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I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 1

Videogames & Embedded Systems

I202, Fall 2003Session 4


Structure of this Session

1. Microprocessors and their applications2. Video games, as example application


Other Early Games

• Mostly text based– “Hunt the Wumpus”, a maze game– Star Trek

• Tapes passed around between DEC installations


The Microchip

• Basic idea: build several onto a single module– Transistors had been getting smaller, but

package and wiring limits miniaturization– Breakthrough is photographic process to etch

transistors and connections onto silicon• By 1970 can make memory chips

– 256-bits (64 bytes) per chip– Capabilities increase rapidly…


The Microprocesor

• Developed 1969-1971 by Intel– Ted Hoff generally credited

– Creative solution to creation of logic chips for pocket calculator

• Builds core elements of central processing unit (CPU) onto one chip– Arithmetic capabilities, Logic capabilities, Registers

– Formerly took one or more circuit boards

• Couple with different programs for different systems


Intel 4004

• First microprocessor– 2,300 transistors on one

chip– 4-bit (i.e. can handle

numbers up to 16 easily)

• Uses include– Burglar alarms– Pioneer 10 space probe

(allegedly)

• 8-bit and 16-bit chips follow rapidly

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Moore’s Law

• Coined by Gordon Moore in 1965– He observed exponential increase in

economically optimal number of transistors on chip over time

• Common versions are not literally true– Eg doubling every 18 months in RAM

capacity, or doubling in processor power per $

• But, increase has been impressive


Intel’s Official Chart


Early Applications

• Digital Watch• Programmable

Calculator• Videogames• Music Synthesizer


Each of These

• Is a computer– Microprocessor chip– Memory (RAM) chip for temporary storage– Program, burned into ROM chip

• Called “Embedded Systems”– Simplified operating systems– High levels of integration– Simpler, cheaper, lower power processors


Current Applications

• CD Player• DVD player, VCR• Cell phone• TVs (closed caption, etc)• Cable TV box• Microwave oven• Digital Camera (& control in film camera)


Modern Cars

• Full of embedded processors– Record data in event of crash– Control brakes– Control engine

• Mechanics need special computer to interface• Tuning done via software

– Stereo/CD system

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2: Video Games


Space War

• Read about this in “Hackers”

• Complex, hard, needed a PDP 1 to play


Adventure

• Text based game– Will Crowther (1972) & Don Woods (1976)– Inspired by Dungeons & Dragons– Single player

• Walk through huge cave network– Read descriptions– Type instructions (“Go North”, “Get Lamp”)– Solve problems

• Needs powerful minicomputer to run– Development at MIT, RAND Corp & Stanford


Computer Space

• Direct attempt to commercialize Space War

• Nolan Bushnell, 1971• Flopped – game too

complex for public


Pong

• Created in 1972– Nolan Bushnell, founds

Atari

• Powered by 4004 chip• Around 38,000 made

– About equal to bestselling computer in history

• Found in bars, laundromats, pizzerias, etc.


Pong Circuit board

Pong used many simple chips;It did not have a microprocessor

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Home Pong Consoles

• Quite popular– Get boring fast!

• Dozens of different versions– Hockey, tennis,

football, etc.

• This one shrinks Pong to a single chip– Technique called “LSI”

for Large Scale Integration


Space Invaders

• Created by Taito, a Japanese firm, in 1978

• Microprocessor based– Intel 8080 processor

– Running code burned onto ROM


Boom in early 1980s

• New color games– Galaxian (1979)

Frogger (1981)

• Arcades spring up in every town– Pinball machines

joined by video games

– Kids hang around


Pac Man

• Released 1980• Biggest hit of all time

– Simple

– Challenging– Appeals to both sexes

• Huge marketing event– Breakfast cereal

– Books– Many sequels


Atari VCS Home Console

• Launched in 1977– Microprocessor based– Atari acquired by Warner

Communications

• Takes program cartridges– Originally 2K ROM chips!

• Space Invaders first big hit– More than a million sold

• By 1982, Warner makes more from videogames than movies!


Inside the VCS

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The Boom Ends

• By 1983, videogame market is saturated– Too many bad games, people get bored– Atari almost collapses– VCS stays on market until 1989


Nintendo

• Nintendo Entertainment System– Introduced 1985 in US– Revives market

• Late 1980s see more powerful systems– SEGA Genesis (1989)– Super NES (1991)


1990s – Arcades in Decline

• Power of home PCs and consoles matches that of specialized hardware– So people play at

home instead– Remaining games

tend to have fancy cases (guns, bikes to sit on, etc.)

– Also multiplayer


Today’s Consoles

• Extremely powerful 3D graphics– Microsoft X-Box– Playstation 2

• X-Box is basically a modified PC– Includes hard disk, Windows version

• Consoles often more powerful than desktop PCs– 3D games are driving PC hardware

development today.

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