TapWave's Zodiac Handheld Analyzed

Thanks to GameSpot for their feature taking a look at TapWave's PDA-based handheld, the Zodiac. They argue: "After using the Zodiac for a bit, you get the impression that it's designed not as a handheld gaming system with some built-in PDA functionality but, rather, as a PDA that also happens to play games pretty well." While being impressed with fan support at sites like Zodiac Gamer, the reviewer suggests: "So far, TapWave has presented a fairly impressive package with the Zodiac, though its current lineup of top-tier games is a little too short to catch the average gamer's attention." The review concludes: "The system is also a little pricey for the gamer on a budget... [but] it's a fairly open platform due to its Palm OS support, so the amateur development community will likely keep the Zodiac stocked with amusement potential regardless of what the system's commercial developers turn out."

Comments

New handhelds....Interesting

[tprime]

Here is the tale of 2 new handhelds.. N-Gage, poor design but released with big name companies providing software for the unit. Tapwave Zodiac, good design, but not released with ANY big name companies backing it. Currently, N-Gage is taking a bath on the N-Gage (was $299, now it is $199(after rebate) with 2 free games.) And, to make things worse, the copy protection for the games has been cracked so that the games can be run on other Nokia phones. Tapwave is silently growing and seems to be continually gaining steam. They built it on a somewhat open platform, so software can be developed for it without any extensive licensing. It will be interesting to see where they stand 1 year from now with the PSP coming out and the idea that Nintendo might be bringing out a new handheld Q2 '04. Competition breeds innovation (and cheaper prices.)

Re:More of a gaming PDA?

[Thedalek]

Sure, it looks like a Gameboy. Unless you rotate it 90 and use it in portrait mode with the stylus. Provided you're not using the standard "gamer grip" (holding unit with both hands, operating controls with thumbs) and have the sound turned down or off, no one will care what you're doing. The PDA functions are easily usable with the included stylus.

This would be true of any PDA with thumb-oriented controls. However, I don't think the idea was to create a stealth gaming device. For that, you might want to try a Texas Instruments graphing calculator and the wealth of software available for it.

price

[bigbigbison]

people keep talking about the price, however, it seems that when compared to other pda's it is reasonably priced. This device's market doens't seem to be people who are sick of gameboys, but for people who have pda's and want to game, so from that perspective it doesn't seem out of line.

Re:PSP

[hethatishere]

I am too busy looking at the immense logic-defying hype surrounding the PSP. Sometimes I think they are selling the hype rather than an actual product. I really wonder about it. It's too early to pass judgement either way when all we have is the PR machine churning out ambiguity and propaganda.