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Geek Culture / [LOCKED] Im Thinking About Designing a Gaming Console...

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 03:19 Edited at: 23rd Mar 2011 03:49
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Check out my Development Progress Page!


So i need you guy's opinions. I plan to design my own gaming console for fun (not money.) I have thought about this for a while, and im really not sure what i think about this. Obviously, i think it would be awesome to design and make one.

I have decided that i wont be selling them, until i get a prototype made and i think about it and decide that is what i want to do.

Let me make one note: I am not in any way a newbie at this stuff. I have been a computer forummer for at least a year, i have researched this stuff for the last two years of my life. I have played with electronics kits all my life. I know at an electron level what is happening in a transistor.

So, if you are going to say this isnt something for beginners, then dont reply.

Thanks for any opinions or whatever you may reply with

Also guys remember, im not going for a big, high speed, mean lean gaming machine, im going for something with the complexity of an
NES

As well, please go here

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Gil Galvanti
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 03:39 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 03:39
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Well my first question would be, are you actually technically capable of pulling something that complex off? And secondly, why?


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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 03:40 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 03:43
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i do believe i am able to. I have a full understanding of how these things work. Literally an hour of research and i would be able to do this. Oh and why you ask? It would be fun of course!


I also know of people designing their own consoles by themselves. I have some ideas i would tell you guys for things i would do if my first console became a success, but they are a little far fetched if ya know what i mean.

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Rampage
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 03:52 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 03:55
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Okay. Lets think logical here. Developing a console. Microsoft or Sony didn't do research for an hour then go ahead and started developing, the Xbox 360 was researched and planned for years prior to release, and that was MICROSOFT. A massive global corparation. You are but one man. You lack the hardware, graphic, programming expertise, and team to be able to make a chip. There is litterally no way to make one without being a complete professional. (and I don't know many professionals who have tried.)

If you are serious about this, sketch up some designs and show them to Microsoft or Sony, I bet they are knee deep in the development of their next gen console anyway. Point of the story, its hopeless for one man to make a successful one. Congrats if you
get a nice music player up and running.

Reality is harsh, but its something all new forummers learn soon enough.

Keep at it though I spose, if that is what you are really interested in. Then work towards your goal. But don't expect a fully operational console withen the next couple of weeks.

Love heart! yaaaaaay!

Regards,

Max
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:07 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 04:09
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Ok, ok. Let's back up here! Ok, i have already spent nearly the last two years of my life researching this stuff.
Quote: "Literally an hour of research and i would be able to do this"
I meant there are some small things i dont know. Now i also didnt say i was going to design a chip, i will use premade chips like the ARM.
Quote: "new forummers learn soon enough"
Im not a new forummer. I have been on computer forums for over a year, and programming for about 2 years. I have been working with electronic kits all my life. I know just all the parts of a computer. I know how things like the northbrigde, southbridge, BIOS, memory, graphics, input, output, etc all work. I can show you if you'd like a sketch up i did in an hour of the basic components layout of a game console. And i really hope you are being sarcastic:
Quote: "But don't expect a fully operational console withen the next couple of weeks."
I fully understand this will take at least a year! Either way, thank you.

Lol people SO encouraging aren't they?

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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crispex
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:10 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 04:11
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What you need is something different. That's the first step. You need something that offers what no other company offers, whether it be unmatched speed, graphics, etc. You need something that is going to draw people to the product. PS3 has free online and good exclusives, Xbox has the majority of online players and also good exclusives, Wii focuses on motion, etc.

What will your strong suite be?

As stated, you also have to think in terms of ability. A single person has never really designed a console that took off well. I would seriously give you massive props if you were able to pull off an entire console design and production.

Things you need:

1. A sufficient background in electronic design.

2. Ability to program firmware and an operating system.

3. A fairly high level of graphics chip design knowledge.

4. Ability to setup firmware transfer protocols, which are required to actually load it onto your chip.

5. A design of reading and interpreting data.

In all honesty, I'd save the time and aggravation. If you want to do it as an "over the years" hobby, go ahead, but it's more of a loss to you in both time and money. No offense, but there are very few people I know in real life who work designing electronic components that are able to successfully do this. This is going to sound very Disney-ish, but if you really want to accomplish it I have no doubt you can.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:16
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Quote: "but if you really want to accomplish it I have no doubt you can."
You are awesome man, thank you!

Yeh, i plan to develop it over a period of time. I will need to research the things you listed above (maybe that research time has gone from an hour to a week )

But thanks for your awesome post man!

