iRiver Handheld Gaming System?

[Heretic Machine]

iRiver seems set to enter the world of handheld gaming, joining the PSP and DS with their new G10 (http://www.aving.net/newproduct/default.asp?mode=read&c_code=01_01_20_01&c_num=10163&BTE_num=&gotopage=1&BT_ExRef=0) handheld. The system will have an 8-10GB hard-drive and an LCD screen which displays at 800x480.

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/g1001.jpg

[Mozgus]

Well, they make fantastic MP3 players. But I doubt they have the advertising backbone to push this thing into people's sight.

[GrinR]

Seriously, why bother? Going head to head with Nintendo portables is like kissing a professional fighter before a fight!

http://www.uploaderx.net/pics/1136313877678.gif

[if76]

That's a really highres screen. It's really amazing to me though how when companies enter the gaming market they really take the interface for granted. Case in point: the NGage. Now we have this: a system which clearly has 3d capabilities yet no joystick. And what's with the dpad please tell me. If this thing even has shoulder buttons I'd be suprised.

[Heretic Machine]

Well it looks slick as hell. I'm not even sure what kind of games it will be using though. I mean, for all we know it could be an open platform like the PC. In any case, I look forward to hearing more about it sometime soon.

Plus, hard-drives make me tingly.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm fairly certain it DOES have shoulder buttons. As for the lack of a joystick... the last time I checked, the DS doesn't have one either. Mario 64 and Animal Crossing both work just fine without one, as most PS1 games did as well. Don't give me that faux-joystick touch screen either. The touch screen is nice for a lot of things, but emulating a joystick is not one of them.

[EGO]

Here's hoping for a portable Geometry Wars! ;)

[Kyle Jones]

It looks pretty nice, but I've only got eyes for the DS these days...

[Demo_Boy]

gl Iriver. these guys make good hardware.

so sorry though hardware does not win a war, it doesnt even get you started.

[GrinR]

I think my post loses most of it's meaning without the pic... Whu?

[Coolnut]

No chance. Like pitting a peewee football team against the Indianapolis Colts.

Then again, I gave a similar prediction about the PS1...

[Heretic Machine]

You guys should keep in mind that not everyone aims for the electronics section of Wal-mart. This could be a great alternative to the various Game Park systems. It does run an open platform Windows CE appearently, from what I'm hearing anyway.

[LilAbner]

I have a 5gb iRiver MP3 player and love it, but there's no way this will succeed....no matter how good it may be.

[Taco]

I've been an iRiver fan for years, but yeah, good luck with that guys.

[Slacker]

And what's with the dpad please tell me.
It appears from the photo (though I'm just guessing here) that the screen slides up from the unit. That would require the dpad stuff to be pretty much flat.

[DoubleUranium]

That's an sweet screen at least. Too bad using the d-pad diagonally looks near impossible.

[Royal Fool]

The d-pad should be connected like a cross, like the DS/GBA pad... or at least like the one on the PSP. The buttons on this thing aren't even ergonomic, let's hope this is a prototype that has yet to be fixed.

Dunno how you would play games on it, or even what sort of games could be possible. It's lacking the touch/analog features of the DS and PSP. But yes... for emulation, this would totally rock.

[bobbler]

The price is going to be quite high (no amortization of being able to sell millions of units -- I'm sure their target is much closer to a hundred k units, not millions).

There will be a definate lack of developer support.

It's made for the korean market (notice the WiBro?). I'd be surprised if it made it to the western markets at all.

And... Who cares?

[Subbacultcha]

This might work in the domestic (i.e. Korean) market, as that is where iriver seems strongest. As other people have speculated, I doubt this is going to be seen internationally.

That said, iriver make solid MP3 players. I bought an H340 when it first came out and I'm still loving it. Good stuff.

[TKO]

I think most of ya are looking at it all wrong: If yer in the market for an iPod video type device, but want a decent screen (this one is perfect for movies), and wow, it plays games too! Ya think that won't count in its favour when people are comparing it to other music/movie players? (It's like a PSP, but ya don't have to fight Sony to use it for stuff ..and there's a chance it will have some games) :D

Initially I liked the idea of the d-pad: identical to the buttons so perfect for lefty's too, or using both clusters as joysticks (karate champ or robotron anyone?) ..of course it might be totally unergonomic, in which case it was a nice concept in theory. ;)

[Vandenh]

Koreans don't want a PSP. This will do well over there since it seems to be a better media player. Also the screen they are showing on the machine is *only* the most popular online game at the moment in Korea. DS will just march on...

[jeffbax]

Wow, that looks hot.

I wonder if it will be open like GP2X - an awesome system but flawed by lack of built in WiFi.

[Redline]

I can't believe that this many years after the NES, people are still getting the D-Pad wrong. Look, this is not a complicated problem people.

[score]

I think Nintendo has a patent on the actual cross design d-pad.

[Redline]

I think Nintendo has a patent on the actual cross design d-pad.

Even if that's true (and I admit I can't be arsed looking it up) there are other companies that -have- mimiced it sufficiently. They are just outweighed by those that fuck it up.

[Taco]

It is true.

[kokyunage]

I wonder if it will allow homebrew out of the box.

[Subbacultcha]

I wonder if it will allow homebrew out of the box.

I doubt they'll attack people for doing what they want with their hardware, a la Sony. In fact, a third-party OS (http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IriverPort) has been written for some of the more advanced iriver mp3 players (still in very alpha form, however). That, and the observation that iriver doesn't tend to enforce DRM in its players, suggests they would be okay with homebrew.

[Roc Ingersol]

they could score a serious niche with a homebrew-friendly mobile system.
portable movies, music, storage, games, and homebrew apps? i'll take 1.

[Blade]

Coolnut: Yes, but did the PS1's competitors squander virtually every advantage they had over Sony? DS surely doesn't versus PSP, nor PSP/DS vs the iRiver...

[amusedtoe]

Well you make it a quality music player first, and then make it completely open so anyone can write something in C++ and drop it on there and it could probably live comfortably in second place if it's priced lower then the PSP.

[Xerxes]

No new portable will break into the market until MS backs one of them and throws the makes like a billion dollars to call it the X hand and make it work with xbox 360. They say they won't do it. But Sony denied wanting to do portable to and now look.

[kickmybum]

What a crappy hand model, I mean, seriously, what's with the wrinkles?

[TKO]

What a crappy hand model, I mean, seriously, what's with the wrinkles?
I hear real people have those. :) ..Besides, any gadget-freak is checking the button-layout, screen-resolution, etc. :D