My Java Console

Seeing as I’ve just gone over the 2000 posts mark I thought it might be time for something daft… or maybe its not.

I just setup my laptop acting as a gaming console. I.e.

  • Its sat in my front room
  • Its plugged into my TV
  • Its controlled via a gamepad rather than a keyboard/mouse

Heres some shots for anyone interested :- http://www.cokeandcode.com/gravitybattle/javaconsole

Was just wondering about us (as a community) building a console framework to run on a lightweight(ish) PC, support downloading games, playing games and buying games all controlled via a controller (or 2?).

Then we’d just need to wait for someone entrepeneur with enough cash to come along and market it in those Epia(?) boxes that Matzon likes.

Gravity battle appears like it’d run on pretty cheap hardware (GF1, 256MB memory, P3).

Any thoughts,

Kev

I’ve been meaning to do that with some emulators and this 500 mhz celeron I’ve got lieing about…

[quote]Was just wondering about us (as a community) building a console framework to run on a lightweight(ish) PC, support downloading games, playing games and buying games all controlled via a controller (or 2?).
[/quote]
This concept has a strange appeal; and not just related to java. I’ve read discussion of this idea in the past involving the mini itx form factor (pc on one little board) and sdl or allegro but this downloading games concept is a new one. If the phantom can do it, why not?

How about using OpenJNLP and writing a LWJGL front end for it? Then you get a whole bunch of webstart features for nowt. :slight_smile:

The key to me seems to be making it appear as a console (i.e. gamepad controls, TV). I guess download and CD based games should be support (for those without broadband).

To me, viewing the Phantom product demo, it seems like a PC in a box, with some simple framework wrapped round it. The screwups so far are:

  1. The spec of the machine is way to high (leading to 2)
  2. The cost of the box is going to be too much
  3. Keyboard and mouse are support

but then their going for PC games support.

Kev

Brilliant! That’d do most of it really :slight_smile: Apart from OpenJNLP seems a bit borked to me. Be nice to have a secure online purchasing scheme (API for developers).

I’d like boot up thing, turn it on and it boots straight into the front end. No hassle. What OS?

Windows - going to work easily and work now. But wouldn’t there need to be a license per box?

Linux - free, free, free… but going to need a bit of work with the current state of technology.

Kev