The GP2X wants to be your on-the-go emulator of choice

It should also be noted that the console isn't really out yet... GamePark Holdings technically released it about a month ago, but then only as a "beta" version, only available through ordering directly from their own website, or from two outlets. Which means that at the moment, the console's very, very buggy. The bugs are (it's believed) all software-related, though, and GPH are aiming to have them all ironed out, and the console ready for the mainstream market, in January.

It's pretty danged impressive, then, that we've already got all the emulators above in working condition. "Working" being the key word: So far, the SNES and PS1 emulators are still pretty slow. Consider, though, that the console itself isn't even out on the main market yet, and people are coding like mad for it. Hell, one of the first emulators out for it was the Neo-Geo CD one, which runs at 100%, though it lacks sound so far.

It sounds like something I'd want to buy except it looks huge.

It's actually very tiny. I wouldn't mind picking one up myself.

As soon as they have stable versions of genesis and snes running this is my next purchase. No way am I wasting money on a PSP.

They also have the classic game Flashback running on it - which is amazing!!!

flashback? F**k Yeah!

still, i cant see myself choosing one of these over a well-hacked psp until theres one with wifi and a browser. Homebrew web applications and online play! WHEN WILL THIS BE DONE?!?

Heck, go out an buy a Tapwave Zodiac. You can find them cheap, and there are emulators for every system under the sun.

A lot of the software on these things is buggy and lacks some sort of support - like sound support for example. You should be very wary when using open-source software. Sometimes it's great and sometimes offers things that proprietry sofware doesn't, but often it's made by someone who's doing it in their spare time, they don't get paid and the licence is basically 'use it at your own risk'.

One to avoid for me, thanks.

as a semi-hardcore (retro?) gamer I'm against emulators. but i would emulate my own purchased games on this beauty. Sonic 2 on the go? too good to be true. and it uses SD cards rather than the PSPs silly propriety cards. what a bad idea that was!

I was after a GP32 for a while but then heard about this. soon as its out of beta i'm getting one :) like a million other people i now have no reason for a PSP!

I'm thinking of getting one of these very soon. For Christmas, maybe.

9: Before you buy one for Christmas, have a look over at the GP32X boards ( http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?showforum=41 ), and decide if you can stand to possibly be stuck with one of the many problems the console has in its current state.

There are those who think it's fun to play around with right now, and it DOES emulate NES, C64 and Mega Drive/Genesis pretty nicely already, but you might find yourself frustrated with the general state of the system unless you like tinkering with stuff like that. I'd suggest waiting until it's "properly" released.

well i have a gp2x unit now, and all i have to say is go to http://www.gp32x.com/ for all the info you need.
it's a great system with nice specs and above all a great community, but i just don't like the system, secifically the joypad...i think it's terrible for most 2d games thanks to the convex top and pretty large deadzone. they sould have used a traditional dpad instead!!

I've got one and I'm fairly chuffed.

The joystick isn't great but it's easy to pull out (literally) and mod yourself. The unit does require rechargable AA's though.

SNES emu is close to full speed without sound, Megadrive is practically full speed with sound. Video playback is great, playing back most avis with no need to re-encode. PS1 emulation works but is very buggy, give is a month or two though and it should have impressive functionality. Especially since they've just discovered how to overclock the system.

There will be a video out cable soon so you can put all the emulated games and video (at 720*480) on any TV.

You may want to wait a month before ordering so that you'll get a system with the only critical flaws (mainly an issue with firmware updates not having huge compatibility with SD cards and the 3hr battery life). The system is in Beta (official launch is jan) but it looks to be ultra impressive. The speed at which it's getting software is astounding

well, the psp emulates more than the zodiac but the only thing that the gp3x has on the psp is the gba support which really steps up. the psp is on its way with gba other than that, it can emualte everything before ps1 and n64 at full speed. except gba, almost there. check out pspcrack.net

Sony, sony, sony. You break my heart. I try to love you but you fight me at every turn. Why? Oh, what could have been witht the psp...

Okay, now that that's out of the way, everyone needs to go out and buy a GP2X. We talk about how great things are and they flop because no one supports them (BG&E anyone?). Well here is the time to support a game machine made by gamers with gamers in mind. Instead of by a corporation with worldwide dominance in mind (looking at you Sony).

I will draw your attention to the GP32. You see this GP2X is actually the second generation of this handheld. The GP32 already has a huge underground following and the GP2X will be even bigger. Are there complaints? Yes. Give me a D-pad and more internal memory please. But these things will come with future generations. But not if we don't support this one! As far as the few bugs that the system currently has, those will be ironed out soon.

Do some research on this thing and you will see the choice is easy. Yes PSP can do some awesome things with hacks. But you are constantly battling with Sony to do those hacks. But with GP2X the damn thing was made for hackers. It comes out of the box supporting all kinds of emu's including MAME and even comes with a dev kit! So you can make your own games.

Okay I need to calm down. Damn, gamepark needs to send me a check!

awesome. I have one. Awesome

"keeping those emulators in working order can be something of a challenge"

Not much of a challenge. Just don't upgrade. I've had 1.5 since day 1 and can't imagine any "feature" Sony could add that would make me flash a new firmware.

I own a gp32 and it rocks. So many great games, not just emu. There are tons of great homebrew games that are addictive and fun. I'd wager that by this time next year gp2x will be one of the best handhelds to own. Im still saving up for mine.

The pictures make it look much bigger than it is. When it arrived I was suprised at how light the box was. I remember thinking "is there anything even in here?". The device is about the same size as my gameboy color, a little thicker, because the batteries are placed behind the pcb. You NEED a computer to use the GP2X (you need one to buy one too I guess...) but it IS a homebrew device.