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It is called POWER X Y. Here are the specs:

Multimedia PC with Linux installed.
Main unit: Buttons: Cancel, -, +, Accept. 2-digit (or possibly 4-digit) display. Light: Power, HD, CF, X, Y. On side: RCA jacks Video in, Audio in, Stereo in, Video out, Audio out, Stereo out. Auxiliary port, parallel port, serial port. Front: 4 slot to connect game controllers, keyboard plug, compact flash card slot, system logo.
Game control: Buttons: + pad (up, down, left, right), Select, Start, A, B, C, L Shoulder, R Shoulder. Joystick. Lights: Power, X, Y, Player indicators (1, 2, 3, 4). Extension slot.
Software can be loaded from CF card, AUX port, serial port, or video and audio casette tapes, or you can connect a keyboard and enter a program in. The software can be software developed for POWER X Y system, or software written in BASIC, or emulated software: GB/GBC, GBA, NES, PokemonMini, QGA, and possibly C64.
Built-in software: Linux (operating system), main menu, emulators, BASIC interpreter, pictures viewer, terminal to serial port.

It may come with one or more manuals describing all the functions.
The AUX port can be used to connect CD-ROM drive, infrared port, or possible many other thing as well.
Extension slot on game controller can be used to put a rumble pack or memory card, maybe also more things as well.
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Do you have a web page about this?
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-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

Is this just a dream, or does some such machine actually exist?
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What if the hokey-pokey really is what it's all about?

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If I wanted to design and sell an open high-end game console, I would just become an Apple reseller and sell Mac mini computers, which cost the same as a PS3 anyway.
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-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

guess he forgot a link

No web page exists, this machine doesn't actually exist yet, but I have talked to someone to revise my plans a bit to make it more easily possible (for example, my original plan didn't use a Multimedia PC or a hard-drive).

You can not only run old games (if someone makes a adapter to connect to AUX port then you can play directly from the original cartridge), but you can also play new games designed specifically for this system (it is basically a PC running Linux, it shouldn't be too hard to program it). I don't know, maybe someone will make a game using a tilt sensor plugged to extension slot, or audio input or maybe even video input.

You can make a game for this system without a license, but is recomended you do get a license then you can write "OFFICIALLY LICENCED SOFTWARE" on the box and the software can be copy-protected.
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You've already been beaten. I thikn that was the one unless there was anohter one I didn't notice.

keldon wrote:

You've already been beaten. I think that was the one unless there was another one I didn't notice.

That may be good as well, but that is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT thing from the device I am describing.

Also: Maybe the name "POWER X Y" isn't very good name. Does anyone have more idea what name I could put? And what open-source emulation software for Linux could I use? I need to modify it to make it work with the game controllers.

Here is a very messy and incomplete picture of what it might looks like: [Images not permitted - Click here to view it]
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zzo38computer wrote:

Also: Maybe the name "POWER X Y" isn't very good name. Does anyone have more idea what name I could put?

Mine the Flash animation community for memorable syllables; that's what Nintendo did for its latest console.

Quote:

And what open-source emulation software for Linux could I use? I need to modify it to make it work with the game controllers.

Almost any emulator can be used with a USB controller. However, you'll have a harder time finding licensors who will allow you to publish their classic games for your emulator.

Quote:

Here is a very messy and incomplete picture of what it might looks like: [Images not permitted - Click here to view it]

Here's a less messy prototype: Pandora console from AOpen
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

tepples wrote:

zzo38computer wrote:

Also: Maybe the name "POWER X Y" isn't very good name. Does anyone have more idea what name I could put?

Mine the Flash animation community for memorable syllables; that's what Nintendo did for its latest console.

This is silly. Unless you have a specific name in mind, I don't think I will do that.

Quote:

And what open-source emulation software for Linux could I use? I need to modify it to make it work with the game controllers.

Almost any emulator can be used with a USB controller. However, you'll have a harder time finding licensors who will allow you to publish their classic games for your emulator.

Even if there are no licensors, there are many homebrew software for GBA, GBC, and other ones. Also, the controllers might be serial interface rather than USB, because serial interface is easier to make.

Quote:

Here is a very messy and incomplete picture of what it might looks like: [Images not permitted - Click here to view it]

Here's a less messy prototype: Pandora console from AOpen

This is a different thing that mine. This is a real photograph of a prototype, mine is no prototype so is just a drawing of a picture made using MS Paint.
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zzo38computer wrote:

tepples wrote:

zzo38computer wrote:

Does anyone have more idea what name I could put?

Mine the Flash animation community for memorable syllables; that's what Nintendo did for its latest console.

This is silly. Unless you have a specific name in mind, I don't think I will do that.

No sillier than "Yo motherf***** Wii" though.

Quote:

Also, the controllers might be serial interface rather than USB, because serial interface is easier to make.

USB HID interface can't be that hard to make if the classic Xbox controllers and the wired Xbox 360 controllers use it. In addition, if you're building this on a mini-PC motherboard, you already have the USB host controller.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

zzo38computer wrote:

Even if there are no licensors, there are many homebrew software for GBA, GBC, and other ones.

so your idea is to make a high powered computer running linux emulators, to run homebrew roms on a tv. correct?

phonymike wrote:

zzo38computer wrote:

Even if there are no licensors, there are many homebrew software for GBA, GBC, and other ones.

so your idea is to make a high powered computer running linux emulators, to run homebrew roms on a tv. correct?

