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Main forum => Off Topic => Topic started by: gigios on 2012-May-18

Title: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: gigios on 2012-May-18
Jay Barwick has founded a new company that currently are developing a new portable gaming console.

The main specifics are these:
Quote
CPU: Ingenic Jz4770 1GHz Processor
GPU: 496MHz Vivante GC860 1080p video decoding and OpenGL ES 2.0 and OpenVG 1.1           
DISPLAY: 3.5"LCD 4:3(320X240 pixels)                   
OS: Linux 2.6
Memory: DDR2 256MB
Internal Storage: 4GB
External storage:  via micro SD Up to 32GB
Mini USB 2.0 OTG
Mini HDMI 1.3 Out
3.5mm earphone/mic/Stereo Speakers
G-Sensor/VibroShock
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g  and Wireless Multiplayer
Media & Entertainment                                               
Video: MPEG4/H.264/H.263/MPEG2/MPEG4/WMV/FLV/3GP/AVI/MKV/MOV/VOB/RMVB
Audio: Mp3/Wav/Wma/Flac/Ogg/M4a/Acc
Emulation: PS1/N64/CPS1/CPS2/CPS3/NEOGEO/GBA/SFC/MD/FC/GBC/SMS/GG/GB     
Images: JPG/JPEG/PNG/BMP/GIF
EBook: txt/epub/html/pdf
Basic Parameters:                                                                                           
Dimensions: 143*70*18mm                                       
Weight:  8oz                                     
Battery: 2800mAh

In the video is also mentioned the possibility for developers to request a prototype 'discounted' to develop on this console.
Can be this a chance to port GLBasic also on this console?

Blog: http://game-consoles-worldwide.blogspot.it/ (http://game-consoles-worldwide.blogspot.it/)
Prototype announcement: OpenPandora Board (http://boards.openpandora.org/index.php?/topic/8175-gcw-zero-prototype-teaser-video/page__st__20#entry146132)

EMail: GCWNow at gmail.com


(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eovoxNwmyQE/T7W0h2Wd_vI/AAAAAAAAAAk/EnCKU4n65Cs/s1600/test.jpg)


Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-May-19
Read about on the pandora boards.

It would be nice if it comes off smooth and has a proper store.
I´m getting a little skeptical about the latest attempts on such as gamegadget´s store is not yet going ok and the Nd is probably vapour.

There isen´t much diffence into these hardwares as compared to dingoos or caanoo, but this one seems packed with a few more twists then the average ones.
I have hopes the store can became a niche place for use to sell our prods.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-May-27
Latest info reports that the specs will be that as Gigios stated for final prod.
Since it is a linux box, out of curiosity, do you guys think compiling code from GLB to that could happen in a easy way?
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: hardyx on 2012-May-27
¿Another console with 320x240 pixels in 2012? O_O
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-May-27
yep, it seems to source higher resolution screens would make the device price skyrocket.
Since I´m a fan of 320x240 I wold not mind :P

There were talks about possible 640x480, and such would be great for the more productive software as well as more modern emulation.

From what I read, I guess the first iteration of the console has to be on a price range considered pop, like the 100$ line of stuff.
I would still prefer they would go more pop on the 50$ line, but I guess that will depend on the team´s actual goals with such a handheld.

I have hopes they are not targeting things on the ´emu scene´ only since for such there is already a bunch of devices going on.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: Youkaisan on 2012-May-29
Jz4770 / Vivante GC860 is capable of Android 2.x to 4.0, why not make it an android console?

That may sell better than using Dingux.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-May-29
I would not know. But there sure is a great set of android handhelds coming out and some have higher specs.

I suspect that using android and its store would make the handheld not quite an open one and would require some fees too.
Running linux can keep your system closer to an open condition.

It is just a guess though.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: hardyx on 2012-May-30
Quote from: yoxola on 2012-May-29
Jz4770 / Vivante GC860 is capable of Android 2.x to 4.0, why not make it an android console?

