Gizmondo

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:42 am

<img src="http://www.yenra.com/gizmondo/gizmondo.jpg">

So. What the fuck?

Apparently this device has been out in Europe since October. Somehow, I managed to completely miss any press whatsoever regarding its development, release, or existence. As far as I can tell, it's an N-gage with higher screen resolution and without the phone built in. Most interestingly, it was developed by a company called Tiger Telematics, and I'm wondering if they're related to Tiger Electronics? The logo sure looks similar.

So what's the dealio? Has anyone laid hands on this contraption?

Speaking of obscure "consoles", have you guys seen that Xavix thing? It was released June or something last year, and I'd never heard anything about it until I started at Best Buy last Christmas. It was pretty funny, a couple of people had asked about it, and I'd remembered hearing about similar devices for hunting games or something from back at GameStop, and I didn't think it was anything that would be carried at Best Buy, so I told them "we don't carry those here, you'll probably have to go online for that." It wasn't until my third or fourth day there that I stumbled across them while cleaning, and I was like, "What manner of happy horseshit be this?" I did some research and it's actually a Japanese system from a company called SSD, and there are those three games for it - tennis, bowling, and baseball. That's it. Apparently there are supposed to be other tools in development, educational stuff and whatnot... at least they're smart enough to not market it as a game console. I want one so bad, just so 20 years from now I can break it out of the closet and be like, "Bet you never heard of this." It reminds me of those uber obscure late 70's / early 80's game systems when the industry was still fair game for anyone to take a stab at.

It's like the Sega Activator never happened. Has anyone used this absurd machine?

Dark Crow · Post by **Dark Crow** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:02 am

I have heard of this thing, but never used it. The only thing I know for certain is that Tiger Telematics is one and the same to Tiger Electronics.

Out of interest Gibbon, have you heard of the Phantom and ApeXtreme? Supposedly they were shown at E3 like last year or the year before, and both are obscure consoles (okay, PC's in a box) that I doubt anyone apart from yourself would even consider buying. Apparently the Phantom had the help of some ex-Xbox designers and looked pretty flashed up and played most games decently, but the Ape instead turned out to be more like a dog.

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:03 am

Play, Fast Forward, Rewind, and Stop. What will they think of next?

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:13 am

The only thing I know for certain is that Tiger Telematics is one and the same to Tiger Electronics.

That kind of pleases me, in an odd way. It makes it like the Game.com 2. I wasn't even aware Tiger was still in business. Are they still making those handheld LCD games?

The Phantom I know about, it was the butt of all my jokes before the N-Gage. I was surprised they had it up and running for E3 last year, but I wonder if they'll have the nerve to show it this year alongside the three real new consoles.

I don't remember hearing anything about that ApeXtreme, though... who's behind it?

Post by **Segaholic2** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:17 am

I've heard about this device, but I know next to nothing about it.

Dark Crow · Post by **Dark Crow** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:30 am

Green Gibbon! wrote: I don't remember hearing anything about that ApeXtreme, though... who's behind it?

It's made by some company called Apex Digital which, as far as I can tell, also create other electrical appliances such as DVD players, televisions, cameras and home theatre systems.

I also found a preview of it here. It apparently only had a C3 processor with a speed of 1.4GHz, and DeltaChrome S3 graphics card, so the fact that most people say it sucks really doesn't surprise me (well, for running PC games anyway). Also, it was initally shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but I'm fairly certain it was shown at E3 as well. I'll have to look at more info for confirmation.

JessicaPadkin · Post by **JessicaPadkin** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:43 am

When the Gizmondo was first being shown off at industry events, it got a pretty good reaction from gamers. However, the marketing for this thing has been practically non-existent (apart from a few TV adverts that don't actually tell you what it is) so I can't imagine it's selling terribly well. From what I've heard, Tiger aren't even sending demo units out to games journalists, so I haven't got a clue if any of the games are actually any good.

By the way, Sonic the Hedgehog is actually being released on Gizmondo as part of a Sega Classics pack. The games are the same ones that were on those Megadrive 6-in-1 units that plug straight into the TV; since the company that produced these units own the licenses to these games, Tiger just made a deal with them to bring them to the Gizmondo.

