Gizmondo to fight PSP with widescreen version

No no no press the wave button, no no the 3 line button and then the 9 dot button. why cant they stick to letters. I means at least the Sony Playstations have something in common with there shapes. but gizmondo button schemes are just stupid. Another flaw i think.

This is the ugliest pos ever!!!!

No no no press the wave button, no no the 3 line button and then the 9 dot button. why cant they stick to letters. I means at least the Sony Playstations have something in common with there shapes. but gizmondo button schemes are just stupid. Another flaw i think.

It amazes me how these idiots ascend the corporate ladder and continue to push the crap. How can they not realize that everone considers this a joke? How can they think this can compete with the PSP when it has such an incredibly lame form factor? Idiots.

If Tiger decides to loosen up for the homebrew/emulation scene for the Gizmondo, I'd get one of these over a PSP in a heartbeat. And I think the form-factor is pretty good the way it is. Not as slick-looking as the PSP, of course, but at least it doesn't attract finger prints so much. Maybe the widescreen redesign will help, too.

It's horrible. When will they understand that anyone that has defied nintendo's portable's has flopped? Even the PSP is struggling against the DS, due to the lack of games (yeah, they have wipeout, sfa3, and darkstalkers, megaman classics, and MGS I think, but those games came out years ago for pSone/2 or NES).

I bet this piece of crap has no games at all. Just like Nokia's Ngage cellphone's. They'll never compete.

Even if they "look the other way" to the whole emulation/homebrew screen that's not going to do it for most users. For christ sake how many versions of Pokemon exist and at what rate do they sell. The same could be said with all the different "Wariowares". They need to have some games that appeal to 8-15 year olds. Just look at Nintendogs. That's flyng off shelves and it's a $150 virtual pet (system and game). Bottomm line is Gizmondo doesn't have a snowballs chance and any good portable gaming ideas get run into the ground.

There's one reason why this thing is failing, and one only.. and thats the name 'gizmondo'... look at every other handheld ds, psp, gba... its just letters... if they renamed it something like GX and made it in chrome with a slightly better design it would wipe the floor with psp and easily get into 2nd place in the handheld market... as it is though a wider screen won't save them

No amount of form factor futzing will make this successful platform unless there are games for it.

I don't think the DS is particularly beautiful, but it's outselling the PSP -- because of the GAMES.

is this thing out already?

They really should've decided on widescreen before they brought the product to market (in Europe; the US version will be released next month). If they release a version soon with a larger, wider screen, then it could confuse or fragment the market, and also irritate early adopters who didn't have that option available to them.

By the way, I think this is an old picture, and the newer ones I've seen have different symbols on the face buttons.

Vance, you know there's already a homebrew scene on PSP, right? It might not have Sony's blessing, but I certainly don't see any other major handheld video game makers encouraging homebrew development on their systems, either.

Even if you don't want a PSP, WHY would you want this? Ugh!

Why'd they use the oldest picture they can find? The buttons are labeled Play, Fast Foward, Rewind and Square(Stop) on the final unit. This was a long time ago. You're giving the wrong impression, Gizmodo!

Yeah, the thing's a long shot, and I already have a N-Gage QD, PSP and DS. But if it can get some good games, why not share the love. It is pretty cool and unique.

No. 9 - this is engadget !

It's also a phone, has GPS and SD slot which the psp doesn't - i really think the thing which is really killing the Gizmondo is the whole release thing!! and the whole the "badge factor" - its not a Sony, it's not shiney and p. diddy doesnt have one round his neck ! - Mind you was Busta and usher not at the launch party ?

To be honest it's meant to be released here in the UK - however i've never seen it except once in the department store John Lewis - not really the kinda place to target gamers.

Had no battery power so I didn't get to play it but did hold it and it seems really well put together - has a kinky rubber coating! obv/ it all comes down to games so those would have been nice to see.

The PSP is cool but if this was second place that would be cool i dont think the Gizmondo was ever to target the PSP but if it sits alongside then that would be such a big problem?

Ohh well, you have to admit it does look better than the DS which still looks like an early production grey plastic prototype - not cool !

>AF

onuo

No. 10 - this is engadget !

;)

onuo

To the nay-sayers:

The Gizmondo is great, if you don't try to pretend it's a game console. Where else can you find a phone with an SD card slot, built-in GPS and Class B Bluetooth, for 125 UKP?

