NUON
Not exactly a video game console, but along the same vein as numerous other multimedia gaming devices (Phillips CDI, Panasonic 3DO, Pioneer LaserActive, etc). VM Labs Inc. had developed a technology called NUON which transformed passive digital video products such as DVD players, digital satellite receivers and digital set-top boxes into complete interactive video game entertainment systems. Technical DescriptionThe powerful NUON processor provided the raw horsepower to decode digital video and audio, while delivering advanced trick modes and an enhanced user interface. At the same time, the NUON operating system provided a powerful platform for interactive content, enhanced movies, 3D videogames and many other applications.
The heart of NUON was the Aries 3 chip. The Aries 3 was based on a unique 128-bit, four-way-parallel very long instruction word processor architecture. In addition to the video and audio decoding and trick-play functions, the chip performs all system-management and CPU functions. More specifically, Aries 3 featured MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 program stream and video decode; MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Layers 1 and 2 audio decode; 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio decode; extended DVD trick modes; 32-voice wave table synthesizer; MP3 decode; an integrated Content Scrambling System descrambling module; video scaling, and 3-D videogaming. A hardware block placed on-chip to assist MPEG video decoding was designed to free up the bulk of the VLIW device's programmable processing power: 3,024 MIPS at peak and 864 MIPS typical. OK...if your still with us, it was a powerful chip for it's time
The heart of NUON was the Aries 3 chip. The Aries 3 was based on a unique 128-bit, four-way-parallel very long instruction word processor architecture. In addition to the video and audio decoding and trick-play functions, the chip performs all system-management and CPU functions. More specifically, Aries 3 featured MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 program stream and video decode; MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Layers 1 and 2 audio decode; 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio decode; extended DVD trick modes; 32-voice wave table synthesizer; MP3 decode; an integrated Content Scrambling System descrambling module; video scaling, and 3-D videogaming. A hardware block placed on-chip to assist MPEG video decoding was designed to free up the bulk of the VLIW device's programmable processing power: 3,024 MIPS at peak and 864 MIPS typical. OK...if your still with us, it was a powerful chip for it's time
Tomy Kiss-Site
We had an internal debate as to whether or not to include this device, but it is difficult not to call this device a console. In Japan, karaoke remains a popular form of entertainment. Factor in the fact that Bemani (rhythm / music video games) also remains popular in the early 2000s, and you can understand what drove Tomy to create the Tomy Kiss-Site.The Tomy Kiss-Site (Karaoke In Step Sound) made it’s debut on November 2000. The console uses 3-inch mini CD games. The game discs contain the Karaoke music lyrics as well as polygon graphic dancers with CG animated backgrounds. Each disc contained 2 songs, and had "Bemani" type rhythm games built into them.
VTech® V.Smile™
VTech is no stranger to videogame consoles, but they have been silent since their Creativision console from the 1980's. However in July of 2004, VTech made a return appearance with the VTech "V.Smile" TV Learning System.
The "V.Smile" is essentially a videogame console geared towards children between the ages of 3 to 7. It is an interactive learning system, but this is no "Speak & Spell" machine that merely teaches numbers and letters. These are actual videogames that have the learning aspects built into the gameplay (Thus it is worth mentioning on the site).
The console is cartridge-based (called "Smartridges"), and their are up to 25 games available (probably more later). The games use licensed characters such as Spiderman and from the Disney. The games seem to be graphically on par with those from the SuperNES. The console connects directly to your television like a "plug and play" system, and includes a joystick, and one game cartridge called Adventures in Alphabet Park. The joystick is adjustable for both right and left handed users, and a second joystick can be connected for two player game play. The system can run on either three " C" batteries or an AC adaptor that must be purchased separately.
The "V.Smile" is essentially a videogame console geared towards children between the ages of 3 to 7. It is an interactive learning system, but this is no "Speak & Spell" machine that merely teaches numbers and letters. These are actual videogames that have the learning aspects built into the gameplay (Thus it is worth mentioning on the site).
The console is cartridge-based (called "Smartridges"), and their are up to 25 games available (probably more later). The games use licensed characters such as Spiderman and from the Disney. The games seem to be graphically on par with those from the SuperNES. The console connects directly to your television like a "plug and play" system, and includes a joystick, and one game cartridge called Adventures in Alphabet Park. The joystick is adjustable for both right and left handed users, and a second joystick can be connected for two player game play. The system can run on either three " C" batteries or an AC adaptor that must be purchased separately.
XaviXPort
In January at the Consumer Electronics Show 2004 (CES), SSD COMPANY LIMITED debuts their XaviX® technology to the American public. The XaviXPort console was officially released in the US in August of 2004.
XaviXPort is a unique and innovative console that uses peripherals to interact with onscreen games. The console contains image recognition and infrared sensors that can detect player movements. These movements are calculated by a proprietary multiprocessor that measures both velocity and angle. The multiprocessor then translates the actions into onscreen movement.
Getting players to immerse themselves into games with body movements is not something new. However, this is the first time a console has been dedicated to providing this "Get your butt off the couch" interactive gaming experience. What makes XaviXPort even more unique is that the console’s multiprocessor is not installed inside the system itself. The multiprocessor can be found in each game cartridge. This concept has not been seen since the 1970’s with Milton Bradley’s Microvision or the "Pong on a chip" PC-50X Family. This makes XaviXPort an easily upgradable machine
XaviXPort is a unique and innovative console that uses peripherals to interact with onscreen games. The console contains image recognition and infrared sensors that can detect player movements. These movements are calculated by a proprietary multiprocessor that measures both velocity and angle. The multiprocessor then translates the actions into onscreen movement.