BlazeHedgehog · Post by **BlazeHedgehog** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:25 am

It's also worth noting that while the Gizmondo has a GPS and a shit-ton of other stuff, it's also $500.

Post by **Popcorn** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:27 am

UK Resistance has quite an amusing ongoing campaign against it.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:59 pm

It's made by some company called Apex Digital which, as far as I can tell, also create other electrical appliances such as DVD players, televisions, cameras and home theatre systems.

Now that's interesting. So basically this thing was just a PC game player in a console shell. I assume it was cancelled, because there's no information on it at the Apex Digital website.

so I can't imagine it's selling terribly well.

According to Magicbox, there have been 560,000 sold since the launch, which would be a pretty respectable number except that it comes directly from the Gizmondo company and probably refers to number of units sold to retailers, not actual number of units sold to consumers. Are the DS and PSP out in Europe, yet?

Post by **Popcorn** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:45 pm

The DS is, just. The PSP doesn't have a date set as far as I know.

Post by **Squirrelknight** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:20 pm

I believe Sony delayed the PSP's European launch because they wanted to make sure they had enough hardware for the U.S. launch. I think they were expecting a repeat of the PS2's launch shortages.

Considering I can walk into any Wal-Mart or Circuit City and find a shelf of unsold PSP's, I don't think that was a smart move on Sony's part. Oh well.

Post by **Segaholic2** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 6:16 pm

They sold over 500,000 units in the first two days following launch, which isn't shabby at all.

Post by **Squirrelknight** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:13 pm

Yeah, but they were expecting to sell their intial stock of a million units on launch day alone. Sony had a solid launch, but it wasn't the event people were predicting it was going to be.

I still want a PSP though.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:35 pm

My intense desire to play Lumines is starting to supercede my better judgment about not spending half my entire bank savings on the game and system. I didn't think I could still get that hyped over a falling blocks puzzle game.

Psychobob2 · Post by **Psychobob2** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:38 pm

Green Gibbon! wrote: According to Magicbox, there have been 560,000 sold since the launch, which would be a pretty respectable number except that it comes directly from the Gizmondo company and probably refers to number of units sold to retailers, not actual number of units sold to consumers. Are the DS and PSP out in Europe, yet?

I get the feeling that amount is incorrect, since the only place selling the Gizmondo, and from reports still is, is one shop set up in London specifically designed for the sale of the unit, and yes, it is owned by the company behind the system.

Retailers won't stock the unit, either because of the release of the DS, or upcoming PSP, or because they fear an N-Gage scenario. Reports informed that Gizmondo sold only 3 units on it launch day, and while I find this figure hard to believe, 560,000 units from just one shop in London is impossible, especially for a unit that has received no publicity. So far only 3 other retailers have agreed to stock the unit, but when is unknown, or I just canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t remember, pick one. Either way this is a pretty crap system

Locit · Post by **Locit** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:04 pm

Green Gibbon! wrote:My intense desire to play Lumines is starting to supercede my better judgment about not spending half my entire bank savings on the game and system. I didn't think I could still get that hyped over a falling blocks puzzle game.

Yeah me too. But then I actually broke down and bought the thing today. I am broke, but Lumines kinda makes me forget about that. I am a puzzling fiend, and Lumines makes me forget about lots of things. Like food. And clothes.

CE · Post by CE » Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:39 pm

Locit's naked!!

Post by **Squirrelknight** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:28 pm

Locit wrote:Yeah me too. But then I actually broke down and bought the thing today. I am broke, but Lumines kinda makes me forget about that. I am a puzzling fiend, and Lumines makes me forget about lots of things. Like food. And clothes.

Y'know, I really don't have much of a desire to play Lumines itself, but I feel like buying that game just out of principle. Mizuguchi needs money too!

By the way, have they released sales numbers for the PSP launch games? I'm interested to say how Lumines did against more main stream games, like Ridge Racers or Metal Gear Acid.