Amiga.org
Operating System Specific Discussions => Amiga OS => Amiga OS -- Development => Topic started by: gizz72 on June 04, 2004, 10:32:53 AM
-
Greetings to all,
Let's face it, the CD32 is not getting any younger. So, i'd like to make a suggestion what would be the next gen game console for our Amiga range. Feel free to add/change/delete anything, it's an idea I like to put here. I don't say this would be impossible, but it's probable. So here goes.
Drum rolls please!
From the makers of C64 and Amiga range of computers, CDTV and CD32. We're proudly present you with the next generation gaming console!
THE AMIGA CD64!
--------------------------
okey now the specs:
CPU: PPC G5 2.3Ghz
BUS: 64-bit custom architecture
GFX: RADEON 9xxx 128mb, VGA RCA S-VIDEO out
RAM: 255MB DDR RAM, Expandible to 2GB MB
OS: AMIGAOS4.x to 5.0, MOS 2.x, AROS 2.x (multi os capable)
Port: 4 port USBv2.x (need I say more?)
CDROM: A DVD 20x Drive (optional for writer,maybe expensive, ah who cares! :-D)
CNTRL: 6 button joypad, 3 button mouse.
Compatibles: You can run emulstion of XBOX, PS1/2, C64, CDTV, CD32 classics...
GAMES: Network games, 3d shooters, awsome 2d vector gfx.
-----------------------------
I leave the rest to you. What is your system??
Happy weekend to all Amigans! :-D
-
Treating this purely as a 'fantasy' Amiga games console that has no chance of ever happening...
I'd go with:
CPU: 2Ghz PPC
BUS: 32-bit custom architecture (nothing really to be gained from being 64-bit)
GFX: 32-bit custom 3D graphics chip (if it were to use an existing solution like ATI or NVidia, then there would be nothing 'special' about it, people would just stick to their PC's)
RAM: 1GB RAM
OS: None, it's a games console!
Ports: USB 2.0
CDROM: DVD 16x
CASE: Sleek, compact, brushed-aluminium.
...and a name like 'Amiga CD64' is too geeky in this day and age. Something like the 'Amiga Vision' or 'Amiga Future' games console would sound much better, especially from a marketing point of view!
Steve.
-
Instead of an ATi9xxx graphics card, put an ATI X800XT graphics card.
-
OOoOoOOoh, I would like to have all the above in it and added Holodeck capabilities, free sex and beer + a big Ferrari integrated!
:roll:
-
odin wrote:
OOoOoOOoh, I would like to have all the above in it and added Holodeck capabilities, free sex and beer + a big Ferrari integrated!
:roll:
:lol:
-
Hoya!
Nice idea but it sounds like the Average Joe's peecee...
What would be needed is a REVOLUTIONARY idea, like a sensor-equipped suit or some super I-Glasses (remember?).
Talking about I-Glasses I wonder how many people actually bought them and if they did, what do they use them for???
Be funky
M A D
-
I have had this idea for quite a few years! even the name CD64!
I like the idea of some sort of suit you wear that controls everything in the console. I believe its the future and cant settle for less.............this is why I have never ever owned a console (except the CD32) because nothing about console to me is revolutionary.............Im not impressed. only The CD32 mae me curios...........and I really bought it soley based on Video Creator! im glad I bought it though.
Some people think consoles are where we should be going. If that were true MICROSOFT would not have made the X-BOX. Gaming is serious business and I believe focusing on it is what will make the New Amiga more powerfull than any machine...................then bring out the serious software which will be excellent because the hardware has been pusshed by the Serious gfx on the games.
the New Amiga console should have this and nothing less:
DVDRW drive 24x or more
PCMCIA slot 16 and 32 bit (You can get USB and ethernet)
ETHERNET port
2 USB 2.0 ports
FIREWIRE (i-Link)
4 joystick ports Analog and digital
Keyboard port
Virtual Suit port
18 bit sound with audio input
HDTV resolution
PPC 3Ghz upgradable
512MB RAM upradable to 4 Gigabytes
80 Gig HD upgradable and standard using and IDE port
Rom software, including music to gfx when a CD is inserted like the Playstation has when you play music it shows nice graphics ( this is very important to me) and can be modified and personalized to the max!
