Rebirth of the Tech Madman

It must be pointed out that in terms of hardware, the third-generation Xiaobawang game consoles have another feature, that is, in addition to the cassette, the game software carrier has begun to fully support cd-rom.

The benefits of such an improvement, in addition to the advantages of reducing the cost of game software carriers and increasing the capacity from the increasingly mature cd-rom technology, can also further eliminate piracy.

The 8-bit console that was launched on Christmas Eve in 1979, the first generation of Xiaobawang game consoles, has sold more than 44 million units so far. It is currently the world's best-selling game console, but it is also the game platform most affected by piracy. , Although it has been continuously optimized, the 8-bit architecture is really difficult to resist the cracking attack.

After the 1983 crash of the North American home video game console market, the ups and downs of 16-bit consoles that have begun to recover strongly in the past two years, the second-generation Cassidy game consoles, currently have a total sales volume of about 25 million units. It is ahead of the Atari 2600, which has been thrown into the historical trash can, and has become the world's second best-selling game console.

Due to the addition of a dedicated chip to the 16-bit architecture, this platform suffers from piracy much lower than the generation of celebrity game consoles, and the huge profits contributed by the game software can easily make up for the lack of host hardware sales.

Obviously, the 32-bit architecture has brought more powerful performance to the three generations of Cassidy game consoles, and the ability to resist technical cracking has also been improved.

At the same time, the game CD used by the third-generation Xiaobawang game console adopts the cd-rom/xa specification expanded on the basis of cd-rom, which strengthens the support for multimedia data such as audio and video. Larger data encryption space.

In the end, the hardware specifications of the three-generation Cassidy game console prototype presented to everyone are: cpu uses a risc microprocessor holder with a running frequency of 40mhz; main memory 2mb; graphics processor derived from Zheru 2d acceleration technology; video cache 1mb; audio The processor supports 16bitpcm encoding of cd music and 44.1khz sampling rate; audio cache 512kb; cd-rom drive that can read cd, vcd, cd-rom/xa discs, cache 32kb; 512kb flash memory or eeprom to store operating system .

Because of Zheru's leadership in semiconductor technology, the power consumption of the mainframe of the three generations of Xiaobawang game consoles will not exceed 11 watts, and the weight will be about 2 kilograms.

In addition, the third-generation Xiaobawang game consoles also have rich peripheral support. In addition to conventional devices such as handles, they can also be connected to the Internet through a modem to obtain highly value-added service content from the ea community.

However, these are not the key points that Tang Huan wants to elaborate-the new three-generation Cassidy game console platform will lead to a new technology implementation method.

"For a long time, the game industry has dreamed of realizing the three-dimensional effect of the real world in the virtual world, but it has suffered from insufficient hardware computing performance to meet the needs of processing the massive data involved. Can we just wait for the hardware? Will the specifications be developed step by step to a sufficient level?" Tang Huan said as he put a game disc into the cd-rom drive of the third-generation Xiaobawang game console.

"Actually, everyone should see that in recent years, the development of computer 2d acceleration technology has made a qualitative leap. Unfolding our infinite creativity, it might be possible to find a compromise solution on this basis."

"Now, in front of everyone, I will play a game specially developed for the third-generation Cassidy game console platform-"German Headquarters 3d"."

"Someone may have already reacted. Compared to the previous two versions of "German Headquarters" and "Beyond German Headquarters", this version will be somewhat related to 3D technology."

Speaking of this, Tang Huan shook the handle in his hand specially to show that his operation was so flexible that he belonged to a senior player, which caused everyone in the audience to laugh.

"Have you noticed, in this game, the player shoots at the target from the first perspective, and then when interacting with the environment, it can better reflect the much-anticipated 3D effect." Tang Huan controlled the character to stop. In a safe place, he switched directions to conduct enemy investigations to show the three-dimensional sense of space similar to the real world, and it caused a burst of surprise and admiration from the audience.

