PC Game Console!!!

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Yohan

ORIGINAL: Von Rom

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1

On the subject of drop and play, hmm if it was not important I wouldn't mention it, but hmm I have heard sooooo many people complain about the need to drag around cds just to play the game.

Now I have seen lots of people I know treat their media well just abominably. Most say they want no cd cracks t get past this. Me I am not so sure wink nod say no more.

I of course don't actually use my original cds in the machine even when required. I use a copy and if it gets scratched who cares, throw it away make a new one. The master stays upstairs in the land of valuable merchandise out of harms way.

But still, there will be those that will complain about having to need that cd just to play it.

Of course, a family entertainment unit is likely not going to be found on your desk at work. Maybe its a plot to make workers stop playing games at work hehe.

Either way, just being able to drop and play misses one detail, most people are deplorable about taking proper care of their media. I only know one single person that appears of the behavioural pattern that actually puts a cd away when it is not is use (other than myself).
Probably a result of people so used to playing a game todeath, and a month later not even interested in caring if the cd is damaged. "They beat the game" after all.

Of course most wargamers are not always the sort that would play a wargame, and after winning once, declare they "beat the game".

But I am curious to hear from the "no cd" lobby.

I'm with you on this one Les.

I take scrupulous care of my CDs - both originals and backups. Almost every CD is in pristine condition. Not a scratch.

I simply can't understand how people can leave some valuable game CDs simply laying around outside their jewel case. Especially those hard-to-find game CDs.

I'm the same way with my books. (Although it's hard to fit them into those small jewel cases - heh)

Come to think of it, I am the same way with my car. . .

And my videos. . .

And. . .

Is a pattern emerging? [&:]

Cheers!

No kids I take it? [:D]

In the last 2 months I have had 2 DVDs of mine and 1 game toasted by my 2 year old

No children myself. I do have a wonderful God son. He's 5 years old now. It's amazing that whenever he comes over he makes a beeline straight for the CDs on my desk. Heheh

The hair stands up on the back of my neck whenever he picks one up. . .

I wonder what instinct propels children to grab valuable CDs? It must be one of those "unwritten" kid things.

Cheers!

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

Well you see, its one of yer "buttons" actually , and kids can instinctively see an adults "buttons".

The trouble is we rarely know our "buttons" are there.

Eric mentioned this..

"2) PC Games are controlled by keyboards and mapped to keyboards and a mouse. As Peever said, how will they get around this? If they include a standard keyboard and mouse then it's a computer connected to your TV! If not then it's not a console for strategy gamers and so is in direct competition with the likes of XBox and the PS2 but at twice the price!"

Sort of what I was getting at earlier. If they make it a lame computer, it will be a lame computer. And for 400 bucks I can just buy the parts of an older system and sit it in front of the TV and call it my "game" machine. Heck I have a friend with a PII grade set up at his place he is willing to give me just so I can play Steel Panthers 3 in peace on a 98 equiped system and also get my SPMBT/SPWW2 fix in as well.

For 400 bucks, this machine better be capable of doing everything our computer can, but with no more hassle than setting up a game console.

Not sure like Eric mentioned, they are going to handle that one. Some days I hate mastering keyboard controls, but in the end, a keyboard is the only route to playing our games of choice. I don't even want to begin to think of how unthrilling playing Steel Panthers would be on a game console controller.

Until we hear more, I suppose we won't know.
I might look into their forum when I have nothing better to do, and ask (they have a forum by the way).

[Von Rom]

I did a bit of reading on that console's forum.

Seems that the console is being aimed at the novice never-before-used-a-PC-in-my-life person.

Since PCs have been around for the past 10-12 years, and since they are getting cheaper every year, I have to wonder if there is still such a person. . .

Furthermore, mods, new maps, etc, etc will not be supported by this console.

So anyone who uses this console will be able to play only a straight vanilla version of a PC game.

I think anyone with a PC-to-TV video card could just as well park their computer case in front of the TV, and with a wireless mouse and keyboard, they could essentially have the same thing, but with all the advantges a PC brings, at almost little cost.

So, I'm still puzzled over this console. [&:]

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

Yep that's me too.

I here a good number of people suffering without broadband, but that is a different beast. But heck even my poorest local buddies have PCs.

A person in a western country not having a PC is just, well, odd.

Now as I see it, what has me wondering, is what are they planning to employ as the main draw. I have not seen a killer advantage yet.

