Acer prepping a console-style gaming PC based on open standards?

Don't start hawking your 360 and PS3 just yet, but it sounds like PC industry upstart Acer is considering a bid for the console market, or at least some gamer market share, with a game machine based on "open standards." Of course, this could just mean a computer built to PC Gaming Alliance specs -- Acer is on the PCGA's board -- but Acer's James T. Wong did make comparisons to Nintendo and Microsoft's offerings, calling them closed and proprietary systems. With a history of console prices subsidized by game sales, it's hard to imagine an "open" platform being able to compete in that space -- and even harder to imagine a company like Acer getting that kind of traction with the consumer -- but even if it is just a PCGA spec machine, we don't think it could come soon enough for the struggling PC gaming market.

[Via GameStar; thanks Akshay]

[Hooterman @ Mar 17th 2008 10:16AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_(game_system)

[smegma @ Mar 17th 2008 10:18AM]

wow, full of information!

[Reapman @ Mar 17th 2008 10:22AM]

Looks like the link cut out the final ')', add that in to the link for it to work.

[adikt @ Mar 17th 2008 11:04AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_(game_system)

[GLMcPheligan @ Mar 17th 2008 6:09PM]

KS

[Kspraydad @ Mar 17th 2008 10:17AM]

Instead of ACER360 as a image perhaps ACERmondo would be more appropriate?

Or ACERgage?

Just saying.

[Gaz @ Mar 17th 2008 10:52AM]

No it wouldn't as they're both failed handhelds and this article is talking about an as yet unreleased yet possibly, almost-doomed-from-the-start-but-maybe-not, but oh yeah, whatever-happened-to-the-Phantom-maybe-we-could-do-better home console.

[crsh @ Mar 17th 2008 10:38AM]

Gaming and open standards in the same sentence.. ouch, this is going to be fun to watch.

/popcorn

[kntgsp @ Mar 17th 2008 10:49AM]

I realize that there isn't a lot of first hand reporting going on here. Really, I do. It's not your main focus. It's to analyze mainstream stories. But at least spare us the recycled hysteria repackaged as observational commentary

Struggling PC gaming market? By the outdated definition that doesn't take into account subscription base games, digital distribution, etc. and only brick and mortar stores? You do realize that the ratings systems are horribly outdated, right?

Well then the communication market must be struggling too, since no one uses anything besides paper mail.

And boy, those movie studios and editing houses must be struggling due to the huge drop off in betamax tapes being mailed across the united states.

Is this 1980's Monday or something?

I swear, sometimes the writers on this site do nothing but regurgitate the exact same putrid fluid they suck from the mass media's teat.

If you don't know the current state of the topic you're discussing, leave it out.

[elbrando @ Mar 17th 2008 11:05AM]

Do you read Engadget often? They love the snarky sarcasm! Quite frequently, it's rather difficult to pick up on that sarcasm I'll grant you.

[Patriks7 @ Mar 17th 2008 10:50AM]

for the noobs around.. what are those "open standards"? :x

[ssuk @ Mar 17th 2008 11:15AM]

It basically means the console is open to everyone. Anyone who wants to make games for it can do. Even hobbyists. Where as consoles on the market now are of a 'closed standard' where people have to obtain licences and development kits to create content for the consoles.

It makes more sense if you're a software developer, but for the general public, all you have to know is that it means it'll be cheap to make games and distribute games for the console.

[kntgsp @ Mar 17th 2008 10:55AM]

I'll even offer a solution:

If you wanted to add something that might spark a bit of debate in the comments section, how about pointing out that the majority of continuous income in PC gaming comes mostly from WoW and The Sims. Two titles that rely on a steady income structure to help drive the product line. Something, ANYTHING that requires a little thought.

I realize it's Monday, but slam another cup of coffee or something.

[Fruition @ Mar 17th 2008 11:24AM]

"Don't start hawking your 360 and PS3 just yet"

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hawking&x=0&y=0

Don't worry, it'll be a long while before I hunt my PS3 with a bird of prey.

P.S. - The word you're searching for is "hocking".

[Far Fig Newton @ Mar 17th 2008 11:33AM]

It's there in the link you provided... kinda. Definition 4 I believe.

[VitalyTheUnknown @ Mar 17th 2008 11:43AM]

hawk - To peddle goods aggressively, especially by calling out (thefreedictionary.com)

[Fruition @ Mar 17th 2008 11:42AM]

Hmm. I do see that, but I prefer to live in the reality where I'm right and Engadget is wrong.

I'll be over in the corner, covering my ears and humming loudly.

[Cal @ Mar 17th 2008 1:01PM]

I always thought Hawking was a scientist, never realised he'd evolved into a verb

[m @ Mar 17th 2008 5:34PM]

no, fruition is right. selling aggressively is not the same as pawning. or pwning, for that matter.


http://www.answers.com/hock&r=67

hock 3 (hŏk) pronunciation Slang.
tr.v., hocked, hock·ing, hocks.

To pawn: hock a diamond ring.

[initialxy @ Mar 17th 2008 11:30AM]

hopefully it's not something like the phantom

[michael @ Mar 17th 2008 11:51AM]

it'll probably be more like the apple pippin.

[p3nis @ Mar 17th 2008 11:47AM]

i dont care as long as we get GTA IV

[Kris @ Mar 17th 2008 11:49AM]

"the struggling PC gaming market"

Engadget, are you kidding me? Do you bother to do _any_ research before commenting? The reason many were stating that PC gaming was failing was due to numbers the NPD group released stating that in 2007, only 14% of games sold were PC. The problem is they don't account for any type of digital distribution.

