Would an Homebrew Console Be a Realistic Venture and What Would you Need ?

The systems on sale today are great in their own way but none apart from the made for homebrew GP2X handheld console support Homebrew and Emulation.

So what got me thinking is could a Homebrew Console (like a Wii/PS3 etc) be done and done cheaply but with a decent enough spec for Homebrewers and Independent Programmers to learn their craft on.

Any homebrew console really would need i would say a processor of 700Mhz, at least 64MB of ram or even 128mb ram. A decent graphics chip that can do 2d and 3D.

For storage and maybe a virtual Memory option say use SD Cards, cd/dvd drives are expensive and break a lot so a static device would be longer lasting ?

Maybe USB ports and possibly a VGA Out.

You can see where im going with this but for what price could this realistically be done and also what specs would you include. I for one think Wifi would be needed for Online Homebrew games.

Now if only someone would take this Dream and develop it.

Thoughts?

If it was to bee good, you would need some really dedicated programmers.

bull, x.

There is one thing with all of that already included... it's called a PC

A homebrew console don't sell well.

1 ghz processor, 256 mb of ram, 40 gb hard drive, and it would cost $300.

using microatx you could build a pc based system such as the one SSaxdude said whilst staying small, and have it running some form of linux. would be more than powerfull enough whislt being quite well priced.

spec somehting in the region of 1-15ghz cpu, 256mb ram, 40gig hdd that could be upgraded, dvd drive and some cheap graphics card with 128mb ram

Depends on if you're going to be designing a new dedicated processor. Masks alone for those cost $2 million. I'm sure you could talk some chip manufacturer into letting them use their technology for a price, though...

chip an xbox and you have exactly what you want all very cheap too less than £100

wouldnt it be a homebrew
not an homebrew

I think the GP2X is the closest you're going to get

Well thinkk about about it this way. Why would you make a homebrew app for a homebrew console, when you can easily make it for a pc. Most homebrew people don't make complex games or apps. And even if they did, they would probably make it for a pc that can use usb gamepads instead of a homebrew console that essentiallly does the same thing. the only way i can see that happening is if the console was ultra portable (like the size of 2 psps stacked on each other and had wireless everything

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Originally Posted by tgm123

chip an xbox and you have exactly what you want all very cheap too less than £100

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Exactly what I was going to mention.

What about the PSP, I think we forgot about that...

Well to be true homebrew it will have keyboard support and include a user friendly but very powerful programming language program that even joe blogs could use. I think also it will need support for all sorts of readable media,a fast cpu processor, wifi,bluetooth and 3G support internet ready, 1 Terabyte of ram and able to process next gen graphics, Also I think it should look cool and not out of place in your living room. Why not use a mac or a PC or even a Windows Mobile smartphone then??

In fact I had an idea for a homebrew console quite a while ago. I think Its a great idea. however the homebrew scene would need to grow a little, we need more people interested in this idea. maybe some hard moders could come up with a few ideas based on pc parts or something ?

I have a 300 gig hard drive in my xbox and emulate everything from crappy calculators right up to Playstation 1, Not that well though but the rest are perfect emulators including N64, it can even run linux and emulate windows 98 what more could you ask for?

And immagine the emulation possibilities with the Xbox 360? A triple core processor running at approx 9ghz!!!!!!!

Yeah, I probably wouldn't waste my money on it. What would it be able to do that a PC can't? At least with the gp2x it's a handheld.

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Originally Posted by dzeikei

There is one thing with all of that already included... it's called a PC

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Originally Posted by JKKDARK

A homebrew console don't sell well.

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Yep.

Hi!

I have such a thing: A notebook! In my opinion it is perfect for this.

But i would like to have a small handheld with homebrew software - especially emulators. I can imagine a fast version of the gp2x. Today a 600Mhz handheld is possible. How about a quad core cpu?

And a display like a psp, but a touchscreen like on pocket pcs. So emulation of systems that have a mouse would be possible.

Those were just some ideas...

Greetings

Tobias

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Originally Posted by dzeikei

There is one thing with all of that already included... it's called a PC

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Discussion over.

You don't have to chip an Xbox just a soft mod. Its gotten to be easier than the old Dreamcast days. The Xbox also make great media extenders. I can keep my videos on my pc and stream them to my TV through the Xbox not to mention all of the emulation and old pc ports to the xbox.

If you don't have a Xbox you better get one because the market for the used ones is already starting to go back up and I suspect just for this reason. It is close to perfect for a homebrew console.

The PS3 running Linux to my understanding only runs slightly faster or about equal to a 800MHz PC and it costs 5 times as much as a used Xbox.

I err .third or forth the whole xbrick idea, however i think it isn't exactly what is asked for, a homebrew console being one made just for that, and with surrport and to make it easy for stuff to be developed for it .. or something ..

this is what you want...
..it even comes with a handle.
http://206.14.132.88/products/Travla/c134/C134.html

Yeah I say that the PC is the greatest homebrew console ever but to have a decent one it may cost you a lot of money.

If I were to say the specs on a good homebrew console I would go with a 1ghz x86 cpu, 256mb shared ram, decent video chipset, 40gb upgradeable HDD, Standard dvd drive, Ethernet for ftp/online. usb ports, customizable linux os. $200

But basically what you are buying is a cheap linux box. So I don't think that now days something like that would sell.

