Linux Gaming Console???

Anyone else see this? Comments? Pasted below in it's entirety from the LDN email:

10.29.08

A Gaming System For Hardcore Software Developers And Early Adopters

By Savio Rodrigues

Linux based EVO gaming console is set to be launched on November 18 by Envizons Computer Entertainment. Play Station 3 is an out-and-out gaming console and therefore would be able to run Linux based applications effortlessly. The target market of this gaming system would be the hardcore software developers and the early adopters. Linux would mainly act as a liaison which would be used to control the EVO system and make it look more like a home computer than just a gaming gadget.

The release will surely make us ponder more on its entirety of usage. So as Linux will be used for playing games on a connected server, add on services like mail services, central operations etc. will run as it used to. The launch of a dedicated gaming console would possibly avert the attention from its primary business domain but the company is fervent to develop applications such as this to maintain a perfect concord among its clientele.

It is indeed unjust to evaluate this in accordance with a traditional gaming console. The primary rationale of the argument is that the target market of one company differs from another. Linux aims at a target market base consisting of technology freaks and the early adopters, while other companies might have in mind a more established target market which yet again is a harmless gamble in today's gung ho world. Networking with other system owners, access to Internet multimedia services, VoIP, cloud computing and storage services are those common features that are offered by other gaming consoles.

Envizons Computer Entertainment plans to release 500 to 1,300 units in US and Canada. The discount pricing strategy would be adopted by the company in order to attract initial purchases. It is actually an ambitious and a fascinating effort to develop the console further into a complete gaming system which will surpass customer expectations. The gaming pundits have already initiated an online discussion which is evident on many sites about the launch of this gaming console which is assumed would certainly create a platform for developers who are more likely to form a strong community among themselves. The prospect for any individual to develop a platform with eternal customizations will set the gaming needs expectations just.

The amount of attention this launch has received from all the quarters of the world is gargantuan. More attention has a domino effect for more criticism for the gaming console. But every new theory gets criticized a lot before being accepted. Let's expect that Linux does well on all parameters and is able to defend itself against the plethora of verbally powerful jobless critics.

 

I'd buy this for the sole purpose of supporting these guys

 

It came to me in a Linux Developer News Newsletter.....maybe me also.

 

It depends what games it'll have. I won't just buy a console just to support them 'just because' if the games are bad.

 

I'd like to see more information. If they expect to create the device on the assumption that a bunch of folks will just rally and create a bunch of games for it, they might be very disappointed.

 

This was all that I needed to see:
"The Evo will cost $679. It launches on October 20th in North America. Specs->

It will feature a Sapphire Radeon HDMI X1600 Pro graphics, clock speeds of 500MHz core and 800MHz memory, 128MB-DDR3 memory, a liquid cooling system, built in biometric fingerprint reader and digital video recording capabilities. "

They're nuts! BTW was I the only one that found that press release to be somewhat incoherent?

 

What?! Liquid cooled? Fingerprint scanner? That's... That's something to go wrong, frankly.

 

All I have to say is, it's about time for biometric protection of our game saves.

 

I don't really trust commercial fingerprint scanners. And having to scan your fingerprint just to save a game is tedious technology just for tedious technology sake.

 

To be honest, I don't think it will really be successful. These guys don't have the might that Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo do when it comes to pushing out gaming consoles. To date Sony has lost something like $3 billion on the PS3 and I just don't see these guys having that sort of capital to make it a success. Maybe they can prove me wrong. Plus at $679 that is just outrageous. I think they would have better success developing Linux games instead.

 

Well, my personal view on why Sony lost so much money was the fact that they demanded too much money for too little. All the neutrals just swayed to the 360 simply because it was cheaper, and about the same, or the Wii because it's just fun.

Don't expect them to compete with the big 3, but if they do it right, their next console will be much more successful as this one will lay a pathway. Just like how X1 made a loss, but helped make X360 much more successful.

 

Yeah, I was being sarcastic. Although, if the fingerprint scanner were integrated with the controller, I don't know. It seems kind of pointless, but as an identification rather than security scheme, it might work.

I have to say, the Playstation 3 is an excellent piece of hardware, and the geek in me is much more attracted to it than an Xbox 360. But for gaming... it really doesn't have much on the 360, and Wii games are generally more fun, so it's wasted on most people. Maybe we'll get a good deal more longevity out of it than it's competition, in which case I'll say it's going to be a successful strategy even if Sony doesn't succeed with it this time around.

As far as this console, I suspect this company is just trying to draw some attention to Linux game development. I'm not sure they expect to have any other measurable success.

 

Fingerprint scanner on the controls? Now that's just wrong. It's as if it's saying "I'm a powerful video game console, but only my owner can play me. Too bad for you, buster."

I'm sure they'll drop it.

Aye. The PS3 does have serious longevity. That Cell Processor is just nasty. The online service for the 360 seems better than the PS3's.

I'm not really too good with hardware specs, but how do the ones on this Linux one compare to the 360 or the PS3?

 

I'm still thinking save games. You swipe your finger, and it knows who's home directory to save it in.

It's specs look pretty subpar, that's a 3 year old midrange graphics chip.

 

Hmmm... That's very plausible. Much more effective the the current 360's version of profile selecting as well. I always find it tedious when I load a game with a friend's profile and all the stuff are gone, then I have to reboot the system. This way of booting the game, then choosing the profile is much more elegant.

3 years old and selling for $679? That's bad..