All this has to be standard in order to even compete!
IT CAN BE DONE for $350.00 although I would pay even $600.00 for an Amiga console like this.
People will buy it for sure..it will have a longer shelf life than X-BOX or PS2
-
...you forgot the bit about the Holodeck capabilities, free sex and beer, and an integrated big Ferrari. :-)
-
CDROM: DVD 16x
Er, call me a pedantic a##hole, but wouldn`t that make it an Amiga DVD64 ? :-D
-
:lol:
-
gizz72 wrote:
okey now the specs:
CPU: PPC G5 2.3Ghz
BUS: 64-bit custom architecture
GFX: RADEON 9xxx 128mb, VGA RCA S-VIDEO out
RAM: 255MB DDR RAM, Expandible to 2GB MB
OS: AMIGAOS4.x to 5.0, MOS 2.x, AROS 2.x (multi os capable)
Port: 4 port USBv2.x (need I say more?)
CDROM: A DVD 20x Drive (optional for writer,maybe expensive, ah who cares! )
CNTRL: 6 button joypad, 3 button mouse.
Compatibles: You can run emulstion of XBOX, PS1/2, C64, CDTV, CD32 classics...
GAMES: Network games, 3d shooters, awsome 2d vector gf
K how about:
CPU: 6502 1.79MHz
BUS: Greyhound
GFX: 16 colors fixed palette, 160x200 resolution max
RAM: 16k
OS: BASIC
Ports: 8-bit non-standard 4 kilobits/sec tops
CD-ROM: Cassette drive (with option to play Audio tapes while you work)
CNTRL: 1 button joystick
Compatible with: An abacus
Games: Inevitable
JOKING! :-)
That would be a nice system tho gizz, but so was my Dreamcast and it was murdered VERY prematurely by Sega management (still bitter) :bigcry:
-
@graffias
The reason why dreamcast was castaway by SEGA is probably not much user support then or management problem from their end? I don't know.
The reason I posted this thread so that (MAYBE) any company would start picking up the 'idea' so all the community(Amiga) can create a new and powerful system. Maybe the 'Holodeck+free+sex+ferrari' maybe outrageous :lol:, but who knows :idea:. MAD's post is very inteesting too 8-). But if ever such a console would be feasible, we as a community will flock and support it and will not let things like the SEGA/DREAMCAST incident or the others similar things happen to us again. It maybe my little way of lifting the FLAME up, and keep it alive. So go spread the word. I was hoping this tread would reach out all(Amiga/non-Amiga) users alike. I'm still keeping my hopes up(fingers crossed). Thanks y'all! :-D
Happy Weekend to all Amigans! :-D
-
MAD wrote:
Hoya!
Nice idea but it sounds like the Average Joe's peecee...
What would be needed is a REVOLUTIONARY idea, like a sensor-equipped suit or some super I-Glasses (remember?).
Talking about I-Glasses I wonder how many people actually bought them and if they did, what do they use them for???
Be funky
M A D
I-glasses is still around http://www.i-glassesstore.com/ (http://www.i-glassesstore.com/) with real 800x600 resolution this time( 1,44 Mpixel).
The uses would probably be wearable computers and as "eyephones" for watching movies when traveling b train/plane.
The first model with blurry lowres image wasn´t useful for anything really.
-
console name : THE GAME CONSOLE! , specs...anything revolutionary (PPC OFCOURSE) but with complete VR and everything is controlled by your eyes and brain...the --- LOOK MOMMY...NO HANDS! feeling.