That isn't the only things it does, it also does a lot more stuff such as view pictures on CF card, and run software specific to this system (possibly using all the features of the system and maybe some new ones). There may be some homebrew and commercial software available for this new system. Commercial software in this case won't need a license or any special equipment, so some companies may do it. Even if no companies do it, maybe some people will just start writing software for it anyways, and then later they will decide to sell it and nobody will stop them from doing so. And if they make it free, just download it from a web-site and copy to CF card and it work!
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zzo38computer wrote:

Commercial software in this case won't need a license or any special equipment, so some companies may do it.

Then how do you plan to make money off the console if you're not subsidizing the R&D and marketing with game license fees? Or if you plan on making money by raising the price, then what will this console have that a set-top PC (such as a Windows Media Center PC) doesn't?
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

zzo38computer, some japanese company already beaten you to it - look at this :
http://www.shimafuji.co.jp/product/semc5701a01.html
The only downside is a price - 325$...

zzo38computer wrote:

It is called POWER X Y. Here are the specs: [...]

I fail to see a real spec here, all i see is a really minimal feature-wishlist. what kind of memory-system would it have? what kind of graphics-accelerator? how are the speeds of the storage-medias? and what makes it different from the phanton, the L600 or the tuxbox? or the N.M.E.S-thingie?

tepples wrote:

zzo38computer wrote:

Commercial software in this case won't need a license or any special equipment, so some companies may do it.

Then how do you plan to make money off the console if you're not subsidizing the R&D and marketing with game license fees? Or if you plan on making money by raising the price, then what will this console have that a set-top PC (such as a Windows Media Center PC) doesn't?

I plan to make the price double the cost to make it for the first few units, then lower the price so that I can make only a $2.00 profit (or something near that) on each unit. I could also make it expensive but then you can fill a form for mail-in rebate to get some money back so it isn't too expensive.

I am going to use the least money possible to design the unit, such as using sheet metal to make the game controllers, using an existing computer as a base, making extra PCBs by hand (I'm not going to hire someone else to do it, I mean I will do it all by myself), and other stuff. This will not be sold in stores, only by mail-order to us. Although stores if they want can buy many units at once for a discount and resell them.

Licensing will be available anyways to rich people, then they can put the "official seal of quality" on their games and they can make their software to be copy-protected, and a few other stuff.

This system does have a few things that other system does not, such as: Linux, 4 game controller slot, buttons and display on top of unit (maybe to display time), companies can make extension to controller and AUX port, and it definitely will have more things than just that. You see...
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zzo38computer wrote:

I plan to make the price double the cost to make it for the first few units, then lower the price so that I can make only a $2.00 profit (or something near that) on each unit.

You do realize that Microsoft (and Sony IIRC) make something like... -$200 on every console they sell. That's right, they lose money. They make their money on software. If you don't buy 4 or 5 games a year, they've lost money on you.

(*) All figures pulled from memory, and I don't remember the exact figures. =)

-Brendan

To attract developers, you are going to need a large user base who will want to play their games. To attract a large user base, you wither need many games available at reasonable prices, really good marketting, or a well known brand name. Since you don't have a well known brand name, and no software is out yet, you are going to need to market this like crazy.
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What is your budget?

-Brendan

sgeos wrote:

What is your budget?

-Brendan

I will be careful to not make more units than I can sell +1 (for myself). The more often people are buying, the more I make at once. I be careful not to lose money, even if this method will not maximize profits. My mind is that people purchasing items should have more rights than companies, rather than the other way around, that is why I do it the way I do it.
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Risks and rewards are related. If you are not prepared to lose money, then you are not going to make very much money. Frankly, I don't see how you can make a go of this.

-Brendan

sgeos wrote:

Risks and rewards are related. If you are not prepared to lose money, then you are not going to make very much money. Frankly, I don't see how you can make a go of this.

-Brendan

I cosign. There is some scientific research that proves this, and gives good reason as to why.

There is an interesting experiment they do to identify a self-made millionaire amongst a group of 15 people. They basically give them a game where they have to throw a ball in targets each with a score. Every point gives them a pound. So they have a bunch of easy ?10, ?20 and ?50 targets and one difficult ?1000 target. Everyone tries once or twice for the ?1000, taking careful shots; but the millionaire will throw all 10 balls frantically at the ?1000 basket hoping he will win it.

Maybe I should make myself a bit clear: I don't own a company, I just do this becuase I think is interesting project to work on. Anyways, I can be prepared to risk more once units are being sold more frequently becuas more work needs to be done.
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zzo38computer wrote:

Maybe I should make myself a bit clear: I don't own a company, I just do this becuase I think is interesting project to work on. Anyways, I can be prepared to risk more once units are being sold more frequently becuas more work needs to be done.

This sort of thing interests a lot of people; but you are unlikely to find other people paying for this without mass support. What is the point really?

Why not focus your efforts on an interface box instead that links to 4 controller ports with CF cards, etc? I like the classic motown methodology: if you were walking down the road with your last dollar and were hungry, would you buy this record or a cheeseburger?

zzo38computer wrote:

Maybe I should make myself a bit clear: I don't own a company, I just do this becuase I think is interesting project to work on.

Are you looking to release a product? If the answer is yes, you'll need to start a company. If the answer is no, then I don't understand this post.

-Brendan

gbadev.org forum archive

OffTopic > The new game comsole system is very good, try it

#83219 - zzo38computer - Sun May 14, 2006 6:10 am

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