New Coleco/Sega handheld

[diskoboy]

Complete list of games:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2006/10/colecosonichandheld.jpg
Sonic Drift 2
Sonic Triple Trouble
Alex Kidd in High Tech World
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Altered Beast
Assault City
Astro Warrior
Aztec Adventure
Bomber Raid
Columns
Ecco II: The Tides of Time
Fantasy Zone
Fantasy Zone: The Maze
Global Defense
Kung Fu Kid
The Ninja
Penguin Land
Quartet
Snail Maze
Super Columns

Target is taking pre-orders. It's only gonna be $50. And not a bad selection of games, either. No Zillion though.. :(

[anagrama]

Coleco have just licensed it - other versions are already available on eBay (search for "PlayPal")

[MrRoboto19XX]

I saw one for sale today at Target and thought of picking it up. Im not so sure about $50, but Id def pay $30-35 for it.

[Richter Belmount]

wow every handheld can go butt rape themselves , i just need to get that i need super columns and others

[KingCobra]

Yea, saw those today too at Target, they look cool, anyone else seen those VG ones at EB's? I want one of those orange ones(the one with 50 games on theim(BurgerTime!)), but I just can't swing the 40 smackers EB wants for'em :/ Shhhhheeeeeeesh...

[Half Japanese]

wow every handheld can go butt rape themselves , i just need to get that i need super columns and others

The English language officially surrenders.

[Richter Belmount]

Its about damn time!

[MegaDrive20XX]

That's sick, but bring it down to $20 and you have yourself a deal.

[MrRoboto19XX]

You, I was thinking last night about this thing; it seems to be a liscensed out tec-toy product.

It would make total sense, all these roms, small package. I think that coleco was going more for a feel of convenience than nostalgia due to the fact that here in the states the SMS didnt have much of a following (I would know, I was the kid who had Hang On instead of Rad Racer). I guess they just liscenced out one of those tec-toy 20/50/100 in 1 consoles that are more or less just plug and plays.

Wasnt there news of a supposed SMS dedicated plug and play?

[suckerpunch5]

wow every handheld can go butt rape themselves , i just need to get that i need super columns and others

The English language officially surrenders.

LOL oh man, that really made me laugh! ROFL

this handheld looks pretty cool, I guess. is it backlit? can you buy other game carts for it, or can you just play the stuff pre-loaded on in?

[GizmoGC]

I'll be picking up one of these shortly...Alex Kidd!

[k8track]

Snail Maze. Sweet.

It used to be available only as a built-in game. Now it's... well, it's still built-in, but now it's got friends.

Will it ever be free and separate? Woe, alack, alas!

[Charlesaway]

You, I was thinking last night about this thing; it seems to be a liscensed out tec-toy product.

It would make total sense, all these roms, small package. I think that coleco was going more for a feel of convenience than nostalgia due to the fact that here in the states the SMS didnt have much of a following (I would know, I was the kid who had Hang On instead of Rad Racer). I guess they just liscenced out one of those tec-toy 20/50/100 in 1 consoles that are more or less just plug and plays.

Wasnt there news of a supposed SMS dedicated plug and play?

Yes, most likely the company who purchased the rights to Coleco are using it to push an extra few units out the door due to brand association.

There is a whole section of these Coleco branded 'videogames' in the Targets. They include everything from those LCD Poker and Sudoku games, to these little nifty TFT screened color portables, to the TV tabletop tennis and TV Boxing games.

[Charlesaway]

You, I was thinking last night about this thing; it seems to be a liscensed out tec-toy product.

It would make total sense, all these roms, small package. I think that coleco was going more for a feel of convenience than nostalgia due to the fact that here in the states the SMS didnt have much of a following (I would know, I was the kid who had Hang On instead of Rad Racer). I guess they just liscenced out one of those tec-toy 20/50/100 in 1 consoles that are more or less just plug and plays.

Wasnt there news of a supposed SMS dedicated plug and play?

