6 game systems, personal computers, and hardware

6

Game Systems, Personal

Computers, and Hardware

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

Generation 7 Dedicated Game System Consoles

• Major systems: PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii


Generation 7 Dedicated Game System Consoles


PlayStation 3

• Manufactured by Sony• Most costly game console to manufacture• Most advance piece of consumer hardware


PlayStation 3 Hardware

• CELL processor architecture• Fast parallel processing• Many things calculated at the same time• Synergistic processing elements (SPE)• 1.8 trillion FLOPS

• Costly to manufacture• Sold to consumers below manufacturing cost• Sony lost as much as $600 on each PS3 sold



• CELL architecture used in the PS3



• Based on cost per gigaFLOP, the PS3 would have cost $1,800,000 in 2000


PlayStation 3 Multimedia Gaming Platform

• Blu-Ray disc• Same physical size as CD or standard DVD• Currently holds six times more than DVD• Smaller laser width (blue-light laser) writes more in the

same space


PlayStation 3 USP

• Greatest computing power of the major game consoles

• Games making use of PS3 power can only play on the PS3

• Multimedia system with Blu-Ray• Free online play


PlayStation 3 Issues

• Last Generation 7 game console to market• Highest price of the Generation 7 consoles• No strong exclusive game titles• USP of computing power not valued by

consumers



• Porting games that take advantage of PS3 power impossible without reducing quality

• Not enough market share • Third-party games made for Xbox 360, then ported to

PS3• Games not designed to take advantage of the PS3 USP



• Hardware deconstruction• Parts cost more than assembled PS3• Taken apart for the expensive components

• Alternative uses• Superfast desktop PC• Mini mainframe or server


Xbox 360

• Manufactured by Microsoft• First Generation 7 console to hit the market• Very powerful computer


Xbox 360 Hardware

• CPU is 3.2 GHz triple-core processor• Computing power is 1.0 teraFLOPS• Unified shader GPU


Xbox 360 Hardware

• Based on cost per gigaFLOP, the Xbox 360 would have cost $1,000,000 in 2000• Sold to consumers below initial manufacturing cost• Microsoft lost about $70 on each Xbox 360 sold• Eventually, manufacturing costs decreased and

Microsoft made a profit on consoles

• Optical disc (DVD) storage


Xbox 360 USP

• Fast; great computing power• First Generation 7 console to market• Strong proprietary game inventory (Halo)• Console price was not too high• High volume of online play


Xbox 360 USP

• The Halo franchise is a great USP for the Xbox 360


The Halo Effect

• Halo 3 released September 27, 2007• In first 12 days of sales:

• Sold more than 3 million copies• Outsold Wii Play total to date for the year• Xbox 360 console sales saw huge increase• Thought to cause movie ticket sales to decline by 27%

in October


Xbox 360 Issues

• Manufacturing errors and recalls• Excessive heat buildup (electron movement)• Red ring of death• Laser burn


Xbox 360 Issues

• Higher price for console than Wii• Monthly fee for online play• Third-party games easily ported to PS3


Wii

• Manufactured by Nintendo• Least-expensive Generation 7 game console to

manufacture• First motion-based controller• Very immersive gameplay


Wii

• Wii features motion-based controllers, yet has a lower price than PS3 and Xbox 360


Wii Hardware

• Low computing power compared to PS3 and Xbox 360

• Motion-based controllers• Wii remote or Wiimote• Accelerometer reads movement• Bluetooth technology relays information from controller

to console• Unique controllers have different features


Wii Hardware

• There are many different controllers for Wii


Wii Hardware

• Old computer technology• Inexpensive technology• Similar technology to Generation 6 Nintendo Game

Cube• Low power: .0029 teraFLOPS (2.9 gigaFLOPS)


Wii Hardware

• Optical disk drive (ODD)• Proprietary technology• Will not play DVD• Good copy protection (hard to copy disks)


Wii USP

• New user interface• Great player immersion• Active gameplay

• Low price for console• Strong proprietary

game catalog (Mario)


Wii Drawbacks

• Graphics not as advanced as other Generation 7 consoles

• Wii remote straps may break• Battery drain• Many unique controllers need to be purchased• Games typically designed for children


