A brand new handheld gaming platform is in development by newly set-up company Tapwavre, Mercury News is reporting. The new GBA rival will be aimed at older gamers, and will feature a Palm OS, and some decidedly cutting edge specifications. 'The Helix', as it is called, will play games, MP3's, movies (sounds like the GP32) as well as offering PDA functionality like address books and calendars. The 3.8 inch diagonal screen will display graphics not using a 3D accelerator of any kind, but rather specially developed rendering software from Fathammer. What's more, Tapwave promise this screen will be visually more powerful than both the GBA and Nokia's new N-Gage. Which is impressive. Here's the science bit:

  • High-resolution 480 x 320 pixel screen, with portrait or landscape-mode display
  • i.MX1 Motorola ARM9 Processor
  • Analog controller, integrated triggers and a full complement of action buttons
  • Unique ergo-centric design, weighing less than 6 ounces
  • All-inclusive gaming environment with the Fathammer X-Forge 3D Game Engine
  • ATI Imageon graphics accelerator
  • Yamaha audio component, stereo speakers and earbud-style headphones
  • Dual lithium batteries
  • Rumble effects
  • Full-featured digital music player
  • Built-in Bluetooth networking for multiplayer wireless gaming
  • High-score conduit for community competition More on this as we get it.

    By Luke Guttridge

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    1. Netsniffer Unregistered 5 years ago

      What about a picture? It's ridiculous, all this stuff and all we really want is a picture so as we can see what it's really like!

    2. Jason Unregistered 5 years ago

      There are no pictures out yet. Sorry.