-
What a great idea!!! :-D
There should be really a games-console from Amiga with name Amiga in it! ;-)
That would let the name be famous again, so people would say: Hey, isn't that new Amiga console the one i knew 15 years ago? Maybe it has same quality games! I better should go and buy one for test! :-)
That's what i would say when something like an Amiga branded console would come out.
And then it would rock when there are some oldies included in the pack. Games like Turrican Trilogy or Shadow Of The Beast Trilogy, the old best 2D classics, even maybe just emulated, or better, rewritten for native use.
Then there should be no real OS, a games console doesn't need an OS, but still there should be an option to upgrade to an OS with HDD etc :-)
Btw, speaking of OS, there should be a simple interface to fully access DVD's, VCD's, SVCD's, CDDA's and even handle to play mp3's and DivX! I hated Sony for integrating DVD-Player option for PS2 but leaving out VCD/SVCD! That sucked.
So, i guess an "Amiga Eleven" console would rock! Why Amiga Eleven? Hmm, because Eleven means "Elf" in german, and when i checked (hexread) the PPC executables (also the PS2 executables have this), the first 4 bytes are ".ELF". So i thought something like that would be cool. And sounds also nice, or not? :-)
Btw, why leaving a single PPC processor on the board? Isn't there enough room for 2 PPC's? ;-)
-
Amiga Eleven would be some advertising for the Computer/OS also. People would think: Hey, AmigaEleven is great! What about the AmigaOne? Maybe same quality and good software? Good games on it too? :-)
Speaking about games, porting games from AmigaEleven to AmigaOne would be easier then ;-)
Yummy, even the thought about this makes me dizzy, seeing quality Konami/Capcom/Sega games ported (no lame conversions from bad developers anymore!!!!) to AmigaOne! Ooooh ;-)
-
A bit off-topic, but i had to say that too now:
I also think that bad conversions participated for the death of amiga. After seeing games in the arcades, then buying the Amiga versions was always a dissappointment for me. Sure there are good conversions, but 70% of them suck. The consoles (SuperNES/SegaMegaDrive) had always the better conversions. That's why people went to consoles instead of using Amiga. My best example? Just try to remember Super Street Fighter II Turbo from the arcades, and then look at the Amiga conversion! :-(
SuperNES/MegaDrive versions were much much better, even gfx were not that close like in the Amiga version, but playability was better in them. :-(
-
StevenJGore wrote:
Treating this purely as a 'fantasy' Amiga games console that has no chance of ever happening...
I'd go with:
CPU: 2Ghz PPC
Eh, pure fantasy, make the CPUs Dual AthlonFXs
BUS: 32-bit custom architecture (nothing really to be gained from being 64-bit)
GFX: 32-bit custom 3D graphics chip (if it were to use an existing solution like ATI or NVidia, then there would be nothing 'special' about it, people would just stick to their PC's)
Xbox uses a nvidia chip, just do the same. As long as the games are good.
RAM: 1GB RAM
OS: None, it's a games console!
Ports: USB 2.0
USB2.0 and Firewire, along with a Xbox/PS2 game controller interface
CDROM: DVD 16x
DVD+RW
CASE: Sleek, compact, brushed-aluminium.
...and a name like 'Amiga CD64' is too geeky in this day and age. Something like the 'Amiga Vision' or 'Amiga Future' games console would sound much better, especially from a marketing point of view!
Drop the Amiga name completely.. call it something like "GameBox" or something..
And sell the hardware for $49.95, bundle it with five games.. ahh, dreams :)
-
Is it only me or does it feel like this would be a very very expensive game console?
/Patrik
-
patrik wrote:
Is it only me or does it feel like this would be a very very expensive game console?
/Patrik
No kidding.
-
80 Gig HD upgradable and standard using and IDE port
No S-ATA would be more practical
-
Greetings,
Given 'an average joe's peecee'parts and expandability, which however some game console lacks, i don't see it becoming expensive. IMHO the more the demands there is a better chance of it getting cheap.