Yes, most likely the company who purchased the rights to Coleco are using it to push an extra few units out the door due to brand association.

There is a whole section of these Coleco branded 'videogames' in the Targets. They include everything from those LCD Poker and Sudoku games, to these little nifty TFT screened color portables, to the TV tabletop tennis and TV Boxing games.

[diskoboy]

I'm boggled as to the fact no one has pointed out that Coleco made a device that plays Sega Master System games - yet they probably could've designed a better ColecoVision handheld that includes every CV game ever made, and still keep it under $50.

I'm still getting one.

[segagamer4life]

I'm boggled as to the fact no one has pointed out that Coleco made a device that plays Sega Master System games - yet they probably could've designed a better ColecoVision handheld that includes every CV game ever made, and still keep it under $50.

I'm still getting one.

My target got em.. but 50 bucks.. damn... I am waiting till a price drop.. can't swing the 50 bucks right now.

[Bratwurst]

Anyone here who owns one adventurous enough to take it apart and snap some photos? I'd love to get one if the games could be exchanged for something else.

There were better SMS games than 3/4s of the titles on it now, that's for sure.

[GM80]

Anyone here who owns one adventurous enough to take it apart and snap some photos? I'd love to get one if the games could be exchanged for something else.

Found these online (http://zombiechow.com/photos/ColecoSega/). Don't know enough to know if I'm looking at anything useful or not.

[c0ldb33r]

Wow thats awesome! Provided its decent on batteries and has a nice screen I'll happily buy it for $50.00 :)

[c0ldb33r]

Doh! I meant to ask...

Has anyone seen a review of this device? If so, what did it say?

[c0ldb33r]

Uggh, triple post (sorry!)

I answered my own question about the review. There's one at atariage.


Hardware: The build quality of this device is well above average, definitely better than the VGPocket games, and at least on par with the GP2X. The case is glossy black plastic with a subtle marble/sparkle finish. The whole thing looks nice in person, despite the nasty red COLECO logo. It feels substantial in the hand, but definitely smooth and pocketable. It's larger than the GB Micro, about the size and thickness of a largish cell phone, but very light. It doesn't make any noise when you twist it. There are two speakers on the front of the device, probably dual mono output. The screen is large and bright, with excellent color saturation and contrast. The buttons have a nice springy feel to them. The two buttons above the D-pad on the left are volume + and -, which come in handy since the device doesn't remember your volume setting when you switch it off. The buttons over the A and B action buttons on the right are RESET (to the game select menu) and START. There are no shoulder buttons or volume wheels on the device, just a small slot for a wrist strap. A headphone jack on the bottom of the unit is intelligently placed and doesn't get in the way.

Hackability?: The unit takes 3 AAA batteries and you need a small screwdriver to open the battery compartment. The device is held together by 4 small screws so it looks like it would be easy for Ben Heckendorn and friends to get inside easily. I didn't open mine -- I want to play some games for my fifty bucks, first. There's a jack for an external power adapter (DC 5V), as well as a standard mini-AV jack for audio/video output (included) should you want to play on the big screen. I'm happy with the built-in games for now, but it would be neat to expand this device. It almost feels like there's enough room in the case to do something like that.

Software: I don't know if this is a "SMS-on-a-chip," but it feels like the real thing to me, rather than emulation. Sounds are loud and accurate, and video is displayed in the game's original aspect ratio. Since different video systems are present on the software in this device, some games are upscaled to fill the whole screen, while others are displayed in a window. Text is readable in all modes and motion blur is minimal -- on par with GBA Micro and MUCH better than the original Game Gear. It's nice to have Sonic Triple Trouble on the run in my pocket, and having Snail Maze without a TV-based console. The game selection was done by someone who knows the Sega library, as there are no issues like those you sometimes see with pirate multicarts, such as duplicates, unplayable dogs, or titles that need the lightgun or 3D glasses. These are OLD games, but unlike some of the recent "new" games that were created for plug and play devices, most of these have a measure of professional polish. In other words, I'd rather play great games from the late 80s than crappy games from last week.

