A video game console you probally never knew existed

[jb143]

It's the Parallax Hydra

http://www.milinst.com/propeller/1_250.gif

I ran across this while looking for microprocessors at work. Parallax is mainly known for their Basic Stamps and Robotics kits but now it seems like they've decided to make a game console kit using their new multi-processor "propellor" chip.

It has eight 32-bit processors but from what I've seen from the screenshots the best it approaches is what I'd consider TG-16 graphics. A lot look more like 2600 games. It might be capable of more since those are probally just sample demo games.

Pretty neat concept but at $199.95 though...I think I'll pass on this one.

If it came out 15 years ago and I had the cash I'd probally be all over it.

Here's a link (http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerProgrammingKits/tabid/144/CategoryID/20/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/467/Default.aspx)

[MrSparkle]

ooh i think i saw this actually it was being sold as more of a dev platform for begininning programmers than a commercial gaming system. thus the open board and easily accessible internal io headers and whatnot. i think they sold a book detailing the architecture as well. For $200 it might be a neat little toy to pickup and tool around with as its certainly going to be easier to develop for than a closed platform such as your turbografx 16. ;)

[Brian Deuel]

There is another system similar to that called the Xgamestation that Andre Lamothe (Secrets of the [insert game here] Wizards books) is involved in, that has the same purpose.

Link: http://www.xgamestation.com/

[jb143]

Yeah, I seriously doubt that there'd ever be any commercial games released for it. I seems more like a platform to learn the propellor chip...which is pretty neat its self. I found it while looking for procossors that have built in video capabilities.


There is another system similar to that called the Xgamestation that Andre Lamothe (Secrets of the [insert game here] Wizards books) is involved in, that has the same purpose.

Link: http://www.xgamestation.com/

The same dude worked on this. It might be the same thing. It's all the same games anyways.

[Krook]

Looks like u can connect a NES-pad to it... or is it just me?

[98PaceCar]

I've got both the earlier XGameStation as well as the Hydra. Both are more learning tools than anything. There are some games out there for both of them, but they are mostly remakes and nothing spectacular.

I'm about a third of the way through the book that ships with the Hydra and I'm very impressed with the level of detail and how plainly the concepts are presented. If you want to learn how software and hardware interact in machine language, both are very good kits to play with.

[Krook]

I KNEW IT!

http://retrothing.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/25/hydra.jpg

-->High res<-- (http://www.robotwinkel.nl/images/Propeller_hydra_large.jpg)

[jb143]

Is the book written by Andre Lamothe? I've got his Black Art of 3D Game Programming book(or whatever it's called) and it's really good. Quite a bit outdated nowadays but I still find myself referring back to it quite often.

[98PaceCar]

Is the book written by Andre Lamothe? I've got his Black Art of 3D Game Programming book(or whatever it's called) and it's really good. Quite a bit outdated nowadays but I still find myself referring back to it quite often.

Yes it is. In fact, they include an E-copy of the Black Art of 3D Game Programming on the cd that comes with it.

I want to tackle that one next. Looks to be a substantial read, but I've heard very good things about it.

[jb143]

Good call on the NES pad. Looking at the picture makes me think that it's only got about $30 worth of parts on it...if that. I guess the $200 gets you a lot more than the board though.



Yes it is. In fact, they include an E-copy of the Black Art of 3D Game Programming on the cd that comes with it.

I want to tackle that one next. Looks to be a substantial read, but I've heard very good things about it.

I think he wrote an updated version of it that you might want to look into. The one I have has a line in it at the end that if I can rememebr it right goes something like..."There's a wind blowing and that wind is Windows" and he briefly mentions this new thing called Direct-X...so yeah...it's a bit outdated but I found it very usefull for the 3D math and the chapter on AI. My "Mario Speedwagon" game owes a ton to that book.