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iPAQ as Gaming Platform?

Posted by Cliff on from the just-for-fun-(and-giggles) dept.

Geremy F. asks: "What prevents the iPAQ from being an awesome handheld gaming platform? Since it's selling so well, a market (with volunteers) seems feasable..whether the choice is develop iPAQ games for Windows, Linux or custom micro OS it seems like this would be a good opportunity for someone to break into the gaming market. Think Xgalaga on the iPAQ. I'd be interested to help out if anyone wants to actually do this." Geremy also has a few more points to add to give strength to his line of reasoning.

"I'd like to make a point out a few things, if I may:

  1. The iPAQ, with it's 206Mhz processor and 32M of ram is to a gameboy what a cray is to 486[DX] (well, not really, but almost)
  2. The iPAQ has a nice big color screen, 4 buttons, and directional pad type control as well as a speaker.
  3. The iPAQ, with enhancement packs has support for compact flash and or PC cards
  4. The iPAQ has flash memory with enables it to run OSes/platforms other than Windows."

Do you think the iPAQ has a chance at becoming a new game platform? Let us know what you think!

4 of 10 comments (clear)

  1. button problem by nigel · · Score: 2

    The iPaq has a serious flaw in regards to the buttons. While most games will require simultaneous use of the directional pad and buttons, the iPaq's hardware can only process the input of one at a time. More information and hardware documentation can be found at http://www.jimmysoftware.com/ipaqbutto n.html

  2. sorry no, maybe the cassiopeia line by dondiego · · Score: 3

    This is a bogus idea (well more like compaq cheapskate engineers ruined it for us). The hardware buttons only allow one button to be pressed at a time. Thus, on galaga its -- move move move stop (let go of joypad) fire move move move stop (let go of joypad) fire.

    only things like pacman, frogger where you only activate one button at a time will work...

    see http://www.jimmysoftware.com/ipaqbutto n.html

    The Casio Cassiopeia line lets you hold down multiple buttons and has a more ergonomic layout like the gameboy...

  3. Forget arcade games by Betcour · · Score: 2

    For one, arcade games are short lived (you get bored quickly). For two, they need real-time capabilities.

    What we need is STRATEGY games on PDA : sim city, civilisation, etc... they are easier to adapt (hell, you even have Visual Basic on Windows CE, and now it is given away for free by MS). They give a lot more game life (imagine Civilisation : now you can play a long looooonnng time on this thingy). Anyone feels like porting FreeCiv to WindowsCE ? (www.freeciv.org :)

  4. Problem solved by zlite · · Score: 2

    Compaq is releasing a gaming sleeve. See this (about half way down)