Game list: (they're displayed in this order in the software menu)
Sonic Drift 2
Sonic Triple Trouble
Alex Kidd in High Tech World
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Altered Beast
Assault City
Astro Warrior
Aztec Adventure
Bomber Raid
Columns
Ecco II: The Tides of Time
Fantasy Zone
Fantasy Zone: The Maze
Global Defense
Kung Fu Kid
The Ninja
Penguin Land
Quartet
Snail Maze
Super Columns

They also have a pic comparing it to the GBMicro found on this page: [link (http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=94760)]

[Bratwurst]

Found these online (http://zombiechow.com/photos/ColecoSega/). Don't know enough to know if I'm looking at anything useful or not.

Ugh, a gloptop. Doesn't look very conducive to hacking.

[GizmoGC]

I'll be buying one today and have a full review up as well. Will be posted here, at CAG, and I had a request to post it at Sega Nerrds.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

The gloptop is probably just the SMS-on-a-chip architecture. The games are most likely stored on the chip on the back side of the PCB, i.e. the one that's covered by a sticker in the first two shots and is too blurry to make out a part number in the third shot, but which is almost certainly a flash memory chip.

This is the same configuration used by the VG Pocket systems mentioned earlier. A gloptop NES-on-a-chip architecture with games stored on a surface-mounted flash chip.

If someone desoldered and dumped the memory chip from one of these sorts of systems, we'd probably be able to figure out how the games are stored. It probably wouldn't just be a bunch of ROMs tossed on there since they all have to be integrated into the menu system (though in the case of the VG pocket systems, JungleTac seems to be able to switch around the game listings on different systems without too much trouble), but creating an image with whichever games you wanted probbaly wouldn't be too hard. Then it would just be a matter of writing that image to a compatible chip and soldering it back to the board. A slot with interchangeable chips doesn't seem like it would be feasible because of static issues and space limitations.

I've also seen people suggesting the idea of adding some sort of SD card interface. I have no idea how or if that could work since it involves all sorts of more complicated stuff like microcontrollers and whatnot, but it would certainly be nice if it were possible.

I recently bought a OneStation system which is from the same people that make the VG Pocket systems, except it takes cartridges and plays not only their original games but also NES games and Genesis games and in the future possibly more because of the way it's designed. However, once you include the shipping, I've now payed about $200 for the system and a collection of 11 carts (which each contain 4 to 99 games), so it really would have made more sense to just buy a GP2X or even just a GP32.


...word is bondage...

[c0ldb33r]

I'll be buying one today and have a full review up as well. Will be posted here, at CAG, and I had a request to post it at Sega Nerrds.
Great, I'm looking forward to it. I'm especially looking forward to hearing about the battery life.

I checked my local Toys R Us and didn't find one there. Any word where they would be outside of a Target store? We don't have Targets here.

[Gapporin]

There were better SMS games than 3/4s of the titles on it now, that's for sure.

QFT. Although I'm all for a new SMS product, I can't justify paying $50 for only a handful of quality games on there, especially with the fact that I already have the original games/console.

Although I do wonder how this compares to, say, a Game Gear w/ Master Gear Convertor.

[MegaDrive20XX]

$50? no...$20? hell yeah

[c0ldb33r]

Although I do wonder how this compares to, say, a Game Gear w/ Master Gear Convertor.
Well the screen looks much sharper. I find on my GG I can't see what the hell's going on half the time. And hopefully the batteries last longer than the GG too :)

[bangtango]

I would have thought the Master System versions of Double Dragon, California Games and Golden Axe would have been a natural for this type of toy.

Kind of easy to understand why Phantasy Star is missing, since I'm sure somebody didn't want to "give it away" (their logic) when they could pad the number of games included by using a couple of lesser titles instead.

