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Portable GameCube

Posted by michael on from the gameboy-on-steroids dept.

Bodero writes: "After Slashdot ran a story about the Portable N64 over a month ago, many of us have been enlightened to the idea of portable home console systems. The Portable N64 was more of a novelty item whose cost and development factor outweighed its feasibility. However, IGN Cube is running a hardware review on the Interact Mobile Monitor 5.4, a 5.4" LCD that hooks up to your gamecube, providing a screen and power from either AC or an included car adapter. All that for only $150. For only $50 more, Interact sells an optional battery pack, which IGN claims can power the GameCube and monitor for up to three hours."

5 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm, game appliance for $350 by KarmaBlackballed · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...$400 and it becomes portable for 3 hours of play. (Game cube retail $199 + 150 screen + $50 battery pack.)

    This is getting into used laptop territory. Why would I want this GB setup when I can buy a used laptop with 10.4 inch active matrix screen and 5 hours of gameplay?

    I think their price point is a little high. Maybe for $250 it would be sweet. At $400 it is for the rich kid that has everything and needs one more thing for the closet.

    --

    --- -- - -
    Give me LIBERTY, or give me a check.
    1. Re:Hmmm, game appliance for $350 by spencerogden · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yes, it is expensive, but it is still a lot more powerful than a $500 laptop. The laptop might be good for retro gaming, but this plays the latest (not that I could afford one).

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      Spencer Ogden

    2. Re:Hmmm, game appliance for $350 by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well... u might want to play WaveRace, or Luigi's Mansion, or MonkeyBall, or [insert game that you can play on the GameCube but not on the PC here]... This is the TRUE reason to own a game system. Not hard drives, processors, RAM, Nintendo, MS, whatever.. its because there are GAMES you want to play on it.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  2. This is just... by Evil+Oli · · Score: 5, Insightful

    natural progression of technology via miniaturisation and improvements in power consumption. We've already witnessed essentially the SNES being shrunk into the Gameboy Advance. The next handheld will surely be a shrunken version of the N64, and so on.

    We're only really up to the second generation of portable consoles, so these things are naturally surprising to us. Not that I'm putting it down - I think we'll see a lot more power in portable gaming/computing units in future. I think the issue that needs to be addressed now is battery life.

    Perhaps combining those technologies that provide power from body movement (eg, rapidly moving thumbs) with these handhelds is the answer...

  3. Re:Hmm... You can see where this is going, right? by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I agree with you. I have a feeling Nintendo designed not just a powerful home system, but their next portable system in the next 5 years.

    Think about that... by the time it launches you have a library of 500 or so games. Heck, by then they might even have an 802.11 adapter for it. Imagine the LAN Party you could have then? Everybody brings their GBA sized GCN and their Network cards, somebody sets up a cheap $100 wireless hub, and everybody sits around an apartment playing a cool game.

    Heck.. have the party at StarBuck's or something. Heh.

    --
    "Derp de derp."