Best example of expandability is the CD32-SX1. It expands from game console into one complete computer. Options in expandability is the key. Unless otherwise.
How about this name 'UAES: Universal Amiga Entertainment System!' 8-)
Sounds cool. What do you think?
Keep those 'IDEAS' comming! Good day to all Amigans! :-D
-
how about just taking old hardware, speeding it up a little, adding loads of hardware, piling on memory... hmmm, well i guess it did work for pcs..
i reckon a completely new computer should be made, with the technology we have now and knowing exactly what we want from computers these days we could make an amazing computer!! instead of thinking polygons we should be thinking of lightpoints, collison, physics engines all available in a cisc/risc kinda way.. superfast memory and raid harddrives out of the box. wireless ethernet all that stuff..
and hey! how about sneaking them into those nice plasma gas tvs that cost a few grand!
serious thinking times..
---
we can make what we want, so let us make what we want!
-
kvasarnomad wrote:
80 Gig HD upgradable and standard using and IDE port
No S-ATA would be more practical
I must ask this, I tried to resist! ... Why is SATA more practical ?
-
Ok. I'll say it yet again.
Eyetech should be licensing the hardware of an established console manufacturer like MS, Sony or Nintendo.
They should then increase the specs to make it a state of the art console that can be used as a computer. A premium brand, with more memory, HD, DVD burner and a faster processor and Digital Video Recording functionality like TiVo. It would boot into OS4 if a DVD was not placed in the tray. You could run all the games on that established console on the Amiga hardware based on the console and all those games would hit the hardware like the Amiga days of old. I believe the best selling Amiga, the A500, was conceptually a console that could be used as a computer, and I think that such an endeavour would be going back to roots. Go the whole way with the distinctive Amiga Fantasy concept or even something like an A1000 and you are sure to have a winner.
MS, for instance, in an attempt to swamp the market before PS3, is licensing its XBOX2 technology to other manufacturers. You'll soon have a Panasonic or Phillips brand console. So why not an Amiga console? The next gen consoles will be kick ass, with possibly three G5 processors, HDTv display and Sony's will have cell technology as well. The games standards for the latest consoles are becoming ubiquitous and basing a next gen Amiga on such hardware would mean that an Amiga port would not be required and we would be able to run all the games of the base console.
Sony released a Linux add on to the PS2 with keyboard and HD, which I nearly bought as I thought it would be cool to write a game based on the same hardware. So many of my geek friends nearly went that route as well. Perhaps Sony can be convinced to allow AmigaOS to be the OS of choice for such an environment. Many universities around the world are now teaching games programming and an Amiga console could be the programming environment of choice.
Imagine OS4 running on next gen console hardware. It might not be possible for official Amiga games to be produced, and that may never ever happen again anyway, but it could serve as an excellent homebrew game programming environment. Another advantage to an OS4 port to console hardware would be that it wouldn't have to support every graphics card under the sun and drivers would be standard. As OS4 has a Hardware Abstraction Layer, moving to a future console's hardware should be a smaller issue than 68k to PPC.
-
Eyetech should be licensing the hardware of an established console manufacturer like MS, Sony or Nintendo.
Note that; Microsoft will approach this via XNA initiative (bring in both Media PC(1) and XBOX2 clone armies against Sony's PS3).
Well, IF MS has Direct3D API based console, one could go for an OpenGL API based console.
Reference
1. http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/12/news_6097975.html
Sony .
Some person in moobunny quoted Cell’s FLOPS to around 32 GFLOP, while I quote NVIDIA’s VLSI Architect that the Geforce 256(NV10) has GFLOP’s to be ~50.
-
Just googled discovered games console.
Check this baby out here. (http://www.discoverconsole.com/)
Eyetech must not let go of this opportunity while
this Idea is still fresh.
