Research

 Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

Game   C onsoles   V s.   p ersonal   C omputers  

Design,   P urpose,  AND   M arketability   D ifferences  

T RAVIS   P AYTON  

any   television   set   into   a   gaming   machine.       Over  

the   next   twenty   years   game   consoles   evolved  
Abstract   from   simple   machines   that   only   had   an  
extremely   small   library   of   a   few,   practically  
This   paper   presents   the   differences   inherent   in  
identical  games,  into  specialized  computers  that  
designing   game   consoles   versus   the   personal  
hundreds   of   developers   created   games   for.     As  
computer.    It  also  discusses  the  similarities  and  
technology   advanced,   and   processors   and  
differences   between   processors   and   system  
memory   became   more   affordable,   the  
designs   for   the   last   3   generations   of   game  
differences   between   game   consoles   and  
consoles   as   compared   to   their   desktop  
desktop   computers   started   to   disappear.     The  
counterparts   of   the   time.   It   also   correlates   this  
only   difference   is   that   the   game   console  
data  with  the  market  trends  to  provide  an  idea  
specialized   in   doing   one   thing,   and   doing   it  
of  why  engineers  and  developers  used  different  
extremely  well,  so  well  in  fact  that  even  a  child  
approaches,   and   to   provide   a   preview   of   what  
could  use  it.  
might   be   in   store   for   the   next   generation   of  
 
game   consoles.     With   the   advent   of   smart  
This  paper  will  start  with  the  fifth  generation  of  
phones,  broadband  internet,  social  networking,  
video   game   consoles   released   in   the   mid   90’s,  
and   a   huge   growth   in   Indie   Developers,   there  
focusing   on   only   the   major   and   successful  
has   been   a   major   change   in   not   only   the   video  
consoles  of  each  generation.  
game   format,   but   also   the   role   Game   Consoles  
 
play  in  the  market.      
 

2.  Previous  Work  
1.  Introduction   Video   games   have   become   a   multi-­‐billion  
dollar  industry  surpassing  Hollywood.[3]  In  order  
 
to   survive   companies   are   always   striving   to  
Thirty   years   ago   there   was   a   stark   difference  
create   better   games   and   consoles.     Many  
between   computers   and   video   game   consoles.      
studies   have   been   done   regarding   the   history  
With   the   invention   of   the   microprocessor  
and   economics   of   the   video   game   industry.    
personal   computers   became   an   affordable  
There   are   also   substantial   amounts   of  
reality  instead  of  science  fiction,  albeit  a  reality  
information   on   the   hardware   specifications   of  
only   pursued   by   hobbyists   and   skilled  
each   console.     However   there   are   not   a   lot   of  
electricians.[1]    In  contrast,  the  first  video  game  
studies   that   show   how   these   differences   in  
console,   the   Magnavox   Odyssey   released   by  
hardware   and   innovative   designs   changed   the  
Ralph   Baer   in   1972[2],   did   not   even   have   a  
market,   or   how   the   market   dictated   the  
processor.  Instead  it  used  a  series  of  transistors  
requirements  for  the  hardware.    
and   diodes   and   removable   printed   circuit  
boards  that  changed  the  hard-­‐wired  game  logic.  
Studies   have   shown   that   recent   trends   in   how  
Unlike  the  computers  of  the  era,  the  Magnavox  
video  games  are  consumed  and  produced  have  
Odyssey  was  affordable  and  could  easily  convert  

   
[            1          ]  
   