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:31 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 04:35
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Another question arises, should i patent this? If i make it of course.

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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AndrewT
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:32 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 04:34
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The only advice I can really give you is to forget about these three questions:

Quote: "What kind of things would be involved to get it into production? Should i get it patented? What will make it more profitable?"


If you want to design your own video game console, do it purely for your own entertainment, and not to make any kind of profit. One person attempting to design and sell an entire video game console is probably one of the least profitable endeavors I can think of.

i like orange
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crispex
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:33
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It depends, if you're designing the components yourself, the entire thing can be patented, otherwise if you use pre-made chips and simply load your own software on, then you can only patent the system design itself and not the individual components.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:40 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 04:42
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Those were both good points! Lol yeh that would be funny if i tried to patent an ARM chip... AndrewT you are likely correct. Would it cost much to get just one console made? I was thinking i would get the circuit board manufactured somewhere, the case elsewhere, etc. Then i would put it all together for myself. Now that's just for if i were to prototype one for myself. If i liked it and others did then i would put it into production... Thanks!

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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AndrewT
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:44
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Quote: "Would it cost much to get just one console made? I was thinking i would get the circuit board manufactured somewhere, the case elsewhere, etc"


Producing one console might not be very costly, but I assumed you would spent quite a bit on designing and prototyping it. I suppose if you spent long enough designing it that everything worked perfectly on your very first try, and you didn't have to make any changes, then things would be different.

i like orange
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 04:59
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I would go for doing it right the first time, so that is what i would go for. Thank you! Im also considering an FPGA, that would be a bit better than ARM, as i dont feel like learning ARM assembly.

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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crispex
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 05:04
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You'd be stupid to use an ARM processor. ARM is starting to be phased out by more powerful mobile processors.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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Rampage
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 05:26
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Hey man my apologies. I thought this was just another 'OMG iM g0nnA mAkE tHe nExT cOd iN fPsC!'
I shouldn't have been so quick to assume.
You seem to really know your stuff. I wish all the best.

Regards,

Max
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PrimalBeans
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 05:34
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hmm sounds interesting... too many ppl will tell you that you cant do it. Im one of them. Microsoft and sony have the market (at least in the USSA) and i dont see anyone outdoing them anytime soon. If your doing it for fun well then more power to you. Youll get a chance to see what really goes into it. There is however more to a console then hardware. Newer consoles these days have and os of a basic form either written to a rom or a hd. Your going to have to be pretty handy with programming for that as well to at least getting working let alone pleasant to develop for. Im not saying you cant but you have your work cut out for you, so good luck.

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crispex
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 05:39
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Development-wise, you can't get any better than good old PC.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 05:43
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My question to you.... Have you got that book I was talking about? "The Elements of Computing Systems"?

Also, most of the work will probably be done in some sort of hardware description language. Once you write everything up in HDL, the thing will be "done" in a sense. All you'll have to do is get everything wired up... by soldering and soldering and soldering...

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 05:49
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@Rampage Hey man, it's okay I can see exactly why you would think so, it's typical. Im sorry if you think i over-reacted a bit

@Primal Beans Yeh, im going for fun and seeing where it all goes

@Neuro Fuzzy I have to get that! *makes reminder* I will tomorrow. Does that book talk about FPGA's and HDL?

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 06:00 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 06:01
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Not about gate arrays, I really don't know much about those either... I've just read about 'em.

Here's a link to the page about the book. The 10 minute intro video linked to on that page is very good. It's 12 chapters, with assignments at the end of each chapter. The very last assignment in the 12th chapter is "to implement the operating system described in this chapter". I love the independence of the assignments. Most books walk you through the implementation, this one just describes how it should work, describes the basic building blocks, and says "do it"!

[edit]
oh, and I take it back about "Once it's described in HDL it's pretty much done", because there can be problems with PCBs if circuits have to cross over each other, and other similar design issues to worry about

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 06:02
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Thanks. I do suppose that is the way to learn while actually using one's brain, lol!

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Kravenwolf
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 06:06 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 06:08
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Quote: "the Xbox 360 was researched and planned for years prior to release"


Wow, reallY? That's kind of depressing when considering the end result.

Kravenwolf

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 06:14
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Do you mean it's a bad console? Lol i dont have one. I have an N64, a DS, and my computer. Im not sure if we still have our old SNES...

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 06:18
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Quote: "because there can be problems with PCBs if circuits have to cross over each other, and other similar design issues to worry about"
I have always marveled how they ingeniously design circuits so that nothing crosses over. I have seen a while ago little wire arches that go over PCB traces.

