ApeXtreme

ApeXtreme is a cancelled video game console that was developed by Apex Digital. While the console made a promising first appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2004, it had been cancelled by December of that year.[1] The console was initially based on VIA's Glory Personal Gaming Console Platform (although Apex Digital later switched to an AMD CPU and NVIDIA GPU platform), and would have included a keyboard, mouse, game controller and a remote control.

ApeXtreme
ManufacturerApex Digital
TypeVideo game console
GenerationSixth generation
Release dateCanceled
MediaCD-ROM, DVD

It was reported that the home system was to be released in third quarter of 2004 and planned to be released two distinct versions: a basic model for US$299, and a more powerful version for US$399.[2] By the time Apex Digital dropped VIA, the price had raised to $499.[3]

Features

The system would have sported a number of features related to console gaming and multimedia, such as:

Drop & Play

The system's Drop & Play feature works by referring to a database of scripts for information on how each specific game should be played. This technology would allow the console to play normal PC games without modification, at the cost of requiring regular updates to allow the user to play recently released titles.

Furthermore, DISCover would have had to write a script for every one of the titles for which the console boasted support, a list of more than 2700 scripts. Upon the insertion of a valid game disc, the ApeXtreme would have run and maintained the game with only minimal interaction with the user, automatically configuring the game and installing patches where possible. In addition, the system's support for normal USB connections would have allowed the player to select between traditional console and PC input devices (i.e., allowing them to play with either a gamepad or a keyboard and mouse).

After the system was cancelled, the Drop & Play technology found use in Alienware's DHS series of media centers.[4]

Specifications

At the system's debut at 2004 CES show, the system originally used 1.4 GHz VIA C3 mated to VIA C400 chipset and DeltaChrome S8 graphics core as part of VIA's Glory Personal Gaming Console/Eden Embedded System Platform, with six USB ports (four on front, two on rear), and several choices for audio and video connectivity (5.1 channel RCA/optical/coaxial and component/S-Video/composite/DVI, respectively), and a pair of Ethernet and RJ-11 ports for networking, as well as using Windows XP Embedded as the console's operating system.[5] However, by March, HardOCP reported that Apex Digital had dropped VIA and replaced the CPU with AMD AthlonXP 2000+, mated to NVIDIA's nForce2 IGP and GeForce4 MX graphics card with motherboard manufactured by Biostar.[3]

See also

References
  1. Chan, Leo (2004-12-31). "ApeXtreme PC Console On Hold". Neoseeker. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  2. "Device profile: ApeXtreme "personal gaming console"". Windows for Devices. eWeek. Archived from the original (2004-01-15) on 2012-07-16.
  3. Chan, Leo (2004-03-26). "ApeXtreme PC Gaming Console Loses VIA Tech?". Neoseeker. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  4. Yu, James (2004-05-10). "Alienware wants your TV". GameSpot. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  5. Shimpi, Anand Lal (2004-01-10). "Consumer Electronics Show 2004 Day 2 - VIA's new Gaming Console". AnandTech.
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