TP-828 - A Play Station clone?

[Takashi]

Hello all. I'm here to place some interesting facts I found out recently.

While looking for a unrelated matter, this machine on a chinese export caught my attention:



At first I thought it was a generic Famicom clone, but the description attached was peculiar:

1)32-bit CPU for 32-bit games
2)Double USB ports can connect with keyboard, mouse, flash memory and printer
3)Shows special functions
4)Game handle of vibration broadcast
5)Compatible with all types of VCD, CD and MP3 discs
6)VCD, DC and video game trinity
7)Immediate audio visual upgrade function

A quick Google search, and I found the manufacter, Topway Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd.. And lo and behold, they manufacture the Game Theory Admiral (I think. The design is correct, but they claim it to be "Compatible with the games downloaded from Internet"?), and this elusive "32Bit CD/VCD/MP3 Game Player". But what 32-bit system? Weren't they pulling a Polystation on me? I mean, look at those Atari ports on the front. So, I wrote a small mail to them :

"We are interested in knowing more about the TP-828.
Is it possible to give us more technical details? For example, Game
Format Compatibility, USB Device Compatibility, Video Format
(PAL/NTSC) Compatibility, has English Language options?"

And that was what i got in reply:

"Happy new year!Thanks for your kindly inquiry!
The functions of this product almost are similar with PsONE."

So, it could be actual PS hardware, with a VCD card added. Perhaps, because it doesn't explain the USB ports or the other functions it claims. As normal, finding such a system is only the beginning - chinese companies only ship in bulk to sub companies that only deal to retail, what makes hard to find out exactly what those systems are without a good amount of luck and preserverance.

[Blur2040]

Yeah...I'm pretty sure we've talked about this thing before...but hit the hurdle of: How the hell do we get one?

Any ideas? Anyone?

[Hawanja]

Yeah, it's a PS1 clone, although cheaper (manufactured for the Asian pirate market.) Besides that there's a lot of unknowns. I would like to know it's region protected (problably not since it's a pirate machine, but you never know.)

The site (Topway) seems only interested in selling units in bulk, but you could always try the ol' "send me a sample to show to investors" trick, see if you can get them to pony up a few units.

[Alchy]

How much are they asking per unit, and what's the minimum bulk? If it's something reasonable like 10, and we have 10 interested board members...

I for one would love to get my hands on one of these units.

[dj898]

yep!
looks sweet! :-D

[Tachikoma]

I thought that was a (32 bit) VCD player with MegaDrive emulator built in?

[WanganRunner]

So it plays regular PSX games?

[madhatter256]

Hopefully it has a better quality laser ;) ;-)

[Baseley09]

If that sukka is multi region i want it now!

[Blur2040]

I'm interested in getting one (or at least figuring out exactly what it is)...(doesn't a playstation have custom Sony chips?) Anybody feeling bold enough to ask them what their price/minimum order is?

[SuperFunkNinjaYoshiiKun]

No piccies of the pad available? Surely that will near enough confirm PSone compatability, if the pads are blatant PSone rip offs?

I wish these pirate chappies would get around to making a nice looking Saturnclone. Half the size, white, standard Saturn pad sockets, and multiregional would be nice. But it's probably never gonna happen.

[Zilog Jones]

What systems have there been illegitimate clones of so far? Right now I can think of:

NES
Famicom (with FC cart ports as opposed to NES ones)
Atari VCS (TV Boy was one, wasn't it?)
ZX Spectrum (some Russian thingies)
MSX (was the Daewoo Zemmix legit?)
Mega Drive
And now the PS1

What happened to all the crazy bootlegs on the Assembler site? I've forgot half of 'em now...

[Alchy]

http://www.sz-wholesale.com/promotio...TV%20GAME.html
Available here too, for a "negotiable" price... with a minimum order of 1000 units and at least $5000 worth on the order. Samples:
"As you know,there are many customers who ask us for samples everyday,and it is a large amount for the samples,so we usually don't offer the free samples ,please don't mind.if you want the samples,please pay the sample fee and deliverying fee,and all that will be paid back when you order the products. We do not deal with those who just talks."
Don't know what the sample fee would be like. Sent them an enquiry anyway.

[Blur2040]

Ah...but if you go to their FAQ here...

http://www.sz-wholesale.com/common/FAQq.asp

They say that you can get a sample...if you pay shipping costs...

[AntiPasta]

I wish these pirate chappies would get around to making a nice looking Saturnclone. Half the size, white, standard Saturn pad sockets, and multiregional would be nice. But it's probably never gonna happen.

Hooboy, I would kill for that.

(doesn't a playstation have custom Sony chips?)

Hell yes, for about everything. The CPU, a modified R3000A, is integrated with the GTE (geometry processor) and I think the MDEC (MJPEG FMV decoder) too, and the GPU is used for graphics... all designed by Sony and NEC, AFAIK.

[idrougge]

What systems have there been illegitimate clones of so far? Right now I can think of:

NES
Famicom (with FC cart ports as opposed to NES ones)
Atari VCS (TV Boy was one, wasn't it?)
ZX Spectrum (some Russian thingies)
MSX (was the Daewoo Zemmix legit?)
Mega Drive
And now the PS1

MSX: Philips made one MSX which wasn't quite up to official specifications, so it couldn't bear the MSX logo. It was sold mainly in Italy, both as a home banking machine and in a bundle with several games.
Apple II, TRS-80 have been cloned almost as much as Spectrum.
ZX Spectrum has been cloned all over Eastern Europe. The ULA was originally cracked in Romania, IIRC.
There was the Megaduck, known as Cougar boy in Brazil. It's a Gameboy clone, but incompatible and sold as a separate platform, due to changed port addresses.

[Calpis]

Um I SERIOUSLY doubt it's a PSX clone, that is very hard to digest. It could be a repackaged PSX ala Treamcast but a clone? nah unh.

[Funkstar De Luxe]

Um I SERIOUSLY doubt it's a PSX clone, that is very hard to digest. It could be a repackaged PSX ala Treamcast but a clone? nah unh.

I couldn't agree more.,


We'll soon find out, I have 3 in the post right now.

[dpaint4]

Hopefully it has a better quality laser ;) ;-)

Not much chance of that considering it's origins.

[Blur2040]

Ok, Funkstar, elaborate, did you ask them for samples, and how much did they cost you?