ApeXtreme

[BHvrd]

I don't know about you guys/gals, but this system has got me hyped. I've been really getting an itch lately for more pc type games, but I don't have a pc that can handle hardly anything 3D.

The fact that I can plug in and play Far Cry, Unreal Tournament 2004, Half-Life, Battlefield 1942, Warcraft 3, Everquest, and a ton of others has got me pretty stoked for this machine.

Do you think this system will run well? It's a system I am totally hyped for! This system is right up my alley. Just hope it runs good.

ApeXtreme Info link here. (http://www.apexdigitalinc.com/proddetail.asp?category=ApeXtreme&subcat=&linenumber=76&c=4)

More info on DISCover technology link here. (http://www.gamershell.com/reviews_DISCoverPCGameConsolesIn.shtml)

More good expanded Info on ApeXtreme link here. (http://www.viavga.com/default.asp?PageID=20&Article=2)

[BHvrd]

Oh, and in case noone knew. This thing won best of CES 2004.

http://www.apexdigitalinc.com/images/ApeXtreme-Best_of_CES.pdf

[Ze_ro]

All I know is that this thing either needs a surfing monkey as it's mascot, or it really needs to change it's name.

--Zero

[kai123]

what about multidisc games? You can't really drop and play a multidisc game without some install. Hell Unreal 2004 has 6 discs!!! You could buy the dvd version but I think it is a limited release. Most games that are coming out now are more than one disc so how will this system handle it? On Farcry I think it is 2 or 3...I could be wrong though.

[Mr. Smashy]

UT2K4 and Far Cry both have DVD versions (I think).

As far as that Extreme Ape goes, I don't think that it fills any gaps in my gaming hardware collection as of yet or in the forseeable future.

[Drexel923]

What if there isn’t a configuration script available for a certain game? Will it still work? Can players write their own scripts for unsupported games and perhaps even submit them?

On the Alienware system, for example, which is a fully-functional PC, all PC games will play (non-scripted games will just have to be installed and run like on a regular PC). On the ApeXtreme, a closed-off console, games will only play if they are scripted. We will have a ton of games (thousands) ready at launch for Drop and Play with DISCover consoles. A list of DISCover games will be continually updated on the DISCover website. DISCover gamers will have the ability to submit older or obscure games they would like to play for addition to the DISCover games list.

And what happens when they don't have the games you want to play...I highly doubt they will bust they're asses unless tons of people request the same game. Also it just seems that all of this takes more effort than just popping a game in, and thats a key feature of consoles.


Is the DISCover upgradable? Can I e.g. replace the built-in HardDrive for more space?

The ApeXtreme is not upgradable, but other versions of the DISCover console, such as Alienware’s version, will be upgradeable.

Multiple versions of the same thing will only confuse consumers, at least thats my take on it. Also I don't think anyone will be happy having to upgrade their console say a year or two down the line cause some new hot game needs more power. You might as well upgrade your PC for the same price and get other uses out of it other than gaming.


I guess if I was more into PC gaming I would be all over this, but most people that are into PC gaming obviously have a PC...why would they need this console which seems like more work and could be more hassles.

[BHvrd]

Well they have expressed that they aren't out to necessarily compete with current console systems, yet to intergrate PC gaming into set top devices. It's more geared towards tech heads, and the higher end market, and with a bevy of already availiable software, distribution will be at a low, outside of scripting.

You can see how this is geared more towards the hardware aspect, in which case i'm sure they will be up on their scripting of games. After all they have to sell these units!

As far as multi discs goes, what's the difference? Whether it's one disc or two their should be no difference in how it will load the games. It's not like a PC only installs multi disc games, so if the DISCover system can run one it should be able to run all.

I just like this for its technical aspect, and its attempt to merge the PC market into a larger spectrum. Also I like the fact that it isn't necessarily a mainstream idea. Hell, I was one of the first people I know to support the Laserdisc player, which everyone said was useless, but at the time I only watched movies at my house, as well as all my friends. :D

[Flack]

I can see a market for this for parents who have kids that want to play PC games but don't want them messing up the computer, maybe they use the computer for business or maybe little Johnny put a virus on the computer with the last game he downloaded and installed.

