GP32

GP32 Specifications

The Game Park GP32 was a handheld game console released in 2001 by the South Korean company Game Park. It is notable for being one of the first handheld consoles to feature an open architecture, meaning that anyone could develop and publish games for it without requiring a license or approval from the manufacturer.

The GP32 also had some other interesting features for its time, such as the ability to play music and video files, and support for online gaming via an optional modem accessory.

While the GP32 did not achieve widespread success, it has since gained a cult following among retro gaming enthusiasts and is remembered as a unique and innovative console for its time.

The GP32 was shown at E3 in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. At one point GamePark produced an unreleased unit with mobile phone functionality.

The overall design is not unlike the original version of the Game Boy Advance. The GP32 is based on a 133 MHz ARM 9 CPU and 8 MB of SDRAM. Unlike other handheld gaming systems, which tend to be proprietary cartridge-based, the GP32 uses SmartMedia cards (SMC) for storing programs and data, making it accessible for amateur developers as no further development hardware is required.

The console has an eight-way microswitch based mini-joystick controller, two main buttons ('A' and 'B'), two shoulder buttons on each side of the SMC slot ('L' and 'R') and two other menu buttons on each side of the screen ('SELECT' and 'START'), made from a softer, translucent rubber. The console also has a USB 1.1 port for connection with a host computer, a serial expansion port, a 3.3 V power adapter input, a headphone connector and a rear compartment that holds two AA-sized batteries.