After playing in the portable gaming "problem space" for a while now, I decided to summarize my thoughts. This is sort of a blog entry, but I'm currently unwilling to set up a blog :rolleyes:
-------------------------------------
PORTABLE GAMING: THE USER EXPERIENCE
-------------------------------------
--------------------------
NDS + DS-Xtreme
--------------------------
Remarks: As emulation matures, the emulator experience may surpass the hardware
experience. Example, Silent Hill (PSX) on ePSXe with OpenGL/DirectX video acceleration
versus on an actual PSOne console or PS2. NDS emulation has not reached this stage.
A hardware NDS currently provides the best user experience. Relatively long battery life.
Optimal:
- Conveniently play backups of original games legitimately obtained by the user.
Same rationale behind the PS2+HDD+HDAdvance.
- Unique homebrew, e.g. Dragon's Lair DS (DSLair)
Secondary:
- Point-and-click PDA-style adventure gaming, e.g. ScummVMDS, and GLK POGO for Frotz,
Level9, Mag. Scrolls. Inconvenient interface compared to mousing.
- Computer emulation (Spectrum, C64) potentially better with touchpad compared to
joystick, but still inferior to keyboard/mouse
Drawbacks:
- Console emulation. In its infancy, generally inferior to GP2X emulators.
Compare ColecoDS with GP2XMess, MarcaDS with GP2XMame, etc. Basically,
I'll believe it when I see it work well.
- Need additional hardware for playing GBA backups.
--------------------------
GP2X(32) + SD(MMC)-Card
--------------------------
Remarks: Console emulation stronger than any other handheld. The developer
and community support without the need to sabotage the BIOS balance the better
performance of some emulators on the PSP. Due to battery life and typical usage
patterns (minutes at a time on a plane, in traffic, at lunch), a better fit for
games that feel satisfying in brief intervals.
Optimal:
- Emulators running action or adventure games with pick-up-and-go value.
E.g. Castlevania or Solstice on GPFCE; Joust or Double Dragon on GP2XMame;
Sonic the Hedgehog or The Immortal on PicoDrive.
- Unique homebrew and plenty of it!
- Linux portage that works well on a handheld: UQM, SuperTux, Paradroid
Secondary:
- Not as good for more narrative or complex games calling for deeper time commitments.
E.g. Swords and Serpents or Dungeon Magic on GPFCE; Magic Sword, Black Tiger,
or Rygar on GP2XMame; D&D Warriors of the Eternal Sun or
Langrisser (Warsong) on PicoDrive.
- For similar reasons, not the best choice for the computer emulation experience, aside
from a few computer games that work well on a handheld and can be enjoyed in
spurts. E.g. Balance of Power on UAE4All2x and OutCaST2x.
- Basically, if you must start at the 320x240 LCD for hours to enjoy the game, consider
a laptop.
- Due to "unique" joystick design, can be difficult to enjoy action games requiring
precision movement. I find it much easier to pull off Ha-Do-Ken with a keyboard.
Drawbacks:
- Joystick interface very inconvenient and awkward both for point-and-click
adventures (ScummVM2x) and text adventures (GP2XFrotz+STerm)
--------------------------
Laptop + SD-Card
--------------------------
Remarks: This assumes a relatively light 6-8 pound laptop, not the 15-20 pound "portable
desktop replacements" like Dell XPS or Alienware. Also assumes a built-in SD card reader
and WinXP OS. Why an SD card? Simple: switching from laptop to desktop or laptop to
laptop without installing additional software.
Optimal: All emulation, all homebrew, all portage supported under Windows (most of it).
Mouse support for best possible point-and-click gaming. Keyboard for precision
movement in action games and text entry for text adventures.
Fully mature GBA, SNES, and PS1 emulation.
Secondary: You can do it all with a laptop.
Drawbacks: If you're going to play beyond three hours, or you plan to play while standing
up, you have a problem.
-------------------------------------
PORTABLE GAMING: THE USER EXPERIENCE
-------------------------------------
--------------------------
NDS + DS-Xtreme
--------------------------
Remarks: As emulation matures, the emulator experience may surpass the hardware
experience. Example, Silent Hill (PSX) on ePSXe with OpenGL/DirectX video acceleration
versus on an actual PSOne console or PS2. NDS emulation has not reached this stage.
A hardware NDS currently provides the best user experience. Relatively long battery life.
Optimal:
- Conveniently play backups of original games legitimately obtained by the user.
Same rationale behind the PS2+HDD+HDAdvance.
- Unique homebrew, e.g. Dragon's Lair DS (DSLair)
Secondary:
- Point-and-click PDA-style adventure gaming, e.g. ScummVMDS, and GLK POGO for Frotz,
Level9, Mag. Scrolls. Inconvenient interface compared to mousing.
- Computer emulation (Spectrum, C64) potentially better with touchpad compared to
joystick, but still inferior to keyboard/mouse
Drawbacks:
- Console emulation. In its infancy, generally inferior to GP2X emulators.
Compare ColecoDS with GP2XMess, MarcaDS with GP2XMame, etc. Basically,
I'll believe it when I see it work well.
- Need additional hardware for playing GBA backups.
--------------------------
GP2X(32) + SD(MMC)-Card
--------------------------
Remarks: Console emulation stronger than any other handheld. The developer
and community support without the need to sabotage the BIOS balance the better
performance of some emulators on the PSP. Due to battery life and typical usage
patterns (minutes at a time on a plane, in traffic, at lunch), a better fit for
games that feel satisfying in brief intervals.
Optimal:
- Emulators running action or adventure games with pick-up-and-go value.
E.g. Castlevania or Solstice on GPFCE; Joust or Double Dragon on GP2XMame;
Sonic the Hedgehog or The Immortal on PicoDrive.
- Unique homebrew and plenty of it!
- Linux portage that works well on a handheld: UQM, SuperTux, Paradroid
Secondary:
- Not as good for more narrative or complex games calling for deeper time commitments.
E.g. Swords and Serpents or Dungeon Magic on GPFCE; Magic Sword, Black Tiger,
or Rygar on GP2XMame; D&D Warriors of the Eternal Sun or
Langrisser (Warsong) on PicoDrive.
- For similar reasons, not the best choice for the computer emulation experience, aside
from a few computer games that work well on a handheld and can be enjoyed in
spurts. E.g. Balance of Power on UAE4All2x and OutCaST2x.
- Basically, if you must start at the 320x240 LCD for hours to enjoy the game, consider
a laptop.
- Due to "unique" joystick design, can be difficult to enjoy action games requiring
precision movement. I find it much easier to pull off Ha-Do-Ken with a keyboard.
Drawbacks:
- Joystick interface very inconvenient and awkward both for point-and-click
adventures (ScummVM2x) and text adventures (GP2XFrotz+STerm)
--------------------------
Laptop + SD-Card
--------------------------
Remarks: This assumes a relatively light 6-8 pound laptop, not the 15-20 pound "portable
desktop replacements" like Dell XPS or Alienware. Also assumes a built-in SD card reader
and WinXP OS. Why an SD card? Simple: switching from laptop to desktop or laptop to
laptop without installing additional software.
Optimal: All emulation, all homebrew, all portage supported under Windows (most of it).
Mouse support for best possible point-and-click gaming. Keyboard for precision
movement in action games and text entry for text adventures.
Fully mature GBA, SNES, and PS1 emulation.
Secondary: You can do it all with a laptop.
Drawbacks: If you're going to play beyond three hours, or you plan to play while standing
up, you have a problem.