Tapwave Taps Out [Archive]

Dracula-X

07-28-2005, 12:24 PM

Tapwave, third most popular Palm-source licensee right behind Palm (and Sony in the past) and well known for the Zodiac PDA/gaming device they created, has killed off the Zodiac.

We are sorry to inform you that the Zodiac business was discontinued and service and support are no longer available as of July 25th 2005.Sources:
Engadget News (http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000010052192/)
Tapwave.com (http://www.tapwave.com)

Kamalot

07-28-2005, 12:49 PM

That is so sad.

The Tapwave is a great PDA for playing games. The real analog joystick is what Sony should have used instead of their slippy, misplaced nub. The screen is beautiful and high-resolution too, higher than the PSP. Too bad 3rd parties never cought on with great must-have games for the system.

My PDA functions are already handled by the Treo 650 otherwise I would have gotten one. From what I understand, the Zodiac has a lot of really polished and fast emulators, including some MAME support as well.

Maybe I'll pick one up as a collector's item.

Daemon

07-28-2005, 12:51 PM

Meh, they tried to do too many things at once with this thing... Cannot write it off as a business expense because it plays games, but it's not the best out there for games. I guess the PSP killed it in a way.

benson

07-28-2005, 01:04 PM

It was a good device. Not great, but I really liked the emulators. They are well done, thanks to the guys that made them. The games written specifically for it sucked though. It'll probably gain a larger following now due to this. The PSP just can't compete on an emulation level.

Kamalot

07-28-2005, 01:20 PM

The PSP just can't compete on an emulation level.Not with Sony lording over what code you can run on your own device. Imagine your PC auto-updating to only allow you to play games that are Microsoft published. Meh.

Metal Jesus

07-28-2005, 01:30 PM

Who?

Oh right. The device that had no games I actually wanted to play.

FunkyPoopMonkey

07-28-2005, 01:34 PM

Who?

Oh right. The device that had no games I actually wanted to play.
And it's attitudes like your's that made this situation possible. Thanks.

hideouslywrinkled

07-28-2005, 01:35 PM

Not with Sony lording over what code you can run on your own device. Imagine your PC auto-updating to only allow you to play games that are Microsoft published. Meh.

That's more of an Apple thing to do. *cough* iTunes and iPod *cough*

The Zodiac seemed like a pretty cool device. I thought about buying one, but the lack of games stopped. Which is ironic, since that didn't stop me from buying a PSP...

fitbabits

07-28-2005, 01:37 PM

Despite what other people may think, this is sad news. Why can't the same thing happen to the N-Gage. I've never owned either of them, but I know I would rather have a Zodiac than an N-Gage any day of the week (excluding Sundays - got to do my laundry some time).

Heretic Machine

07-28-2005, 01:37 PM

I would of bought a Zodiac had I been in need of a PDA... Unfortunetly I have no use of such a device. The emulators sounded interesting.

Metal Jesus

07-28-2005, 01:44 PM

Hey. I'm a true gamer that doesn't give a rat's ass about the device itself. It HAS to have great games on it. Not the promise of great games, not a release schedule of great games...

I want the great games on the shelf at the store and then I will have cash in hand. This goes for consoles as well. It's about the games, baby. The email, gps, web browser, cell phone crap is meaningless to me.

kizke

07-28-2005, 02:36 PM

And it's attitudes like your's that made this situation possible. Thanks.

I want to make this clear:

Consumers have absolutely NO obligation to any company or their products.

If people don't want to buy it, they won't. If they want to, they will. Donnie, you're out of your element.

Adam Blue

07-28-2005, 03:18 PM

I want to make this clear:

Consumers have absolutely NO obligation to any company or their products.

If people don't want to buy it, they won't. If they want to, they will. Donnie, you're out of your element.

Some of you don't get it. True gamer? Yeah, ok.

SNK. They make fucking amazing games. But no one buys them. Luckily publishers with hardcore hearts will get these games released. I buy the regularly released SNK titles as often as possible. They're great, but don't appeal to non-gamers, obviously.

You say 'if people don't want to buy it they won't', well unfortunately nowadays these 'people' aren't hardcore or even true gamers. I know I combined two users posts to prove my point, but unfortunately we can see where the state of gaming is at.

card930

07-28-2005, 03:23 PM

Finally, something to make me register for EA.