[jonjandran]

The gloptop is probably just the SMS-on-a-chip architecture. The games are most likely stored on the chip on the back side of the PCB, i.e. the one that's covered by a sticker in the first two shots and is too blurry to make out a part number in the third shot, but which is almost certainly a flash memory chip.

http://zombiechow.com/photos/ColecoSega/img006.jpeg

http://zombiechow.com/photos/ColecoSega/img005.jpeg


Is that better ?

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Not really.

However, now that I look at the chip more closely I can make out enough to know that it's in the same series as the flash chips present in the JungleTac systems (hell, this system could be made by JungleTac, too, for all we know), which means it's made by Mitsubishi. By skimming through a Mitsubishi flash chip part list I was able to find what must be the right part number: M5M29GT320VP-80. Search that in Google and you'll come up with a datasheet.

That's about all I can contribute. I don't really know anything about writing flash chips and I sure as hell wouldn't want try desoldering and resoldering one of those things myself.


...word is bondage...

[Schenley]

I'll be buying one today and have a full review up as well. Will be posted here, at CAG, and I had a request to post it at Sega Nerrds.

Did you get a chance to do that review yet?

[Damaramu]

I'm kicking myself for not grabbing one on Black Friday when they were $29. Ah well. I'm sure sooner or later, we'll see a price drop. :wink 2:

[exit]

Alex Kidd in Hightech World? Why on earth would they put that travesty on anything, I hope they changed the Sega ad of an ending.

[j_factor]

I hope the design is such that the modding community will be able to attach a Game Gear cart slot. I've been wanting a smaller version of the GG with a better screen and a/v output for like 15 years.

I'll probably get one regardless. Sonic Triple Trouble playable on a TV? Sold.

edit: Did anyone else find it highly amusing that Coleco is making this? COLECO makes its triumphant return... with a new Z80 device!

[EmOneGarand]

Curt Vandel mentioned that his company had designed a GameGear handheld similar to what Coleco is selling, would be interesting to find out what the deal is.. but he states that it does in fact has SMS-on-a-Chip in it so a cartridge mod is possiple. So thats some incentive to buy one.

[EmOneGarand]

I hope the design is such that the modding community will be able to attach a Game Gear cart slot. I've been wanting a smaller version of the GG with a better screen and a/v output for like 15 years.

I'll probably get one regardless. Sonic Triple Trouble playable on a TV? Sold.

edit: Did anyone else find it highly amusing that Coleco is making this? COLECO makes its triumphant return... with a new Z80 device!

The new Coleco is a joke.. they have nothing to do with the original company and only wish to cash in on the name. Alot of their products up until this Game Gear clone have been rather cruddy and outsourced to Technosource. Fun.

[Damaramu]

Personally, I hate that huge Coleco logo on the system. I'd probably paint over it or sand it off or something and stick a SEGA logo on in it's place.

[cyberfluxor]

I decided not to get one simply because they seem so frail. Also it just seems better off sticking with other handhelds I own instead of paying another $50 for this. I might buy it later down the road for $5 at a pawn shop though.

[Lady Jaye]

I'm boggled as to the fact no one has pointed out that Coleco made a device that plays Sega Master System games - yet they probably could've designed a better ColecoVision handheld that includes every CV game ever made, and still keep it under $50.

I'm still getting one.

And how would you do that? There's one problem that keeps the CV from getting a retro-revival like all the other consoles: most of the CV library consists in licensed games, and said licenses have all, I'm sure, expired years ago. Definitely feasible hardware-wise, but there wouldn't be much to be, game-wise, unless they'd strike a deal with the publishers/developers of the selected CV games AND the copyright holders of the original game (since many were arcade ports or ports from other systems).

