Linux-based Evo "Smart Console" now up for pre-order
By Donald Melanson 
posted October 22nd 2008 2:47PM
posted October 22nd 2008 2:47PM
While any announcement of a new game console is rightly going to be greeting with a hefty amount of skepticism, it looks like this new Evo "Smart Console" from upstart Envizions Computer Entertainment could be a bit of a unique case and, as Pandora has shown, sometimes these things do actually pan out. Working in the Evo's favor is the fact that it's really nothing more than a Linux-based computer that relies entirely on off the shelf parts like an overclocked Athlon 64x2 5600 processor and ATI Radeon 3200 graphics. The more ambitious, and potentially vaporware bit, is Envizions' hopes for the system as a game development platform and a cloud computing device of sorts. Apparently, it's betting on developers tailoring games specifically for the system and selling 'em through its proposed Evo Network, which Envizions CEO Derrick Samuels says would "give Linux game developers a chance to make some money." The company also says that a subsidized rebate plan will eventually bring the price of the console down to $250, but it'll run a full $600 out of the gate, and Envizions will gladly take a $100 deposit right now from anyone willing to reserve one of the first few consoles that'll supposedly start shipping on November 20th.
[Via thegadgetsite]
[Via thegadgetsite]
I don't think brand has anything to do with it. Look up the Indrema Wiki. This is nothing more than a reheated idea.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad idea. I think that if these guys are confident that can get developers to make games on a brand new platform why not rally developers to do regular Linux games on a regular x86 PC.
What would be the incentive to create games on this? Cheap dev kits? No license fees? To most game deveplers that's a small price compared to the number of consoles on the market. You can make a decent profit if you release an independent game on Nintendo WiiWare, or Xbox Live Arcade, as opposed to a system that runs Linux.
@TheHyena: No offense, but that's exactly the mindset I was referring to. Major publishers? Gaming isn't all about major publishers. Indie and homebrew developers are producing some amazing stuff these days. Some of it gets consumed by millions of people via XBLA and WiiWare. ;-) Some of it never ventures outside Linux circles or other niche communities. It's a big scene, but it doesn't need to revolve around big business.
Products like this one, even if it doesn't last, are just the tip of the iceberg. As for the price, it's just for the initial units. Even the first Pandora dev prototypes cost over $1000.
If it were me, rather than building hardware from scratch, I focus on the OS and game developers, and partner with some low end PC maker from Taiwan, or who is making those new nettop PCs. I would create a streamlined version of Linux, taking a page from MythTV. It wouldn't need to be too high end to sell to the masses. Get rid of the optical drives, put in a 120GB harddrive, and WiFi. Garnish with Bluetooth, and mediacard readers. Sell the box for $200 or less and include a free online service to download games and etc...
@PW
Believe me, I like Indie games. Urban Terror is one of my favorite games, and I play it 2+ hours a day on average. It's just that the quantity of quality, complete indie games just isn't enough. I know you say that it's a big scene, but I don't really see much in the way of cool, decent freeware stuff, and a lot of the £5 small house stuff is just puzzle game shovelware. With game development times and costs as high as they are for full length 3D games, or even full length 2D adventure/shooters, it's a hard task for people working for nothing.
Offtopic @ theHyena: UrbanTerror rocks! (well at least that fancy video game thing, please NSA don't kick down my door, my landlord would be sooo, like, totally mad.
*sigh* I really love my Linux machine, helped me kick that filthy Microsoft habit but stuff like this makes me question the integrity of some of the things called "Linux" out there. What good is this box, shit graphics, underwhelming specs and an epic lack of people that are actually writing games for Linux (at least from a modern standards point of view). While I can clearly see trends emerging for Linux as a desktop OS the big companies have dug themselves some trenches in the console market that they're not going to give up very easily. If multi-billion dollar Microsoft can't live up to veteran Nintendo how would this EVO (Epic Vaporware Offer?) stand up? *sigh again*
I would buy this for the pure fact that it supports linux gaming, and also as a desktop pc its not that bad for the price (especially with the rebate), dvd players used to cost $600 when they first came out and people still bought them. I agree as far as linux gaming becoming main stream, it won't happen for a long time, the entire concept of linux is community, if a distro doesn't have a good community behind it it won't do well, which is one of the reasons ubuntu has done so well, it has a huge active community. I like the concept of a gaming console for linux games, we just need to get some people to develop some decent games for it.
So, what they really mean is that they support cross-platform gaming. I mean, if they encourage you to install whatever OS you want and even will sell you a unit with XP on it then the games that people make for it will have to work cross-platform. That kind of defeats the idea of a gaming console. Buy our console so that you can play these games...that play on any computer out there. At least most linux devs are already used to programming this way.
I doubt that the "green" approach is going to sell many units.
All of these references to "cloud" are kind of disturbing especially considering what clouds are made of.
I'd love to know how much money has gone into R&D for this thing so far.
Love to see it work out but chances are I'll pick one up when they are dumping them off for next to nothing after ECE goes belly up.
as much as i love linux and as much as i'd love to see something like this succeed, this particular product is a joke, i literally spewed coffee all over my crotch when i found their website. It's so 1992.
seriously, go to http://envizionsinc.com/index.html
the music sounds like you accidently opened 2 videos on youtube at the same time, then click on the evo tv link, look at some of that stuff, it's laughable.
now i have to change my pants and get a new coffee