I have one of these. I got it as a christmas present from my fiance. I love my tapwave. It has a BEAUTIFUL screen on it, it can play games, it has cheap expandable media, and it's a very powerful, flexible computer, basically.
Now, the analog stick isn't that great. It works, but a dedicated D-pad would have been REALLY nice.
The emulators that are out for it, increase the utility of the machine a ton.
It can play music, play video, play games. It has every functionality of a Palm OS, so it's a great organizer. You can take notes with it. You can do day planning with it. You can use it to browse the web. (though, not very well, but it works.)
One of the greatest things it can do is display ebooks. The screen on it is so beautiful, with a good resolution, and the Palm reader software makes it easy to autoscroll and read a book wherever you are. (I've gone through 2 harry potter books and several volumes of Wheel of Time while sitting in waiting rooms)

It's sad that better software didn't come out for it, and that they didn't get it put into retail stores until well after the device's launch.

I'll continue to use mine til it dies, happily.

rein

07-28-2005, 03:39 PM

Not with Sony lording over what code you can run on your own device. Imagine your PC auto-updating to only allow you to play games that are Microsoft published. Meh.

What game auto updates? infrastructure wifi? I only ask because I have yet to find a game that auto updates the system.

Despite what other people may think, this is sad news. Why can't the same thing happen to the N-Gage. I've never owned either of them, but I know I would rather have a Zodiac than an N-Gage any day of the week (excluding Sundays - got to do my laundry some time).

If you have never owned either why say you would want it to happen to the N-gage? I have an N-gage and like it just find thank you very much. Great phone and some decent titles out... ...PWtG, PK and Worms to name a few. There are also several good emulators out for the symbian os as well. Oh yea, and I use it to browse the web and check email when I have no other access.....

if76

07-28-2005, 03:44 PM

I think the NGage has really found its niche as a great cellphone for playing games on. No other cellphone has as ergonomic controls.

Alexious

07-28-2005, 04:10 PM

Some of you don't get it. True gamer? Yeah, ok.

SNK. They make fucking amazing games. But no one buys them. Luckily publishers with hardcore hearts will get these games released. I buy the regularly released SNK titles as often as possible. They're great, but don't appeal to non-gamers, obviously.

You say 'if people don't want to buy it they won't', well unfortunately nowadays these 'people' aren't hardcore or even true gamers. I know I combined two users posts to prove my point, but unfortunately we can see where the state of gaming is at.
We all know that the smaller, independent development houses are feeling the pinch. We all know that many great games are not being made today because they won't move a bunch of units at Wal-Mart. We all know that the expense involved in making next-generation games is pushing too many creative people and companies out of the market.

But how does being rude to us help fix that problem? I mean, all of the sudden were not "true gamers" because we don't spend a bunch of money on SNK games? That's not an argument... that's an attitude problem.

kizke

07-28-2005, 04:14 PM

Yo, Adam:

Unfortunate? Certainly. SNK developed some of the greatest games I've ever played. I've pumped just as many quarters into Metal Slug X or Samurai Shodown or Bust a Move as I have into DDR and ITG (we're talking over $50 probably.)

I believe that the Tapwave absolutely had potential, but I never once wanted one. Why? Because the price didn't justify the product. There weren't any killer apps. So yeah, we can lament its loss, but I think it's better to cut our losses and move on and realize why it failed. Ignorance and a sort of "you fuckers don't appreciate real high quality games" mentality which I see often around this site (which is quite unjustified; I'll wax poetic about the beauty of classic games anytime) is wholly counterproductive and ultimately harmful.

Alexious

07-28-2005, 04:27 PM

Ignorance and a sort of "you fuckers don't appreciate real high quality games" mentality which I see often around this site (which is quite unjustified; I'll wax poetic about the beauty of classic games anytime) is wholly counterproductive and ultimately harmful.
You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. I quite agree.

splatstick

07-28-2005, 04:59 PM

Uh, not to interrupt and sound like an ignorant prick, but is this like the gizmondo? Those seem pretty sweet.

Adam Blue

07-28-2005, 05:12 PM

kwillhan

07-28-2005, 05:43 PM

Screw all of you!

Blue

07-28-2005, 05:56 PM

Screw all of you!

You forgot to add "kel" to the bottom of this.

Morratut

07-29-2005, 01:49 AM

This device had death writter all over it. Yes it's a shame because nobody supported it.

Yes the device is nice and has potential blah blah. You knew however that potential wouldn't be realised. The Gizmondo is next.

mister_slim

07-29-2005, 01:44 PM

That's more of an Apple thing to do. *cough* iTunes and iPod *cough*
They updated my iPod so it won't play mp3s? Those bastards!

You really think Fairplay is worse than WMA 10?