Wii Drawbacks

• Games ported to Wii need modification • Graphics need to be reduced due to lower graphics

capability• Gameplay features need to be reduced due to lower

computing power• User interface needs to be remapped to the controller

accelerometer


Personal Computer Games

• PC gaming• PC is less powerful than PS3 or Xbox 360, but more

powerful than Wii• User interface is the keyboard or a joystick, not an

advanced controller• Emulator for playing game console games


Technology Transfer

• High-definition television• Use very sophisticated GPUs• GPU inspired by those in game consoles


Technology Transfer

• Handheld consumer products• Flash memory • Inspired by Nintendo/PS2 memory cards


Technology Transfer

• Handheld consumer products• LCD touch screen• Inspired by Game Boy and Nintendo DS screen

technology


Technology Transfer

• Education• Immersive lessons using multimedia and games• Inspired by gameplay and technology of video games

(Copyright 2001–2008 SMART Technologies ULC. All rights reserved.)


Technology Transfer

• Medical • Three-dimensional imaging and simulations for training• Use of Wii remote for surgery simulation

(www.freeonlinegames.com)


Technology Transfer

• Corporate training• A form of education• Three-dimensional visualization for clients• Gameplay for language training


Technology Transfer

• Military• Heavy use of experimental game technology• Flight, ship, and vehicle simulators• First-person shooter (FPS) simulators• Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

(U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Steve Horton)


Stereoscopic 3D

• Two perspectives needed for 3D vision:• Close one eye• Point at an object across the room• Without moving your head or hand, open the closed

eye and close the open eye• You are no longer pointing at the object• Open and close each eye and your hand will look like it

is moving


Stereoscopic 3D

• Three-dimensional movies and games use the same technique of two perspectives• Filters are used to hide images from each eye• Anaglyphs use red/blue lens filters• Polarized filters have microscopic lines or circles on

lenses to block left/right images


Stereoscopic 3D

• Red-blue glasses are required to see the 3D effect in an anaglyph


Stereoscopic 3D

• New 3D TV uses polarized lenses• PC games in 3D using NVIDIA 3D GPU

• Batman: Arkham Asylum• Biohazard 5• Resident Evil 5

• PS3 to add a firmware update• Play existing titles in 3D• Play games built for 3D


Stereoscopic 3D

• Virtual reality is also used to create game immersion


List at least one USP for PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii.

PS3: High-end graphics and computing power, Blu-Ray player

Xbox: Good graphics and computing power, Halo franchise

Wii: Immersive motion controller, lower-cost console


What is the primary target audience for the Wii and its games?

Wii games are designed for a younger audience.


What is the GPU?

Graphics processing unit; it performs calculations related to the display of graphics in the game.


What are the major differences between the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii?

The PS3 has the greatest computing power and can display the best graphics.

The Xbox 360 also has high computing power and good graphics.

The Wii has motion-based controllers, but lower computing power and graphics capabilities than the PS3 and Xbox 360.


Of the three Generation 7 game consoles, which business model has been least successful and why?

The business model for the PS3 has been least successful because Sony looses money on each console sold. Consumers are not willing to pay a higher price for the better graphics capability and computing power.


How can video games drive new technologies?

As video games advance, new technologies (such as controllers) are required to be developed.


List six areas into which technology from video games has been transferred.

High-definition television, consumer handheld devices, education, medical, corporate training, and military


Which of the Generation 7 game consoles was released with the most advanced controller?

The Wii motion-based controller was the most advanced controller when the three game consoles were released. However, to catch up, motion-based controllers are being released for the PS3 and Xbox 360.


How do the capabilities of dedicated video game consoles compare to personal computers?

In general, the video game consoles are more advanced than personal computers in terms of hardware and performance (the Wii is an exception). The controllers on video game consoles are more advanced than the controllers for a PC (keyboard and joystick).


How is game playing limited on a personal computer?

The computing power is generally lower, so gameplay and graphics may need to be reduced. Additionally, the interface is based on a keyboard or joystick instead of a dedicated controller.

6 game systems, personal computers, and hardware

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