"Did you find any problems?" After Tang Huan asked with a smile, before the people scratching their ears and cheeks to answer, they continued to say: "Our perspective can only be switched back and forth, not up and down. All walls can only have an angle of 90 degrees between them."

In the voice of "This is not really 3d", Tang Huan nodded and said: "The game engine of "German Headquarters 3d" uses the calculation method of ray casting. That is, a light is drawn on each row of pixels to check whether there is any difference with the wall. Phase cross. Then use this to determine the depth of each graphic. Although it still does not achieve the true 3D effect, it can greatly reduce the amount of data calculation and get a further 3D-like experience."

Tang Huan waved his hand vigorously, "We call this set of technical implementation 2.5d, as a transition and compromise in the difficult development process from 2d to 3d. You have also seen that the "German Headquarters 3d" The effect is still quite amazing. I believe that in 2.5d, we can constantly find more clever ways to achieve more realistic 3d-like effects to meet the needs of players."

To put it simply, to provide 2.5d with a limited three-dimensional angle is to use clever methods to deceive people's vision. The specific implementation method involves a concept in computer graphics-sprite, which is the use of sprites.

Sprites refer to the two-dimensional images or animations contained in the scene. They are more used for characters and movable objects in the game. They can also be used to display the mouse pointer and input text. If the size of the movable object on the screen is larger than a sprite, it can also be formed by scaling and splicing several sprites.

With the rise of arcade machines in the mid-1970s, sprite technology was widely used. Intel and AMD’s semiconductor industry counterparts, Signitick, took advantage of the opportunity to design and manufacture the first graphics processor that supports sprite graphics generation. Dali provides some components.

However, the word "sprite" first appeared as a graphic term on Texas Instruments' 9918(a) video display processor.

The reason why "sprite" is used as a term to describe this concept is that the sprite is not part of the bitmap data in the frame buffer, but "floating" on the data in the frame buffer, without affecting the data in it. , Just like ghosts and elves.

When the Atari 2600 was introduced to the market in 1977, a major selling point was that the hardware supported sprite technology, which allowed five graphical objects to move independently in the game scene at the same time.

As a result, when the marketing strategy was right, the Atari 2600 suddenly became popular and became the best-selling home TV game console before Tang Huan's Xiaobawang game console appeared.

More than ten years have passed, and computer technology has undergone earth-shaking development and changes. It is completely possible to use 2d wizards to simulate a 3d environment.

Of course, the implementation of this set of technologies is somewhat complicated and obscure. In the specific game development process, companies with average technical strength may not be able to truly master and apply it.

...

As Tang Huan, who has always been busy with his business, rarely participated in the whole process, the attention of this philosophical developer conference has been unprecedentedly high. All the people in the industry have widened their eyes, hoping to discover new business opportunities in this ecosystem. The result is natural. It is also full of harvest.

Take the three generations of Xiaobawang game consoles, with the first two generations of products that dominate the sales performance of the crowd, it will certainly not be bad, and there will be many candidates, and the new platform means new opportunities, especially 2.5d technology. The official appearance of, may even bring about a shuffle of industry rules.

It is completely conceivable that when the three generations of Xiaobawang game consoles are sharpening their knives and will hit the market within this year, other game console manufacturers are facing great enemies and began to nervously analyze the intelligence gathered from the philosophical developer conference. Finally, Everyone wailed loudly with ugly faces-the two thresholds of hardware specifications and 2.5d technology could not be crossed at all. Perhaps, only like nec, and Nintendo, which has been working with Mitsubishi and secretly cooperating with Sony, can find a breakthrough in a powerful combination.

On the other hand, with the introduction of more details about the graphical user interface operating system studios1988, especially the strong support for network applications, those with a keen sense of smell realize that the prospect of the Internet is incalculable.

In the United States, in addition to telecommunications companies such as Pacific Telecom controlled by Tang Huan, which actively provide data services on the basis of public telephone networks, there are also operators such as Turner Broadcasting Corporation that have sufficient cable network resources in their hands. , Trying to use their own cable TV network to provide Internet access services.