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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PrimalBeans
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 06:18
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[quote]Quote: "the Xbox 360 was researched and planned for years prior to release"

Wow, reallY? That's kind of depressing when considering the end result.

Kravenwolf[quote]
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember when 360 came out... and i found out they had two versions... on for 200 something that was crap... and then 500$$$$ that was crap but it had a hard drive... i was like...'didnt they give you the hard drive when you bought the first xbox???' so they downgraded... unless you payed 300 extra bucks...(about as much as the original xbox??) Sony to the rescue. same price for 2x the console. Hrmmm...

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RedneckRambo
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 07:05
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Honestly, all I can say is good luck, Dark Basic Dude. Thinking optimistically is going to help you, but don't over do it and think you're going to make the next extremely profitable console.
You haven't even started the project and you're asking questions such as patenting it. Just don't get ahead of yourself; you're only one man, and that accounts for a lot more than you seem to realize.

Good luck

Quote: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember when 360 came out... and i found out they had two versions... on for 200 something that was crap... and then 500$$$$ that was crap but it had a hard drive... i was like...'didnt they give you the hard drive when you bought the first xbox???' so they downgraded... unless you payed 300 extra bucks...(about as much as the original xbox??) Sony to the rescue. same price for 2x the console. Hrmmm..."

How about we don't turn this into an xbox vs playstation thread? Least not if you're going to make mindless posts like that.

Signature's are stupid.
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 07:16
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You have pointed out that im getting a bit ahead of myself, so thanks!
Quote: "How about we don't turn this into an xbox vs playstation thread? Least not if you're going to make mindless posts like that"
I agree^^

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Fallout
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 09:13
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I would say developing your own gaming console is like "I want to make an MMORPG in Darkbasic" x 10.

However, if you have an expert knowledge of hardware, chips, memory and OS/driver/hardware programming, I'm sure it's possible. My initial thoughts are it'd take several years, and it'd be almost impossible to build it such that it'd be cheap enough to sell. Most console make small margins on the hardware, and this is with millions of units in the production run. It'd probably cost you £400 or something, to build a unit, and players would probably be willing to spend less than £100 on a NES style console. If it was easy to develop more, it might appeal to a developer market though.

As for patenting, I don't think that'd be possible unless you invented new chip sets etc. If you're bolting existing components together into a unit, there's nothing to patent. You could probably protect the IP of the box/appearance/brand though.

I would be mega impressed if you did it. I hope you realise your dream, but as said above, do it for fun. I don't think there is any potential for sale and making profit.

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ionstream
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 09:24
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Quote: "I would say developing your own gaming console is like "I want to make an MMORPG in Darkbasic" x 10."


My thoughts exactly, except I was thinking x 1000.

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Fallout
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 09:31
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I'll meet you in the middle at x 505.

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TheComet
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 09:56
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Forget the profit/patent thing for now, as it's really not important. You're probably doing this for fun, not for money.

A few things to consider:

-What hardware are you going to use and why?
-How "deep" into the hardware are you going to go? (Are you going to look at it at a module level, chip level, or even transistor level?)
-What operating system are you going to use? Will it be your own? If you're using a micro controller, you may not need to consider this point.
-How are you going to handle the screen output?
-How are you going to handle controller input (or any other input)?
-Are you capable of programming a rendering engine?
-Are you capable of programming a game?
-Do you know enough about chip instruction sets, and how they cooperate with each other?

Just some basic questions... It really depends what you want to do...

Maybe my project could help you a bit : I am making a "game console" right now actually, it's a simple C8051F320 micro controller connected to a custom made 8x8 RGY LED matrix. The matrix is made up of a bunch of shift registers, so I have a serial display data input, and 4 control bits (in total 5 bits control the screen). There are a total of 128 LEDs (64 2-colored LEDs), and I want to update the screen 15x a second, plus have a brightness control of 8 stages (controlled by a PWM signal), so the output frequency must be 128x2x15x8=30.72 kHz. The micro controller I chose has a clock speed of 5 MHz, each instruction taking 12 clock cycles. So 5000000/12=41.6 kHz, which is more than enough to control my screen and many other things. I also plan to make 4 game controllers for input, each having 8 buttons. Because the micro controller is limited to an 8-bit input, the controllers will be multiplexed.

And that's about it I could provide more technical data, but that would just be spoon-feeding you, and I'm sure (from what I've heard of you for now) that you're capable of coming up with your own circuit or layout. You should make this a thread where you update what you're doing, and post diagrams and things

TheComet

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Insanity Complex
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 11:10
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Being that I lack any real useful knowledge in the area...I don't have a lot of input overall, but I did have one thought.

