Google to create own console [WSJ] - Spec Speculation begin!

[MisterMac]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...571992848684764.html?mod=WSJ_Tech_LEFTTopNews


Release perhaps in time for christmas sales.

What i'm interested in - what will power it?


Will it be casual and just some ARM licensed simple core - or could the Intel going to nuclear war on android\mobile optimization perhaps lead to a ULV haswell CPU inside?


I haven't heard much of this - so if people know rumours or anything.
Let's due what we do best - speculate and b*tch and argue

 

[ShintaiDK]

I think google rather wants a TV settop, that may or may not be able to play some flash games.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I thought I saw that it was arm based.

 

[zebrax2]

I think it needs to be <150$ to be really successful otherwise it would be stepping pretty close to the current gen console territory

 

[frozentundra123456]

I think it needs to be <150$ to be really successful otherwise it would be stepping pretty close to the current gen console territory

I agree. I think it is going to be very hard for new consoles to compete with the PS4. If you want to play simple, casual type games you can already do that on your phone.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Because people need yet another box in addition to all the other usual stuff alongside their TVs.

 

[NTMBK]

AMD semicustom APU, anyone?

In all seriousness though, probably something like a high-clocked Tegra 4.

 

[zebrax2]

Because people need yet another box in addition to all the other usual stuff alongside their TVs.

It could be a pretty good media player and retro gaming machine with emulators and remakes of retro games available on android

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Maybe something to replace the Q?

 

[nehalem256]

I have a hard time believing they would go the route of making a full fledged PS4esque console.

Probably something like a screenless Nexus tablet than can be easily hooked to your tv for web browsing and media consumption.

 

[laputan machine]

I imagine it will be like a cross between an apple tv and an ouya. Tegra 4 would make a lot of sense in such a setup.

 

[Chiropteran]

I think google rather wants a TV settop, that may or may not be able to play some flash games.

Android games are not flash games, lol. For someone who cares a great deal about gaming benchmarks when comparing AMD & Intel, you seem to lack a lot of basic gaming knowledge.

I think google simply saw how successful things like Ouya are and wants to get in on the action. I would absolutely buy one, if it's $199 or less, given google's track record (loved the Galaxy Nexus, love my Nexus 7).

 

[Idontcare]

Given the existing portfolio of games that have already been created for Android, it would make sense for Google to just upscale that to a console. Same OS, same hardware basis, etc.

The challenge will be that games developed for google's platform to-date are all based around having a touchscreen as the primary user-interface, whereas consoles are generally not touch-screens.

So the challenge in my mind for google is adapting games to the console market with the gaming handsets.

If they can do it then they could have the next Wii - fun games the family can enjoy playing together instead of on their tiny phone screens.

 

[MisterMac]

Given the existing portfolio of games that have already been created for Android, it would make sense for Google to just upscale that to a console. Same OS, same hardware basis, etc.

The challenge will be that games developed for google's platform to-date are all based around having a touchscreen as the primary user-interface, whereas consoles are generally not touch-screens.

So the challenge in my mind for google is adapting games to the console market with the gaming handsets.

If they can do it then they could have the next Wii - fun games the family can enjoy playing together instead of on their tiny phone screens.

Yeah - that's my initial thought too.


But given that - they'd also have to make it more future proof than phones.

Which in my mind - makes ARM a tough sell absolute performance wise.
That puts them in AMD\Intel territory.

Intel has been agressively optimizing for the x86 android versions - and it would put some "connection" to their "Intel Media" venture.

Perhaps some sort of joint workings here.
It would give Intel more clout in the overall arena imho.

But it's all speculative of course.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Android games are not flash games, lol. For someone who cares a great deal about gaming benchmarks when comparing AMD & Intel, you seem to lack a lot of basic gaming knowledge.

I guess someone as educated as you should have known this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vkrun.flashgameplayer&hl=en
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/play-any-flash-game-on-android-with-flash-game-player/

You can use Flash games as well as the regular.

 

[Exophase]

I think google rather wants a TV settop, that may or may not be able to play some flash games.

lolz flash games. Google already did a TV settop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV), it ran Android and eventually normal Android software/games too (much like any old cheapo HDMI stick will). I don't think Google wants to merely take another stab on that saturated market it flopped in.

I guess someone as educated as you should have known this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vkrun.flashgameplayer&hl=en
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/play-any-flash-game-on-android-with-flash-game-player/

You can use Flash games as well as the regular.

