Idea for next racketboy article

[RacketBoyFan]

I was wondering If racketboy could interview the people making the ND.
http://the-nd.com/. It is an cheap around 20 bucks open-source console designed for indie game developers and its aim is to make 16 bit style games.To ask questions go to http://the-nd.com/forum/index.php

So what is it now?
Think back to the 16-bit age of games, like the GameBoy (Color). This handheld is focusing on those kind of games, but has a main difference: The price. The nD is aiming for a price of $20 (excluding shipping).
Another main difference is that the games will be developed by indie developers, hence the name inDie = nD.

What kind of games can we expect?
There is a list of pledged games on their site.
I'll talk about a couple of them:
- Bob's game.
This game is being developed by the developer of the nD and will be bundled with the initial nD.
It is an adventure RPG with a storyline revolving around the game industry. You play a character that is looking for the greatest game of all times, "Bob's game". Unfortunately Bob is in the illusion that the industry is holding back games and brainwashing the players into buying crap games all the time, so Bob is trying to gather every gamer and try to convince them. Your task: To stop Bob and tell the truth.

- DOOMnD
Basically the game DOOM from the PC for the nD. The aim is to totally recreate it, including your favorite music, WAD support and even online multiplayer. The online multiplayer might not be possible depending on the nD but the nD developer is stating that there will definitely be local multiplayer wifi support in the nD and will try to make online multiplayer possible.

- Magnet Ball
This game demonstrates the kind of games that will be in my opinion the cornerstone of the nD: Puzzle games.
You control magnets and you have to influence the ball to collect all objects in the level. There are physics in it so beware... A simple but good concept.


Specifications?
First off: Quite a lot of things are not set in stone. Not everything is announced either. What I can tell you though, I'll tell you.

Almost definitely confirmed:
* 2.4" backlit LCD screen with resolution of 320x240 (higher resolution than the NDs!)
* 2 shoulder buttons, 4 normal buttons, a D-pad.
* 2GB internal flash memory for storage
* Embedded Linux as OS

Currently in a prototype or announced to be included:
* Processor: a 400MHz ARM-processor
* At least 16MB RAM, likely 32MB
* Built-in WiFi for local multiplayer, possibility for online multiplayer.

Info for developers
Currently a SDK is being developed. However, it is possible to start working already. The SDK will be Code::Blocks and SDL, using the C++ language. You can develop games for the nD by using a 320x240 resolution and you can develop them on Windows, Linux or Mac. Currently there are no other development languages available but the nD developer is hoping to do a graphical interface like RPG Maker once the nD is in production.
There are currently no development kits or prototypes available for testing the games. It might be possible to purchase a prototype some time later but details are not confirmed yet.

How is it possible that they can sell it for $20?
Yes, it sounds impossible when considered the cheapest current-gen real handheld is the NDs/PSP, which are like $100+.
However, take a look at your local games shop. It is likely that they're selling those vague handhelds with 50 games preloaded on them. Those are being sold for like $40. They've been around for a while and they're still around, which indicates that it is possible to manufacture and sell at a profit for that price.
Now keep in mind a retail store also wants a margin and they likely won't have a margin of less than $10 on a product of $40. Which means the distributor must be selling it for at most $30, on which they have their own profit margin as well. So it could be like $20-$25 cost price for those handhelds, perhaps even less.

Keep in mind that the nD is going to utilize mass produced hardware, which is relatively cheap. Especially smartphone hardware is going to be cheap due to the mass production currently going on. And seeing as it is first going to be sold online only and at cost price, $20 might actually be viable.

But if the nD is being sold at cost price, then how does the manufacturer gain anything from it?
The idea is that the games will be offered through a Game Store, similar to an App Store/Android Market, with a couple differences: You can more easily get into the Game Store if you got a bit quality game (so simple fart applications won't over-populate the store) and the developers get 90% of the sales (as opposed to Android and Apple, both taking 30% leaving you with 70%). So if the nD gets a large enough userbase with enough games, they can gain their profits from developers selling the games.

[AppleQueso]

Hahahah I love their description. Reminds me of the racketboydrive image we have floating around here.

Give it some sort of tv-out and you'll have racketboy's dream console

If it's really that cheap I might just have to get one.

EDIT: oh geez the first game on the list in the 'games' section is Bob's Game. I remember the colossal shitstorm that game caused on a lot of places when it was being developed as a DS title.

EDIT 2: Here's hoping we get a Cave Story port. Seems like the perfect place for it.

EDIT 3: oh geez, that Bob guy's an admin there. I'm assuming that means he's involved with the development of this. Ugh, that leaves a really sour taste in my mouth honestly.

[RacketBoyFan]

Hey did you know they are taking feedback for ND and the SDK has been released. Now if this became an ND exclusive http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/17 ... -the-2600/ only one word homebrew heaven.I thought Tim was the admin.

[vlame]

I hope Smack Cocaine and Wipe from top to Bottom get releases for this.

Any word if this can run emulators? I luv using my GBA for DC emulation.

[AppleQueso]

I thought Tim was the admin.

There's probably several admins. I won't let something like this dissuade me from my interest in the project though. It does look really cool.

[o.pwuaioc]

I wish next we'd get a retro-styled indie console. I think a 32 bit console and a ton of 2D indie developers would be a dream come true. As long as they'd keep getting made and games kept coming out for it, I'm not sure I'd ever get a modern console again.

[lisalover1]

Hmm... interesting. I am a bit apprehensive to buy one at launch; I would have to see a bunch of games that are really interesting and that cover a wide variety of genres before I take the plunge, but call me cautiously optimistic. I do think that they are doing something very different than Gamepark and OpenPandora, both in intent and marketing. Who knows? If they really throw their weight behind it and achieve their goals, they might even carve out a profitable niche in the marketplace for a super low-cost modern gaming handheld.

[Hatta]

What this kind of thing really needs is a good dev kit. You can have great hardware, but if it's not easy to code for nothing's going to happen. Hope they keep it simple.

[TEKTORO]

This sounds right up my alley.When,where and how much will this be?

[dsheinem]

I was wondering If racketboy could interview the people making the ND.
http://the-nd.com/. It is an cheap around 20 bucks open-source console designed for indie game developers and its aim is to make 16 bit style games.

Are you involved with this project in some way?