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Palm OS Based Gaming Device Nears Release

Posted by Hemos on from the going-after-the-sp dept.

Sokie writes "During the past few weeks Tapwave, a startup founded by a couple former Palm employees, has been slowly unveiling the features of their upcoming Helix (Flash heavy link) handheld gaming device. So far, the specs include a 480x320 16-bit color display, dual Secure Digital (SD) slots, Bluetooth connectivity for wireless multiplayer (Wi-Fi available through SDIO), multiple analog controls including triggers, ATI Imageon graphics, and dual rechargable lithium ion batteries (no word yet on battery life). In addition to some cool sounding hardware, several prominent game companies are already signed on to develop games for the Helix, including Activision and Midway. It will also run traditional Palm apps like Calendar and Address Book. Tapwave will continue to unveil a new feature each week for the next few weeks, and the product is supposed to launch in September or October and retail for about $299. PC World has some additional info."

3 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. This sounds really cool and all... by fishynet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But who are they targeting with this product? Who wants an expensive "gaming" device?

    --

    Cats: All your base are belong to us.
    Captain: Take off every sig !!
  2. Good luck against Nintendo & Sony! by MtViewGuy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have my doubts this new machine will be successful.

    The reason is simple: you need high-quality first- and third-party games in order to make it popular--and I haven't heard of such announcements from the makers of Helix.

    Nintendo's Game Boy series have done well not only because of the fairly wide range of games developed in-house, but also games developed by third parties. Sony's upcoming PSP machine will likely get quite widely support from third parties, too, given Sony's marketing muscle.

    1. Re:Good luck against Nintendo & Sony! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think you're missing the point. TapWave are hoping to piggyback on the already successful Palm platform.

      The Palm family already includes a bunch of market 'targeted' devices...like all of marvellous line of Sony Palm handhelds, smartphones (GPRS/CMDA) from Handspring/Kyocera/Samsung and various 'rugedised' Palm devices for the industrial market.

      I see Tapwave as just another Palm device that fills a certain market that's been missing from the Palm picture to date...that's serious handheld gaming - there are plenty of good 'lite' Palm games already - but nothing that can hold a candle to the GBA gaming experience imho.

      Tapwave will hopefully change that and as long as they can supply several games that show off their hardware and keep the price at a sane level I can't see why these guys won't do well.

      Hell, even the fact their device will do portrait/landscape display is enough to convince me to buy one...(but then I'm a Palm geek that works in a company writing Palm s/w so I might be biased).

      Yours anonymously.