Also, a lot of casual PC gamers might have, you know, 15" or 17" screens, but a big TV in the living room, so this would be kind of cool for them to play games out in the living room. I also see a market for Maddenheads (c), guys who only want to play one or two games like Madden or NHL or whatever and don't want a whole computer for that purpose.

I'm sure it will also find legs in the modder scene, Apex has all but admitted they're going to leave it pretty open, so it wouldn't surprise me to see these things converted into tivo-like or DVR boxes, multimedia home entertainment systems capable of playing MPGs and MP3s, and whatever else people come up with. I'm sure within a week there'll be a thread somewhere about how people are going to put Linux on it. Maybe people will figure out how to get it on their local LAN somehow and play emulators and ROMs on it in their living room. That would be kind of cool.

The only market I can't see being interested in this at all are people who are already currently medium-to-high usage PC games. I don't think this offers much to those people at all, other than novelty.

[SirDrexl]

I doubt it will play the new games. It has a GeForce 4 MX graphics card, which is what I have in my PC, which I put together over a year ago without the intention of playing new games. I have a faster processor (P4 2.4 GHz) and twice as much RAM as the Apex system, and I can't play new games without massive stuttering. This thing would be fine, though, for older games like Quake 3 and the original Unreal Tournament.

One problem I could see would be the text in these games. PC games are designed to be played on a crisp monitor, where tiny font sizes that are smaller than what you would see on a console can be easily read. When transferred to a typical TV, the text can be unreadable (watch XPlay when they show PC games to see what I mean).

[sabre2922]

Ive never been an avid PC gamer but the Apextreme kinda interests me but the asking price is a little to high

[Kid Ice]

I'll just never get over that name. What are they thinking?

[Flack]

Ive never been an avid PC gamer but the Apextreme kinda interests me but the asking price is a little to high

I missed it, what is the asking price?

[kai123]

As far as multi discs goes, what's the difference? Whether it's one disc or two their should be no difference in how it will load the games. It's not like a PC only installs multi disc games, so if the DISCover system can run one it should be able to run all.



Isn't this supposed to be drop and play technology here? You can't drop and play a multidisc game without installing it. Using Unreal 2004 again if you have the cd version it is six discs you can't just drop and play with that many discs.

[EnemyZero]

Won't see me buying this piece of garbage, not that its a bad idea but Apex is one of the most ridiculously BAD electronics companies ever, there owned by toshiba and are cheap as hell, i will wait for the alienware version to come out , more expensive yet, less chance of it breaking in 3 days definitely

[Drexel923]

Ive never been an avid PC gamer but the Apextreme kinda interests me but the asking price is a little to high

I missed it, what is the asking price?

$399 for the low end model...I can't imagine what alienware is gonna charge for theirs. @_@

[YoshiM]

Since it's going to be a PC/Console hybrid, the resolution is probably going to be reduced to work on televisions which will bring overall play speed up. As even low end TVs (like an Apex) are getting S-Video the text issues will pretty much go away.

Apex may be cheap but from what I use it's a pretty good brand. I've had my Apex DVD player for over two years now and it runs great. My in-laws, who own a compact version, play this thing to death and constantly leave it on and it works fine. The only issue is heat as they have the glass door shut and the TV stand pushed close to the way. My TV also looks great, works great and has a lot of features (though I wish it would stay on the last channel I had on when I turn it off).

[TheRedEye]

Here's my short review-like thing, from my CES 2004 feature:

http://www.insertcredit.com/features/ces2004/index4.html

I talked to the guy quite a bit more, I might be able to answer some questions.

In fact, I can already. Drop and Play also incorporates installation. Pop in a game, and it will automatically install it optimally for the machine. The next time you pop it in, it will launch.