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GP2X Linux handheld console showing promise

GP2X console against white

Before we dive in and give you the latest on the GP2X games console, here's a little background on this open source games console. The GP2X runs an operating system based on Linux and included with every console is software for people to create games for the console. The focus for the GP2X is very much on community game creation, rather than on commercial games. Operating under the same logic: its predecessor, the GP32, came from out of nowhere to sell over 30,000 units worldwide.

The specs of the machine — dual 200MHz processor, 320x240 3.5-inch QVGA LCD, SD slot, USB 2.0, 64MB flash, 64MB RAM and MPEG, MPEG-4, Dvix, XviD, WMV, MP3, OGG, WMA playback — are very impressive for the price (£124.99/$189.99). Of course the negative aspect of all this is the lack of commercial software. The console launched the other month alongside no commercial games. Despite the lack of "big money" support, the GP2X console is still showing promise.

Since the launch 4 weeks ago, a community of part time developers, modders and hackers has emerged around the console. At the moment, the home of GP2X game development seems to be GP2X news. The site has reported on GP2X versions of Quake, Quake 2, LinesX and a working SNES emulator. Sure it's hardly the most comprehensive of game libraries, but it's only the beginning. A bit like the open source movement in general, the potential of this console is only limited by the time and effort its users put into it.