If I could just drop in my HHTR game and play it straight off the cd, that would be functionally "easy". But hmmm I prefer to sit at a decent table when I am gaming, not sitting on the floor in front of the TV like is popular, or on my sofa with no decent place to put the keyboard.

My TV is a nice TV, but it's just a TV, I like to watch film on it. I don't have much interest in playing games on it.

I am still wondering what will be killer cool (aside from a console that can provide access to all sorts of previously made games).
But again, a lot of those games ain't designed for screens that big.

I think I will visit the forums myself.

[Von Rom]

Here's more on the Console:

Final ApeXtreme specs confirmed

Apex Digital announces the finalized specifications for its ApeXtreme DVD player, personal video recorder, and PC game console.

Apex Digital has today announced the finalized specifications for its ApeXtreme (pronounced Apex Extreme) DVD player, personal video recorder, and PC game console. The ApeXtreme is currently scheduled for release this spring and is expected to retail for $499. The price is a little higher than the $399 that was originally announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, but Apex has since added Personal Video Recording (PVR) functionality to the console, thus allowing users to pause and rewind "live" TV shows or record them to the hard drive for later viewing.

At the heart of the ApeXtreme will be AMD's Athlon XP2000+ processor chip, while the console's video capabilities will be supplied by Nvidia's nForce2 IGP graphics processor. 3D graphics will come courtesy of an Nvidia GeForce4 MX graphics card. The console comes with a Biostar motherboard, a 40GB hard drive, and 256MHz of DDR SDRAM. Component, composite, S-video, scale up video, and digital video (DVI) outputs will all be featured on the ApeXtreme console, along with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio support.

"By creating the first game console that will play PC games and combining it with a full-featured DVD player and a personal video recorder, Apex is defining a new product category," said Apex President Steve Brothers. "And just like with all of our other products, we want to provide the best technology at a price that makes sense to the average consumer. Working with AMD, Nvidia, and Biostar allows us to do that."

There are already thousands of PC games available that can be played on the ApeXtreme, which uses the "Drop & Play" engine developed by Digital Interactive System Corporation (DISC). Perhaps the most impressive feature of the ApeXtreme, DISC's engine will allow gamers to play PC games without needing to wait for them to be installed and booted up.

By Justin Calvert -- GameSpot

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/03/26 ... 92355.html

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

Well I have done my part, joined their forum, and asked a few questions of merit to a wargamer.

Now it remains to be seen what sort of response occurs.

I left them a link to Matrix Games as well (can't hurt ).

[Von Rom]

From the above article it seems that this console wants to be the "Swiss Army Knife" of Home Electronics.

It's price has jumped from $399.00 to $499.00; it's using a 40 GiG harddrive instead of an 80 GiG; and it will have run-of-the-mill graphics (256 MB RAM and MX video card).

Hmmmm, $500.00.

So you're buying:

1) A DvD player - but X-Box and PS2 will allow that (they cost < $200.00); plus many already have a DvD player.

2) Video Recorder - most people already have video recorders (cost < $150.00).

3) Ability to play vanilla PC games on TV - computers already allow you to do that. However, the basic console will not support patches/mods/modifications to the games themselves. Plus, PCs can be upgraded; the basic console cannot be upgraded. The console is limited to 40 gig HD, while PCs can have 160 GiG HDs, etc, etc. . .

You could buy quite an upgrade for a PC for that amount of cash.

Cheers!

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

I might have been mistaken, but I think I heard the game's patches etc are what is stored on the console's hard drive.

Still, I have not seen anything yet to make that price tag look appealing yet.

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

If anyone wants to keep track of my own progress over at the forums for this new product, here is my thread I have going there.

Feel free to insert your own thoughts, I am trying to gain wargamer related info naturally hehe.

http://www.discoverconsole.com/forum/to ... PIC_ID=180

[Marines]

Thanks for the updated info Rom the rumor mill surrounding this thing is huge.

Semper Fi

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1

I might have been mistaken, but I think I heard the game's patches etc are what is stored on the console's hard drive.

Still, I have not seen anything yet to make that price tag look appealing yet.

You may be right about that Les. From what I have gathered there will be three versions of this console.

Also, one thought just occurred to me: If the console can play PC games; and if people already have PC games; then wouldn't it follow that they would also have a PC too? And if so, why would they need this console? [&:]

And that $500.00 is probably in US funds. So in Canada you'd be looking at around $600.00 for the darn thing.

