GP2X Portable Game Console and Media Player Review
The GP2X is a Linux-based open source handheld gaming console, video game device and media player, designed & manufactured by the South Korean company, GamePark Holdings (GPH), which is set up by engineers and designers that left GamePark, the maker of predecessor GP32, which continues to develop XGP, a 3D system. The GP2X has upgradable flash memory firmware to make future expansion an easy task, with main storage unit in Secure Digital (SD) card slot.
The main feature of GP2X is media and games support in an open architecture and open source, and thus allows any user to develop software for the device. GP2X is mainly geared toward the homebrew (video games written by hobby programmers) and emulation crowd. The GP2X natively supports codecs and formats such as DivX, XviD, MP3, and Ogg Vorbis, and also SPC, NSF, GBS, GYM, and VGM support, made possible by open source. The GP2X also supports a variety of picture formats, such as PNG, JPG, GIF, etc. Been a gaming device, it is also able to emulate many different game systems, such as the NES, SNES, Sega Master System, Megadrive/Genesis, Game Boy, PC Engine, Neo-Geo, and Neo Geo CD consoles, as well as various arcade systems via MAME. There are even PlayStation and Game Boy Advance emulators albeit the GP2X has fewer buttons than a standard Playstation controller; however, the relatively weak CPUs of the GP2X limit the complexity of emulatable targets.
Blogcritics reviewed GP2X Portable Game Console and Media Player and conclude that “the drawbacks to the GP2X are minimal, and at $60 less than a PSP, it seems like you are getting your moneys worth…
If you can get past the fact that this is not a Sony or Nintendo handheld, and things crash here and there, you will do fine with the GP2X…
With a video player, music player, photo viewer, e-book reader, and Linux based emulation and homebrew applications, this is truly a portable multimedia powerhouse. Add to that support for things such as DivX, XviD, and OGG, and you really have the complete package.”
LK is a technology writer for Tech Journey with background of system and network administrator. He has be documenting his experiences in digital and technology world for over 15 years.Connect with LK through Tech Journey on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
