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Sega 32X emulation coming to GP2X Wiz

ll-fated mid-‘90s platform gets a second lease of life

Sega 32X emulation coming to GP2X Wiz
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With the homebrew world’s focus now fixed almost solely on the upcoming (and much-delayed) Pandora handheld, the poor old GP2X Wiz has been given something of a cold shoulder by many sites - Pocket Gamer included, we’re sad to say.

However, that doesn’t mean that the legions of industrious bedroom coders out there have turned their backs on the device - as the recently-released footage of Mega Drive emulator PicoDrive running 32X titles proves.

For those of you who don’t recall the tumultuous format wars of the mid ‘90s, lend us your ears. The Sega 32X was an ill-advised bolt-on peripheral which augmented the 16-bit Mega Drive’s power, allowing it to perform all manner of 3D jiggery-pokery.

Sadly, like the Mega CD add-on before it (and practically ever other performance-enhancing peripheral released before and since) it failed to capture the hearts and minds of the gaming public, which by the time it was released were already getting feverish with excitement over the prospect of the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

Only a handful of titles were ever made for the format but there are some notable classics - including arcade-perfect renditions of Space Harrier and After Burner, as well as 3D games like Virtua Fighter, Virtua Racing Deluxe and Star Wars Arcade.

Because of the 32X’s complex internal architecture, emulation on portable machines like the Wiz has so far proved to be difficult, but the videos released so far by PicoDrive’s creator Notaz show that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

He’s even added that the Wiz’s forerunner - the GP2X F100/F200 - will also benefit from the new and improved emulator, although performance is naturally going to be slower.

At the other end of the spectrum, Notaz has also confirmed that PicoDrive will soon feature support for Sega’s 8-bit Master System console, making the emulator a multi-talented Sega love-fest if ever we saw one.

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Damien  McFerran
Damien McFerran
Damien's mum hoped he would grow out of playing silly video games and gain respectable employment. Perhaps become a teacher or a scientist, that kind of thing. Needless to say she now weeps openly whenever anyone asks how her son's getting on these days.