the long post. I'm not an 'impuse' buyer, and to me the cost of a GP32 FLU is alot (currently a uni student), but the idea of programming for this machine does make me think about buying it.
The only thing that kinda deters me from purchasing it asap, is it's future.
Many of the posts i've read so far have said that the company producing these machines are not very organised. Also, that they have stopped production, and couldn't come to an agreement to bring them to Europe (and possibly the UK where I reside). There is rumors of a GP64, or GP32 II, which I think was said in some post, that the company have said will be scheduled for 2007, but considering it's limited official support in hardware and software, and that the only thing holding this thing above water is the fanbase, is it worth getting? I looked at the Zodiac too, barring it's ram and graphics (and buttons) it seems to be a GP32 with a purpose, and for the price I'd probably be better with the GP32, as I prefer 2d games to all these 3d things (I have a DC, PS1 and PC and GBA for flashy 3d games).
The other thing is, it seems that people are trying to get around the hardware limitations, by expanding them. Upgrading the 8mb ram with 32mbs, some talk of upgrading the ARM processor etc. Personally I think it's amazing, that people have got to the point where they would say "Ah hit it's limits, toss it and find a new machine", and instead are ready to install a new limit onto it, but the thing that really is a downfall in my eyes, is the buttons. 2 regular, 2 shoulder. 2 buttons less than a SNES, which seems to be the golden emulation that everyone is trying to hit. Zodiac seems to have hit this problem well, even getting a thumbs up by Sega, who want to put their genesis games onto it. Would it be possible then, seeing people are messing with the insides of the machine, to somehow tag an extra button or three onto the machine? Yep I know this calls for drastic electronics, and possibly can't be done, but more buttons would give rise to better gameplay, when the SNES emulator hits it's peak. The other way, I thought would be could it be possible to make some sort of shell, that plugs into the GP32 port, and adds those extra buttons needed? I remember there was devices for the original gameboy that turned it into some kind of base-station, but then the downfall would be, the GP32 would be even chunkier, and also where to place the buttons, so that people have good access to them.
Sorry for the long post. I'm not an 'impuse' buyer, and to me the cost of a GP32 FLU is alot (currently a uni student), but the idea of programming for this machine does make me think about buying it.