I think the best option for making a new console from such a small standing(the whole one person thing everyone's been talking about), would be to consider making the intention from the start for it to be a true open source console. Give it a base OS, but make it flexible. Encourage people to tinker with it, in terms of software. From there, the idea is really the same as the various Linux distributions, just in a slightly different market. Open source, community driven.

Just a further thought into possible ways for it to be profitable, and obstacles that might head your way... Leaving it too open source, while possibly losing on producing the hardware for the system could be a problem if the software was entirely open source. However...if you somehow gave them all a base management OS which allowed them to download/install "approved" software. Rather than explain it fully...it's the same idea as iPod and whatnot App store.

I dunno, not very knowledgeable in the area, but those are my thoughts.

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Kravenwolf
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 11:18 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 11:18
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You should make one specifically for playing FPS Creator games

I'd buy one

Kravenwolf

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PrimalBeans
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 12:00 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 12:01
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Quote: "How about we don't turn this into an xbox vs playstation thread? Least not if you're going to make mindless posts like that."
I try to restrict my mindlessness maybe more often then i should... i was merely posting that i thought that the previous post was funny and agreeing to it. Im not trying to create a versus anything.. Sorry for getting off topic (as we all do sometimes)

Sorry if i sound stubborn but it seems like you just went out your way to put someone down. I have no beef with anyone I just dont know what was so much different from my post then the post before it... which i thought was harmless...

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Kravenwolf
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Posted: 16th Mar 2011 12:39 Edited at: 16th Mar 2011 12:42
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Quote: "dont know what was so much different from my post then the post before it... which i thought was harmless..."


Ya, I was just joking around. It was just so perfectly set up, I couldn't resist the opportunity. Though I suppose my earlier reply doesn't have to be looked at as a mindless post. All jokes aside, I can actually turn it into something very constructive and relevant to the topic. For example;

@Dark basic dude79, make sure your console is reliable, checked for failure rates before you market it, and free to play online.

Kravenwolf

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 17th Mar 2011 02:19
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@Fallout & ionstream Thanks a lot guys! You are very encouraging.

@the Comet Those seem like good things to consider. Thats cool that you are building you own. How much has it cost lately?

@Insanity Complex That is something to consider... I have thought about making for it a DBPro similar language, but easier...

@Kravenwolf Lol thanks! And yes those as well are things to consider, as i wouldnt want to sell a game with tons of failures.

@Primal Beans You can get off topic if you want, we all do I was joking when i said i had agreed with him

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 17th Mar 2011 02:27 Edited at: 17th Mar 2011 02:27
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Quote: "Are you going to look at it at a module level, chip level, or even transistor level?"
Well i dont know whether module or chip level is doing what i want to do.. What i plan to do is to perhaps get an FPGA and and some other components etc and manually put them on a PCB designed by me, as those are relatively cheap to get printed. If things go well then i will perhaps look into getting it into production. If it is profitable, i will design my own microprocessor and get it made. Getting the mask sets for custom chips manufactured is incredibly expensive. Either way, for now im not looking for money, just fun

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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PrimalBeans
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Posted: 17th Mar 2011 05:06 Edited at: 17th Mar 2011 05:07
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k im going to be serious then... i did you a big favor and took all the legg work out of designing your console for you. Tell me what you think. It has some killer features...


TADA!!!

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 17th Mar 2011 05:35
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Haha did you seriously draw that for me? Haha i feel special! Either way, that is something to consider! Maybe this would go well in the kitchen, it would communicate wirelessly to the TV and controllers. If you want to go play a new game, you have to go to the kitchen to switch the game out haha! Lol i just spent an hour modeling a concept as well.

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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TheComet
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Posted: 17th Mar 2011 09:48
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Seriously though, post your design so we can see what you have in mind. All I see now is a very vague non-specific idea of "making a console". I need more detail than that

Quote: "How much has it cost lately?"


The price comes down to ~105 CHF (Swiss Francs). I payed 50 for the micro controller+assets, 30 for all of the shift registers, and another 25 for the bus drivers. The LEDs, USB connector (for the micro controller), resistors, wires and various plugs I was able to get for free from my company, as they would have been thrown out anyway.

TheComet

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 17th Mar 2011 23:43 Edited at: 17th Mar 2011 23:45
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That's not a bad price at all! Yeh i will try to sketch up something and post it perhaps Also what microprocessor/microcontroller are you using?

