The GCW-Zero Might Be The Open Source, Retro Gaming Handheld Of Your Dreams

There's yet another gaming platform looking to get funded via Kickstarter, and surprise, it's not another Android driven console. Instead, the GCW Zero is a handheld that's reminiscent of various contemporary handhelds, though mostly the original Game Boy Advance, and is driven by Linux.

And because it's not being driven by one the more modern operating systems, its focus instead is on the past. the GCW Zero's primary purpose is to play classic PC games and emulate classic game consoles. Which, honestly, is why many gravitate towards the Android in the first place.

The development team also states that they are working hard to port over popular Linux applications. Its openness is continually touched upon in the Kickstarter, like in the following:

"We here at Game Consoles Worldwide believe that a company should not just capitalize and consumers should be allowed to do more than consume. Too many devices today are walled gardens, designed solely for consumption. Not ours! The GCW Zero gives you full control of your handheld. Install any application you want to run, change the operating system in any way you want. We won't fight you; in fact we'll encourage you."

The makers of the GCW Zero need $130,000 and is fairly close to that goal, with a little less than $5,000 to go and with six days left. To get yourself a unit, it would appear that the minimum pledge level is $135, which makes the handheld quite the bargain, especially considering all the horsepower that drives everything.