 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

changed  dramatically  from  the  norm  of  the  last   Since  price  is  such  a  major  factor  for  marketing  
20   years.     With   app   stores   and   worldwide   game   consoles,   cost   is   a   major   factor   in   chip  
publication   services   giving   independent   design.     Processors   and   graphics   cards   are  
developers  access  to  millions  of  consumers,  the   designed   be   able   to   be   mass   produced   at   an  
multi-­‐million   dollar   video   game   budgets   and   affordable  price,  and  still  turn  a  profit.  
large   development   teams   are   starting   to  
become  an  outdated  business  model.  
3.1  Sega  Saturn  (1994)  
 The   Sega   Saturn  
had   two   Hitachi  
3.  Fifth  Gen  (1994-­‐2001)       SuperH-­‐2   7604  
The   age   of   Dos   games,   SoundBlaster   sound   32-­‐bit   RISC   CPUs  
cards,   and   Warcraft   and   Wing   Commander.     clocked   at   28.63  
Personal   computers   had   an   ever-­‐growing   MHz,   and   two  
amount  of  video  games  that  over-­‐shadowed  the   custom   32-­‐bit   video   display   processors   (VDP)  
video   game   consoles   of   the   time.     The   stark   clocked   at   28.63   Mhz.[4]     This   was   the   first   game  
differences   in   graphics,   gameplay,   and   sound   console  with  multiple  processors,  which  proved  
quality   between   the   current   Super   Nintendo’s   to  be  difficult  for  developers  to  utilize.  Only  the  
and   Sega’s   of   the   time   with   those   of   their   PC   most   skilled   programmers   could   hope   to   see   a  
counterparts  was  the  sign  that  the  dawn  of  the   performance   increase   of   only   one   and   a   half  
next   generation   of   game   consoles   was   soon.   times  that  of  using  a  single  SH-­‐2  chip.    Another  
Enter  the  Sega  Saturn,  Sony  PlayStation,  and  the   hardware  design  choice  that  also  made  the  Sega  
Nintendo  64.    These  consoles  raised  the  bar  for   Saturn   hard   to   develop   for   was   the   fact   that   the  
game   quality   and   provided   experiences   that   VDP   units   rendered   quadrilaterals   instead   of  
were  not  possible  on  the  PC.    Not  only  did  they   triangles.     When   used   correctly   it   would   allow  
re-­‐define   the   market   place,   but   they   introduced   for   a   greater   amount   of   video   memory   and  
new   gameplay   mechanics   brought   32-­‐bit   and   better   graphics.   But   the   other   consoles   used  
64-­‐bit   architecture   to   game   consoles,   and   made   triangles   as   the   basic   geometric   primitive,  
3D  graphics  a  standard  in  games.     making   cross-­‐console   game   development  
  difficult.       Not   only   did   the   Sega   Saturn   have  
Computers   on   the   other   hand   were   still   non-­‐conventional  hardware,  but  it  did  not  have  
expensive,   required   technical   skill,   and   simply   good  SDK’s  or  libraries   available  for   developers  
getting   a   new   game   installed   and   running   was   to   utilize   the   dual   CPUs   and   dual   VPUs.[5]     This  
usually   a   much   more   arduous   process   than   meant  programmers  had  to  code  in  assembly  if  
blowing  on  a  game  cartridge.    
 

$2,000.00  
Launching  Price  
$1,500.00  

$1,000.00   $399.00  
$299.99   $199.99  
$0.00  
Gaming  PC   PlaySta[on  Sega  Saturn   Nintendo  
64  

Fig  1.  Left:  original  1994  PC  advertisement  for  Compaq,  list  price  of  $1699.99.    Right:  Comparison  of  

Launch  Prices  of  5th  generation  consoles  and  the  average  pc  price.      
   
[            2          ]  
   
 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

they   wanted   to   gain   the   performance   benefits   3.3  Nintendo  64  (1996)  
of  dual  processors.  
  The   Nintendo   64  
With   a   custom   processor   for   almost   every   was   named   after   its  
function,  the  complex  hardware  made  the  Sega   64-­‐bit   CPU,   a   NEC  
Saturn  costly  to  produce.    With  the  higher  price   VR4300   clocked   at  
tag   and   lack   of   titles   due   to   difficult   93.75   Mhz.[9]     This   was  
development,   the   console   did   not   fair   well   a   cheaper   version   of   the   more   powerful   MIPS  
against  Sony’s  PlayStation.     Technologies   R4300i,   but   still   more   powerful  
  than  all  of  the  other  consoles  on  the  market.      

