“Welcome to the Jungle” - This is Jungle. It's the first portable gaming console designed exclusively for online gaming and MMORPGs.
Panasonic is throwing their hat into the gaming device arena again. The last time was the 3DO which had healthy competition, carried a hefty price tag and was left sitting on the shelf in most cases.
There are no details on specs and the only info we are getting is what we can see from the device. Micro USB, HDMI, headphone jack and maybe an aux jack.
This is a great concept that has been hit and miss for the last few years. Simple graphics, stand alone gameplay, co-op gameplay, Browser based but with extras. Videos, Camera, Web Browsing, E-mail, Music....Phone!
Panasonic's target is On-line gaming and MMORPG's. Is it just me or is it all in the wording.
On-line gaming and MMORPG are not essentially the same thing. Zynga products are on-line gaming, Lord of the Rings Online is an MMORPG, see the difference?
I'm not trying to bury this before it actually dies but I do have my doubts. Do people really want to play Age of Conan on the bus? Oh wait, is Age of Conan going to be Jungle friendly?
True mobile MMO? What is it going to need?
Great screen resolution: If not, then whats the buzz. Other handheld's already have a start. In order to hit the mainstream Kick Ass MMO crowd, I would imagine that it would need to run existing MMO's. If we are going to have to wait for specific MMOS to be developed then this Jungle is doomed.
Great Processing power: Along with kick ass video, one would need kick ass processing power. Okay, maybe kick butt processing power. Mid Range processor, Intel Core i5 perhaps. As an MMO gamer, to give this a second glance means running my present gaming addictions. This needs to be a Laptop that has been splashed with the latest shrinking potion, otherwise..I will just use my Laptop for any mobile gaming needed. Of course if its running Linux as an OS maybe the processing power isn't needed, but the 3G needed may. This is truly a Jungle.
Apple and Oranges: The big player right now is the Nintendo 3DS. This little powerhouse has been given great reviews from E3. Imagine 3D without the need for glasses. Given the competition is still Handheld Gaming, the 3DS offers more, of course the Jungle is On-line MMORPG games only, On-line MMORPG games only, On-line MMORPG games only. Thats how the features will be listed.
No life in the Jungle?
Without having the full details it's difficult to say where this will end up. There are several that have already sent flowers and expect a DOA device. A keyboard is what makes this an MMO device. Due to the fact that the trend is "Touch Screen" this was the only thing, so far that made sense. A keyboard and/or controller is not something that is "touch screenable" for this lifetime.
The ability to play my fav MMO's, on a hand held device, with the resolution that we have
achieved in gaming, at my family reunion or dinner at the in-laws, makes me break out in a cold sweat. We would have arrived at the next evolution of mobile gaming., but as I try to picture my day to day MMO life in the Jungle, I cant see the Jungle for the trees.
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