PC/Console Hybrid

[Bijo]

Bear with me and my brainstorming mind.


Really, I don't know whether there is already something like it. The Xbox and the Xbox 360 remind me a little bit of the idea I am about to display but I am uncertain whether they are really the principle I had.


One problem in PC gaming is the high upkeep for users of PCs. Having to upgrade one's machine many a time to be able to play games comfortably can be quite heavy on one's resources. There must be a solution (besides being a super thief and such).

When regarding console gaming it seems quite simple: you buy a console which remains "good" and a standard for a long while and it won't cost you that much as you only purchase the apparatus once (usually), buy a controller or a few (or you already have some left that are compatible with your new console), and get games.

With PC gaming you buy a machine that would cost you much more than a game console. Prices can go very high and development and releases of PC hardware and software goes faster, is more necessary, and probably even accelerates as we speak.

Let this information which you probably are knowledgeable about already sink further into your brain to grasp you.

Now, let us mix the two concepts of game consoles and PCs.

What about a machine that is constructed that behaves like both? What about a machine that finds the balance between the two, compromises, and comes out as a fine alternative to the PC AND consoles?

I'm thinking of a machine that is, much like a game console, standardized every few acceptable years, generations. It has standard hardware carefully selected to construct a good piece of equipment with most, if not all, advantages of the console (easy development, good price, standardization, durability, etc.).

Now let us include the PC part. What makes the PC so nice is its versatility and the abilities to typically use mice and keyboards and such, as well as typical PC software. Connections to internet, ability to download easily, use software, etc.

This machine could be called a hybrid of the concepts of PC and game console. Its purpose is to play games that come on PC DVDs or CDs like usually for the normal PC (so conventional DVDs/CDs can be used); to have (limited) ability to do typical PC activities; to be a cheaper alternative to PCs; to be versatile; all the relevant points made earlier in this post.

The standardized machine would consist of PC hardware adapted "to be like a console, yet it is a PC."

Its price would be like consoles, perhaps a bit more expensive, and much cheaper than PCs.

Due to easiness of development (as a console-like manner for programming is used, and that they would finetune and optimize it to its highest functionality) game developers would -- before they would even think of /make a game for a WIDE range of PCs -- make it for this "hybrid" as their game would be totally optimized for it and looking good. Since ordinary DVDs/CDs would be used, the games will be able to be played on "normal modern PCs" as well.

The operating system to be used would be one of the typical ones (Windows, Linux, or MacOS) probably a version of Windows. The machine would also be used like a desktop PC as things such as visual monitors, audio monitors, keyboards, mice, etc., must all be purchased separately (or one already has them of course and can re-use them in the future for instance).

POINTS SUMMARIZED:

PC/console hybrid
standardization of hardware (in console fashion and PC fashion)
standardization of software (in console and PC fashion)
good price
used like a PC (albeit perhaps a bit limited, but functional enough)
easy development (console fashion)
finetuning/optimization
game DVDs can be used for "normal PCs" for the "hardcore PC gamers and tweakers"

---- popping in the DVD will autostart the game as if it is a console ----
---- popping in the DVD if it's a normal PC will start normal installation ----


Now it is time for a beer.

[doc_bean]

Sounds a lot like the 360 or even ps3 (in hype stage).

The problem is not the concept, it's the market. Getting console users to use a keyboard and mouse seems difficult, the majority is used to playing laid back on the couch. Getting PC gamers to 'settle' for a certain standard of hardware is equally hard.

A lot of people use both, so you'd figure a hybrid would be a feasible idea, but apperantly, at the moment, it just doesn't work.

[Bijo]

The problem is not the concept, it's the market. Getting console users to use a keyboard and mouse seems difficult, the majority is used to playing laid back on the couch. Getting PC gamers to 'settle' for a certain standard of hardware is equally hard.
Hmmm, but it would still be possible for console gamers to play laid back on a couch, since the thing would use conventional methods for connection to TVs if necessary instead of a PC monitor. And since the machine would have PC features, it would have USB ports and the likes to easily connect controllers (or use adapters to allow original console controllers). The console users wouldn't have much trouble.

About standardizing hardware for PC users...
Obviously such a system would be aimed at people in between both worlds (or wanting something like it), having a balanced design and nature. It would not be necessarily aimed at PC users who do NOT want standard hardware but for those who wouldn't mind. And there's still the matter that "hardcore PC users" would still be able to play normally on their PCs using normal installations and such.

I see no problem, except for the market of which you spoke, that it somehow doesn't work (yet), but it should. And everything is possible. A PC/console hybrid is what it must be in the future as a newly added classification of computers. It could have many other positive influences too.

[Lemur]

I'm putting all my money down on the Infinium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinium_Labs) Phantom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_(game_system)). Finally, a true PC on a console. Just waiting for my pre-order to get filled, don't know what's taking them so durn long ...

[Phatose]

Really, all you'd need to do to kill off the last of PC gaming these days is to start shipping keyboard and mouse along with a PS3 or X360. Both machines already can output HDTV via DVI or HDMI, which means it's pretty much video compatible with any monitor you can find, assuming you put in some resolution tweaking. USB already exists on both consoles, if I'm not mistaken.

The reason PC gaming still exists is the keyboard/mouse combo, and though you can buy usb keyboard/mice cheaply and use them on either, developers are loathe to target input devices that a great majority of users don't have.

[Husar]

Well, it seems that as consoles actually move closer to being such hybrids, their price also increases a lot.

PCs are very customizable and enable you to do a lot of things, I can play a game, make a screenshot, edit that screenshot and then print it and send a copy to my friend over the net. And given the right drivers I can connect almost any piece of Hardware to a PC and I guess it's this ability that usually costs a lot, in comparison, consoles are communism.

I once played some Lara croft game on the PS2 IIRC and had tried the demo on my not really new PC before. Well, the gameplay was a lot more fluent on the PC whereas the standard settings on the console made the game feel like it was running in slow-motion all the time. The best guess I have is that they wanted to have good graphics and had to slow down most calculations to enable enough power to calculate the graphics without making it stutter on the console or it's something to do with the controls, but it definitely was more fun on the PC even if it didn't look as good.

The problem with this sort of hybrid could easily be that you have to buy the next newer version of the hybrid every half a year because game developers want to show off some graphics and thus games won't run on your hybrid anymore. And similar to the console market, there could be different hybrids from different companies which aren't cross compatible, compatibility is what PCs are for, too much standardization can lead to less standardization when competing companies are involved. I think if what you want was possible some company would have done it already.

[Bootsiuv]

I've often found games like Lara Croft's Tomb Raider(currently enjoying Angel of Darkness), somewhat difficult using mouse/keyboard, and as for PC controllers, while I love my Saitek P2500 Rumble Force Pad, it is often somewhat "clunky" as well.

While games like Resident Evil 4 (a fantastic game btw, I recommend it to all of those who loved the RE series back in the PS1 days) play well enough, some real classics such as GTA:San Andreas are all but unplayable. Some buttons don't work right, and there isn't eveb an option to change every control....some things have to be controlled by the keyboard, which makes play awkward, especially during missions which require precise button/analog combinations.

I've also never had one game rumble with the damn thing....I've actually been thinking of picking up an Xbox 360 controller to use with my PC....I'm a loyal follower of PC GAMER, and they strongly recommended it, so I figured I might give it a whirl.