GAME-800 all-in-one handheld tries out a new control scheme

We'll hand it to whatever Chinese company conjured up the GAME-800 -- there's at least a smidgen of ingenuity here. Granted, we suspect it's all for the worse, but we digress. The GAME-800 all-in-one handheld does just about everything save for make calls; we're talking an MP5 (seriously) player, text and photo viewer, camera, NES / GBA emulator and even support for video playback. Internally, you'll spot 4GB of storage, which complements the integrated SD expansion slot nicely. There's also a TV output, 3.5-inch QVGA display, twin 3.5 millimeter headphone jacks and USB 2.0 connectivity. We might say it was actually worth he $69.99 asking price if not for our befuddlement relating to those awkwardly sorted directional arrows, but until we see support for an external game pad, we'll pass.

[Via technabob]

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:13AM]

*worth the $69.99*

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 9:00AM]

You'd have to pay ME to use that scummy d-pad.

[rahiml786 Posted Apr 2nd 2009 12:02PM]

ewww!!!! Thats nasty

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 2:15PM]

I was just pointing out the spelling error because it says "worth HE $69.99" instead of "worth THE $69.99"

[Templarian Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:14AM]

Really, because left and right on the same horizontal row was to easy.

[htd Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:47AM]

it's not similarity, it's direct rip off

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 9:03AM]

Not even! Nobody has noticed that A & B are caddy-corner from each other, and Y & X share a similar fate. Trying to play an emulated game on this has to be like learning to type in Dvorak.

[Ninbrendo Posted Apr 2nd 2009 9:35AM]

C dak. br lprxn.m gocbi Ekrpatv

[Mike Posted Apr 2nd 2009 11:24AM]

You're missing the point. Obviously, the games will be oriented 45 degrees counter-clockwise, so when you turn the thing to match, the directional pad is just a normal directional pad.

[Origin Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:17AM]

And yet nobody picked up on the icon similarity?

[Hawkman Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:21AM]

Too obvious to mention?

[Kizorblade Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:22AM]

First thing I noticed actually

[Origin Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:29AM]

Yea, but i thought with Engadgets obsession with KIRF ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 9:49AM]

What are you talking about, they don't look like the iPhone's

.....

[ReaperRob Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:19AM]

Wait, is MP5 just another piece of chinese one-upmanship

[tiagoclaus Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:22AM]

this device is obsolete. there is already MP11 at mercadolivre.com (my local ebay):

http://lista.mercadolivre.com.br/mp11

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:24AM]

Lets play games... tilting the screen 45 degrees to the right. Good Chinese craftsmanship.

[Professor Kaos Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:43AM]

Wish this was april fools, not liking the iPhone layout, but you never know people may like it, stranger things have happened

[hmmwv Posted Apr 2nd 2009 9:51AM]

No mention of Wifi or Bluetooth, I guess we can't have it all in a $69.99 package. And yeah, get rid of that stupid D-pad.

[superhobo Posted Apr 2nd 2009 10:41AM]

The only negative point I can think about is the Times New Roman (or similar) font used on the buttons.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 10:43AM]

Ok, we get it that the Chinese don't. Next worthy newspiece please!

[SirNoDroin Posted Apr 2nd 2009 11:15AM]

+1

[SirNoDroin Posted Apr 2nd 2009 11:15AM]

mp5....

isn't that name Copy written by Heckler & Koch?

Personally I'd rather get the mp5sd

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 11:23AM]

Mazda as well.
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Brian%20MP5T/SCN%20QUE%20-%20(4).jpg

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 11:22AM]

The buttons make sense, sorta. Its a small handheld, When you hold it to play,your thumbs will be on top, at an angle, while your pointer finger is underneath the device on the corners. It would have driven the costs up (?) to add a 4 way D pad, and would have used more room.
The way it is now, with your thumb, you can hold the up button and just by rolling your thumb left your thumb knuckle will hit the left key. Roll your thumb right, the tip of it will hit the right key. Try it, you'll see.

"but until we see support for an external game pad, we'll pass."
Seriously? 3.5" display. I'm surprised you didn't gripe about it's lack of external display support. Or that there is no output for 7.1 Surround.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 12:06PM]

I'm waiting for the MP7

[ScottishDan Posted Apr 2nd 2009 12:42PM]

LAME-800 more like

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 12:50PM]

Two 3.5 jacks? Don't tell me they're trying to pull off multiplayer games with this thing.

[Lundmark Posted Apr 2nd 2009 7:01PM]

The easiest way to spot a KIRF is by the fonts used on the product. Seriously, which non-KIRF uses serifs?