If it wasn't good enough as a phone, the navigation software comes out for it very soon now, which will make this the cheapest colour-screen GPS navigation unit available. The screen is even larger than many of the cruddy GPS units on the market.

The one flaw, of course, is that you can't seem to find them outside the UK. And likely, the navigation maps will only cover Europe until that changes.

Not only is this an old pic, it appears to have been doctored too. Look at the logo. It does not say GISMONDO. I think it says RETARDO.

I saw a trailer for this over at GameTrailers that showed some REALLY interesting games. I'm psyched to try it. At least it looks new and interesting instead of a system for ports al-la PSP.

http://www.gametrailers.com/search.php

#5 ....actually....the psp is catching up...like really really fast....games like burnout and gta are comin out along with some other awesome games.....if u dont believe me that they're catchin up......read this;
http://www.pspworld.com/sony-psp/psp/psp-launch-in-uk-breaks-record-001422.php

...basically....the PSP breaks the UK record for selling the most game consoles in one week..almost double that of the DS....the same thing happened w/ japan if i'm not mistaken

I love Tiger Telematics, I really do. The Gizmondo is a cool little device and I think it deserves more success than its getting.

Thing is, it's a jack-of-all-trades and no matter what Tiger do with it (widescreen etc..) they're going to go bust eventually. It's a shame.

I think one reason it's selling so badly is because the company isn't a big name console developer. Because it's not a nintendo or sony it doesn't get media attention and when you do see it in a magazine they are usually making fun of it for some reason. They were doing it before it was tested even so I know they weren't always just doing it because it sucked. Anyways I wouldn't get one, I'm loving my DS, Advance Wars and all. So thats my thoughts.

They have poor marketing skills. On the contrary of being a major console developer, you don't need to have a name for your self beforehand. It is all about business strategies, and marketting strategies. It fails mostly because they don't dare to spend a little extra on advertisement and hype.

What they need to do to fix the Gizmondo is simple and can be done in 5 steps.

1. Change the shoulder buttons, the PLAY, STOP, and other buttons are fine on the final unit.

2. Okay, you have Rare making games for you, and Microsoft contributing. Just beg and plead for that one game with the H and the ALO in its name. Then work out some glitches with THQ, EA, and Majesco. The others will follow after you get those three.

3. Advertise and land yourself in Wal-Mart. Focus on the fact that the unit -feature wise- kicks the PSP up and down the block with an integrated camera, integrated GPS, SMS messaging, online functions, the use of the camera and GPS in augmented reality-style games, better battery life, the same amount of audio/video support PLUS WMV/WMA, the use of cheaper SD cards instead of more costly Memory Stick Pro Duo cards, also mention the PDA-esque functions as well.

4. Lower the price to competition range.

5. Set up demo units in stores. People really need to actually spend time PLAYING with the Gizmondo to understand what its good points are.

A widescreen display is a cute idea, but it's not a magic bullet. That magic bullet is a portable -Gizmondo only- game like Rare's PERFECT DARK or HALO. Just say: "Handheld PD" and you've got an audience.

Oh, keep up the rubberized metal thing. The Gizmondo is one of nicest handhelds to actually hold, because the outside is pleasently soft.

What Phillip just said :)

if they give it a 3.5-4" screen and opened it up to homebrew a bit more I'd be tempted

#16,

Gizmondo, until recently, bombarded every gaming journo with press releases galore. They also ran a TV Ad campaign (fairly briefly as their budget probably ran out).

What they seem to have done very badly is getting press coverage though. GameSpot, IGN etc.. have next to nothing on the Gizmondo. I haven't found a single Gizmondo unit review so far (apart from a 100 word CNet overview).

Without any decent press coverage, they're lucky anyone knows about them at all.

sort of to #17

"People really need to actually spend time PLAYING with the Gizmondo to understand what its good points are."

I've spent (a rather embarrassing) time in the gizmondo shop in London, and I can say that the only redeeming feature it has is that it has a nice 'heft' to it. Otherwise, the buttons feel cheap, the system software is appalling, and prone to stupid and rather annoying bugs. The games I played were unplayable and lacked any element of fun whatsover and the whole 'convergence' thing it has going on is frankly pointless, and definitely not something the public is wanting right now. Everyone has the gadgets they want, which do their jobs ultimately better than the hunk of crap that the Gizmondo is. It's a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Unless Gizmondo add something unique like game downloads capabilities, there is no way it could begin to take on PSP.

