Gnubie Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Well, I've been thinking it would be cool if there was an inexpensive gaming console that some variant of Linux. I think it could be a success if there were no licensing fees, so game developers could develop for it freely and could offer their games at a cheaper price, and also since this console is basically using computer hardware and Linux it can also be used to surf the internet as well as the other functions of a computer. Now, if this idea worked out it would help gaming on Linux since the games made for this console should be able to be run on linux computers, or if not then should be able to be easily ported to computers running Linux. What do you guys think? Is it a good idea, or is it stupid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghil Vertefeuille Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 a gaming console using the linux kernel - yeah using it to surf and all - no. because then it would be considered a computer, not a console, so it would cost way too much to export and run (and it would finally cost more :S) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urza9814 Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 (edited) No, there have been consoles that can surf the net...My friend has a Dreamcast with a disc that does that. I mean, like, having a desktop and stuff would make it a computer, but just having a net surfing prog wouldn't...Though, if it used Linux, I have no doubt someone would at least attempt to port a desktop to it. But why not? it'd still be cheaper. hmmm...perhaps someone could adjust Falcon Northwest's Fragbox into this... :P Edited March 7, 2004 by Urza9814 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghil Vertefeuille Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 lol yeah, I was talking about a desktop and all, sorry for the misunderstanding :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urza9814 Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 yea, that's what I thought...the question is, is that what Gnubie was thinking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HJ Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Where's dolson? I could swear I remember he did a project for school or something, made a thing called the Icebox. Basically a game console that ran linux (mandrake or debian he had, i forget). He even made a game for it called battle pong. here's the project page he had for it.. http://aslan.no-ip.com/~icebox/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghil Vertefeuille Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 It has mandrake linux ;P (just checking the site, interresting :P) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HJ Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 It has mandrake linux ;P (just checking the site, interresting :P) Yea, but I think I remember him telling me before that Mandrake crapped out and he installed debian onto it instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghil Vertefeuille Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 ok...anyway it's an interresting project ^^ I'll bookmark and check back :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnubie Posted March 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Ok, well, what I think would seperate this console from a desktop would be primarily the price. It would be made with cheap generic components and should be much cheaper than a PC. Plus it hooks up to a tv so you don't need to buy a monitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urza9814 Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 (edited) Also you would probably be running the games from the disk; very little hard drive needed...only one CD drive needed...no floppy drive...no USB ports...a crappy sound card would do, no mic or line in needed...no seriel ports...etc...with generic parts, it could get really cheap... But, I think it'd be better if you didn't use computer parts...I mean, you making it at home probably couldn't do that. But a business could. I mean, look at the X-Box. That thing's got great hardware and stuff, but only $200! making that outta comp parts would be a lot more expensive. Edited March 7, 2004 by Urza9814 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnubie Posted March 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Also you would probably be running the games from the disk; very little hard drive needed...only one CD drive needed...no floppy drive...no USB ports...a crappy sound card would do, no mic or line in needed...no seriel ports...etc...with generic parts, it could get really cheap...But, I think it'd be better if you didn't use computer parts...I mean, you making it at home probably couldn't do that. But a business could. I mean, look at the X-Box. That thing's got great hardware and stuff, but only $200! making that outta comp parts would be a lot more expensive. I think it would need USB ports, for the controllers. And, umm, the xbox IS made out of computer parts. The only thing different with my idea, is that it would have to be sold for more because there would be no licensing fees to make up the loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urza9814 Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 The x-box are custom made parts though, right? like, you couldn't take the stuff out and put it in your comp... There's also the gamecube....PS2...all good systems, but way cheaper than a comp... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linux_learner Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 i read a while ago that play station 3 is supposed to run embeded linux. :D imagine the possibilities :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulSe Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 You can already get Linux for the PS2 and load Linux on an X-box all fairly easily. The OS running on a console is a very basic animal, all it has to do really is start the media running and allocate resources. That is why consoles don't crash or generally give problems (combined with the hardware being standard). As for cheap games, I highly doubt that, no matter what the operating system is. Console games are one of the biggest selling things in the World right now, it's HUGE business. Besides, with Sony's Platinum range and Microsoft clambering to keep up with Sony, games get cheaper all the time. I'm not breaking down your idea though, I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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