Getting players to immerse themselves into games with body movements is not something new. However, this is the first time a console has been dedicated to providing this "Get your butt off the couch" interactive gaming experience. What makes XaviXPort even more unique is that the console’s multiprocessor is not installed inside the system itself. The multiprocessor can be found in each game cartridge. This concept has not been seen since the 1970’s with Milton Bradley’s Microvision or the "Pong on a chip" PC-50X Family. This makes XaviXPort an easily upgradable machine
Atari Flashback
We normally would not the not include any of these new wave “Plug N Play” gaming devices, but this one was worth a mention.
“Plug N Play” devices are like a retro return of Pong systems. These machines have built-in games, and require no carts or other gaming media. They connect directly to your television (Thus the plug and play aspect). However unlike Pong, they are not variations of the same game. Normally they contain several gaming classics from a particular videogame console.
The original Atari Flashback was a “Plug N Play” device released in 2004. It was a slightly smaller replica of the classic Atari 7800 system. It came with everything you needed to plug into your TV and start playing. Unlike other “Plug N Play” devices, Atari Flashback came with two controllers for multiplayer gaming.
The Flashback was actually designed to not only play 5 Atari 7800 game classics, but it also played 15 Atari 2600 game classics. As an added bonus, one of the games is a never before released game called “Saboteur” (from the maker of “Yars Revenge”). The game list basically included Atari 2600 Games Adventure™, Air-Sea Battle™, Battlezone™, Breakout®, Canyon Bomber™, Crystal Castles®, Gravitar®, Haunted House™, Millipede®, Saboteur™, Sky Diver™, Solaris™, Sprintmaster, Warlords® and Yars' Revenge. On the Atari 7800 side you got Asteroids®, Centipede®, Desert Falcon™, Charley Chuck’s Food Fight™, and Planet Smashers™. The device sold for retail price of $44.95USD.
“Plug N Play” devices are like a retro return of Pong systems. These machines have built-in games, and require no carts or other gaming media. They connect directly to your television (Thus the plug and play aspect). However unlike Pong, they are not variations of the same game. Normally they contain several gaming classics from a particular videogame console.
The original Atari Flashback was a “Plug N Play” device released in 2004. It was a slightly smaller replica of the classic Atari 7800 system. It came with everything you needed to plug into your TV and start playing. Unlike other “Plug N Play” devices, Atari Flashback came with two controllers for multiplayer gaming.
The Flashback was actually designed to not only play 5 Atari 7800 game classics, but it also played 15 Atari 2600 game classics. As an added bonus, one of the games is a never before released game called “Saboteur” (from the maker of “Yars Revenge”). The game list basically included Atari 2600 Games Adventure™, Air-Sea Battle™, Battlezone™, Breakout®, Canyon Bomber™, Crystal Castles®, Gravitar®, Haunted House™, Millipede®, Saboteur™, Sky Diver™, Solaris™, Sprintmaster, Warlords® and Yars' Revenge. On the Atari 7800 side you got Asteroids®, Centipede®, Desert Falcon™, Charley Chuck’s Food Fight™, and Planet Smashers™. The device sold for retail price of $44.95USD.
DISCover®
It was bound to happen. Perhaps the cause stemmed from Microsoft's Xbox game console with it's computer like architecture. What are we referring to you may ask? It is called DISCover®At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2003, Digital Interactive Systems Inc (The "DIS" in DISCover) debuted a patented technology that allowed console gamers the ability to play computer PC games on a console like machine. The machines themselves were merely computer components in a compact casing. It is even driven by Microsoft's Windows XP computer operating system. So what makes it special?The DISCover® patented technology was developed to take the fuss out of computer gaming. Units are preloaded with thousands of scripts that automatically configure all the game requirements needed to run a particular game. No need to adjust computer settings or tweak graphics and frame rate. The gamer simply places a CD computer game into the console, and the game simply starts up like any console game would (and either on TV or monitors). DISCover® also connects itself behind the scenes via dial-up or broadband to the company's server database for script updates and game mods. This technology was called “Drop ‘n' Played”™. The image above was a model used at E3 2003
ZAPiT Game Wave
There have been DVD Players that play games such as NUON. There have been game consoles that play DVD movies (like Playstation 2 and Xbox), but are you ready for another console / DVD hybrid?
The ZAPiT Game Wave was released in November of 2005 in Canada . It is essentially a game console that plays interactive simple group-oriented titles like trivia, traditional board games, word games, and card games. The device can also be used as a basic DVD Player. The Game Wave began selling in the US in 2006 with a retail price of $99.
What makes Game Wave slightly different is its use of individual color coded Infra-Red remote controls that can accommodate up to 6 players simultaneously. Imagine a game show where a player has to buzz in their answer. A player using a red controller for example would interact as the red onscreen player. The audio/visual quality of the games is about on par with an interactive video. The console is geared to casual gamers seeking social interaction, and a group gaming experience.
The ZAPiT Game Wave was released in November of 2005 in Canada . It is essentially a game console that plays interactive simple group-oriented titles like trivia, traditional board games, word games, and card games. The device can also be used as a basic DVD Player. The Game Wave began selling in the US in 2006 with a retail price of $99.
What makes Game Wave slightly different is its use of individual color coded Infra-Red remote controls that can accommodate up to 6 players simultaneously. Imagine a game show where a player has to buzz in their answer. A player using a red controller for example would interact as the red onscreen player. The audio/visual quality of the games is about on par with an interactive video. The console is geared to casual gamers seeking social interaction, and a group gaming experience.
posted by tom at 6:23 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home