GP2X Multiplayer Options?

[RiX0R]

Everyone knows that the best part of playing a game is playing it together with a friend (or foe). I'm just back from a LAN party so I may be a bit biased .

Unfortunately, the GP2X doesn't as of yet support networking very well, and it doesn't look like it will anytime soon. Playing games with other GP2X owners via a wired or wireless network is therefore out of the question.

But another thing occurred to me: it is very well possible to have two players on the same GP2X: hold the device sideways!

The two players sit opposite each other, and hold the device between them. One player uses the end with the D-stick, and the other the end with all the buttons. In this setup, each player has a 4-way controller and two action buttons (and perhaps a third, if you count the shoulder buttons).

The two players will have opposite perspectives onto the same playing field, so this will not accomodate just any type of game. Platforms are probably out of the question (unless you expect the players to twist their necks). Games with a top-down view should probably be allright. Of course, another option is to go split-screen, giving each player a 240x160 sceen to play in.

I might write a game some time to explore the concept some more, but not until I have more time (work, school, yada yada... *sigh*).

What do others think of this? Do you think it's workable, or am I insane? (Or am I even retreading old ground?)

I'd very much like to hear some feedback.

 

[andrew_j_w]

Sounds like a good idea to me. I think it'd work especially well for puzzle games.

The original version of Settlers divided the screen vertically and if you had two mice plugged in you could play like that - great fun.

Andrew

 

[woogal]

It's an old idea, and it works really well. I did a game for the gp32 using a control system like that and always planned to do a lot more but never found the time. There's a version of micro machines that handles 2 players in that way too (think it might be the gamegear version).

 

[nickspoon]

When I read this topic, one word came to mind...

PONG!

 

[Ferentix]

This is how I was going to do a 2 player GBA pong... I never finished though. Or started to be entirely honest

There's a toy on Wario Ware DS a bit like that too. Except each player has a screen and a shoulder button for a basic ping pong game.

 

[nickspoon]

I did a quick convert of evening2005's Pong game to a 2-player (which I'm very proud of), so I'll be releasing that by Tuesday next week.

 

[tekt5]

There's a version of micro machines that handles 2 players in that way too (think it might be the gamegear version).

That's the GBC version that does that. Me and my Brother played it ALOT. Also, the original GBA Wario-Ware has a 2 or 3 games like that.