According to Game Daily [http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-pc-sales-decline-not-worrying/19192/?biz=1]:
"The PC games market is greatly impacted by digital downloads and subscriptions, so there is an undetermined amount of PC games industry revenue that isn't reflected in retail sales. As we've seen from a number of our studies, the PC continues to be a top platform in terms of total game playing time, so I don't think this slight decline in retail sales is anything more than a reflection of a shifting of distribution channels"

I really wish Engadget could show their bias less.

[Mike Jenkins @ Mar 19th 2008 5:58PM]

Someone already went on your pointless rant and someone else already responded. Try reading some comments before posting your own.

[Zoesch @ Mar 17th 2008 12:20PM]

It's great to see Acer resurrecting the MSX platform... I mean it was a good idea the first time around, it should be a great idea now. right?

(For those not versed in it, that was sarcasm)

I'm not a fan of the idea that one platform will be beneficial for everybody, it's beneficial only in terms of cost but at the expense of quality and variety of titles, not to mention, innovation.

[nathan.wong @ Mar 17th 2008 12:35PM]

This is what Trip Hawkins tried to do with his 3DO! Wow, history does repeat itself.

[BioWare #1 @ Mar 17th 2008 12:44PM]

Wong. James T. The T is for Tiberius.

Ahh.. anyway... of all the gaming fanboys that exist, none are worse than PC gaming fanboys. I've never seen comments that oozed with so much emotional hurt,
"Nuh-uhn stupid head, PC games are not struggling! I'mma tell my momma you said that!"

[kr @ Mar 17th 2008 10:06PM]

I would definitely venture to say that PS3 fanboys are the worst.

[Jon Acheson @ Mar 17th 2008 1:25PM]

What this really reminds me of is Apex's ApeXtreme box from 2004, which was another media/game PC that didn't see the light of day.

As with that one, it might be a nice cheap HTPC if it ever sees the light of day.

[akatsuki @ Mar 17th 2008 1:25PM]

Basically a reference PC gaming platform which would let developers assume certain things about the hardware and not waste time on drivers, etc...

Not a bad idea at all. The problem is getting games to be developed for it and making it cheap and interesting. That would be tough going.

[Frogboy @ Mar 17th 2008 2:17PM]

I actually thought of the Indrema while reading this. Unfortunately for Acer, the open-source home gaming console idea is past its prime. Homebrew coders, which these open systems usually rely on, for the most part aren't capable enough or don't have the time to make games that can utilize a powerful desktop computer. Handheld gaming devices like the upcoming Pandora will be much more powerful than most bedroom coders need, are easily portable, can be played anywhere and can also double as a home console by hooking it up to your TV and plugging in a couple of gamepads. With media center PCs becoming more and more common, I just don't see there being a niche left for something like this. It'd be kind of cool if they proved me wrong though.

[Mindfield @ Mar 17th 2008 2:20PM]

Hello, Acer. Have you met Indrema? No, probably not, but you two should get acquainted...

[hamster3000 @ Mar 17th 2008 3:45PM]

http://internetgames.about.com/library/weekly/aadiscovera.htm

[Richard @ Mar 17th 2008 3:55PM]

I may be missing the point here but I've always wondered why there isn't a mainstream pc out there that dual boots "Game Mode" and regular startup. "Game Mode" could have an XBOX 360'ish GUI. I'm not an expert by any means, infact I build buildings not computers, but it seams like a simple thing to do.

[eric cumbee @ Mar 17th 2008 6:01PM]

Acer.....Upstart? They have been making computers longer than upstart tech blog engadget has been around.

[kr @ Mar 17th 2008 10:10PM]

I didn't really get that either.

Now the obligatory wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_Inc.

[GLMcPheligan @ Mar 17th 2008 6:13PM]

koree

[sean Connolly @ Mar 18th 2008 10:02PM]

yeah okay 360 fanbois are the worst, then pc, than ps3, than ps2

[Mike Jenkins @ Mar 19th 2008 6:00PM]

PS3 fanboys are the worst by far. They're losing and can't accept that fact, so every little thing gets turned into a flame war.

[lizardking @ Mar 20th 2008 4:37PM]

right.. because 360 fans up until the news of the blu ray add on, were still saying hd dvd was better.


PS3 standard features. wifi, 40gb hd, blu ray, boots linux, wayyyy better media center than the 360. Hdmi support since the start.. rechargeable lithium ion controller.. free....$399.

360.. wireless internet $100, 20gb.. pretty dece.. does not boot linux, very okay media center capabilities... nothing compared to a ps3, or an orginal xbox media center. hd drive 50 dollars, bluray will probably be 100. play and charge kit for to replace the wireless controllers AA batteries.. 20 dollars. 349 before any add ons.

i see the xbox 3 out by end of 2009. There is no way the 360 will be able to keep up with the ps3 using dual layer dvd's.. just no way at all. I think 360 users will be seeing the first multi discs games quite soon here.

as well, 360 fabois.. lets take a moment to thank microsoft for the delay of GTA IV and mutilation of it.. because of the lack of space availible on the dual layer dvd.

k bye

[Teddles @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:51AM]

I think Lizardking just proved the whole PS3 fanboy point :p