Ok, just to clear some things up:

1. The buttons have now been changed (ages ago)
2. The Giz has been cracked as of yesterday:

http://www.gizmondoforums.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2824&pid=39305

3. There have already been quite a few reviews of the Giz, hands-on, but are all crap due to the pre-release bug infested versions they had.

Phil, you've always had good business sense. (Your other senses are questionable but...)

Everytime I see Tiger keep on keepin' on with the Gizmondo it makes me want to buy one just to stick it to the establishmnet. The system isn't attractive but I love watching them fight the system.

Ok, just to clear some things up:

1. The buttons have now been changed (ages ago)
2. The Giz has been cracked as of yesterday:

http://www.gizmondoforums.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2824&pid=39305

3. There have already been quite a few reviews of the Giz, hands-on, but are all crap due to the pre-release bug infested versions they had.

To be quite honest, I'd take the Nokia N-Gage QD over this piece of crap.

At least the N-Gage is small and runs regular Symbian Series 60 software (including free games, emulators, media players, IM clients, etc). Nokia actually made a profit on the N-Gage, I wonder if Tiger can do the same with the Gizmondo?

Eran,

I think you're right, it does say RETARDO instead of Gizmondo. Funny.

Ok, there is NO WAY i am paying over 100$ for this usless piece of crap. PSP murders this thing in every category (oops i fergot GPS, but thats utterly useless) NO GAMES. that colors thing will never take off, especially with a GTA on PSP. This Retardo is going the same way as NGAGE, DOWN THE SHITHOLE. any money spent on this thing is money WASTED!!!!!

THIS THING SUCKS, PERIOD DO NOT WAST UR MONEY

15: The DS is eating the PSP alive in Japan. PSP had a great launch in Europe, now they have to deal with the post-launch issue that's been killing it in the US and Japan--there are almost no games worth a damn out or even coming this year (outside of, potentially, GTA).

ECM: Wait, I know PSP launched VERY well in Europe - but what happens after that? This is a serious question, not sarcasm. Because to me, the PSP seems to be doing well >>; So...what's wrong with it?

Don't get me wrong. I'm more of a Nintendo guy than Sony - I don't even own a PS/2/P - but I just like to check out how other companies are doing. What exactly is up with the PSP in Europe?

33: The PSP had a great launch in Europe (as I noted) but there isn't much else to say as it just barely launched a week and change ago ;D

There is no getting around the fact, tho, that the momentum (in Japan and N. America) is with the DS. Hell, it's not even close in Japan anymore (it's been outselling the PSP, on a weekly basis, since April--many times by 2 and 3x the amount of PSPs, with 5x not unheard of and it’s currently up 1.5 million units in total sales despite only launching a week apart in that territory). In NA, with Nintendogs having nearly officially outsold the best-selling US PSP title in its first week (NFS: Underground has been out since March and is only a hair ahead of Nintendogs after that latter’s first week on sale) SCEA can’t be feeling terribly comfortable at the moment—GTA or not.

Anyway, like I said: it'll be interesting to see how it performs once it's out of its launch window and the sheer lack of games firmly takes hold (unless Euros are more interested in its multimedia functions than the Japanese and N. Americans have been thus far). On the plus side, Europe is Sony country so that should carry them a little bit further than it might in other territories.

As far as being a fan of one over the other, I have both and, honestly, even with heavy importing of PSP titles, I barely play the thing--I actually grabbed Namco Museum a few weeks ago out of sheer desperation for something 'new' so that I could semi-justify the money I spent on the hardware =/

This thing was is doomed. Most people dont even know what a gizmondo is, just like the phantom game box or whatever it is called. As for the psp hasnt had any games come out for it recently becasue its summer. Most game companies dont release games in the summer for some reason.

The Nintendo DS rules!!!!

Lower the price to competition range? But it's already about 3/4 the price of a PSP...

To whoever said

"At least the N-Gage is small and runs regular Symbian Series 60 software"

You know the Gizmondo runs a custom version of Windows CE, right?