That may sell better than using Dingux.
Have very low cpu speed for Android. ¿why to put Android in all devices? A raw Linux is the best for use all the system resources, and use all the memory.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: cruelcynic on 2012-May-30
So  with it running linux does that mean GLBasic will work for it?
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: Ian Price on 2012-May-30
Quote from: cruelcynic on 2012-May-30
So  with it running linux does that mean GLBasic will work for it?
Until it ships we can only say "Probably" Chances are high though. :)
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-May-31
Ah, wouldn't it be using a MIPS processor though ?
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-May-31
It seems they are interested in pushing a set of special first editions and it got some specs upgraded for that.
There is info on this on the panda boards and they also stated they should have a proper page coming up quite soon.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: cruelcynic on 2012-May-31
Quote from: MrTAToad on 2012-May-31
Ah, wouldn't it be using a MIPS processor though ?
Yes it does.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: gcwnow on 2012-May-31
We are currently developing a portable gaming system based on the Ingenic jZ4770 1GHz processor.

The hardware is in prototype stage and we are tweaking and adding things as the open source community tells us what they would like in this device.

The Open Source community has always wanted more so we have taken it upon ourselves to develop a console as close as we can to what the open source community wants.

We already have a core development team for the hardware and have started working with three developers for the actual OS development on the console which is in prototype phase also.

In the future we also plan on asking game and app developers to join the fold to further the development of the product into a full spectrum device.

The final goal is to have a gaming system with a Repository like Android app store where apps/games can be downloaded for free or purchased from developers on the repository. We are in development phase of this also with another group also called MyITKnowledge.com.

Below you will find specs of the device.

CPU: Ingenic Jz4770 1GHz Processor

GPU: 496MHz Vivante GC860 1080p video decoding and OpenGL ES 2.0 and OpenVG 1.1           

DISPLAY: 3.5"LCD 4:3(320X240 pixels)                   

OS: Linux 2.6

Memory: DDR2 256MB

Internal Storage: 4GB

External storage:  via micro SD Up to 32GB

Mini USB 2.0 OTG

Mini HDMI 1.3 Out

3.5mm earphone/mic/Stereo Speakers

G-Sensor/VibroShock

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g  and Wireless Multiplayer

Media & Entertainment                                             

Video: MPEG4/H.264/H.263/MPEG2/MPEG4/WMV/FLV/3GP/AVI/MKV/MOV/VOB/RMVB

Audio: Mp3/Wav/Wma/Flac/Ogg/M4a/Acc

Emulation: PS1/CPS1/CPS2/NEOGEO/GBA/SFC/MD/FC/GBC/SMS/GG/GB     

Images: JPG/JPEG/PNG/BMP/GIF

EBook: txt/epub/html/pdf/doc

Basic Parameters:                                                                                         

Dimensions: 143*70*18mm                                     

Weight:  8oz                                   

Battery: 2800mAh         

Languages: English/Russian/Japanese/Spanish

Now for the way important stuff a link to our blog and videos of the GCW-Zero In Action:

http://game-consoles-worldwide.blogspot.com/


First demo of the GCW-Zero:

http://youtu.be/6cN2wZM28Gw (http://youtu.be/6cN2wZM28Gw)

Comparision of sound lag on Android consoles compared to GCW-Zero:

http://youtu.be/mzXRyFQM3Ts (http://youtu.be/mzXRyFQM3Ts)

SNES Game Play on GCW-Zero:

http://youtu.be/wCM1kLh-9fI (http://youtu.be/wCM1kLh-9fI)

GBA Game Play on GCW-Zero:

http://youtu.be/0_IXRT3rxQk (http://youtu.be/0_IXRT3rxQk)

We would love to see GL-Basic ported to our device....
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-May-31
Welcome gcwnow,

Always good to have a word of the creators within their users. :good:
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: gcwnow on 2012-May-31
Erico,

  Glad to be here we need to talk about something you mentioned in PM e-mail me at gcwnow@gmail.com when you have a chance....
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: Ian Price on 2012-Jun-01
We would love to see our GLBasic apps running on what would appear to be an awesome piece of kit. Looking forward to seeing more of this (BTW been following this on the Pandora forum).

