Can the GP32 play Divx files usefully?


Melville

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Apr 24, 2003
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I've read that the console can play .DivX files if the codecs are installed. However, I also read that the hard drive is a smartmedia card -far too small to store divX movies. Is there any way round this to use the console as a portable player?

Also, what's the availability / pricing of games like at the moment? I realise they won't be great until its launched properly over here, but some indication would be handy.

Thanks very much. :)

Have fun,
Melville
 
This will be a brief post, others can elaborate as desired. For movies (divx), the resolution and fps are reduced using a program such as virtualdub. As well as making the movie the correct size for the 320x240 GP32 screen, this reduces the filesize also, so that most movies can fit on an 128 meg SMC. I personally do not use my GP32 for watching movies, but by all reports most movies seem to play and view fine.

Games: If you use joyGP (where you can download games over the net instead of getting boxed versions) games run $7-10 US. For that price they are good, but the GP32's main attraction at the moment is its emulation capabilites and homebrew games... the commercial games are not a selling point imo, just a bonus. If you want good commercial games, the GBA is probably more for you... if you like retro games (many of similar quality to GBA games!) then the GP32 is by far a superior handheld!
 
If you buy and download Moviepark (about £5) it plays DivX files really well. You have to re-encode them using a prog like Virtual Dub, which is a little tricky to set up at first, but once you're there it's a doddle. A typical films converts to about 70mb so no problem at all with fitting them on a 128mb card. Loads of room left for games too. :)
 
Thanks very much :). Virtualdub shouldn't be too much of a problem, as I have some experience using it. Is the games scene expected to pick up after its launched over here (which I'm told it will be eventually), or is that just rumour?

That said, the emulations and homebrew stuff should be pretty damn good - an excuse to learn to program again :)
 
I would not count on either better commercial games or any international releases... Gamepark stays very quiet on most of these subjects and most of the rumors seem to fall through, so don't get your hopes up and consider any of that to be an added bonus :).
 
Yeah - commercial games, are, as a rule, pretty, but not much cop on the gaming or longevity side of things. It may pickup, especially with the opening of JoyGP, but I dont see it becoming what the future of the platform relies on....

One word.... EMULATION!

GP32 is fantastic at it and getting better all the time (or at least the coders are making it better all the time :D)

As for films - its great! The best movies to play on it are animated things like the simpsons, or anime films, as the framerate is perfectly adequate to play those with no noticable change in quality (apart from a little 'mpegginess'). Even so, full films translate well, and are very watchable on the small screen (even at 10fps), and I personally dont notice at all after a few minutes of watching...

Have fun :D
 
Well done guys, you have a new convert :)

I've been looking around a few sites and while I agree the commerial games aren't great (though a couple look worth exploring), the sheer number and quality of emulators available is brilliant. Added to that the mp3/divX players, customisable o/s, potential for firmware updates, large active modding community etc. etc...

Hehe, I honestly thought all emails like this were planted by product manufacturers

All I need to do now is find someone to buy one kidney (slightly used) so I can afford the thing. Any offers?

Seriously, thanks lot for your help.

Enjoy,
Melville
 
The quality you get when compressing a movie to fit on the GP32 looks about the same a s a heavily compressed stramed movie over the net. However, it does look significantly better on the GP32 screen than on a monitor.
 
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