I love my XBOX. Playing most all games with an actual controller on my TV is amazing. I need a good/full set of DOS games though, for memory sakes.

The main thing it needs is for EPSXE to pull the stick out of their ass and release the source to people can port it to xbox. PCSXE is a ****ing terrible emulator about 75% of the time.

um, xgp anyone?

Won't a PS3 running Linux do what you want?

Wow, I had no idea that the XBOX was such a versatile homebrew mega-machine. Full speed N64 Emulator? Damn.

I actually saved my old XBOX and it is in great condition. I want to soft mod it but I'm not sure if I can. What if I played Halo 2 on XBOX live a while back? I'm sure Microsoft put some sort of update on it to not allow soft mod, right?

I have one of the games that has the linux installer but now I need Action Replay right?

I believe it could be done by reengineering a version of linux, almost like TIVO. Next create a battleplan of what specifics are needed. For example, Decide whats going to be the lowest processor to be supported and create everything to work off of that. For instance, If someone has a more powerful machine.. it wont take anymore advantage than the lowest processor speed supported (just to keep development on a level playing field).
Next after some standard like that is created license it out the OS like what was done with the 3DO back in the early 90's. Except.. don't hire Trip to run it. =)
The problem that I have lies with getting people to trust it with their dollars as a platform. I have tried many different "based on open source" products and I have mixed feelings on it. Tivo is impressive and I'm not too thrilled with the gp2x.. The unit itself is kind of cool but the corporate support really sucks. So if you could get a decent group of people behind it, it may be a cool idea to build not just for video games but as a complete media center solution.

-JV

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Originally Posted by StormB

I think the GP2X is the closest you're going to get

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Yeah, and it has a TV out :)


Other than that, you can produce and sell homebrew games for Dreamcast, so that's probably the closest to what you've described.

I think it would run a version of linux designed to boot quickly and require minimal user intervention (ie a nice graphic display controllable with a joypad used to select items on screen) so the user has the benefits of a console and a pc without needing to be a pc savvy person.

I think a 1.5 Ghz cpu, 40 Gb hdd, low cost Nvidia gfx card with tv out (say one of the 6600 series?), wireless networking card and digital joypad would be good.

While it is true such a thing is essentially a pc it is a very user friendly one requiring minimal user knowledge and intervention and people would pay for a decent console system able to play films, music, games, emulators etcetera out of the box.

That`s one thing that attracted me to the GP2X and before that the Xbox (once it had been altered to have XMBC on it).

People will pay for an all in one unit :)

As a few have already suggested ,a pc is the best you'll get.

How about a 3.2 Cell cpu, 256 of ram, 60 GB HDD, WiFi, 500 mhz GPU, BR DVD Drive, HDMI, bluetooth, PS3 and Wii controller support, custom Linux OS and for under cost price of about $600.

If you have not guest I'm talking about the PS3 with a customized Linux OS made for games. I think homebrew works best on hijack hardware. A PS3 and Wii controller are just the best combo.

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Originally Posted by spudhead2121

How about a 3.2 Cell cpu, 256 of ram, 60 GB HDD, WiFi, 500 mhz GPU, BR DVD Drive, HDMI, bluetooth, PS3 and Wii controller support, custom Linux OS and for under cost price of about $600.

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with the luck they've been having it REALLY doesn't inspire confidence in "made with open source products" does it? I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool to hack it though.

yur cpu n ram choices carry a hefty price tag

The dreamcast fitted the bill nicely as far as the homebrew scene, would be nice if there was a dreamcast 2.0, updating the system but keeping the lack of protection intact

There wouldn't be much of a reason to choose a homebrew console over a pc.
The only advantage would be that it would provide developers with a standardized
platform which would reduce, if not eliminate, hardware compatibility issues.

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Originally Posted by Veskgar

Wow, I had no idea that the XBOX was such a versatile homebrew mega-machine. Full speed N64 Emulator? Damn.

I actually saved my old XBOX and it is in great condition. I want to soft mod it but I'm not sure if I can. What if I played Halo 2 on XBOX live a while back? I'm sure Microsoft put some sort of update on it to not allow soft mod, right?

I have one of the games that has the linux installer but now I need Action Replay right?

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Actualy you can get on live with a softod but you have to use one of the new ones. If you want the know how go here and start reading the forums

http://www.xbox-hq.com/html/

everything that you would need to know is there tons of VIP members to help out as well.

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Originally Posted by scarph

wouldnt it be a homebrew
not an homebrew

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Not if you're a Brit, like Wraggy.

In proper English, the letter "h" is always preceded by the article "an" rather than "a". I think it has something to do with the fact that the "h" is supposed to be a silent letter when properly pronounced.

Anyway - I really don't think a homebrew console would get very far, as software is where console manufacturers make most of their money.

I could definitely see making a reasonably sized computer case, and placing some decent hardware inside, then making it compatible with televisions, but it would never really make any money for anyone.

yeah a pc does it for sure or if you like console games as well go for an xbox
I'd save my xbox after my missus if my house was burning!! it has 2x250 GB HDD`s and a 10GB (for Linux)
I have about 1GB of homebrew and HEAPS of emulators
its my multimedia and gaming heart.. Id be lost without it!!