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Archos Gamepad Released In the USA
An anonymous reader writes "Archos have finally released their much anticipated touchscreen gamepad in the USA. The console boasts a Arm Cortex Dual-core A9 1.6GHz cpu, 1024MB Ram, 8GB internal storage and uses the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS. The Gamepad has 14 physical buttons and dual analog thumb-sticks as well as a touchscreen which means the latest 3D Android games should work great and for fans of emulation the traditional gamepad design and buttons will make N64/PS1 emulators work great on the gamepad." CNET UK was unimpressed, calling it "a bitter disappointment"; IGN was more optimistic, especially at its sub-$200 price.
I mean I have never heard of it, and I have a lot of avid gamer friends and they never mentioned it.
It's an interesting idea, but inherently you are sacrificing on screen an component quality by bundling the gamepad with the device you are playing on (at least when the goal is a cheap device). It seems like you are much better off buying a top-quality Android or iPhone and then getting one of the third-party control solutions.
It also seems like you'd gain a greater degree of compatibility that way.
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While I understand using the word pad, since it's been another name for tablets, the word "gamepad" has meant video game controllers for over 2 decades.
This is a hand held video game console. Sure, that's a lot of words to describe 1 object, and could use 1 word, but the word "gamepad" is already taken by a gaming device. Will this cause confusion? I think so, I thought at first it was a game controller with a touch pad on it, not a screen.
Be seeing you...
I cannot disagree more. The reason why handheld consoles don't include separate controls...is its a stupid idea
That was a convincing argument!
, but the suggestion that the pitiful screen sizes [albeit average resolution] of the iphone [its less true for large...and I mean note size android phones]can compete with this *larger* [if weaker DPI] tablet is laughable.
Portable gaming systems have used 3-5" screens for decades quite successfully. Not to mention that's not an argument against separate controls, it's an argument to use a Nexus or iPad Mini (or even a full-size tablet) rather than an iPhone/Android phone if you want a larger screen.
Due to the failure of the iPhone in major gaming markets...
What?
but the price is amazing.
The Archos Gamepad's pricing is definitely a plus, if you have to buy an entire device. But a lot of (most?) people now already have a portable Android or iOS device they use for other purposes; a set of attachable controls would give them the same abilities with a better screen for only $50-$100.
why wouldn't I just get a Vita? There are some neat looking Android games, but nothing that approaches a killer app. The Vita at least has Sony backing. Then there's the 3DS too.
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why wouldn't I just get a Vita? There are some neat looking Android games, but nothing that approaches a killer app. The Vita at least has Sony backing. Then there's the 3DS too.
...with a bigger screen, standard micro sd cards [up to 64bg], Games at a 30th of their cost, Use it with your Android Play account, and do all the other exciting things you can so with Android.
I don't have one, but basically summarizing from the CNET review, the problems are the exact same problems I see with any cheap, no-name tablet:
* Poor display (very limited viewing angle, washed out colors).
* Poor battery life (2 hours gaming, 4 hours watching video, 8 hours on standby doing nothing at all).
* Poorly designed physical controls. D-Pad consisting of 4 individual buttons was the worst the reviewer had ever seen on any gaming device. Analog sticks are stiff.
The battery and the display are what sets apart the premium devices from the cheap ones, and that's how they get the price down. This device appears to be no exception.
Better known as 318230.
Archos / Arnova devices also enjoy a great online community with lots of modding at www.Arctablet.com . I own the $100 Arnova 7G3 tablet, damn nice little tablet with ICS, hdmi out, usb support and decent battery. Keep in mind that these aren't $700 tablets, and all of todays high end tablets are going to be outdated in a year or two.
I said it before, and i'll say it again. Archos products in general are good except for one thing, and that one thing always makes them bad. Trying to get support from them is like pulling teeth. I owned an archos pad for 6 months, and i had to replace it twice. Well, i should say it broke three times. the 3rd time i just threw it in the garbage and bought something else.
Mean what you say...say what you mean.
I'll translate: "Sorry, the iPhone's popularity is mainly in the Americas and Great Britain. In places like China, Android outsells iPhone 25 to 1 with Apple's market share dropping."
But Apple's popularity is still relevant for games developed by speakers of English for speakers of English, unless you have a bunch of money for translators and voice actors.
Ive have a JXD S7100 (2.3, single core 7" with Dpads, stick and buttons) and a newer S7300 (4.1, dual core, analog stick, more buttons) and specs are pretty much inline with this tablet. Problem being very few games work with any hardware controls, they use sloppy and inaccurate virtual touch controls. The 7300 does have a remapping app built in, to use the hardware controls on a touch screen game, but only works on some games. Until the app makers spend a bit more effort and give options for hardware controllers, android gaming will not take off, besides fairly casual games.
There are few things more pathetically amusing than a wannabe internet tough guy who is getting worked up by what fucking gaming platform someone uses.
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it