Slashdot Mirror
Gizmondo Future Looks Bleak
Gamespot reports that the company behind the Gizmondo handheld console, Tiger, is looking at some tough financial numbers. Mostly, it seems, brought on by poor sales of the console. From the article: "Gizmondo Europe subsidiary has experienced severe financial pressures from various vendors as its cash flow has been unable to service the requirements. This has in part been aggravated by a lack of investor funding. The company has been actively negotiating for further funds from debt and equity sources to assist the cash flow needs of Gizmondo Europe but there can be no assurances that this will be achieved."
I live in the US so I wouldn't know but I know it isn't exactly advertised here.
For the first time in over a decade, there's not just one, not even just two, but three (GBA, DS, PSP) popular handhelds already on the market, so Tiger chose then to enter? What were they thinking?
GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
You don't need to be a Kreskin to predict Gizmondo's future. The hand writing is on the wall: Gizmondo faces a bleak future.
This is the first I have even heard of this product. How can it possibly be dying already?
As a general rule, Don't enter the console market with the assumption of making money off of licencing fees!
How many companies have tried and maintained long term success? Nintendo and Sony (Sega and Atari could be considered, but their current state in the game market says a lot). Whether you like it or not, you have to admit that the Gamecube is a technical marvel in how much power it packs for the cost, and the brand recognition Nintendo has produced (everyone knows what a Gamecube is regardless of whether they know anything about videogames); yet, although being very profitable, was not very successful in mass market terms.
No market newcomer can produce the technical quality of product, at the price point, with the quality of exclusive game, that Nintendo can. The simple fact is that if you're considering entering the market you are going to loose; Microsoft survived by loosing $200 per system sold, and still are having difficulties.
Former Gizmondo exec Stefan Eriksson had links to the mafia (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid =12547) - and he wasn't the only one - so I for one am glad to see the handheld fail
Also because y'know, it's a bit shit and the handheld market is pretty full already
Wll maybe more people would buy them if they didn't get Tiger handheld games for xmas from uninformed parents when they were growing up. Man did those games ever blow chunks...
Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
Sky is blue, water is wet. These stories and more at 11:00.
seriously, who believed that the gizmondo would be a success?
Just look at what happened to TapWave. They had a handheld based on an established platform, with a library of games already available... but they added crippling DRM and locked down the system so you couldn't use its advanced features without code signed for a fee. Potential developers stayed away.
(I bought one. It's a nice multimedia-capable Palm device. Never bought any DRMed games, though.)
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
And if you are a /.'er who is unaware of this linux-based handheld media/gameplayer (emulators for near every machine ever emulated under linux up to and including the PSX are either fully emulated or in progress) you need to have your geek license revoked. 10k units already sold on pre-release. :)
The Giz was doomed to failure by trying to emulate Sony instead of trying to carve their own niche ala Gamepark.
Devil bunnies! I snort the nose! Lucifer! Banana! Banana!
They need to pull their act together enough to release it in the US. How else am I going to pick one up for $20 when they go out of business?
Except they gave out a backpack with a small shirt in it. At least 80% of people are probably a medium or above. It also had a bit of a "me too!" feel to it. Hip-hop blaring out of the speakers.
Woooo! Didn't see that one coming. Seriously that thing was dead in the water before it was even launched. Someone put a bullet in it and put it out of its misery.
To err is human. To forgive is not company policy.