:)
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: gcwnow on 2012-Jun-01
Thanks Ian and Erico glad to see you are following the device who are the key developers on glbasic I would contact to get developer units to.

I would love to assist anyway I can to see glbasic as a reality on our console...

We are working on trying to get ports of all most all things that were on Dingux. Also
trying to get people who developed for Caanoo and other consoles on the bandwagon to port
their great software to ours. We are also in works to get GL Basic hopefully ported.

On our blog spot we are taking partial payments for a special edition also and a chance
to win a prototype in what ever stage it is in when we hit our 100 unit goal.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: cruelcynic on 2012-Jun-01
That would be cool. I am just now learning GLBasic but it seems like a great way for a hobbyist to make games and other fun apps. I would love to be able to run stuff on the zero.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-Jun-01
@gcwnow, for contact with the key developers on GLB, I recommend you send a PM to Kitty Hello (Gernot) on this boards.

@cruelcynic, It can be more then a hobbyist tool, some skilled coders here make a living with it. As for learning it, it depends if you actually want to, but first time users have always managed to impress on what they can pull out after a few hours on it. :good:
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Jun-01
If it's possible to get development devices that would be great!
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: cruelcynic on 2012-Jun-02
Quote from: erico on 2012-Jun-01
@cruelcynic, It can be more then a hobbyist tool, some skilled coders here make a living with it. As for learning it, it depends if you actually want to, but first time users have always managed to impress on what they can pull out after a few hours on it. :good:
I put some time in today and got the onemore tutorial game built. I wish the tutorial included defining the variables, but I figured it out and the game worked like a charm. Hell of a neat program.  :good:
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-Jun-02
Nice! Glad you are enjoying it, the tutorials are a great start, modifying them is is really great!

PS:. Sorry I missunderstood a typo on your last post were it stated " I am just now learning GLBasic" read as " I am just not learning GLBasic". :P
Got me confused!

Welcome!
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: cruelcynic on 2012-Jun-02
Ya, I did not notice that typo till later. oops.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-Jun-02
Quote from: cruelcynic on 2012-Jun-02
...I wish the tutorial included defining the variables, but I figured it out and the game worked like a charm. Hell of a neat program.

Some tutorials might not be quite up to date with the advancements on GLB core. But they get there.
GLB is constantly growing on the user´s feedback and requests.

IMHO, I personally take that as a charm on striving for results and am really glad you did on your own.
That is the spirit. Congrats!

Other then help files inside the program, which according to my exp are up to date, you also have Mr. Tatoad´s books on the subject.
I personally own the electronic version of "GLBasic Programmers Reference Guide" and in there, I constantly find different approaches to things that we get on the standard help files. That book helps me a lot exactly because of these.

Finally, the prime source of information on GLB, is this board.
Should you ever get stuck on something, drop a message here, people are always willing to help.
Should you create some great code/routines? Share, as people can help improve, we all learn.
Should you have some ideas or concepts? Do the same. :good:

As an example, I may point you to this thread here:
http://www.glbasic.com/forum/index.php?topic=8151.0

Wampus did an extremely impressive isometric engine based on his researches/ideas, users have also been keen to push it even further. Albert did a great job extending some parts of it. Really amazing work.
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-Jul-25
There is some updated pictures on the official site showing comparison to other open handhelds.
Also, the final black console picture, it looks pretty great.

It seems the shoulder buttons are the gentle type. :good:

My caanoo has real hard click ones.
Goes good on calling inventorys and stuff, but not for shooting for example.

I like the no-bevel screen too.

http://game-consoles-worldwide.com/

click on sneak peek!
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: Hark0 on 2012-Jul-25
Quote from: MrTAToad on 2012-Jun-01
If it's possible to get development devices that would be great!

+1

=D
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: Hark0 on 2012-Jul-25
For @gcwnow:

Any emulator of the hardware for win/macos?

TIA
Title: Re: GCW Zero - New Console
Post by: erico on 2012-Aug-10
Yep, an emulator would be great for developing, +1
Though I should post this here:



Nice that they are working net games with it, something kind of left behind on the caanoo.