With  the  powerful  tri-­‐linear  texture  filtering  and  

3.2  Sony  Playstation  (1994)   128-­‐bit  data  bus,  the  powerful  64-­‐bit  Reality  Co-­‐
The   Sony   PlayStation   Processor  developed  by  SGI  made  the  N64  was  
wowed   the   market   with   capable  of  producing  gorgeous  3D  graphics.  The  
its   capabilities   when   it   system   also   came   with   4   MB   of   RDRAM,  
was   released   in   expandable   to   8MB   with   the   expansion   pack,  
December   of   1994.     It   making   it   the   first   console   to   have   a   unified  
was   powered   by   a   MIPS   memory  subsystem.  
R3000A   32-­‐bit   RISC   CPU   clocked   at   33.8688  
MHz.     The   CPU   contained   a   proprietary   However,   despite   the   powerful   sounding  
Geometry  Transform  Unit  that  was  used  for  3D   hardware,   the   design   proved   to   be   anything   but  
graphics   and   capable   of   rendering   160,000   great   for   developers.     Nintendo   helped   create  
polygons  per  second.[6]    Unlike  the  Sega  Saturn,   its   biggest   competition   when   it   partnered   with  
the   hardware   design   of   the   Sony   PlayStation   Sony   years   earlier   to   create   the   optical   disc  
made   programming   and   game   development   a   format   for  their   Super   Nintendo.     However,   due  
to   licensing   and   media   rights,   Nintendo   ended  
relatively   easy   process.     It   also   allowed   for   a  
up   scrapping   the   project   and   releasing   the  
cheaper  manufacturing  process.  
Super   Nintendo   in   the   familiar   cartridge   format.    
Due   to   the   cheap   media   format,   and   easy   Nintendo   decided   to   stick   with   this   format  
development   model,   the   PlayStation   had   the   when   it   released   the   N64   as   well.   This   was   a  
largest   collection   of   games   out   of   any   of   the   serious   limitation   as   the   amount   of   space  
fifth  generation  consoles  with  a  library  of  2,418   available   to   developers   was   significantly   smaller  
titles[7].       This   is   compared   to   the   387   titles   for   than   that   of   a   CD.     This   limited   how   many  
the   Nintendo64,   which   was   the   second   highest   textures  developers  could  place  in  a  game,  and  
selling  console  of  the  generation.   the  4kb  texture  size  hardware  limitation  usually  
meant   a   few   small   textures   stretched   over   large  
With   the   introduction   of   the   CD-­‐R   format,   polygons   producing   blurry   textures   that   were  
piracy  started  becoming  a  major  concern  for  the   even   blurrier   after   the   tri-­‐linear   filtering.     Also,  
video   game   Industry.     Pirating   the   previous   the   development   and   manufacture   cost   of  
generation   cartridge-­‐based   games   was   producing   an   N64   game   was   much   higher   due  
practically   impossible   without   being   skilled   in   to   the   propriety   cartridge   and   anti-­‐piracy  
electronics   or   having   specialized   hardware.     lockout  chip.  
With   the   Sony   PlayStation,   anyone   with   a  
computer   and   a   cd   burner   could   make   copies   of   Despite   these   limitations,   the   Nintendo   64   is  
games,  and  play  them  with  nothing  more  than  a   praised   by   many   as   one   of   the   best   consoles  
little  tape  and  some  well  timed  disc  swaps.[8]   due  to  the  quality  of  games  that  were  produced  
for   it.   The   Nintendo   64   set   the   standard   for  

   
[            3          ]  
   
 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

gameplay   with   the   introduction   of   the   Rumble   3.5  summary  

Pak,   a   force-­‐feedback   controller   add-­‐on,   and  
immersive,  completely  3D  games,  like  Mario  64.   The  end  of  the  fifth  generation  saw  a  shift  from  
the   2D   sprite   based   games   of   the   previous  
generations  to  completely  3D  games.    The  Sony  
3.4  Desktop  CPUs  and  GPUs   PlayStation   led   the   video   game   market   selling  
Around   the   same   time   that   the   next   Generation   102  million  units  compared  to  the  next  highest  
of   game   consoles   were   being   release,   so   were   32.93  million  of  the  Nintendo  64.  
the   next   generation   of   CPUs   from   Intel   and    
AMD.    The  Intel  Pentium  launched  in  1993,  with   The   success   and   popularity   of   the   PlayStation  
clock   speeds   reaching   233   MHz   by   1996.     The   was   not   only   due   to   its   excellent   hardware  
Pentium  was  Intel’s  first  super  scalar  processor,   design,  but  the  freedom  the  optical  disc  format  
and   had   8Kb   L1   Cache,   4   GB   of   memory   provided  developers.    The  CD  was  so  successful  
addressing,   and   was   capable   of   over   100   million   that  it  will  become  the  medium  of  choice  for  all  
instructions   per   second.     Later   versions   of   the   of  the  next  generation  consoles.  
processor   included   MMX,   the   first   SIMD    
instruction   set.     AMD’s   own   K5   processor   was   The   other   consoles   of   the   time   including   the  
also   hitting   the   markets   as   a   direct   rival   to   Neo   Geo   CD,   and   the   Atari   Jaguar,   ultimately  
Intel’s  Pentium  Pro,  and  the  later  models  of  the   failed  due  to  the  lack  of  games.  
K6   included   both   MMX   and   3DNow,   another  
SIMD   x86   extension   developed   by   AMD   for  
vector   math.     By   1999   AMD   had   released   its  
120000000  
Anthlon   brand   of   processors,   capable   of  
100000000  
reaching   speeds   of   1   GHz,   and   by   2001   their   80000000  
Anthlon   XP   line   of   processors   included   SSE,   60000000  
another   SIMD   instruction   set.     Intel   was   also   40000000  
setting   the   bar   with   its   release   of   the   Pentium   4   20000000  
in   2000,   which   included   SSE2   and   a   standard   0  
clock  of  1.4  GHz.  
 