More importantly, while many commercial companies are deploying plans in advance, the official level is also sparing no effort to promote. The National Science Foundation began in 1986 to create a backbone network that provides interconnection between universities. The earth has increased the number of Internet users.

Others may not be able to clearly feel the rapid changes in the basic foundation of the Internet, but Tang Huan has clear data to prove it. For example, his router products have greatly increased their sales with the demand for Internet connectivity.

All these signs urge Tang Huan, who has just ended the dispute over personal computer standards, to begin to focus more on the booming Internet.

...

At this philosophical developer conference, there were some interesting scenes that were captured by reporters.

One of the most impressive is that Tang Huan opened the refrigerator, but instead of a Coke, he brought out a small bawang handheld computer. The reporter almost fell to the ground with his jaw—what kind of brain hole do you have? what?

Tang Huan smiled and tore open the sealed bag and clicked a button. The cold-storage Xiaobawang handheld made a familiar logo sound, "Yes, yes, it looks like it has withstood the challenge of the extreme environment."

The reporter joked: "Tang, are you targeting the markets of Alaska, Siberia, Antarctica, and Arctic?"

Amidst the cheerful laughter, Tang Huan picked up his thumb and praised: "How about your reporter's keen observation, the low temperature environment will seriously affect the work of ordinary circuit boards, batteries and other components, and I am planning to let Xiaobawang handhelds, even Fangyuan laptops and other equipment, accompanied the expedition team to the North Pole."

The reporter who was praised for being a little erratic, stunned, and quickly reacted, "My God, it seems that I accidentally hit a big news."

In this way, Tang Huan successively invested a total of up to 150 million US dollars in the Arctic expedition program over the years, and began to surface and enter the public eye.

In Tang Huan’s introduction, the original intention of supporting the plan was environmental protection. According to observations, with global warming, the ice of the Arctic Ocean continues to melt, and some scientists even predict that the Arctic ice is very likely to disappear in the next century. , The global sea level rises, and some prosperous cities will be submerged. A major goal of this Arctic expedition is to try to collect first-hand environmental data.

In history, the first verifiable and scientifically credible Arctic expedition was conducted on May 12, 1926 by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and American patron Lincoln Ellsworth. The ~www.wuxiahere.com~ used an airship belonging to the Norwegian government and carried many scientists and staff. From the Svalbard Islands in Norway, across the Arctic Ocean to Alaska.

However, when the airship visited the North Pole for the second time in 1928, it crashed on the return trip, killing half of the staff.

It is no exaggeration to say that, including those explorers who explore the Arctic route, human beings have paid a heavy price in their lives in the exploration of the Arctic.

Therefore, even though the current science and technology are highly developed and far from what it used to be, Tang Huan still invested heavily in making foolproof preparations.

The richest man has always been bold and generous.

For example, for the expedition to the Arctic, he invited scientists from all over the world to participate in the expedition, and plans to start the itinerary during the Arctic summer from June to August next year.

There is also an interesting arrangement here, that is, the entire Arctic scientific expedition team will be divided into two parts, each departing from Canada in North America and Norway in Northern Europe, and finally meeting at the North Pole.

Tang Huan also expressed with interest that he plans to personally participate in this scientific research plan next year and go to the North Pole.

Originally, the shares of Fangyuan Computer Company on the New York Stock Exchange and the shares of Nasdaq's ea were stimulated by the positive news at the Philosopher Developers Conference, and the prices continued to rise, but as soon as the news came out, they all fell all together. It happens to be the number "8" that the richest man likes in the legend.

Obviously, Wall Street disagrees with this: In the flower world, you should eat, drink, play, play, and do what you have to do. What do you have to do in the desolate place where birds don’t **** in the North Pole? In case of an accident, wouldn't it be a delay in making money for us!