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"Zodiac"

I bought a copy of MAD magazine (haven't for about 10 years) and there's an interesting handheld ad in it.

Now I haven't been keeping up with handheld/palm devices so this appears to have come out of the blue.

Here's the blurb:
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* Get console quality gaming with analog controller, integrated triggers and action button array [it has a better interface than N-gage]

* Play wireless with up to 8 players using built in bluetooth

* Listen to MP3s on stereo speakers or included earbuds [earbuds = headphones + marketing crap]

* Watch videos and view your photo library on the big, hi-res, backlit color display

* Manage your claendar and contacts. Create Microsoft Word compatible documents

* Choose from more than 19,000 Palm OS applications

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So it's a Palm based gaming system with bells and whistles which is powerful enough to run Tony Hawks 4 and has the cash to take out fullpage ads on the inside cover of magazines.

Is this a threat to the GBA and are Microsoft throwing their weight behind it?

There's an interesting quote at the top of the page which reads:

"GBA eat your heart out"

- official XBOX Magazine July, 2003




So what do you lot think?

Hehe!

I know what you mean, JFG's multiplayer was hardly mind blowing, but it showed potential.

It's main problems were that the weapon's didn't pack any punch (which would only take a slight technical tweak - piece of cake), the controls were slightly sluggish (and if you look at the improvement of control between Mario 64 and Mario Sunshine, or Zelda 64 and Windwaker, then you can see the difference that would be achieved the second time around).

Lastly, the interface was a bit cramped using a quarter of the screen (which could be solved by making the characters smaller so you could see more, besides, splitscreen wouldn't be an issue on a wireless handheld like this! ;-) ).


So that's the game we could be seeing on the new MS consoles/handhelds soon. Exciting no?

Maybe not for you! ;-)

Jet Force Gemini = Multiplayer mastery?

*rolls eyes*

Ooops, it's not actually Microsoft. :-D


Still, Rare MIGHT make games for it...

Maybe... ;-)

Sounds fantastic, especially when you remember that Rare would be throwing their full "Perfect Dark, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Jet Force Gemini" multiplayer mastery behind it.

But like Dr Duck said, it also sounds VERY expensive! :-D

ßulle††™ wrote:
> Just checked the tapwave site out, this looks really good! Slim,
> large screen, *analogue* control, the list goes on.
>
> It's what the N-Gage should have been (I don't think the Zodiac has
> phone capabilities though).
>
> The graphics for the games look good too. And they're bringing an
> update of Impossible Mission to it!
>
> That takes me back...
>
> Could well be another flop though.

Yeah it is what the N-gage should have been.

ßulle††™ wrote:
>
> It's what the N-Gage should have been

Exactly what I thought when I first saw it.

You realise the GP32 > All

Just checked the tapwave site out, this looks really good! Slim, large screen, *analogue* control, the list goes on.

It's what the N-Gage should have been (I don't think the Zodiac has phone capabilities though).

The graphics for the games look good too. And they're bringing an update of Impossible Mission to it!

That takes me back...

Could well be another flop though.

Hmm. Seems nice, though expensive.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of impact it has on the market. Given that this is the first I've heard of it, yet it's now available in america, I get the feeling it might not turn out so well.

Then again, you never know...

Dr Duck wrote:
> Got a link? Sounds interesting...

The ad says 'www.tapwave.com'

I haven't checked it yet myself.