Hydra Game Console

http://www.xgamestation.com/view_product.php?id=33

This looks really sweet. Apparently a simple console to program from the ground up for and learn about console engineering. It includes a multiprocessing "Cell"-like chip and about everything you need to get up and running. I think I'll pick one up because I've become really interested in actually tweaking with the hardware of a computer instead of dealing with it all through multiple layers of abstraction.

250 dollars?

I was expecting at least a 200mhz system for that price. o.O

That thing is about as powerful as my.....GameBoy Advance.
(ok, gross exaggeration)

I can see why some people would like it, restricted programming environment, forcing clever/tidy coding techniques and what not, with a pinch of nostalgia thrown in for the old-school coders of the Commondore64/Amiga systems back in the days...


If I ever got into programming for something, I'd want to delve into the GP2X*, capable system with what appears like a fair-sized community. 'course it costs a bit more, but I find the price for that at least a bit more understandable.

* Fixed typo on the name.

These sorts of gadgets always annoy me intensely. I'm just not geeky enough to have the slightest interest, and then I don't know where I belong. I'm not cool, I'm not a true geek. Where do I belong? :'(

Accounting department.... :p

I can't see the point of the Hydra. It looks like a half-finished product. If there were actual packaged Hydra consoles on sale for people to buy, this would be the dev station.

But... the dev station is the only product available that can run the software developed for it.

Madness.

I can see it being used to teach basic programming in a college or university class aimed at programmers who wanted to move on to *real* console development later on.

Hmm.. well my maths is pretty bad, so good idea. :D

I think the GP2X is a lot more interesting, more like a PSP with linux.$200

240-270Mhz GP2X Console MK2 (Latest version)
USB Cable for PC connection (With 2.0 Support)
Preloaded Linux with Media player (MP3, Divx, Xvid etc.)
CD with Games, Utilities, MP3 player, Movie player
Firmware 2.0, New TFT screen & 2 Joystick Caps
SDK - Make your own games!
Full User Manual




http://gp2x.co.uk/ordergp2x.html

While the Hydra looks a bit appealing to me, $250 isn't worth it. I'd probably settle with the GP2X if I was looking to develop for consoles.

Do you build the GP2X and get full access to the hardware?

I'll sell you my old Atari 130XE for £120 if you like. You get 5 hardware sprites, a crap sound chip and a massive brick power pack, well worth it. Pokey Antic and GTIA all avaialable and accessible via assembly.

Gaming ? Plenty of games around for it, and you can grab SynAssembler and write your own (you'll need a disk drive though - £200 extra) but well worth it

;)

IPete2 (being silly)