Perhaps I'm missing something here. . . [&:]

Cheers!

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Marines

Thanks for the updated info Rom the rumor mill surrounding this thing is huge.

Semper Fi

Thank you for letting us know about the console.

I'm still groping in the dark like everyone else

Who knows how things will change. . .

Cheers!

[Golf33]

I don't think that people like us, who already have a PC and use it extensively for games, are the target market for this device.

This looks to be competing pretty directly in the PS2/XBOX market to me, which is a good thing for us PC gamers, since potentially it's a bigger crowd buying PC games and therefore funding their development. If it takes off it also has the potential to bring PC games back into the retail stores which would be a great stimulus for development.

Regards
33

[Canuck_jp]

I'm sorry but this thing is going to be a huge failure. PC gamers won't buy it because it isn't a PC and console gamers won't buy it because it isn't a console.

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

In a recent reply to my ongoing thread there, it appears the console is being marketed not as a definitive replacement, but as a definitive option or alternative.

I guess time will be the most significant judge now.

If for instance, I found this unit could continue to keep pace with new game design demands ie new video cards always being the norm for most new PC games, then it would have merit.

But I don't see how that would be possible.

It does appear to have one option going for it, that I have commented elsewhere about, and that being the fractured non unified approach that is the norm for console games.
Having a PS2 is often of no use if the game is made for Xbox for instance.
Whereas this machine could care less who made it, if it was made for PC. And PC has a great many titles sitting out there.

But it will have to surpass the same hurdle PC games currently deal with now. I have seen several games I "might" play, if they were playable on "this" computer. But I won't be buying those games, because "this" computer won't run them. And they are not enough game to warrant me going into significant personal debt from upgrading the system, just for a game.

[Von Rom]

So this console is being marketed as an alternative.

That wouldn't be so bad if it was priced lower.

If it played PC games and DvD movies, and sold for about $200.00, then it could have merit.

However, at $500.00 (in the USA) and $600.00 (in Canada) it will be about 3x the cost of a PS2 or X-Box, and I think because of this, more than anything else, it will have a rough ride. . .

Cheers!

[Soljr]

I'm sorry to say, but you guys got a lot of things wrong. DISC and Apex have been working on the ApeXtreme for a long time and have addressed the most obvious issues. DISC and Apex expect to make money off of the hardware they are creating so they know that have to take patches and other issues into account.

ORIGINAL: Von Rom

From the above article it seems that this console wants to be the "Swiss Army Knife" of Home Electronics.

It's price has jumped from $399.00 to $499.00; it's using a 40 GiG harddrive instead of an 80 GiG; and it will have run-of-the-mill graphics (256 MB RAM and MX video card).

Hmmmm, $500.00.

So you're buying:

1) A DvD player - but X-Box and PS2 will allow that (they cost < $200.00); plus many already have a DvD player.

2) Video Recorder - most people already have video recorders (cost < $150.00).

3) Ability to play vanilla PC games on TV - computers already allow you to do that. However, the basic console will not support patches/mods/modifications to the games themselves. Plus, PCs can be upgraded; the basic console cannot be upgraded. The console is limited to 40 gig HD, while PCs can have 160 GiG HDs, etc, etc. . .

You could buy quite an upgrade for a PC for that amount of cash.

Cheers!

Wrong. If number 3 was correct DISC and Apex would be out of their minds to invest in the ApeXtreme.

Firstly the ApeXtreme will support patches. This is accomplished through the use of the built in modem or broadband connection as well as the hard drive. Game Spy is going to help DISC with the patching process. The hard drive is used to store installed games, TV recordings, and patches.

The ApeXtreme will be compatible with monitors as well as TVs. Even though it is being marketed as an easy way to play PC games on your TV, you don't have to use a TV.

Mods will not be officially supported, however this is offset by the fact that the ApeXtreme will not have any sort of tight security features like a normal console has. This means the ApeXtreme has a lot of potential to get mods to run. In fact all you have to do is program your own script to tell the ApeXtreme to run a specific mod.

Upgrading is still a tough issue with the ApeXtreme. It is always theoretically possible to upgrade the ApeXtreme, but it is not yet certain how this will be done.

To answer a good question: What is the advantage of the ApeXtreme? The advantage is that you are buying a console that can run PC games (compatible with patches, monitors, TVs, keyboards, and mouses), play DVDs, function as a personal video recorder, will never malfunction under any circumstances, and will always operate under maximum efficiency.