The   inclusions   of   the   deeper   pipelines,   larger  
branch   prediction,   and   new   SIMD   capabilities  
improved   the   multimedia   capabilities   of   the   Units  Sold  
standard  desktop  processor  dramatically.  Space    
was   also   improving   rapidly   as   hard   drives   were   Figure   2.     Graph   of   Console   Sales   during   the   life   of  
breaking   out   of   the   few   hundred   megabytes   the  console  
and  into  gigabytes.      
 
Graphics   cards   were   also   improving   greatly   as  
they   became   capable   of   doing   more   than   just  
4.  Sixth  Gen  (1998-­‐2005)  
3D   graphics.     Cards   like   ATI’s   RAGE,   or   the   The  next  generation  of  consoles  focused  almost  
NVidia   GeForce   260   were   released   in   the   late   exclusively   on   better   graphics.     Consoles   were  
90’s   far   surpassing   any   of   the   dedicated   3D   now   powerful   enough   to   have   operating  
hardware   of   the   consoles.     Also   during   this   time   systems   and   many   of   them   doubled   as   a   DVD  
OpenGL  and  DirectX  emerged  making  3D  game   player   or   other   multimedia   machine.     This   was  
development  on  the  PC  easier  and  better.   first   generation   of   consoles   that   had   only   4  
machines.  

   
[            4          ]  
   
 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

4.1  SEGA  DreamCast  (1998)   4.2  Sony  PlayStation  2  (2000)  

Hoping   to   get   a   jump   on   the   The  PlayStation  2  is  the  best  selling  
market,   Sega   released   their   game   console   of   all   time,    
next   generation   console   far   reaching   154.4   million   units   sold  
earlier   than   the   competition.     This   also   had   a   as   of   November   21,   2011[13].    
slight   negative   impact   on   their   sales   of   the   Sega   New   games   continue   to   be   developed   and  
Saturn   as   people   quit   purchasing   the   console   released   for   this   console,   with   the   latest   being  
due   to   rumors   of   its   successor   already   in   FIFA   2013   and   Pro   Evolution   Soccer   2013  
development.   released   in   September   2012.     Sony   has   stated  
  that   there   are   10,828   titles   for   the   PS2   with  
The   Sega   Dreamcast   set   a   new   standard   in   1.52  billion  games  sold  since  launch[14].  
graphics,   far   surpassing   anything   available   on    
the   market   with   its   128-­‐bit   vector   graphics   The   success   of   the   PS2   is   not   only   on   account   of  
engine   capable   of   360   million   instructions   per   its   expansive   library   of   games,   but   also   the  
second   and   1.4   GFLOPS   (single   precision).[10]       physical   capabilities   of   the   console.     It   was   the  
The   graphics   engine   was   on   the   same   die   as   the   first   console   to   introduce   DVD-­‐ROM   formatted  
main   processor,   which   was   a   200   MHz   SH-­‐4.     games,   giving   developers   over   8   times   more  
The  Dreamcast  also  had  a  PowerVR2  CL2X2  for   space   than   they   had   on   conventional   CD-­‐ROM  
dedicated   graphics   capable   of   7   million   discs.    The  PS2  is  driven  by  Sony’s  own  Emotion  
polygons   per   second   and   tri-­‐linear   filtering.   Engine   that   it   developed   with   Toshiba.     The  
Other   built-­‐in   hardware   effects   were   gouraud   Emotion  Engine  is  a  set  of  8  individual  parts  that  
shading,   spatial   anti-­‐aliasing,   per-­‐pixel   are   on   a   single   die.   These   include   a   CPU   core,  
translucency   sorting,   and   bump   mapping.[11]     two   vector   processing   units   (VPU),   a   graphics  
This   was   very   similar   hardware   to   the   very   interface   (GIF),     a   10   channel   DMA   unit,   a  
popular   Naomi   arcade   cabinet,   making   porting   memory   controller,   an   Image   Processing   Unit  
of  popular  arcade  games  very  simple.   (IPU)   and   an   input   output   interface.[15]   Unlike   a  
  standard  CPU,  the  emotion  engine  is  built  from  
The  Dreamcast  also  brought  the  Internet  to  the   the  ground  up  to  perform  extremely  well  at  3D  
console   world   with   an   integrated   modem,   games.     It   was   capable   of   clocking   6.2   GFLOPS  
allowing   for   multiplayer   games.   Another   between  the  FPU  and  two  vector  units,  handling  
innovation   was   the   concept   of   bringing   150   million   polygons   per   second,   and   had   a  
operating   systems   to   the   console   world.     Sega   pixel  fill  rate  of  2.4  gigapixels  per  second.  
worked   with   Microsoft   for   about   2   years   to    
develop   a   customized   version   of   Windows   CE   The   PS2   also   came   with   an   operating   system  
with   DirectX   for   the   console.     Sega   chose   to   built   in   capable   of   playing   DVD’s   and   doing  
implement   the   OS   on   the   actual   game   discs   so   system  maintenance  tasks  such  as  memory  card  
that   developers   could   choose   the   OS   and   management.     The   PS2   was   also   internet  
version;   it   was   loaded   into   the   console   before   capable   with   an   Ethernet   port   on   the   back.     The  
the  game  could  even  run.     PS2   was   also   the   first   console   to   have   5.1-­‐
  channel   audio   through   a   Toslink   optical  
Although   production   of   the   Dreamcast   was   connection   in   the   back,   making   it   a   complete  
discontinued   in   2002,   it   is   still   a   very   popular   DVD   player   as   well   as   an   immersive   gaming  
console,   with   many   small   communities   still   experience.    
actively  developing  for  it  in  2012.    This  would  be    
Sega’s   last   home   game   console,   as   the   new   The  PlayStation  was  also  the  first  console  to  be  
Chair  of  Sega  wanted  to  focus  on  software[12].     backwards  compatible  with  its  previous  version.    
Meaning   customers   who   owned   a   PlayStation  

