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Palm OS Based Gaming Device Nears Release
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."
Everyone knows you need developer back up to get anywhere in the 'gaming handheld' business.
Oh well, hopefully the controls are good enough that it could encourage some good homebrew/port games
fp!
Many Thanks,
Luke
First there was the gameboy advance with its PIM cartridge. Now there is a palm device that plays games. Why oh why cant they all just get along?
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its basically a Palm without the 'productivity' software?
The website says that it will be released in Late 2003, meanwhile, the site itself is not complete (many links say In Two Weeks, etc) AND there are no pictures of the device at all. The good news is, I hear it's shipping with Duke Nukem Forever.
Canadian Cynic, canadian politics is less boring than you
I've had a couple of long conversations with the Tapwave people. They are most definitely targetting the 25+ group who see the Gameboy as a toy. The device is pretty compelling.. it offers PDA functionality in a pretty slick form factor that wouldn't look out of place in your average office or work environment.
What you have to realize is that they're not looking to take over the gameboy market. They don't need to sell a bajillion units to succeed in their business model.. their goals are to find a niche market and I think they have a great chance to do pretty well.
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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.