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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TheComet
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Posted: 18th Mar 2011 10:13
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The C8051F320.

TheComet

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 18th Mar 2011 23:03
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Thanks!

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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Melancholic
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Posted: 19th Mar 2011 00:11
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Have not read through the whole thread so excuse me if this has been mentioned before. But i think instead of starting with a microcontroller and working up from there, you might be intrested in http://www.xgamestation.com/


I can count to banana...
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Kamakazi
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Posted: 19th Mar 2011 00:28
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Well, here's my two cents worth. And, I know the insides of consoles all too well having programmed on 6502 processors and that was not an easy task. What would be cool, and since this IS a Game Creators' website, I personally think it would be cool to have a console that takes advantage of either DarkBASIC or DarkGDK. I'm probably going out of bounds here 'cause I know all the legal issues that would be involved with this as they would have to be included in a BIOS as well as Microsoft's own DirectX. And I'm not sure if using common PC parts to build a console would keep you from being sued since the original XBOX was basically a modified laptop.

Two of my favorite processors are the 6502 (most old 8-bits) and the Motorola 68000 (found in Atari ST and pre-Intel Apple computers). For sounds, you could use a Yamaha chip...probably one from an old Sound Blaster sound card (or a clone) would work. Or, if you can find a non-working Dreamcast, pull the sound chip from it. It is capable of handling 64-channels simultaneously.

I'm not sure about graphics chips other than those found in older 8-bit consoles with my favorite being the GTIA chip found in almost all Atari 8-bit consoles with the exception of the 7800. The graphics chip in the 7800 is an impressive chip with what it can do, but it can be a bugger to develop for.

Do you plan to have the console support 3D or strictly 2D graphics?
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 19th Mar 2011 01:56 Edited at: 19th Mar 2011 01:57
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I would have 2d graphics support... If one could program a 3d engine, then there is 3d, kinda like a mode 7 on an SNES, but i wouldnt have modes


oh yeh, i have done some research on the XGameStation, it's actually partially what inspired me

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.
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PrimalBeans
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Posted: 19th Mar 2011 11:55 Edited at: 19th Mar 2011 11:59
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his design is there... you didnt see it?? two posts up.. lol. Im not so sure what of his design he would be able to show that would make sense to the average joe here at this point... schematics? I am a nerd but i dont usually just browse the internet for sexy schematics. Case designs would be cool... but unless you can play it to see what hes doing well... you can only create a blueray disk game player to look so interesting... I would think the real meat and cheese of this would be build photos! Step by step creation process... and the unvailing when he finally plugs it in and it frys the electrical system in his house lol(that was a joke DBD.... i hope that doesnt happen.... it would be funny but not for you.. and you seem alright...)

[edit] missed the second page... doh!

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TechLord
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Posted: 19th Mar 2011 14:18 Edited at: 19th Mar 2011 19:47
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Quote: "I'm Thinking About Designing a Gaming Console..."
Its not that far fetched if you can settle on your computer hardware/software specifications and find suppliers for the hardware/software and one who can package the goods in a nice compact case of your unique design.

The trick with consoles is that their hardware/software requirements are very specific and standardized. At the heart, they are just PCs. No doubt in my mind you can build a console from off-the-shelf hardware/software, you would just have to have in place very strict controls on hardware vendors, protocols, data formats, application framework, etc, used.

I'm building a prototype Coin-Op RNG Arcade Machine akin to the Video Slot/Poker Machine. I'm using a off-the-shelf PC running Windows 7 w/ minimum boot requirements for the PCB(Brains). I'm building the cabinet & controls with a used parts from a variety of Arcade/Vending/Slot machines. I only have to fabricate wiring between the Controllers (joystick) <--> PC <--> Vending Mechanisms and USB may be the flexible solution for that.

DGDK Open Source Project-Trio: Super 3D Game Engine/Editor/World - Multi-Genre 3D Game Production Platform {Online}
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bitJericho
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Posted: 19th Mar 2011 18:54
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Also, you should check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GP2X_Wiz

[center]
Join the TGC Group!
http://tehcodez.groups.live.com
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 19th Mar 2011 19:35 Edited at: 19th Mar 2011 19:38
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@Primal Beans Haha thats funny! Lol yeh, i ordered the Elements of Computing Systems and should come next Thursday Im thinking about using my YT channel to post video updates...

Either way, i made a concept model in Wings3D a few days ago:



Im not sure if you will end up seeing this soon, due to the fact that injection molding molds are incredibly expensive to make BUT if you do see it, it will be an awesome looking orange or blue translucent plastic thing

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.

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