   
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 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

could   by   the   new   console   and   still   play   all   of   November   2001   when   it   released   the   XBOX.  
their   favorite   games   on   a   new,   better   system.     However,   Microsoft   was   not   new   to   games   or  
This   would   prove   to   be   a   tactic   that   the   next   3D   graphics   as   it   already   had   a   very   successful  
generation  of  consoles  would  mimic.   game   studio   as   well   as   its   own   graphics   API,  
DirectX.   Four   engineers   from   Microsoft’s  
DirectX   Team   created   the   XBOX,   and   the  
4.3  Nintendo  GameCube  (2001)  
console   name   was   derived   from   the   name  
Nintendo   still   refused   to   DirectX  Box.    
conform   to   the   status   quo    
by   going   with   a   custom   The   XBOX   would   be   the   first   American   video  
MiniDVD   form   factor   for   its   game   console   since   the   Atari   Jaguar   stopped  
new   media   format.     This   would   be   Nintendo’s   sales   in   1996.     This   would   prove   difficult   for  
first   optical   drive   console;   however   the   gaining   momentum   and   generating   sales   in  
GameCube  was  unable  to  play  DVDs  or  CDs  like   Japan  and  other  Asian  countries.      
the   PS2   or   Xbox.     The   GameCube   also   had   the    
ability   to   add   network   connectivity   via   an   add-­‐ The  XBOX  was  also  large  and  bulky  compared  to  
on,   although   only   a   very   few   games   supported   the   other   consoles,   being   built   on   standard   PC  
it.   hardware.     It   featured   a   custom   733   MHz   32-­‐bit  
  Intel   Pentium   III   Coppermine-­‐based   CPU   with  
The   GameCube   was   an   under   appreciated   SSE  and  MMX,  dual-­‐channel  64  MB  DDR  SDRAM  
powerhouse  as  far  as  hardware.    It  came  with  a   shared   memory   subsystem,   and   a   233MHz  
486  Mhz  IMB  PowerPC  “Gekko”  CPU,  capable  of   NV2A   ASIC   co-­‐developed   by   Microsoft   and  
1.9   GFLOPS.   For   graphics   it   had   a   162MHz   NVidia  for  its  graphics.    The  standard  hardware  
“Flipper”   LSI   GPU   that   Nintendo   co-­‐developed   setup   made   it   easy   to   develop   for   the  
with   ArtX   who   was   acquired   by   ATI.     The   GPU   console.[18]     Games   could   also   be   easily   ported  
was   capable   of   8   GFLOPS,   and   included   4   pixel   to   the   Windows   OS   on   the   PC,   allowing  
pipelines  with  1  texture  unit  each.[16]     Microsoft   to   ship   more   copies   of   its   Windows  
  Operating  system.  
The   main   problem   encountered   by   developers    
was   again   the   limited   size   available   due   to   the   The  XBOX  was  also  the  first  console  to  have  an  
castrated   size   of   the   MiniDVD   format   the   included  hard  drive  for  saving  of  online  content  
GameCube  used  for  media.   and  game  saves.    The  main  difference  between  
 
the   XBOX   and   the   other   consoles   was   that   the  
Nintendo  was  still  pursuing  innovation  as  every   XBOX   focused   on   online   multiplayer   with   a  
console   supported   native   stereoscopic   graphics.     subscription  based  Xbox  live  service.  
However,   this   was   never   released   in   the    
mainstream   as   3D   televisions   were   not   readily    
available  to  the  public.[17]    The  strong  line-­‐up  of  
titles  for  the  GameCube  boosted  sales,  however   4.5  Summary  
many   of   the   older   gamers   complained   that  
there   were   not   enough   mature   games   for   the   The   sixth   generation   of   game   consoles   brought  
system,  especially  when  compared  to  the  PS2.   amazing   graphics   and   online   multiplayer.       The  
market   also   started   converging   as   major  
developers   started   adopting   a   cross-­‐platform  
4.4  Microsoft  Xbox  (2001)  
release   strategy.     This   meant   that   PC   gamers  
Microsoft   decided   to   could   also   experience   the   same   games   without  
dive   into   the   realm   of   having  to  own  a  console.  
home   consoles   in    

