handhelds

which handheld system would you like to develop for

DS, PSP or GBA

i would go for the PSP since i just got one and it is cheaper than buying the card reader stuff for my DS

What makes it so sheap?

PocketPC

I've already developed for PSP and GBA sooo... I think I would like to take a swing at the DS.

I've got a gp2x which you can freely program without having to hack it or risk bricking it.

from what i have read about coding on the DS and GBA they are pretty simlair, since they both have ARM7 processors and only a 2 button difference between them

also the ARM7 can control the touch screen but not the ARM9(the chip from the N64)

i was looking at the GPX2 but i had to get the PSP for daxter, valkyrie profile: lenneth and more games

If money wasn't an issue at all (to develop for them legally), I'd go with the DS, not often I find myself with an opportunity to work with a system that takes multiple forms of input.

I also like the idea of coding with the constraints of a limited 3d-device, although it appears many 3rd-party's done "get" it, and make games that include slowdowns, loading (on a cartridge based media?), and bad control schemes.





Now if only SquareEnix used the NA version of Valkyrie Profile instead, PSP build/port based off of Japanese version, which has none of the useful additions like equipping members not currently in PT, or sorting inventory ......stupid idiots.
(now if only the core game wasn't so good, one of my fav PSX games now playable wherever I go...)

If only Square hadn't merged with Enix, they'd be making decent games by now.

I don't want to be a "dork", but--

Actually ARM9 was not the chip from the N64, not sure where you got that from, but it was a MIPS, by NEC "VR4300"
ARM9 just recently came out.
Ofcoarse it doesn't really matter, but if you were for some reason getting ready to develop for NDS and was reading into N64 development, that would be a no-no.

i read it on many different sites, i guessed they assumed that since it can do N64+ graphics that it would have the same chip or an upgraded version

Me too - that's my choice.



PS: Zenith = dork. :o)

Link:
DS has an Arm7 and an Arm9, but they are still both Arm processors so rather similar.

Naturally, more advanced stuff can get much more interesting on the DS since both processors can be used simultaneously. (And Arm7 is much more powerful than people tend to allow it to be).

one example of the the pwoer of the ARM7 is the 3D games on the GBA

i have played a few of them and they run smoothly and fast without any problems

Zenith == dork :D

no you are a nerd, dorks are the wannabe nerds

There is no N64 tech in the DS.

Me too! Definitely the easiest to develop for.

Well, I got a devkit for the GBA, and I happen to have my old Dell Axim X30 Deluxe available, so I'd better take as much advantage for developing for them as I possibly can.

Just based on curiosity, before the original DS was released, how was the original devkit set up? Was it taking the GBA devkit, and the Pocket PC technology, and fusing them together, or something on that level? I really haven't noticed what originally went into the DS technology.

i have not seen the offical GBA devkit so i can not compare with anything for the DS

but i have seen a pic a year ago on the nintendo forums, it was a blue metal box that pluged into the card slot of the DS. it was the first version, the DS in the pic was the E3 initail showing version

i will try to dig it up and are you willing to sell your Devkit and the dell

http://nintendo-ds.dcemu.co.uk/dsdevemu.shtml

there is the pic, this site also has links to sites that sell card readers, anti-homebrew protocal bypass devices, etc.

GP2X is definatly the easiest to develop for, but what makes and breaks a console is its games, you won't see a big company making games on it because it is so easily "stolen" from it, in any case I'm not saying it isn't a popular console, but it'll eventually die out because of no second party support -- marketing wise. I still love it, wish I had one.

I bought a GBA dev linker about 3 years, I spent nearly 3 days in ASM getting some pixels to move around and other basic stuff like that.

And I thought why am I bothering? This is really tough to use, there's no documentation, noone is ever gonna be able to use my program and it's not strictly legal either.

Why would anyone want to develop for a handheld system?

gp2x isnt being sold for secondary game support, im pretty sure most buyers have emulation in mind.

GPX2, great fun and has a well documented open source development pack, with no license restrictions...

Yep, I'm sold on trying out that GPX2 myself, just need to wait until the holidays to claim it as being mine. GBA devkits are somewhat on the strict side, as you need to run the game emulation through Nintendo's HQ in both Redmond, WA AND Tokyo, Japan, and have to have their rights for you to sell it on their hardware, and Nintendo would have to take a cut of some sort out of your sales. I thought that GBA game development would've been about as fun, but it's not truly open source, as its made out to be by some indies out there. Wish there'd be a way around that security hole.

Next question, have any of you ever even created anything even remotely close to a program on ANY handheld system?