Gizmondo Launches in UK

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4361847.stm' target='_blank'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4361847.stm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The Gizmondo combined media player, phone and gaming gadget goes on sale on Saturday. Priced at £229, the handheld device is debuting in the UK and goes on sale in the US and mainland Europe in the next few weeks. . . . It can be used to play games, music tracks and movies. It can take and store digital photos and be used like a mobile phone to send text, multimedia and e-mail messages. . . . It also works with GPS (Global Position System) so can also be used as a navigation aid or to support a variety of location-based services. The GPRS and Bluetooth wireless data systems onboard mean that it can be used for multi-player gaming."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/gizmondo_1 (Custom).jpg" /> <br /><br />Well, if you've been hankering after a Gizmondo, you'll soon have a chance to get your hands on one. Or perhaps not if the reports of shortages are true. It's an interesting time to launch, coming just after the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. It's certainly getting pretty crowded in the handheld gaming market. Time will tell if the build in GPS will elevate the jack-of-trades Gizmondo above it's peers. So, who's tempted to get one?

[Typhoon]

I thought this device was going to be another GBA...but looking at its graphics capabilities, I am rethinking how good this device will do. Have you guys checked out the games' graphics? I was surprised to find that they are really good. But how will the advertising work out for the US? Plus, can anyone figure out the Gizmondo's dimensions? I wonder if it will have a mobility edge against the PSP and DS.

http://www.gizmondo.com/img/media/99/Ice_bridge.jpg

But what does look like failure is their list of games. I don't see any big companies supporting this device. Does anyone else have a comment about this?

[jonathanchoo]

Thats not a proper screenshot of a Gizmodo game. Its just a reuse PC game screenshot.

I have seen a Gizmodo and the graphics are awesome but no where near this. For one the resolution is only 320x240.

[sponge]

They USED to be 640x480, and it used to be 2D card, not 3D card. I don't think even Gizmodo knows what's going on. Expect a flop, so far.

[MitchellO]

Looks huge and thick with a small screen. It is like an ngage on steroids, trying to do all that plus a phone. And people thought they looked funny holding an ngage to their ear!

I am looking forward to my PSP arriving. That thing inspires no interest at all.

And that screenshot being from the gizmodo was laughable!! (no offend to anyone).

[beq]

No offense to anyone either, but my jaw had dropped in awe when I thought a QVGA (or even VGA) Gizmodo game screencap blown up to 1024x768 still looks as sharp and heavily textured as the above picture :mrgreen:

Could be interesting... 229 british pounds is like US$428...

[leigho]

I went past their shop in Regent Street yesterday and to say it wasn't very noticeable would be an understatement. They might be restricted by some pretty tough planning laws in that street but they either need to shout about it a bit more or move somewhere else where they're allowed to.

Leigh

[Typhoon]

No offense to anyone either, but my jaw had dropped in awe when I thought a QVGA (or even VGA) Gizmodo game screencap blown up to 1024x768 still looks as sharp and heavily textured as the above picture :mrgreen:

Could be interesting... 229 british pounds is like US$428...

$430?? That can't win against the PSP and DS (esp. the DS), esp. in the US. Looks like this can only win w/a minority like that wants a cellphone/advanced-gamig-console. But who would want a cellphone that looks like a kid's toy? And is it a cellphone or a Skype like console?

The games have to be good in order for Gizmondo to win. I think that it is a basic rule now, that for any system that plays (pretty much) only games alone has to rely on a good game library to win. PSX showed this before. I can't imagine buying a game system worth hundreds of dollars that doesn't have good games.

[MitchellO]

No offense to anyone either, but my jaw had dropped in awe when I thought a QVGA (or even VGA) Gizmodo game screencap blown up to 1024x768 still looks as sharp and heavily textured as the above picture :mrgreen:

Could be interesting... 229 british pounds is like US$428...

$430?? That can't win against the PSP and DS (esp. the DS), esp. in the US. Looks like this can only win w/a minority like that wants a cellphone/advanced-gamig-console. But who would want a cellphone that looks like a kid's toy? And is it a cellphone or a Skype like console?

The games have to be good in order for Gizmondo to win. I think that it is a basic rule now, that for any system that plays (pretty much) only games alone has to rely on a good game library to win. PSX showed this before. I can't imagine buying a game system worth hundreds of dollars that doesn't have good games.

Spot on! It will be a very small market with a price like that. And the size of it is even bigger (looks MUCH BIGGER) than an NGage, which was a LARGE smartphone (I had one :oops: ) and flopped because of that, and its weird style of talking (aka the taco!).

US$430 is way to much for a games console and will be way out of reach for kids/teens (being 15 myself). I would never spend that much on a device like this. I spend AU$400 on a PSP (w/ Ridge Racer game) and that is my limit. AU$600 for this thing is just too much. Besides the fact that it will be scarce and the amount of games available could be small.

[Fishie]

Looks huge and thick with a small screen. It is like an ngage on steroids, trying to do all that plus a phone. And people thought they looked funny holding an ngage to their ear!

I am looking forward to my PSP arriving. That thing inspires no interest at all.

And that screenshot being from the gizmodo was laughable!! (no offend to anyone).

Gizmondo doesnt have cellphone capabilities, GPRS yes, cellphone no.

[PPCRules]

I wish Microsoft would somehow incent hardware manufacturers to drive the PocketPC platform further into serious electronic gaming. Let them add some [standardized] DRM to the hardware and OS. I would like what a 50x, 100x increase in sales volume would do for driving innovation up and prices down.

[hoodmeister]

Could be interesting... 229 british pounds is like US$428...

Speculation based on exchange rates isn't necesserily valid. Rip off Britain often equates to 1US$ = 1GBP.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was nearer the &lt;$300 mark.

Regardless, despite being a more interesting (And versatile?) Peice of kit, I can see it sinking quickly &amp; quietly... The competition is just too great :\

[Jonathon Watkins]

Welcome Hoodmeister. Good to have you onboard.

Speculation based on exchange rates isn't necesserily valid. Rip off Britain often equates to 1US$ = 1GBP.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was nearer the &lt;$300 mark.

Too true. :|

Regardless, despite being a more interesting (And versatile?) Peice of kit, I can see it sinking quickly &amp; quietly... The competition is just too great :\

Again, sad but probably true. The built in GPS is particularly interesting, but we'll have to see how the Gizmondo fares in the marketplace.

[MitchellO]

Looks huge and thick with a small screen. It is like an ngage on steroids, trying to do all that plus a phone. And people thought they looked funny holding an ngage to their ear!

I am looking forward to my PSP arriving. That thing inspires no interest at all.

And that screenshot being from the gizmodo was laughable!! (no offend to anyone).

Gizmondo doesnt have cellphone capabilities, GPRS yes, cellphone no.

I'd love to know how many people have two separate plans: One for my phone, one for my new Gameboy!