new chinese cd operated console

http://www.vtechkids.com/product_page.cfm?productId=392

seem interesting tought they don't give infos on its specs. the product seem quality(che the pdf manual) and might be an interesting machine if it was open to homebrew coders.

 

I like the way they solved the right-handed/left-handed players "problem".

 

Not technically a Chinese console, it is more American and it is a kid based console, the adverts alone are rather chingeworthy. The graphics don't look too great, more like a Playstation 1...

The first couple of seconds, I was going 'Wow! That's violent for a kids console and wow what great graphics... oh right...'

http://www.vtechkids.com/_f/_commercials/VFlash2_Gremlins384K.htm

 

it's not psx-like, but at least dreamcast-like...

 

Graphics look shit. Way below the Dreamcast but yes, above PSX.

Yakumo

 

I've actually played one of these in person. It's probably the fault of the programmers they hired, but every game I played on it felt clunky and just... bad. I was considering it as a system for my daughter but after trying it out realized that the library was just too crappy. Kids are better off getting a hand-me-down PSX than this.

The graphics in person, are pretty decent for a childrens console... I'd say Yakumo has it right - better than PSX, but not as good as Dreamcast.

 

My thoughts exactly. Why are people always so interested in this crap? Why not spend your time admiring a REAL game system.

 

Why?

Why post on this site with interest in nob like Pippin etc.

I think any system is of interest personally.

 

Ditto, I can totally understand interest in a relatively unknown system, even if it is aimed at kids.

 

It may be open, unless the CD is protected in some way (probably is).

It's probably an ARM based system based on board similar to MMSP 2+ (http://www.mesdigital.com/english/Products/product_mmsp2p.asp) or VRender3D.

The company made the VRender0 the board used in the Crystal arcade system.

This could be explained by the line at the end of the description:
The V.Flash CD Learning System comes bundled with your child’s first V.Disc to start her off on her collection!

'her'? Obviously aimed at 'game challenged' little girls.



Actually I was part right/part wrong:
http://www.lsi.com/news/product_news/2006_02_10.html

*EDIT*
I won one off of ebay. Now to see what it is capable of, and if it can be used for development.

 

I’ve put together a quick page to detail what I find out about the v.flash system. It’s located at:
http://vflash.emuvibes.com/

This looks like a very open system, only needing some good reverse engineering..

 

Great work, cdoty. So do you think there will ever be a half decent home brew scene for this system?

Yakumo

 

could be a nice base for homebrewers... the ARM9 is quite fast, but has lots of different clockspeeds... what is the clock in this machine?

 

Great work cdoty.
Going to port Frog Feast over to it?

 

Smells like a java/flash player in a playdia-like body. The graphics have a very similar feeling with those of a contemporary cellphone's 3D game.
The advertisement was clever indeed, very parent friendly, this crap could conquer America.

 

I find it interesting to see these companies make their own game systems instead of making games for the main systems. I also liked how they solved the left hand problem it was quite cleaver.

 

i played one of these while waiting in line for the nintendo wii to come out when i camped at walmart. It was...okay. Felt clunky and well, crappy. but the graphics were better than i expected. my friends and i made alot of jokes such as "MAN I HOPE THE NINTENDO WII I'M GETTING IN 25 HOURS AND 9 MINUTES IS AS GOOD AS THIS!"

 

Read cdoty's site, it doesn't have anything to do with Flash or Java. There is a small relationship to mobile phones, though:

In terms of power:

Of course, it's unlikely that devs will be spending huge amounts per game, so they probably won't be making the most of the hardware.

 

Mascot Capsule 3D is a Java 3D interface:
http://developer.sonyericsson.com/site/global/techsupport/tipstrickscode/mobilejava3d/p_mobilejava3d_tips_new.jsp

Yep, if I can get it working.

The big challenge seems to be figuring out the file system (VFF) files.

I'd say no, but these toys seem to inspire people, look at all of the video players people are hacking (JuiceBox).

Put a video codec, or create a player/encoder for MJPEG, and people would swarm to it. Even, if the output looks worse than a DVD, which is easier to create.