By that logic I guess you describe your PC as something that can play some flash games too.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Google already did a TV settop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV), it ran Android and eventually normal Android software/games too (much like any old cheapo HDMI stick will). I don't think Google wants to merely take another stab on that saturated market it flopped in.

But we are not in 2010 anymore. And MS for example put a huge effort to push TV features on the Xbox One.

By that logic I guess you describe your PC as something that can play some flash games too.

Flash games, nomatter if we like it or not, is extremely popular on the PC.

 

[Exophase]

Flash games, nomatter if we like it or not, is extremely popular on the PC.

Oh, so that IS how you describe your PC then.

Next thread: "I hear Steam is releasing a console."
ShintaiDX: "It may or may not be able to play some flash games."

 

[ShintaiDK]

Oh, so that IS how you describe your PC then.

Next thread: "I hear Steam is releasing a console."
ShintaiDX: "It may or may not be able to play some flash games."

Keep trolling. :whiste:

Steam already distributes Flash games.

Both of you take it down a notch or you'll both get infractions for trolling
-ViRGE

 

[ViRGE]

But given that - they'd also have to make it more future proof than phones.

Which in my mind - makes ARM a tough sell absolute performance wise.
That puts them in AMD\Intel territory.

On an absolute basis ARM performance isn't great. But if they're just going to make a more Androidized Oyua? They wouldn't need high performance any more than Oyua did. The implication being that this is just going to be a box to run Android games.

If that's the case, then all they'd really need is a quad core ARM CPU with an OpenGL ES 3.0 GPU (future-proof specs), and they'd have something powerful enough to play Android games for years. A Snapdragon would fit the bill there, as would any kind of quad A15 + Mali SoC (if one hits the market in time).

 

[podspi]

I think google rather wants a TV settop, that may or may not be able to play some flash games.

You have to wonder who is driving the strategy at Google if this is true.

Given that they purchased and sold a major set top box manufacturer already...


It makes a lot of sense for Google to want to get into the settop industry, I just don't understand why they sold off their set top box department in the first place

 

[ShintaiDK]

You have to wonder who is driving the strategy at Google if this is true.

Given that they purchased and sold a major set top box manufacturer already...


It makes a lot of sense for Google to want to get into the settop industry, I just don't understand why they sold off their set top box department in the first place

Google and products not going anywhere is nothing new. But going into (pure) gaming consoles makes absolutely no sense. Just look at the economic pain MS and Sony suffers from their consoles. And now the collapsing sales for Nintendo.

On top of that, MS essentially talked TV like if they got money each time it was said at the Xbox One show. And the next big thing is IP TV with full functionality and services. Gaming just seems to be somewhat secondary. And everyone wants to sell you a service you constantly need.

 

[moonbogg]

Hmm...I am not against a garbage google console, but I am for a powerful one.

 

[Exophase]

It's a given that Google isn't going to sell a pure console, although I'm not sure you could say that MS or even Sony is really selling pure consoles anymore either. Really depends on what you mean with this. Goes without saying that anything Google sells will have a big focus on non-gaming capabilities too.

I think the real points of interest that'd make it qualify as a "console" are this:

1) Comes with some kind of physical controller
2) Google is encouraging developers to make games that are optimized for physical controllers and sitting down and playing them at a TV

I don't think Google is going to go for big name exclusives and the whole razor and blades strategy. They may just as well be simultaneously promoting the bevy of other Android consoles out or coming out (again, console meaning Android set-top or TV friendly device with a controller advertized as being gaming optimized), including Shield. Throwing their own console into a mix would be a good way to boost the entire Android console scene, same way their current Nexus products boost Android phones and tablets.

 

[Kenmitch]

Given the existing portfolio of games that have already been created for Android, it would make sense for Google to just upscale that to a console. Same OS, same hardware basis, etc.

The challenge will be that games developed for google's platform to-date are all based around having a touchscreen as the primary user-interface, whereas consoles are generally not touch-screens.

So the challenge in my mind for google is adapting games to the console market with the gaming handsets.

If they can do it then they could have the next Wii - fun games the family can enjoy playing together instead of on their tiny phone screens.

Simple solution. Make google app that turns ones smartphone into the controller. Keeps cost of alleged console down. Gives customers the choice of controller size. Seems like it's doable as most smartphones have Bluetooth anyways.