Many of us have not yet bought much needed new PCs required to run today's PC games. Also the difficulties presented by computers is what prevents PC games from selling as well as they possibly could. The ApeXtreme will be a kick ass console once released.

[Lars Remmen]

ORIGINAL: Soljr
To answer a good question: What is the advantage of the ApeXtreme? The advantage is that you are buying a console that can run PC games (compatible with patches, monitors, TVs, keyboards, and mouses), play DVDs, function as a personal video recorder, will never malfunction under any circumstances, and will always operate under maximum efficiency.

Many of us have not yet bought much needed new PCs required to run today's PC games. Also the difficulties presented by computers is what prevents PC games from selling as well as they possibly could. The ApeXtreme will be a kick ass console once released.

The problem with this console as I see it is that the rest of the PC gameing harware will continue to improve and with that, the requirements for the games will continue to grow. And on top of that, the hardware in the console is already quite dated. I'm not sure I'd want to play new games on that box.

Other consoles doesn't suffer from this as the programmers know that there is only one type of hardware combination out there and can optimize (limit?) their programming for this.

The VCR features are nice but are already out there and with a much falling price tag - 200gb HD recorders won't be uncommon in a short time. If only they would make them able to play .ape files...

Regards,

Lars

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Soljr
Firstly the ApeXtreme will support patches. This is accomplished through the use of the built in modem or broadband connection as well as the hard drive. Game Spy is going to help DISC with the patching process. The hard drive is used to store installed games, TV recordings, and patches.

The ApeXtreme will be compatible with monitors as well as TVs. Even though it is being marketed as an easy way to play PC games on your TV, you don't have to use a TV.

If there is some confusion about this console it's because the makers of this console have been sending out contradictory information about it.

This also begs the question:

If people have a computer monitor, then they already have a computer. So why have another "box" cluttering up their desk?

Mods will not be officially supported, however this is offset by the fact that the ApeXtreme will not have any sort of tight security features like a normal console has. This means the ApeXtreme has a lot of potential to get mods to run. In fact all you have to do is program your own script to tell the ApeXtreme to run a specific mod.

Here is a BIG problem in your marketing of this console. Thus more contradictory information.

It has been stated that this console is aimed at the novice/beginner PC game user. That PC veterans will probably not buy this console because of the inability to have mods, etc, and because they will already have great PC systems.

If so, then how are beginners expected to program their own scripts?!

Upgrading is still a tough issue with the ApeXtreme. It is always theoretically possible to upgrade the ApeXtreme, but it is not yet certain how this will be done.

To answer a good question: What is the advantage of the ApeXtreme? The advantage is that you are buying a console that can run PC games (compatible with patches, monitors, TVs, keyboards, and mouses), play DVDs, function as a personal video recorder, will never malfunction under any circumstances, and will always operate under maximum efficiency.

The price is what will hold this console back. At about $500 in the US and $600 in Canada, and with the inability to upgrade the console, I think it will have a rough time.

It will NEVER malfunction under ANY circumstances? LOL

It will ALWAYS function under MAXIMUM efficiency? LOL

Perhaps you have discovered some secret technology that has eluded the best minds in industry. LOL

If I were you, I would tone down the claims of this machine. This will cost you a lot of credibility.

Many of us have not yet bought much needed new PCs required to run today's PC games. Also the difficulties presented by computers is what prevents PC games from selling as well as they possibly could. The ApeXtreme will be a kick ass console once released.

I question that assumption. Where is your marketing data?

You mention computers present some difficulties. Yet you have stated that you aren't sure if this console can be upgraded and that you expect people to program their own scripts if they want to use mods. This sounds easier?!

You can buy a lot of computer upgrades for $500-600 dollars (a 19" monitor sells for < $300.00). And prices for PCs are dropping all the time.

Maybe it will be good. But it is VERY expensive for what it claims to do.

[Fred98]

The one advantage I see, is that all players would have the same hardware. It would eliminate the incompatability issue. Eg: 72 players can run a game fine, but player 73 cannot, due to some software/hardware conflict.

Player 73 spits the dummy, screams at Matrix and runs away. This issue would be eliminated.

But from time to time we would need to upgrade graphics cards and RAM. It would need to be simple. We would all need to buy the same hardware - like buying Apple parts it would be expensive.