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm boggled as to the fact no one has pointed out that Coleco made a device that plays Sega Master System games - yet they probably could've designed a better ColecoVision handheld that includes every CV game ever made, and still keep it under $50.
But they didn't design it; they rather licensed something made in Asia from well-known specs. It certainly can't be too hard to design a portable Coleco, but then you'd have to pay for not only the hardware redesign but also the PCB layout - and why do that when you can just license something on the cheap? If you play your cards right, you can find some fly-by-night company and give them a pittance for their formerly illegal activities ;)


The gloptop is probably just the SMS-on-a-chip architecture. The games are most likely stored on the chip on the back side of the PCB, i.e. the one that's covered by a sticker in the first two shots and is too blurry to make out a part number in the third shot, but which is almost certainly a flash memory chip.
You can click the pictures to make them bigger (http://zombiechow.com/photos/ColecoSega/img005.jpeg) - the label says "OP101-COLECO" on the top line, then "-N?? 0608C*" or something. It does look like a flash memory chip, but you'll have a hell of a time desoldering it...

Anyway, to the product in question, I say NO, even if it is well built. *goes to play some Aleste or Alex Kidd in Shinobi World*

[Damaramu]

RISE FWOM YO GWAVE

Just picked one up today. My local area Target has them on clearance for $24.98. If you were on the fence about this little hand held, now's your chance to take the plunge!

So far, so good! It's actually pretty solid. The GBA SP2 feels fragile compared to this handheld. The screen IS pretty impressive. Now if we can just figure out a way to add and subtract games on it.

So again, your local Target may or may not have it on clearance! Go check it out!!

[DeputyMoniker]

The English language officially surrenders.

That's awesome!! XD

I wonder if this is what they were talking about on the Coleco page a while back. I know we had a thread discussing it.
EDIT: I like the idea but I think I'm happier with a Gameboy Micro & ROMs. I need a good selection of RPGs to keep me happy.

[segagamer4life]

Picked up one myself today 24.98 from my local target, can't beat, I am lovin it.

[c0ldb33r]

I've never, ever, seen one around here. We don't have Targets in New Brunswick.

Are any other retailers selling these? Walmart? EB Games? Toys R Us?

[dcescott]

Looks like I need to go to my Target. Will it be in the toys or electronics?

[boatofcar]

wow every handheld can go butt rape themselves , i just need to get that i need super columns and others


The English language officially surrenders.

http://www.scottg26.com/images/Random/bigLOL.gif

[Steve W]

Target's got a bunch of Coleco items on clearance around me. I wish I had picked up one of their steering wheel plug-and-play machines before my local store sold out. But still, they had a little 'virtual ping-pong' game and a 'virtual boxing' game there, which both had life size peripherals to go along with it. The ping-pong one has paddles which need batteries to use, and don't respond all that well. I haven't tried the boxing one with the gloves.

[Damaramu]

Looks like I need to go to my Target. Will it be in the toys or electronics?

They should be near the videogame section.

[dcescott]

Cool I'll check it out, I'm up here in the DFW area, north of Fort Worth. I see the handhelds in the toys and electronics at Target. I've always liked Fantasy Zone. If they would have put Phantasy Star on it, it would sold oof the shelves.

On a side note, it looks like you guys are getting all the rain now down in Houston:). At least you are not getting baked in the normal humid hot summer right now. I blame all the styrofoam I karate chopped when I was a kid for the uncommon weather patterns we are having lately:D

[bangtango]

wow every handheld can go butt rape themselves , i just need to get that i need super columns and others

That quote, a strong contender for 2006's Post of the Year, makes me want to grab one of these.

[Raedon]

For $50 you can almost buy a used old brick DS so I could never justify this as a purchase.

I'm watching all the Coleco named items. It's not the same company but it's a Coleco brand name product and one that fits with 1980's collectible games.

[heybtbm]

I saw about 6-7 of these on a clearance endcap at Target this weekend for $24.98. They also had 3 other Coleco handheld games...not sure what they were. These were all in a back aisle in the electronics section.

[Hawksmoor]

I play old Sega games (GG, Genesis, Master System) on my GP2X. That being the case, is there some compelling reason to get this that I'm simply overlooking?

[OdSquad64]

I saw today that my local Target is selling them for $12.48, I didn't buy one though.

