Any good shmups on the GP32?...

[dave4shmups]

I'm talking about original shmups, those on emulators. (Which seems to be what most people use this handheld for.)

If you get one, can you still register it for a free game dev. kit?

Sounds like an interesting handheld!:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GamePark

And the games look pretty good, if this commercial is anything to go by:

http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_game ... sp?ID=2726

[benj]

The only shooter I know is Tomak: Save the Earth Again! The graphics & sound are kinda nice, but the player sprite is a tad too big for my taste. That's the only one I can recall right now, but I think I've seen a nice looking vert for the GP2X somewhere. Can't remember it's name or where I've seen it, though.

[elvis]

I continually hear of "great third party support" for the GP32X and GP2X, usually referring to Korean game devs making buckets of games for the devices. Thus far I haven't actually seen anyone link to a site making or even selling games for this unit.

I'm considering buying one just for emulation (the idea of a portable MegaDrive makes me pretty excited). But it sure would be nice to support some indi devs out there if they are actually releasing commercial software for the unit.

[benj]

If I understand it correctly, Gamepark's handhelds are not much more than tablet PCs running Linux, so everyone able developing for it might as well do it for a "proper" PC. There's not much sense in limiting yourself to the userbase of a rather obscure handheld. I guess most people see it rather as a portable emulation device.

[elvis]

If I understand it correctly, Gamepark's handhelds are not much more than tablet PCs running Linux, so everyone able developing for it might as well do it for a "proper" PC. There's not much sense in limiting yourself to the userbase of a rather obscure handheld. I guess most people see it rather as a portable emulation device.

You're oversimplifying things a lot. the GamePark devices run off ARM processors and SDL only (ie: no OpenGL or similar dev kits). They can boot either from their own internal linux-based firmware, or third-party open or proprietry software on a card.

These are not just "tablet PCs". They aren't even x86. Apples and oranges.

[benj]

I stand corrected. Nevertheless, it would be a risk for any small developer to release a game on a GP2X, seeing that it is mostly regarded "only" as an emulator. You said it yourself, a portable Mega Drive.That's exactly why I thought about getting one of them, too.If I were an indie dev, I don't think I would even consider releasing my game on it. I'd go straight to where all the other doujins are, the PC.

[dave4shmups]

I stand corrected. Nevertheless, it would be a risk for any small developer to release a game on a GP2X, seeing that it is mostly regarded "only" as an emulator. You said it yourself, a portable Mega Drive.That's exactly why I thought about getting one of them, too.If I were an indie dev, I don't think I would even consider releasing my game on it. I'd go straight to where all the other doujins are, the PC.

Yeah, but there are some pretty good looking games for it (www.gp32x.com), that look a lot better then a lot of PC doujins I've seen.

And, I thought only the GP2X was Linux-based. AFIK, the earlier GP32 isn't.

I'm also thinking about my own future, with regards to a system like this. If I choose to go the route of game developer, it would be much easier to start out on something like this, or cell-phone games, then it would be to start with 3D Current-Gen or Next-Gen platforms.

[elvis]

Nevertheless, it would be a risk for any small developer to release a game on a GP2X, seeing that it is mostly regarded "only" as an emulator.

I think market exposure and userbase are definitely the main issues. As an indi developer you want the most people seeing your product as you can get. The GamePark units are essentially for the hardcore gamer and tinkerer communities only, and through nobody's fault other than GamePark not having the bazillions of dollars that Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft do to SPAM their wares across the planet.

If I were an indi developer writing free software, I would definitely consider the GP2X as a worthwhile platform. If I were writing commercial/closed software and had some external financial backing to go with it, I would probably pick a different platform.

[benj]

I'm not even sure if the people at Gamepark see the lack of original games as that much of a problem. They seem to be quite successful in what they are doing, otherwise they wouldn't announce yet another handheld/media player hybrid. Looks beautiful.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I believe you would best be served by a DS or PSP. If you can't find anything there, you absolutely won't find anything on the GP(s). Obscure systems with 15 games are the last resort. Only bought when you have played everything else, and there's plenty of obscure games on the major systems for you to be even considering the GP(s). Emulation aside, of course.

[elvis]

yet another handheld/media player hybrid. Looks beautiful.

You are not wrong. No word on hardware specs, but they both look fantastic.

16:9 screens don't bode well for emulation generally, but I can forgive them if they can boost the speed to 50% faster than the GP2X (SNES emulation is still not quite there yet at 200MHz on ARM).

[Zweihander]

Any good shmups on the GP32?...

Any good shmups from the DOS-to-32-bit eras?

//fixed.