Game 800 eats your Dingoo, Ipod and attempts to emulate Simon

Thanks to Richard from this post, we can report yet another Dingoo wannabe – or perhaps it’s an Ipod wannabe … I’m not too sure!

It plays music, video, and has a camera:

… and apparently emulates NES, FC, GB, GBC, and MD.  The lack of GBA emulation means we miss out on the GBA Homebrew workarounds – and of course, no Neo Geo or CPS1/2.  I must say that despite its poorer value when compared with the A320, this device, if the emulation works, is strangely compelling – a bit like watching Ugly Betty.

Yes, you may have noticed the immediate challenge confronting gamers is the interestingly placed directional controls.  Some have suggested the machine should be held at a 45 degree angle, for maximum playability.  Does it have a tilt sensor to adjust the screen orientation when this is done?  I suspect the large red button doubles as a proper d-pad.  No one could fail Industrial Design 101 that badly now, could they?

If the red button is not a Dpad, then the inevitable conclusion must be that this is its spiritual ancestor:

…. and that it offers gameplay to match.

You can buy one here, for $79.99, from the unfortunately named Chinagrabber (check out their logo, which inspires confidence that they only have YOUR best interest at heart!).

Notably, this vile, hideous, pretender has managed to generate its fair share of interest on the large gadget sites, such as:

Endgadget: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/game-800-all-in-one-handheld-tries-out-a-new-control-scheme/

Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/5192261/the-game+800-a-fatty-pocket-emulator

Slashgear: http://www.slashgear.com/game-800-pmp-retro-game-emulator-3139565/

and

Boingboing gadgets: http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/03/31/game800-has-camera-m.html , which at least has the decency to point out that the Dingoo has a proper d-pad!

I urge you all to logon to Boingboing, and to spread the gospel that the Dingoo is quite probably in a different league to this.