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DISCover the Future of PC Gaming With New Console
System
By
Michael Lafferty
DISCover’s Vice President Reveals the Details to New Gaming System
PC gamers have long dreamed of the chance to see their games move beyond the
17-, 19- or 21-inch monitors of their computer stations. (Let's not even talk
about the smaller screens right now, because we are going to get really big in a
moment.)
Oh, to see Dungeon Siege 2 scrawling across that 32-inch screen, or perhaps immersed in the trenches of Madden Football, or in the wild blue yonder with .... well, you get the idea. You play your favorite PC game and have so many info boxes or interface options opened that you have little room for the game playing out in the background. There is no guarantee that will change, but what is guaranteed is that you will have the opportunity to take your favorite PC beyond the limits of your computer monitor.
And here is an even better scenario: What if you no longer had to worry about whether or not your personal computer met the minimum specifications for your favorite game, or any game that you wished to play?
The vehicle to accomplish this feat? DISCover, a new gaming system that allows gamers to play PC games on their televisions.
Loren Kaiser, Vice President of Operations at DISCover, talked with GameZone about this new gaming platform.
Foremost, what do you think is the biggest attraction of a system in which players can actually use PC games in manner similar to console games?
Loren: It's hard to narrow it down to the biggest attraction. I think there are three main ones: First, gamers who like the "Drop and Play" simplicity of console gaming, will appreciate the fact that DISCover automatically installs and runs their games. Second, PC gamers who would prefer to get out of their office or bedroom and play in the comfort of their living rooms on a big-screen tv and home theatre system would appreciate that DISCover is optimized to be hooked up to and played on a television. Third, and possibly most importantly, DISCover gamers will not be restricted to titles for proprietary systems. While XBOX has dozens of games and Playstation2 has hundreds of games, DISCover will launch with thousands of games. Additionally, unlike Playstation2 and XBOX gamers, DISCover users won't be tied to the standard four or five-year console cycle.
Is the keyboard still vital player in this system? Are system configurations more or less what PC gamers are used to?
Loren: We expect that most DISCover gamers will use a keyboard to play PC games on the DISCover, but PC gamepads are readily available for the DISCover. Yes, system configurations are similar to what PC gamers are used to.
One of the biggest things that developers say time and again is that it is hard to design a PC game because of the wide range of systems utilized by players. Obviously this system will level that playing field a bit. Can you give us some specifics about HD space, the processor and video card it uses?
Loren: DISCover's entry-level unit will feature minimum specifications of approximately: 256 MB of memory, integrated 3D accelerator, a 1 GHz Pentium-class processor and a 40 GB hard drive. Higher-end units will feature specs such as: Intel D875PBZ Motherboard, Pentium 4, 3.2 GHz, 1 GB DDR PC3200, 52x24x52x16x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive, Seagate Barracuda 120 GB HD, NVIDIA GeForce&153; FX 5900 Ultra 256MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video, Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum - 6.1 w/Black Audigy 2 Drive.
Wow! I mean, oh really ... how interesting. But how will this system support online gaming?
Loren: DISCover has broadband and modem built in, and can play against PCs as well as other DISCover units online.
One of the biggest drawbacks to multiplayer games on the PC, and this is not in conjunction with LAN or TCP/IP play, but rather the gyrations and yoga that two people have to go through to play on the same machine. Is that something that has been addressed with DISCover PC Game Console?
Loren: DISCover is designed to remove the hassles and gyrations in many different ways from the PC. This will include two-player games, whether on the same console or networks.
How did the idea for this system come about?
Loren: Avi DorEl, inventor of the DISCover technology, felt that the PC had the best games and widest selection of games, yet realized that many people felt using the PC to install and run games was difficult or a hassle. He also thought that many people would feel that playing games on a small monitor was not as good as playing on a television in the living room. Mr. DorEl realized what he desired was simply a game console to play PC games on.
What do you perceive as the future of PC gaming and how will your system fit into it?
Loren: We see the future of gaming as one where PC gamers are drawn out of their offices or bedrooms and into the living room, where they will be playing on a hassle-free console connected to their big screen, and eventually high-definition television. In this future, former console gamers will not be restricted to the limited titles offered by Sony and XBOX, but will instead have the opportunity to select from the thousands of PC game titles published annually.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to talk with GameZone readers. Look out for more news on the DISCover as we get closer to our launch date in early 2004.
Thank you.
For more information on DISCover, please see www.gameconsole.tv
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