EVO Linux game console now up for pre-order
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted April 3rd 2009 10:22AM
posted April 3rd 2009 10:22AM
The last time we heard from Envizions, the company was just starting to get its game plan together -- but it looks like the gears are officially in motion on its Linux-based game console. The final specs for the box now seem to be in place, with off-the-shelf components like the Athlon 64x2 5600 CPU (clocked to 2.4GHz), an ATI HD 3200 graphics chipset, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, and a 120GB hard drive filling out what is essentially a standard PC housing. Envizions say that the console will run a modified, quick-boot distro of Fedora called Mirrors (which can be upgraded to a beefier build named Mirrors Evolution X), and will feature a "cloud" service stacked with Amiga (!) games and an Akimbo-based video service. Beyond that, proper titles will be sold online and on SD cards for around $20. Envizions is currently taking pre-orders for the box, and say beta units will be shipped on April 10th. Pricing for those consoles will run between $280-350, while the final retail version can be had for $380, and should be available sometime in June. We have just two words of advice for the fledgling company: get some killer games on there fast, and please, please update your site.[Via Digg, Linux Devices]
I wonder at what point they're going to realize that this is going to be bought for around 20 people.
Interesting idea... but I don't get it.
Seriously.
Linux for the VAST majority is used by the DIY crowd.... and any of those people realize that we can build something at least as good, most likely much better, for the same price.
Who are they aiming at with this?
WTF..
Yeah, I'm confused too. My year-old budget machine has the same processor, similar quailty nvidia video card, and over-all very similar specs. I also run Fedora as my primary OS, and i have one of those usb dongles to use with my xbox360 controller, so does this mean I essentially have had one of these consoles for over a year?
Website states only 100 units are available to purchase. Hmm...
I already own a computer with similar specks. It's Linux so they have to release the source code for the OS . What's stopping me from compiling this with the drivers for my laptop? Nobody who would be interested in this is likely to buy it.
PS3 style controller? eww... already turned off.
Actually, it looks like the cheapo Logitech controller I bought back in 2003 or so, and that thing wasn't even as nice as a PS2 controller.
My favourite is the rebate page http://www.evosmartconsole.com/rebate.html
This is some seriously *non*-transparent marketing.
... and yet - I can't stop looking through the site! Argh!
EvoDirect has a bunch of circa-1998 games to download - all for Windows, of course... And you have to pay for them.
Linux games... wow - there's a law-suit waiting to happen! Are they legally allowed to make money from FOSS games?
Video on Demand is via "ReelTime.com", and the page for that has, in massive letters "ReelTime.com's REELCASH PROMOTION"!! If AdBlock could see Flash content, that shit would be outta there!
Go Green with Evo... god, get this: "Allowing users to stand yhe system horizontally or vertically helps to save space" - and the spelling mistake just gives it that extra touch of "Holy shit, is this real?"
Ahhhhhhhhhh HAHAHAHAHA!
Keep looking through the links guys - there's some gems in there:
http://www.evomc2.com
EvoSmart Formula2
Are you a college student cramming for a major test or assignment?
Does your occupation require thought, organization, and(or) intelligence?
Are you working on a social event party or banquet and need a drink that is satisfying and replenishes energy?
Are you awake at various times of the day and need help staying up?
Or do you just want to be seen drinking a drink that not only increases energy, but is designed to look trendy and sophisticated?
These guys make a fucking energy drink!
what a pos!
I'm interested in the OS and any services if they do plan to fulfill on that end. From reading up on the OS it looks like they are going to allow installation on any IBM-compatible (wow, really old term there) computer, which I take to mean any x86 computer.
That has got to be the worst internet advertisement strategy I have ever seen. It just not keeps me from buying the product it also make me not wanting to trust the brand. Wow Grade-F, +++ Terribad! Get an Agency!!!!!
Someone correct me if i'm wrong but this sould be able to run COD4 or Assassins Creed if linux versions were available. I saw some youtube videos of these games running on a very similar spec system. It's still overpriced though so I don't think it will take off.
380 to play Amiga games? I don't think so. lol
I think this is another example of someone trying to market Open Source as THE compelling feature in offering a product. An overwhelming majority has no idea what open source is, and could care less about it. So using that as your strongest selling point is just setting yourself up for failure.
That is not to say Open Source could not work, but you have to use it as a tool to do things that have never been done before. A quick example, lets say this thing came out, and had an App Store like the iPhone, that allowed any developer the right to publish their games. Now you have a simple easy distribution model that cuts out the traditional one. (Game Stop, Best Buy, etc…) Make is easy for people to get Dev Kits and produce games. Allow fair pricing on software in this Game Store. Not everything has to be Open Source, so as not to keep away the EA’s, UbiSoft’s, Square’s of the world. But have a provision that every game should allow some sort of user generation content where appropriate.
Make a kick a** game, some FPS, allow users to create there own maps, weapons, etc… Have a voting system for this content, stuff that gets voted up, becomes part of the distro of this “Open” game.
With ideas like that, you start to use the Open Source “feature” to do things that the existing players do not, and now you have a real compelling reason to buy this system.
OK $350 for this... Or for another $50.00 I can get a PS3 and watch BluRay movies, PLUS install Linux on it!
Oh no! It's the Phantom all over again... except without the cool keyboard! I still have a glow in the dark promotional shirt from those people that i got at e3 eons ago.
I think I just threw up a little.
If it had some good games that I can't play on my XBox 360, then I would consider getting the Evo Basic Windows version, so I could have Windows (propbably CE), a mouse, and a keyboard.
this is going to end very badly for Evo...............
"what is essentially a standard PC housing"........seriously
tomo
Linux game also came into the market, nothing is impossible. It seems the game world will be more lively
linux game also came into the market, nothing is impossible. It seems the game world will be more lively
Eric Lam
www.1gameconsole.com
That's a good news , TV game console will be add one member!!
Eric Lam
www.1gameconsole.com
I happen to have a Quad core with 6Gb of Ram Raid Disks 7.1 Surround and one bigt Phat Nvidia Card.
It happens to be capable of running Linux and Windows
I'm able to use my Xbox360 Controller on it. (Win and Nix)
I can even play Games on it!!!!
I think I'm done here. ;-)
I don't even see how any modern games would run on this. HD3200 (this would be a IGP) can play WoW on a 22" display. However anything "serious" NO it just won't do it without looking bad.
Now if we're talking about typical SD TV resolutions then it could run many games. However its about 2-5 years too late for that, let's face it the only people without a high tech display at this point -
1) Don't watch TV
2) Can't afford the upgrade especially now
3) Doesn't know what HDTV is and what the fuss is over
Let's not forget that the PS3 and Xbox 360 were based on the GPU technology available at the time of release. For Xbox I would think that's x series ATI and for Sony 8xxx series Nvidia, which have all been eclipsed in the PC market.
HD3200 will run HD up to 1080p but I don't see how you can do a game like GRID, turn all the effects on and still have it run smoothly@60fps, even with a severely cut down OS.
I think anybody can pick up a inexpensive barebones with the same chipset, add a CPU, Memory and smaller SATA drive and you can run some 2005 games on it MAYBE at reduced resolution.
I think this will be stuck with doing late PS1 era 3d graphics since this much power will run ePSX just fine.