"Ok, there is NO WAY i am paying over 100$ for this usless piece of crap. PSP murders this thing in every category"

Right, so the PSP sports a 400MHz Arm9 Processor? Camera? GPS? SMS/MMS? GPRS? Bluetooth? Gyroscopic abilities?
Thought not

"You know the Gizmondo runs a custom version of Windows CE, right?"

Yes I do and custom is the key word. The N-Gage runs *standard* Symbian Series 60 and can run *standard* Symbian Series 60 apps and games. No recoding, no recompiling.

Developers don't write apps for Windows CE, they write them for Pocket PC or Smartphone (platforms based on Windows CE). You can't just take a Pocket PC app and run it on a different Windows CE platform. It doesn't work like that.

"Anyway, like I said: it'll be interesting to see how it performs once it's out of its launch window and the sheer lack of games firmly takes hold (unless Euros are more interested in its multimedia functions than the Japanese and N. Americans have been thus far)."

Nintendo has always treated Europe very poorly. Game titles are released 6-12 months behind the rest of the world, if they're released at all. There's virtually no European developer support for Nintendo's consoles.

On the other hand, Sony releases games at virtually the same time as the rest of the world in Europe and there's a lot of developer (1st and 3rd party) activity for Sony's consoles based in Europe. In Europe there's probably more games available for the PSP than DS.

That's why the PSP launch sales were more than those of the DS.

That's why the PSP launch sales were more than those of the DS

---

or because the thing had been delayed for so damn long the pre-orders and launch library had grown...

That's why the PSP launch sales were more than those of the DS

---

or because the thing had been delayed for so damn long the pre-orders and launch library had grown...

While the buttons have already been properly mocked they really remind me of The Fifth Element. I mean, to play games do I need to blow on the buttons? Set fire to them?

#35 - The DS amy be going great in Japan, but to be honest I haven't seen a decent game released over in the UK for months. Having quickly checked some retailers it looks like quite a few games have been delayed until Q1 2006 ie Animal Crossing DS and Advance wars DS. Nintendo are doing the usual stuff and keeping us Euro gamers at the very bottom of their priority list!

As for PSP's great launch, I have to agree with #41, the PSP's great launch came from the fact that Sony had delayed the damn thing so long and had so many preorders, backdated from around January this year!! Add to that the fact that they came in all heavy handed with stopping the import market and that explains the hefty launch figs. Let's see how it does 6months on.

Having played a Gizmondo, I'd say it's quite a nice piece of hardware, with a few bugs but the defining factor will have to be the games that are available. So far, it's not looking good. They need some sort of "Killer App" like GTA, Burnout etc, and so far it doesn't apppear to be on the horizon. Which is a shame because feature wise it kicks the others out of the park.....

To Lesbian Ham:

i thought i anwered this, GPS is utterly useless in a game console!!! As for whatever u said about its great graphic power, (who f-ing cares!!! it wont have any good games, a-la NGAGE, and we all know how well that did...)

GPS, SMS/MMS, GPRS...bla bla bla...doesn't matter...Gizmondo still sucks...just feelin bad u wasted ur money on one..

To Lesbian Ham:

i thought i anwered this, GPS is utterly useless in a game console!!! As for whatever u said about its great graphic power, (who f-ing cares!!! it wont have any good games, a-la NGAGE, and we all know how well that did...)

GPS, SMS/MMS, GPRS...bla bla bla...doesn't matter...Gizmondo still sucks...just feelin bad u wasted ur money on one..

Gizmondo will replace the NGAGE as that "cliche" console that everyone uses as an example of CRAP.

What?
"GPS, SMS/MMS, GPRS...bla bla bla...doesn't matter...Gizmondo still sucks..."
lol, what kinda comeback is that?

Anyway, the GPS portion of it, is so that it can be used in games (check out "Colors", out later this month) but also as a satnav system! Why spend £400 on a satnav system, when for a £200 bundle, you get a gizmondo with the satnav software, plus everything else the gizmondo has! (cant be bothered to write everything it has again).

And the gizmondo does have some great games in the making for it. Just to name a few:

- Worms world party
- Conflict: vietnam
- Conflict: Desert storm
- Chicane (Outrun style racing game)
- Colors (GTA style game, but with GPS functionality added, allowing you to control real life turf)
- Tron 2.0 (fps using Gyroscopic Camera technology)

There's more, but I cant think of them all just off the top of my head