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Gamepark Holding GP2X

A hacker's PSP

Ever since I played the first Nintendo Game & Watch, I was hooked on the idea of having a small handheld video game system. Over the years, I've had to opportunity to play a number of them and even owning a few (like the Gameboy Advance SP/Micro, the Nintendo DS/DS Lite, Sony Playstation Portable). It was so convienent to be able to carry this system along with you and when you had a few minutes, you could take it out and pass the time.

I've long been interested in programming and creating my own software. It can be a very involved task to do that, but it always intrigued. One of my interests was be able to write for a handheld system. The problem was that the commercial systems required a hefty investment to get that opportunity. As a hobbyist, I wasn't willing to do that in order to write something for fun. That's when I learned about Korea's Gamepark Holding's GP2X handheld Linux system.

Presenting the GP2x

The GP2X had the strengths of the open Linux operating system, nice hardware, and a programming environment that encouraged hobbyist involvement. I found out about this system from a retro gaming magazine that my brother occasionally reads. It seemed like a match made in heaven.

So, after doing some shopping, I decided to buy a GP2X from a vendor on eBay. This was in March of '06 and I got the GP2X, the carrying case, AC adaptor, and TV-out cable. Locally, I bought a 2GB SD flash memory card to store programs and data. I also purchased a few rechargible AA batteries, so I wasn't tied to the AC adaptor or tossing out disposable batteries every other day. So I was set with the hardware, it was now time to play.

Along the way

After dealing with some issues with the GP2X's built in USB port and a problem with the card reader in my laptop, I finally got to the point where I could transfer programs between my laptop and the GP2x. Ultimately I bought a small SD card reader, as all of the other methods were clumsy and inconvienent. So I was now able to put my pictures, my MP3s, my videos, and my text files on the SD card, thus being able to it on the GP2X.

I've transfered a nice selection of my pictures, I've got a few albums worth of MP3s, and even a few episodes of the PINKS TV show (the one of the race between a '65 Bug and a Honda CRX). I particularly like the programs I've found on the Internet for this system. My particular favorite is Sega Genesis emulator. Using the original Genesis ROM code (taken from the cartridges), I can play those games on my GP2X. It's so fun! I've got emulators for a ton of systems, including the Atari 2600, Atari Lynx, NES, SNES, and more.

In summary

So, what do I think? It's a really neat system. Is it ready for mainstream use? No. This product is still a work in progress, and the bugs can be very frustrating for the average person. This is best left to the user that likes to tinker with stuff and who's not afraid to do some head scratching and troubleshooting.

All I know is that I'm having fun learning this system and enjoying the work that others have done. I am looking forward to getting deeper into the GP2X.

Updates

February 2007: I was able to flash the firmware on my GP2x and get it updated from 1.4 series that it was shipped with to 2.0. After then, I was able to get it updated to the current 2.1.1 version. This thing boots upso much quicker now, and the newer features are making the GP2x so much more convienent to use. I'm looking forward to being able to update to the upcoming 3.0 and the cool new user interface.

November 2007: GPH has released a new GP2X, the F200 (mine is a F100) and it's really nice. If I had the money, I'd definitely be purchasing one. This time the case is white, touchscreen with storage for the stylus, and the joystick is replaced with a directional pad. It also supports SDHC cards up to 32GB!

September 2008: GPH has announced a new member of the GP2X line, the "GP2X Wiz"! It seems like quite an interesting addition and I'd like to get my hands on one someday.

Update! October 2008: My GP2X is still going strong! I've been following the forums about the GP2X and the consensus is that the v2.1.1 firmware is the best in terms of speed and reliability for my GP2X's generation.