Ok, this idea has been wizzing around in my head all day at work... Would you buy a new 32/64bit 2D games console???? Ok, so 2D gaming is where it's at. :smt040 But the prices and rarity of quality systems like the Saturn/PCEngine are increasing. So if a new 'made by gamers for games' console came out that was more like a Yaroze, would it do well? Go for an easy to program, ultimate sprite pushing beasty. Use off the shelf components, and even offer in kit form. So really, you'd only need a 32bit machine. And if it came with all the software needed to program games via PC, just like the Yaroze. And the dev kit included 'templates' for set gamestyles - 1on1 fighter, 2D shooter, platformer, scrolly beatem-up, RPG (Zelda style) so ppl without much programming skill could learn, and progress to writing their own full game engines. The machine would be CD based, so games can be downloaded from the website and burn onto CD. And the website has forums for discussions and dev groups to discuss things... Obviously you'd need some proper games ready on release date, and a steady stream of fan made games. But it would be nice to create a whole community, all working together to make the console and their own games succeed. Giving many ppl what they want - the best ultimate 2D games console, with cheap/downloadable games that are excellent. Yes, i have seen the Xgamestation project, but that seems to be more about building the machine and learning console engineering that making games. That's if it ever comes out...
Sounds Cool Sounds cool but what would these off the shelf components be and what OS would it use? It's a great idea but you'd need investors to even hope about getting it off the ground.
Theres no reason why you couldn't make NEW games for already existing consoles. A newbie game development kit for lets say Dreamcast would be obviously more feasible than an entirely new console which every poor/cheap (yes I know thats a stereotype) retro gamer, ever, will have to help finance. Everyone thinks up consoles and other imaginary hardware but few people get anywhere near realizing them. Unfortunately dreaming doesn't get you anywhere. You can make anything, but chances are you'll have to do it yourself.
I would buy a new 2D machine, however (sad but true), if everyone and his dog can make games for it 99% will be crap... and support from 'real' game companies would die out. Personally I think the GP32 comes pretty close to what you're describing.
a 1ghz mini itx system with onboard gfx, laptop dvd + hdd + onboard lan etc would pretty much be pc based such as the xbox, but it would be muuuch smaller , bit more powerfull (onboard geforce 4) 128mb of DDR etc and games optimised to run @25 & 30 fps for 50 & 60hz tv's should be np. Thereare even 100% fanless itx cases which literally are a heatsink for the cpu for purrrfect silence
There was a project exactly like the one you're talking about, a 16-bit 2d retro console which was to ship with dev tools for home coders. I don't remember the name and I haven't heard anything since... anyone else remember?
That's the XGameStation that was mentioned before. Its not very powerful though (but imho that might be even beneficial as that means there's gonna be something else than homebrew emu's for a change :smt033 )
I'd love to see a 2d monster console made. something designed to do insane 2D, and cell shading. Something with 1000 scrolling layers and unlimited sprites,
Dreamcast is the answer. Sega have the resources to manage a website for this and to release the Dev Kit. I read an interview in Edge ages ago with some guy from Sega. He acknowledged the homebrew scene on DC, and was impressed. But said Sega couldn't release a Yaroze style kit because some of the licences involved in the DC are secret??? Surely, with the amount of Katana's kicking around, KalistOS, and the fact the DC has been well and truly hacked this is no longer a valid point. Sega could release a Windows/Linux version of the Katana software, maybe in a cut-down simpler to use form, along with DC dev documents. And if they started up making BBAs again, coding would be easier. They've been selling reconditioned DCs in Japan. Why not sell dev kits. There really aren't many more DC games being released, about 3 in May. Meaning Shikigami2 is the last ultimate game on the DC. And Sammy aren't converting Atomiswave to DC. Fools. This could be Sega's last hope. Go on Sega, sort it out. We don't want the DC to die....
The answer??? Looking round for game making packages. Came across this... http://www.gamemaker.nl/index.html Uses VB, i believe, and you can make .exe games for the PC. Any 2D game you like. There is also a specific version for making Zelda: OoT syle games - Zelda Game Maker. So surely you could have different editors for a 2D shooter, platform game etc. If you could have a version of this software running on the PC to make the game, and then when you wanted to test the code, use a coder's cable linked into the Serial port on the DC (i assume these games are small enough for the coders cable to d/l the game fast enough, with out needing a BBA) and shoot the game down into the DC, just like with a Yaroze. Not sure if the DC would need to be running a boot disk to accept the code?? And when the game is finished, you could use the prog to make a .bin file. which could then be converted to a selfbooting DC game. So would a DC Game Maker be the answer???