[Raedon]

I play old Sega games (GG, Genesis, Master System) on my GP2X. That being the case, is there some compelling reason to get this that I'm simply overlooking?

This is a VG collection forum. These are collectible.

[Hawksmoor]

This is a VG collection forum. These are collectible.

True enough, but I don't think that means disregard any and all practicality. I doubt there are many DPers that buy every single game or game related item they set their eyes upon.

[segagamer4life]

I saw today that my local Target is selling them for $12.48, I didn't buy one though.


hey where are you that you're target has them for 12.48, I just paid 24.98 on saturday, crap, checked their site, and they don't have the sega one listed....

[dcescott]

I checked my local Target, didn;t see one, where exactly are they located? I checked the toys and video game section.

[segagamer4life]

I checked my local Target, didn;t see one, where exactly are they located? I checked the toys and video game section.


it depends on your store, but they are in the electronics section, usually, to the right or left, of the games section, but REALLY close by I have seen them in an aisle by themselves others have seen them on end-caps.... it all depends I guess.

[dcescott]

Well I'm gonna check another one on the way home, maybe that one will have it. Thanks my brutha

[PDorr3]

True enough, but I don't think that means disregard any and all practicality. I doubt there are many DPers that buy every single game or game related item they set their eyes upon.

Not everyone owns a GP2X, and the fact that many people dont have the means to play all these games on a handheld on the go, this is a pretty neat device that seems to be worth peoples money. $25 seems like a good price for this thing, and being collectors we are always on the lookout for things that could always become rare or valuable in the future. However I think most people that buy this thing plan on playing it instead of letting it sit around in its package.

[Hawksmoor]

Not everyone owns a GP2X, and the fact that many people dont have the means to play all these games on a handheld on the go, this is a pretty neat device that seems to be worth peoples money. $25 seems like a good price for this thing, and being collectors we are always on the lookout for things that could always become rare or valuable in the future.

Fair enough, although emulation is also possible on a DS, PSP, and even iPod I believe. I'd wager the vast majority of the DP community own one or more of that trio. Maybe I just don't see these as appealing or particularly collectible, even from a speculative standpoint.

I am aware, however, that the Game & Watch(es) and Coleco mini arcade games have definitely appreciated in value, so I could be way off base. On the other hand, dedicated handhelds like the lcd ones released by Tiger in the late 80's, early 90's aren't worth much at all as far as I know.


However I think most people that buy this thing plan on playing it instead of letting it sit around in its package.

Probably a good idea. :)

[OdSquad64]

hey where are you that you're target has them for 12.48, I just paid 24.98 on saturday, crap, checked their site, and they don't have the sega one listed....

The Target I was at is in Evans, GA. They were on the iPod/mp3 player aisle.

[segagamer4life]

damn gotta go back tonight and check to see if they lowered the price from saturday....

[dcescott]

Dangit, 2 Targets, no dice.
I know a couple more to check this week. I live in the DFW area, anyone find one round here?

[blue lander]

I picked mine up on sunday for $25, it was in the first Target I checked. It was at the end of an aisle in a big pile of electronic devices labeled "Clearance". So far I'm pretty pleased with the thing. The screen is sharp, the controls are decent, and it's cool playing the Game Gear games on my TV. It's really too bad systems like the Wonderswan and NGPC died before cheap LCD screens like that came out.

I'm a little suprised they put so many old SMS games instead of newer GG ones, but I guess it was a space issue. I'm suprised so many obscure titles were chosen instead of bigger names like Outrun or Wonder Boy.

The only game I found unplayable was Bomber Raid, because you often can't see the bullets depending on the backgroun. To be fair, it's difficult to see them even on a TV.

I definitely wouldn't have paid 50 bucks for it and I could think of a lot of titles I'd rather have seen on the thing (do we really need two column games?), but I hope it's a sign of things to come. A similar device with TG-16 or Atari 7800 games, for instance.