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Tapwave Zodiac Handheld Detailed

Posted by simoniker on from the the-anti-ngage? dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to the PalmInfoCenter article revealing new details and pictures of the Tapwave Zodiac handheld gaming device, ahead of the official unveiling on September 17th. According to the article, "The Zodiac will be based on Palm OS 5.2 and will feature a 3.8 inch diagonal 480 x 320 pixel screen, analog joystick navigation with integrated triggers and buttons, 3D graphics acceleration... and Bluetooth for multiplayer wireless gaming." The handheld "will... be able to run the already vast library of Palm OS software", and furthermore, "it will launch with between 15-20 games optimized for it [each costing around $30 each], including 'Neverwinter Nights,' 'Tony Hawk', 'Spy Hunter', and 'Doom II'". GoodThatWay.com has a few more details on the Zodiac, of which "a 32MB model will cost $299 and a higher end model with 128 MB of RAM will sell for $399."

3 of 15 comments (clear)

  1. They Have Done Some Things Right by MBCook · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Well, they have done one thing right: they have games. This is the downfall of most consoles, IMHO. Many consoles seem to think that they can have one or two games and use that as a springboard to get into the market. Unless those two games are a Mario game and a Sonic game, you're in deep trouble. But these guys are promising up to 20 games, and if the rest of titles are like the ones that they've named, they have a good chance, game wise.

    Some of the other features are good additions. I like that it's a Palm device, and that it uses bluetooth for multiplayer. The fact that it has TWO slots for games is also great (assuming they don't act like idiots and put them on the device like the NGauge. What in the WORLD where those people thinking? Did they even TEST the device?). Adding MP3 playing abilites is interesting too.

    That said, the price still seems quite high to me. Considerig that it's a Palm, a video game machine, and can play MP3s, I guess it's not that bad, but I think it could take a little while for it to become big. The thing is still expensive.

    What would be REALLY smart was if they released a SDK (free great, or for a nomial fee like $25 would be cool too) so people could develop for it too. I know it's Palm, but I'm guessing you'd need special code to access the 3D stuff. Handheld BZFlag, here we come?

    Good luck guys. Of the consoles that I've heard of recently (Phantom, that Linux based one that died, the N-Gauge, etc) that aren't from big manufactures (like the PSP) this one seems to be the most well thought out of the bunch (Sony knows what they're doing too, I think).

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  2. Hmmm... games + productivity = profit? by Txiasaeia · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The pics for the Zodiac look very impressive, but why would i pay $300-400 USD for such a machine when I can get a bottom-rung PalmPilot for $100 USD and a GBA SP for $100, and have access to the hundreds and hundreds of GBA/GBC/GB games? Also, when I buy a GBA game, I know that it will be compatible with Nintendo's next handheld -- what guarantee would I have that any game I bought for the Zodiac would be able to be used on any other platform? Too much risk.

    What they *really* need to do is come up with some productivity software for my GBA, and skip the whole hybrid thing.

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    Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
  3. Hum... by JFMulder · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ... this might be what finally pushes me to buy a Palm. I know they're more then portable calendars (a la Outlook) and note takers, but I've never seen them as anything more. If it turns out to be a little machine and has a few decent games, that might convinces me to buy one. So now I could put little electronic memos on the calendar to remind me to play a game on it. ;)