The Gizmondo is a failed handheld console, which launched in 2005. It was revolutionary for having functionality such as GPRS, a camera, GPS, a multimedia player and of course game playing all in one unit.
History
Originally announced as the Gametrac, before being renamed after Gametrak discovered the name and complained that the name breached their copyright, the Gizmondo was a multi-function handheld games device launched by a UK subsidiary of US-based Tiger Telematics in 2005. The device was intended to compete against Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS but due to a limited release which initially only included the UK (And only select retailers at that) and later limited availability in the USA, the console floundered.The initial release of the console saw only two games, Fathammer Classics Pack (A collection of 3 games from the Fathammer games line) and Trailblazer . The latter game was more popular with users and throughout the life of the platform was one of if not the most popular game in the community. Gizmondo promised to bring more games including some which made use of the console's unique features ( Colors promised GPS-powered "Turf Wars" where players could fight for control of real-life areas, Agaju promised to use the camera for FPS controls), however only 14 games ever made it to release - and none which made use of the platforms unique features.
Shortly after the US release, it was discovered that at least one of the big names ( Stefan Eriksson) behind the company and, by extension, the platform, were members of the Swedish mafia. The company never recovered and at any rate had incurred massive losses. To make matters worse, the company began circulating images of an improved Gizmondo before the console even went on sale in the US. The Gizmondo WS (WideScreen) strongly resembled the PSP and its existence angered existing owners (In the UK) because they felt they had bought the wrong machine and were going to be left out in the cold. American buyers were promised "an upgrade patch" to the new system, but what this was was never made clear.
At any rate, the console never emerged and likely never got beyond the concept stage. The company essentially "went dark" shortly after the US launch due to lack of funds and the company finally went into bankruptcy in February of 2006.
Since then, the console has been cracked and the community, lead by GizmondoForums.com, have spent much time porting games, finding and releasing the console's lost commercial games ( Chicane: Jenson Button Street Racing, Colors, Carmageddon and more) and creating all-new games and applications as homebrew efforts.
Some individuals think that the system failed because of it's lack of games. With a catalogue of games like Alien Hominid and SSX 3, the Gizmondo just couldn't compete with cheaper handheld systems like the Nintendo DS.
In 2008, Carl Freer (Gizmondo's Chairman and the platform's corporate champion) announced he had reached an agreement with the liquidators and planned to re-launch the Gizmondo brand with a new console. The Gizmondo community is now anticipating this new system.
The Hardware
The Gizmondo was essentially a WindowsCE .net HandheldPC, using the embedded OS to run a custom GUI. It sported a 400MHz ARM9 processor, a 2.8" 320x480 TFT screen and an nVidia GoForce 3D 4500 GPU (The GPU initially delayed the launch as the developers decided to change from a 2D chip to a 3D to better compete with the specs of the DS and PSP). Other hardware features included a 0.3 Megapixel camera, GPS for navigation & (In select canceled games) location-based gameplay and a tri-band GSM radio which was used to supply an internet connection for e-mails and to send and receive SMS/MMS messages, but the console did not feature voice calling.Additionally, the system featured a Bluetooth radio, primarily used for multiplayer gaming. Other I/O included a standard 3.5mm headphone jack (The console also shipped with re- branded Seinheiser earphones), miniUSB and an SD card slot which served as the primary storage for games, movies and music. The system, like those it competed with, used a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery (Which was notably temperamental, sometimes only providing an hour's use off of a full charge if users did not charge it in regular charge, drain, charge cycles).
The battery was replaced in the US with a larger version to improve battery life. This necessitated a larger battery door, meaning US Gizmondos do not follow the same curvature as UK models - there is a large rectangular bulge. This new battery door also allowed the attaching of a wrist strap (Which was bundled) though.
Smart Ads
After the initial launch, users could receive a discount on Gizmondo hardware if they agreed to receive targeted, location-based advertising. This was also offered to existing users who received a voucher and accessories gift pack for signing up in lieu of the discount. Despite a system update which added a "Smart Ads" option to the menu, no ads were ever distributed through the service - which meant everyone who had signed up for the service got either a discount or their gift pack for absolutely nothing. Some people think even the thought of this was partially why the system failed.
Gizmondo games
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General Information
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| Platform Name: | Gizmondo |
| Release Date: | Oct. 23, 2005 |
| Online Support: | True |
| Install Base: | 25,000 |
| Original Price: | $229 |
| Producing Company: | Gizmondo Europe Ltd. |
| Total Games: | games |
Recurring Appearances
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Kaori first in SSX Tricky | 1 |
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Allegra first in SSX 3 | 1 |
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Stretch first in NBA Street | 1 |
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DJ Atomika first in SSX 3 | 1 |
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Elise Riggs first in SSX | 1 |
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Psymon Stark first in SSX Tricky | 1 |
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Robbie Keane first in | 1 |
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Jamie Carragher first in | 1 |
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Steven Gerrard first in | 1 |
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Mac first in SSX | 1 |
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Anfield first in | 1 |
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Soviet Union first in | 1 |
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Russia first in | 1 |
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Area 51 first in | 1 |
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Europe first in | 1 |
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Germany first in | 1 |
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Sports Stadium first in | 1 |
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The United States of America first in The Oregon Trail | 1 |
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Space first in Spacewar! | 1 |
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Jump first in Frogs | 3 |
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Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility first in Halo: Combat Evolved | 2 |
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Licensed Soundtrack first in | 2 |
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Difficulty Level first in | 2 |
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Instant Replay first in | 2 |
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Snow first in | 2 |
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Uber Trick System first in SSX Tricky | 2 |
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Combo first in Street Fighter II | 2 |
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Commentary first in | 2 |
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Grind first in | 2 |
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Snowboard first in | 2 |
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Ramp first in | 2 |
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Icicle first in | 2 |
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Lawnmower first in Weird Dreams | 1 |
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Car first in Death Race | 1 |
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Cleats first in | 1 |
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Tire first in | 1 |
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Hat first in | 1 |
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Bomb first in B-17 Bomber | 1 |
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Gun first in Outlaw | 1 |
Top Editors
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Jensonb
83 points
- Unknown_Pleasures 15 points
- Deusoma 5 points
- Red 5 points
- Plasticworld 3 points
