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History of video games/Platforms/Game Gadget

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History[edit | edit source]

Go Anywhere - Play Everything
—Slogan for the Game Gadget, Press Release[1]

The Game Gadget was a product of Blaze Europe,[2] and spearheaded by Jason Cooper.[3] The system was envisioned as an easy way for game developers to legally sell and distribute discontinued ROMs from back catalogues.[1] Development on the system began in 2010.[4]

The Game Gadget launched on April 5th of 2012 at a cost of 99 British pounds following a delayed launch.[5][6] 30 Sega games were available at launch.[6] By April 27th, 2012 the price dropped to 59.99 British pounds.[6][5] It was announced that customers who had previously paid the old price would receive a refund for the difference.[7] The system was primarily aimed at the UK, with the system being avalible to customers in the United States of America the rest of the European Union for a fee of 9.99 British pounds.[8]

By October 30th, 2012 only 20,000 Game Gadget handhelds had been sold.[5] By December 2012 some were calling the console an abandoned product.[9]

By December 2014 the Game Gadget website had gone offline.[10]

Some have suggested that the Game Gadget was succeeded by the Evercade,[11] though this is unclear, as Blaze Entertainment and the now defunct Blaze Europe are different entities.

Technology[edit | edit source]

Compute[edit | edit source]

The Game Gadget has a Ingenic JZ4750 processor clocked at 433 megahertz.[12][13][14] This processor was based on the MIPS32 architecture using the Xburst microarchitecture,[15] and fabricated on a 180nm process.[16] The system was marketed as being dual core,[15] a claim which is in dispute as the listed processor contains only a single primary processor core.[17] The system had no 3D acceleration hardware.[15]

The system has 64 megabytes of RAM.[13][14]

The Game Gadget has 2 gigabytes of onboard flash storage.[13][14] Up to 32 gigabytes of removable storage could be added through use of an SDHC card.[18][19]

Hardware[edit | edit source]

The Game Gadget uses a 16-bit[15] 3.5" Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) with a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels.[13][14] The system was shipped with an AV output cable.[20]

The console is powered by a 5V DC rechargeable lithium ion chemistry battery with a capacity of 500mAh.[20][18]

The console contained holes for attaching a wriststrap.[20]

Software[edit | edit source]

The system ran an operating system based on Linux.[1] Unusually for a handheld game console at the time, the Game Gadget required online registration to operate.[21] Materials suggest registration was also required to download its software development kit.[4] The system used Digital Rights Management (DRM).[1][15]

The marketing for the device extensively referred to it as "Open Source".[1] However exact nature of what made the console "Open Source" is unclear. Materials suggest that this was a mode for the console, distinct from its normal operating state.[4] The system did make use of a number of open source software libraries, as well as SDL and popular open languages.[15]

Other[edit | edit source]

The console was packaged in a fold out box protected by a sleeve.[20]

Developers were recommended to use an X86 based Linux desktop and SDL.[15]

Games[edit | edit source]

Individual games retailed for 2.99 British pounds.[22]

The Game Gadget was primarily used to play licensed Sega Genesis games.[21] However the system is noted to have severe issues playing certain Genesis games, reportedly to causing the device to become bricked.[9][23]

External Resources[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia has related information at Game Gadget

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ a b c d e "GameGadget is a revolutionary Open Source handheld gaming device that will change the way that games are played, developed and sold." (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/159234/GameGadget_is_a_revolutionary_Open_Source_handheld_gamingdevice_that_will_change_the_way_that_games_are_played_developedand_sold.php. 
  2. ↑ Willington, Peter. "Blaze GameGadget". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "GameGadget Adds Hundreds of Games to its GameGadgetGame Marketplace." (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/169914/GameGadget_Adds_Hundreds_of_Games_to_its_GameGadgetGameMarketplacenbsp.php. 
  4. ↑ a b c "GameGadget Make SDK Available for Download plus Development and Hardware Specs Confirmed" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/165075/GameGadget_Make_SDK_Available_for_Download_plus_Developmentand_Hardware_Specs_Confirmednbsp.php. 
  5. ↑ a b c Purchese, Robert (31 October 2012). "GameGadget: The empty promises and, finally, a response". Eurogamer. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. ↑ a b c "Video Games Interactive: Exposé: Is the Game Gadget Xploder's Way of Scamming Gamers?". web.archive.org. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Unprecedented “day one” demand enables GameGadget to offer new unbelievable £59.99 price." (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/169328/Unprecedented_ldquoday_onerdquo_demand_enables_GameGadgetto_offer_new_unbelievable_pound5999_price.php. 
  8. ↑ "GameGadget-Like an Ipod for retro games. Go Anywhere – Play Everything (Powered by CubeCart)". web.archive.org. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  9. ↑ a b "Neo Geo X". GBAtemp.net - The Independent Video Game Community. https://gbatemp.net/threads/neo-geo-x.339476/#post-4486896. 
  10. ↑ "404". Retrieved 24 March 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  11. ↑ "Hardware Review: Evercade - Can A 100% Physical Media Console Really Work In 2020?". Nintendo Life. 14 April 2020. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/04/hardware_review_evercade_-_can_a_100_percent_physical_media_console_really_work_in_2020. 
  12. ↑ McFerran, Damien (19 July 2012). "GameGadget Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  13. ↑ a b c d Purchese, Robert (26 January 2012). "Meet the £100 GameGadget handheld that has own retro download store". Eurogamer. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  14. ↑ a b c d "Blaze to come with handheld gaming console". https://www.gizbot.com/. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2020. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  15. ↑ a b c d e f g "Developers - GameGadget-Like an Ipod for retro games. Go Anywhere – Play Everything (Powered by CubeCart)". web.archive.org. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "Ingenic Semiconductor". Wikipedia. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Game Gadget". Official Pyra and Pandora Site. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  18. ↑ a b "Game Gadget Portable Handheld Game Player". www.play-asia.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "SD card". Wikipedia. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  20. ↑ a b c d "The GameGadget Retro Handheld Console | Unboxing" (in en). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_hZoGIbS9g. 
  21. ↑ a b "Game Gadget Review". Thomas Welsh. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  22. ↑ "GameGadget Games - GameGadget-Like an Ipod for retro games. Go Anywhere – Play Everything (Powered by CubeCart)". web.archive.org. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Anyone have the original firmware? | Dingoonity.org - The Dingoo Community". boards.dingoonity.org. https://boards.dingoonity.org/gamegadget/anyone-have-the-original-firmware/. 


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