lots of questions about the gp32

[darkangel]

right then guys, here is the deal. I am thinking of getting a gp32 over the gba sp, but i need some questions answered first, so here goes...


1) How excatly does it work?

2) Can I load emulators already on my PC to the gp32?

3) Is it a wise choice over the SP?

Thanks.

[Papercut]

right then guys, here is the deal. I am thinking of getting a gp32 over the gba sp, but i need some questions answered first, so here goes...

Well, I don't actually have one, but ...

1) How excatly does it work?

Imagine a PDA with a custom OS and nice little gui in the shape of a handheld console. It has flash card storage, and few media file players, so you can increase the storage and use it to play mp3s and small movie files. Pretty cool. You can link it to a PC over serial and USB and I think you can get basic Internet access like this (not sure about that though - anyone?).

2) Can I load emulators already on my PC to the gp32?

No, emulators need to be recompiled/rewritten for the GamePark. There are quite a few available. Game roms/disk images and so on will be compatible though.

3) Is it a wise choice over the SP?

Depends what you want. If you'd like to play old arcade and console games on a portable then its great, if you want lots of new Nintendo games then its not. Commercial Game Park games tend to be pretty but uninspired from the reviews I've read.

[darkangel]

what emu games does it offer? any special gp32 emu sites out there? oh and can I load the music direct onto the gp32 from my PC?

[Papercut]

you really need to speak to someone that has one.

you could try some of these websites for starters:

http://www.gbax.com

http://www.gamepark.co.kr/

[Mayhem]

oh and can I load the music direct onto the gp32 from my PC?

Yes, it has an MP3 player built into the hardware...

[darkangel]

where can I get a backlit one for under ?130?

[newmiyamoto]

where can I get a backlit one for under ?130?

www.gbax.com ?129.99 as recommended above.

also www.gp32emu.com great place to keep upto date on all things gp32 (sorta like xbox-scene for the gp32)


now a question of my own: can you watch mpeg or mov files on the gp32?

[hub]

now a question of my own: can you watch mpeg or mov files on the gp32?

You can watch DivX files with an application thats is downloadable for a mere ?/$5.
At the right compression you can easily get a movie onto a 256Mb SMC with room left over.

[EddieG]

I ummed and arred over it for ages before going ahead. To use a Northern term, I've been gobbed smacked by it.

Positives:

It's really easy to use,
has a very good display, (I got the backlit version),
Connects through a supplied USB cable to a PC. (uses a special program for linking/installing/backing up, etc))
Runs off cheap Smart Media cards (3.3v only)
runs at 133mhx compared to about 14mhz on the GBA (THIS COULD BE WRONG!)
plays MP3's with the built in O/S
Runs Many old PC conversions inc
Doom (requires original Pc version)
Wolfenstein 3D (requires original Pc version)
Spear Of Destiny(requires original Pc version)
Heretic (requires original Pc version)
SCUMMVM - (Lucasarts adventures - requires original Pc versions)
Pinball Dreams (commercial conversion)

Runs Emulators including:
GPEngine (Pc Engine Emulator) pretty much full speed
GB/GBC Emulator (GBA emulator is rumoured to be in development)
Some Arcade games (no MAME yet though)

Runs original Korean commercial games,
Many of the original games can be download from entware/joygp
[url]http://www.entware.com/[url] effectively as EOM versions that can be installed to your own SMC's

Increasing number of PD offerings of good quality
Can fit an antire move on a 128mb SMC, and view through MoveiPark.
(instructions for encoding of same through virtualdub is available from one of the web sites [sorry i forget which])

Negatives:

Original Software is limited, mostly in Korean (though some are getting translated)
Quality of Original software is notbrilliant so far, there are only a couple of notables (Dungeon and Guarder, Little Wizard for example)
Wizard Slayer on the other hand looks incredible, but plays like a real dog - yes I wasted real cash on this lemon



In short BUY ONE, it's surprisingly good



I really must remember to read the posting dates on some of these!

[EddieG]

At the right compression you can easily get a movie onto a 256Mb SMC with room left over.

Q: where d' you get the 256mb cards?

I've been looking and the most i've seen is 128mb, and various people say 128mb is the max because of the 3.3v limit

[MartyG]

You can get them from loads of different places - try Dabs for starters.

Regards
Marty

[EddieG]

You can get them from loads of different places - try Dabs for starters.

Regards
Marty

thanks Marty, but no luck there, have tried

Simply
watfordelectronics
maplin
dabs
insight
cclcomputers
ebay
camerasatlowestprices

none have anything above 128
compactflash, SD xd no problem, SmartMedia no way

oh well, 128 ok for most things anyway

EddieG.