   
[            6          ]  
   
 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

Many   of   the   major   game   companies   also   5.1  Microsoft  Xbox  360  (2005)  
started   merging,   for   example   Square   and   Enix,  
Microsoft   and   Rare   Studios,   and   Namco   and   The   Xbox   360   is   powered   by   a  
Bandai.       XENON  processor,  a  PowerPC  
  IBM   processor   with   3  
Sony   again   was   the   market   leader   with   over   symmetrical  cores  clocked  at  
153.6   million   units   sold.   Graph   correlating   3.2   GHz.     This   would   be   the  
graphics  and  titles  available  with  the  number  of   first   console   to   have   a   CPU   clocked   in   the   GHz  
units  sold.   range.       For   SIMD   it   used   VMX-­‐128,   with   two  
128x128   register   files   for   each   core,   capable   of  
200   153.6   doing  9.6  billion  dot  products  per  second.[19]  
150    
100  
50   24   21.6   10  
0  

Units  Sold  (Millions)  

 

 
Architecture  of  the  Xenon  Processor  
5.  Seventh  Gen  (2005-­‐2013)  
Only   three   major   players   remain   in   the   market   The  GPU  is  a  custom  500  MHz  Xenos  GPU  
for   Game   Consoles,   and   the   trends   of   the   last   developed  by  ATI  capable  of  240  GFLOPS,  and  
few   years   have   set   the   stage   for   the   next   rendering  6  billion  vertices  per  second.    The  
generation  of  consoles.       Xbox360  was  the  first  HD  capable  console  with  
  native  resolution  of  1920x1080  pixels,  it  also  
There   has   been   a   major   increase   in   online   included  HDMI  out,  and  is  capable  of  3D  stereo  
Multiplayer   Games   and   social   networking.     graphics  with  select  games.      
Technology   has   also   advanced   substantially   in    
the  field  of  computer  graphics  and  parallelism.       Microsoft  also  included  backwards  compatibility  
  with  most  Xbox  games.  There  is  also  an  online  
PCI   express   dramatically   increased   the   amount   store  where  complete  games  and  add-­‐ons  can  
of   data   that   can   be   transferred   per   second   be  purchased  and  downloaded  to  the  console.    
between   graphics   hardware,   and   Nvidia   and   ATI   The  hard  drive  is  also  removable  for  easy  
have   introduced   multi   GPU   computing   and   expansion.    Other  changes  included  wireless  
rendering   with   their   SLi   and   Crossfire   controllers  that  used  Microsoft’s  own  custom  
technologies.    Again,  the  personal  computer  has   signal  standard.  
surpassed   the   game   console   relatively   quickly.      
Its  time  again  for  a  new  set  of  consoles,  and  this   With  the  popularity  of  the  Nintendo  Wii,  
time   a   major   design   goal   is   making   one   that   will   Microsoft  released  the  Kinect.    A  3D  camera  and  
last  by  creating  new  technologies.   mic  array  capable  of  tracking  objects  in  3D  
  space  enabling  games  to  be  played  without  the  
  use  of  controllers.    Microsoft  also  released  the  
SDK  for  the  Kinect  to  software  developers  and  

   
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 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

