[Development] Consoles

[Joshua Kolden]

I’d like to add my vote and reiterate this as a valid target for Qt.  Consoles are becoming media centers, and a new discreet type of ‘device’ just like a tablet or phone.  Although the scope of functionality of these devices is still being worked out I think we can expect a pretty clear set of non game uses.  In addition to non game functions like media playing we already see, I’m sure we can expect features like Home & Office control, info displays for system monitoring, interactive advertising, and other applications that require fewer interaction points and a more ‘lean back’ experience in the near future.  

I'm working on a large Qt project for working with images and video that is being developed for the desktops and devices that Qt supports now.  Opening up consoles would be a fantastic next step despite the fact we don’t use CG.

Also I think it is a 'public good' to provide open source competition for system frameworks that may otherwise be proprietary and an attempt to control mind share, like Qt has already done for the XCode and Visual Studio ecosystems.

j



On Jan 17, 2014, at 3:29 AM, Kevin Krammer <kevin.krammer at kdab.com> wrote:

> On Friday, 2014-01-17, 11:15:24, Laszlo Papp wrote:
>> On Fri, Jan 17, 2014 at 11:06 AM, Kevin Krammer <kevin.krammer at kdab.com> 
> wrote:
>>> On Friday, 2014-01-17, 10:52:29, Laszlo Papp wrote:
>>>> Wouldn't it be useful to get a proper 3D module in place first?
>>>> Although, there are still some nice 2D indie games with full of shader
>>>> all around. :-)
>>> 
>>> A console target does not necessarily imply games.
>>> 
>>> A lot of consoles run apps these days, because they are the platforms that
>>> are in the living rooms, permanently connected to all kinds of
>>> enterainment infrastructure and usually only on stand-by and not switched
>>> off (no booting).
>> Hmm, Interesting... I have not been aware of that the main purpose of
>> the consoles changed these days. I have not played for a while. :)
> 
> Games are almost certainly still their main purpose but the usage as a media 
> consumtion device is already close up.
> They act as Bluray players, can be used as clients for a home streaming server 
> and all console vendors have (at least in some countries), online streaming 
> libraries/stores.
> 
> Anyway, I was mostly addressing this from the perspective of Qt as an app 
> development framework, just like on mobile devices.
> 
> For app developers, especially for those who's actual product is a service, 
> consoles would be just another platform frequently used by people, with app 
> stores, limited variation in devices, capabilities and APIs.
> 
>> PS.: Well, I am not sure console as a generic platform makes much
>> sense though when you can use a raspberry pi or more powerful embedded
>> board to connect all kinds of entertainment structure together with
>> more open platforms. Perhaps, that is somewhat the answer why not many
>> people are interested in a specific proprietary platform (which was
>> originally meant for powerful games).
> 
> I don't think that is comparable. Generic platforms like the Pi are for people 
> who build their own systems, consoles are for pure consumers.
> 
> Cheers,
> Kevin
> 
> -- 
> Kevin Krammer | kevin.krammer at kdab.com | Software Engineer
> Klarälvdalens Datakonsult AB, a KDAB Group company
> Tel. Sweden (HQ) +46-563-540090, USA +1-866-777-KDAB(5322)
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