VIA Technologies and Apex Digital this week unveiled a yet another gaming console based on technologies originally developed for personal computers, such as an x86 microprocessor and a DirectX 9-capable graphics chip. The companies want to offer something that was practically absent on the market historically – a fully-functional PC for entertainment at a very affordable price point. In fact, VIA is said to offer its VIA Glory Platform to other OEMs interested.

The ApeXtreme console fully based on VIA Glory Platform and their key specifications are practically the same. The console’s “heart” is 1.40GHz VIA C3 processor and VIA CN400 North Bridge coupled with VT8237 I/O controller. A DeltaChrome graphics chip from S3 Graphics will be the graphics base for the console, while VIA’s Vinyl technology provides 6-channel audio support. Additionally, the console is equipped with 256MB of memory, a HDD, DVD-ROM, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet, USB 2.0 and so on.

The ApeXtrem PC Gaming Console runs with the Microsoft Windows XP Embedded operating system and automatically detects and plays DVD and VCD movies, audio CDs and slide shows or pictures from a CD through Windows Media Player from a home network or optical drive, or from the system’s 20GB hard drive. Optimized for game console like operation, the ApeXtreme is ready to play within in a matter of seconds after switching it on and can be operated via game pad or keyboard and mouse. The ApeXtreme PC Gaming Console is designed to run games for personal computers, but not for other consoles, such as Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft XBOX or Nintendo GAMECUBE.

The ApeXtreme PC Gaming Console comes in two flavors priced at $299 and $399 respectively. The former version is equipped with integrated UniChrome graphics core, the latter packs fully-featured S3 DeltaChrome processor with 64MB on-board frame-buffer. The console is to be available from a range of Apex Digital retailers and distributors.

The company who decided to join VIA Technologies in an attempt to popularize the idea of bringing PC technologies into living room is a quite promising startup from Ontario, California. Founded in 1999 by David Ji and Ancle Hsu, the firm expects to exceed $1 billion in sales for 2003. The company’s products – mostly DVD home entertainment players and analog or digital TV-sets – are carried in over 20 000 retail outlets across the USA.

VIA Technologies representatives said the VIA Glory Personal Gaming Console platform, a dedicated interoperable platform of key VIA and S3 Graphics technologies, is aimed at reducing product development time and cost for manufacturers of home entertainment and consumer electronics.

Historically there were a number of consoles based on technologies for personal computers. Virtually all of them did not appear to be a success. A company called Indrema rolled-out a project of L600 console featuring PC hardware and Linux operating system in 2000, but failed to bring it into the market because of insufficient funding. Last year a company called Infinium Labs uncovered plans to introduce its console called Phantom. The firm is now trying to get additional funding to finance the process of development. The most successful PC-based console ever is popular XBOX from Microsoft Corporation. Even though Microsoft now manages to sell its product at an affordable price, the company looses quite some money on every such machine and aims to perform a tangible shift in its strategy with the XBOX 2. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Redmond, Washington-based company is not likely to use PC hardware in its next-generation console.

VIA does not require its potential OEM customers to develop anything that may cost certain significant sums. It is clear that VIA is safe at this point, as it does not have to stock a lot of inventory, such as pointing devices, HDDs, DVD-ROMs, etc. On the other hand, there are VIA’s potential OEM customers, who will need to keep the supply for loads of components. While all console companies earn the majority of profit by selling software for their consoles, not actual hardware, VIA proposes to make money from selling the machines themselves. Consumers may benefit from such strategy, as, for example, ApeXtreme PC Gaming Console would look better than a PC in living room, however, given unclear performance and obscure experience provided by the console, prospects are risky.