made  drivers  available  for  windows  allowing  the   Sony   originally   launched   the   PS3   with   an  
accessory  to  be  used  on  any  windows  machine.   onboard   Emotion   Engine   for   backwards  
  compatibility   with   PlayStation   and   PS2   games,  
Microsoft  made  developing  for  the  console  as   but   discontinued   that   option   due   to   cost.     The  
easy  as  possible  with  a  free  XNA  Game  Studio   OS  on  the  console  does  include  an  online  store  
that  allows  the  same  code  to  be  compiled  for   as  well  as  multiplayer  functionality,  and  built  in  
Xbox360,  Windows,  and  Windows  Phone.    This   web  browser.  
opened  up  development  to  independent    
developers  that  do  not  have  a  large  budget  for   In  response  to  the  Wii’s  success,  Sony  released  
creating  games.    These  games  are  then  sold  on   the   PlayStation   Move   add-­‐on   for   the   PS3   that  
Xbox  Live,  Microsoft’s  own  online  server  for  the   enabled  gesture  based  controls  for  the  console.  
Xbox360.       The   Move   was   more   precise,   but   less   popular  
  than  the  Kinect  or  the  Wii.  
Microsoft  also  integrated  social  networking  into    
the  console’s  OS.    There  is  integration  for   In  2010,  the  United  States  Air  Force  Research  
twitter,  Facebook,  and  YouTube,  as  well  as   Laboratory  built  a  super  computer  out  of  1,760  
video  and  text  chat  via  Microsoft’s  own   PS3s  which  was  capable  of  over  570  TFLOPS.[21]  
windows  live  service.      
5.3  NINTENDO  Wii  (2006)  
5.2  Sony  PlayStation  3  (2006)  
Nintendo   took   a  
Sony  boasted  the  capabilities   dramatically  different  route  
of   its   PS3   when   it   launched   in   compared   to   Sony   and  
2006.     Equipped   with   a   Microsoft   with   its   next  
proprietary   CELL   Broadband   generation   console.     Instead  
Processor,   co-­‐developed   by   of   focusing   on  
Sony,   IBM,   and   Toshiba.     The   CELL   processor   processing   power,   and  
improved   speed   by   offering   an   extremely   wide   taunting   its   graphical  
and   parallel   instruction   set.     With   one   PPC   prowess,   Nintendo   focused   on   game   play  
based   Power   Processing   Element   (PPE),   and   mechanics  and  creating  a  new  experience.      
eight  Synergistic  Processing  Units,  the  processor    
is   capable   of   a   theoretical   maximum   of   230.4   The  game  changing  hardware  of  the  Wii  was  the  
GFLOPS.   infrared-­‐camera   and   accelerometer   equipped  
  controllers  that  allowed  players  to  interact  with  
The   RSX   ‘Reality   Synthesiser’   GPU   was   co-­‐ games   by   moving   the   controllers   around   in   3D  
developed   by   Sony   and   Nvidia,   and   capable   of   space.      
400.4   GFLOPS   and   has   a   texel   fill   rate   of   13.2    
GigaTexels  per  second.  [20]   The   novelty   and   availability   of   games   to   the  
  casual   gamer   made   the   Wii   the   fastest   selling  
This  hardware  made  the  PS3  the  most  powerful   console   of   all   time.     It   currently   leads   the  
console,   and   the   graphics   are   still   setting   the   market   share   for   current   generation   consoles  
standard   today.     Sony   also   used   another   new   out-­‐selling  both  the  xbox360  and  the  PS3  every  
media   format,   the   Blu-­‐ray   Disc,   capable   of   month  since  launch.    
holding  up  to  128  GB  of  data  in  the  triple  layer    
discs.     This   also   meant   that   the   PS3   could   play   The   less   powerful   hardware   also   made   the  
the  now  popular  Blu-­‐Ray  video  format.     console   the   least   expensive.   It   is   powered   by   a  
  32-­‐bit   PowerPC-­‐based   “Broadway”   CPU  
developed   by   IBM   capable   of   2.9   GFLOPS.     The  

   
[            8          ]  
   
 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

“Hollywood”   GPU   developed   by   ATI   is   basically   6.  Conclusion  

a   higher   clocked   “Fipper”   GPU   from   the  
GameCube   with   added   modules   for   handling   The  current  generation  of  consoles  are  starting  
other   I/O   operations.     The   similarity   in   to  show  their  age.    The  previous  generations  of  
hardware   between   the   Wii   and   GameCube   consoles   had   average   release   cycles   of   4   years.  
makes   backwards   compatibility   with   the   The   current   consoles   have   been   out   for   almost  
GameCube   very   affordable   and   simple.     Even   twice  that  and  the  only  known  next  generation  
the   GameCube   controllers   could   be   used   with   console   is   the   Wii   U   that   will   be   launched  
the  Wii.   sometime  in  the  4th  quarter  of  2012.      
   