Check
here again. (http://www.discoverconsole.com/images/APEXTREME_FRONT.jpg) Talk about irony. It had to be a PeeCee! Maybe it's not yet too late for the Amiga.
-
Perhaps someone should mail Eyetech or something.
(Where is Kronos when you need someone standing with both his feet firmly on the ground? :-))
-
And what exactly would you be suggesting Eyetech do?
That Discover console leverages PC games, so apart from the specs being way lower than the next gen consoles, they can leverage the XNA initiative. What games would there be for an Amiga console, and how competitive could it be? The A1 specs are lower and there is no software to leverage except classic stuff(which I've seen running on an XBox anyway). Not good. :-(
If only Sony or even Nintendo would do the same as XNA by establishing a development standard, and that the next gen Amiga could be compatable with them. They would need to be OpenGL based, of course, instead of having their own proprietry Graphics architecture. I somehow think that the cell architecture thingy, rules Sony out by the way, unless a next gen Amiga features such hardware as well.
And even if they created such a development standard, Amiga doesn't even rate as a blip for inclusion in the standard. Its more likely to go to Linux, and Redhat has more money to make it happen than all the Amiga companies combined.
No, IMHO, the only way to compete is to license console hardware and get OS4 sitting on top. We have to face facts, that the Amiga market will never be able to generate anything near the cutting edge games as the dominant platforms. The games written on OS4 sitting on the console probably wouldn't be hardware hitters, and therefore no threat to Sony's own games. However it would be cool, if such software could be made to run on all the Sony hardware for instance, and maybe sold at bargain basement prices or as compilations. Perhaps multimedia functionaly could be written on OS4.
-
That Discover console leverages PC games, so apart from the specs being way lower than the next gen consoles, they can leverage the XNA initiative.
Just for a point of reference in relation to NVIDIA's Geforce2's 50 GigaFLOP point score(2). The quote was from Joe Greco, director of VLSI engineering at NVIDIA Corporation.
There's no doubt that NVIDIA's NV4x and ATI's R4x0 will exceed that point score. One may see that ATI's VPU solution for XNA camp would have enough firepower to compete with Sony's Cell(seems to be scaled SIMDs for VPU/DSP work i.e. (Refer to MS/UT2004(Epic)/TombRaider(Core)’s 3D card "emulators" for the concept). Couple this that both ATI and NVIDIA have tiling related patents(3).
One can also see why, Longhorn(Aero Glass) and XNA's move to harness GPU/VPU's power for everyday applications is important.
Refer to
1. http://flyingmice.com/cgi-bin/squidcgi/mbmessage.pl/amiga/103094.shtml
2. http://tech-report.com/onearticle.x/208
3. http://www.beyond3d.com/reviews/videologic/vivid/index1.php
Recall, the MPU clustering project that software emulates OpenGL for Quake3 in relation to power of today's GPU/VPU.
Note that,"DISCover console" will evolve in tandem with desktop counterpart since "DISCover console" is just Windows XP Media Centre or Windows XP Embedded Edition with custom express install database engine.
Things gets complicated as Sega has plans to re-enter the console market with DX9c class PowerVR 5(5th generation).
-
And even if they created such a development standard, Amiga doesn't even rate as a blip for inclusion in the standard. Its more likely to go to Linux, and Redhat has more money to make it happen than all the Amiga companies combined.
Note that, SUN Microsystems has a better chance in going "mainstream" than Red Hat i.e. Java3D (Java games**), Java Desktop (including it’s “Looking Glass” project), SUN's application suite and Java based IDEs. Walmart’s Linux PC is now installed with SUN’s version Linux/JavaDesktop distribution.
**Couple this with Nokia’s Java games; SUN’s ambition somewhat mirrors the Microsoft XNA/.NET initiative.
And what exactly would you be suggesting Eyetech do?
At the moment, concentrate on what they are doing and do it right i.e. they have to crawl before they can run.