The   Wii   also   had   an   OS   with   built   in   Internet   The   next   generation   of   consoles   will   have  
connectivity   and   a   unique   social   aspect   greater   computing   power,   but   they   will   also  
achieved  with  personalized  avatars  or  Miis.   need   something   unique   about   the   gameplay   in  
  order   for   them   to   compete   with   personal  
Nintendo   drastically   changed   the   video   game   computers,   smart   phones,   and   other   portable  
market   and   proved   that   nothing   is   more   devices.        
powerful  than  originality  and  creativity.      
Current   computers   are   capable   of   running   3  
5.6  Summary   monitors  simultaneously  in  3D  with  a  dedicated  
graphics   card,   creating   a   truly   immersive  
Nintendo  changed  the  video  game  market  by  its   experience.     Social   games   have   become  
focus   on   original   and   novel   game   play.     Other   incredibly   popular   with   simple   web-­‐based  
companies   tried   to   follow   suit   by   introducing   games  generating  large  revenue  for  companies.          
add-­‐ons  to  their  systems  that  all  but  copied  the   This   universal   increase   in   bandwidth   not   only  
gesture  based  gaming  of  the  Wii.       allows   for   greater   experiences   on-­‐line,   but   also  
  allows   for   playing   games   in   real-­‐time   via   a  
Meanwhile   mobile   phones   are   becoming   more   streaming   connection   to   a   cloud   computer  
and   more   powerful,   with   integrated   chips   such   gaming  service.  Services  like  OnLive  allow  users  
as  the  Tegra3,  console  quality  graphics  are  now   to   play   the   most   demanding   games   on   any  
achievable  on  a  smart  phone.       hardware   that   can   connect   to   their   servers  
  where  the  software  is  actually  ran.  
The   creation   of   Microsoft’s   XNA   studio,   Apple    
App  Store,  Google  Play,  Steam,  and  many  other   Console   sales   are   beginning   to   stagnate,  
outlets   for   independent   developers   to   create   meaning   that   in   order   to   continue   making  
and   sell   games   to   consumers,   there   is   a   huge   money   from   selling   consoles,   the   companies  
increase  in  original  content.       need  to  release  a  new  generation.  
   
The   architecture   of   the   video   game   consoles   is  
150  
96.56   very  specific,  focusing  on  only  a  few  tasks.    This  
100   70   63.9   allows   for   less   expensive   hardware   and  
50  
incredible   performance   in   the   specific   areas.    
Regular   desktop   architecture   is   focused   more  
0   on  general  computing,  and  needs  to  be  able  to  
Wii   Xbox  360   PS3   handle  anything  quickly.  
 
Units  Sold  (millions)  
 

   
[            9          ]  
   
 Research  Paper,  Computer  Science  Dept.,  University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  October  2012  

13.  PLAYSTATION2  sales  reach  150  million  units  

  worldwide".  Sony  Computer  Entertainment.  
February  14,  2011.  Retrieved  October  23,  2012.  
 
14.  Makuch,  Eddie  (February  15,  2011).  "150  million  
References   PS2  units  shipped  worldwide  –  News  at  GameSpot".  
Asia.gamespot.com.  Retrieved  October  23,  2012.  
1.   See   the   first   computers   manufactured   or   sold   as    
kits   for   the   Intel   8080   microprocessor.     Altair   8800,   15.  Jon  Stokes,  Sound  and  Vision:  A  Technical  
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2.  "Article:   Ralph   Baer:   Recovering   the   History   of   the   October  23,  2012    
Video   Game  ::   Smithsonian   Lemelson   Center".    
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10  October  2012.   from  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_GameCube  
3.   Factbox:   A   look   at   the   $65   billion   video   games   October  23,  2012  
industry".  Reuters.   6   June   2011.   Retrieved   11    
October  2012.   17. Iwata   Asks:   Nintendo   3DS".   p.  3.   Retrieved   2011-­‐
  01-­‐11.   "Iwata:  To   go   back   a   little   further,   the  
4.   Saturn   Overview   Manual   (temporary   version   1),   Nintendo   GameCube   system   actually   had   3D-­‐
SEGA,   June   6,   1994.   Doc   #ST-­‐103-­‐R1-­‐040194.   compatible   circuitry   built   in   [...]  Itoi:  Nintendo  
Retrieved   from   GameCube   did?   And   all   the   Nintendo   GameCube  
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October  2012.   with  a  certain  accessory,  it  could  display  3D  images."  
   
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  http://arstechnica.com/features/2005/06/xbox360-­‐
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_ga  
mes   20.  J.  A.  Kahle,  M.  N.  Day,  H.  P.  Hofstee,  C.  R.  Johns,  
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http://youtu.be/IW3cFEOLNWA   http://users.ece.utexas.edu/~adnan/grad-­‐vlsi-­‐
  05/cell-­‐ibm-­‐journal.pdf  on  October  23,  2012  
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October  23,  2012   21.   AFRL   to   hold   ribbon   cutting   for   Condor  
  supercomputer".  www.wpafb.af.mil.   The   Official  
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retrieved  October  23,  2012   November   2010,   updated   29   November   2010.  
  Retrieved  October  23,  2012.  
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12. Krell,   Bobby.  "Q&A:   Former   Sega   president   on  
Dreamcast's  failure,  pranks    
 

   
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