I need YOUR help with the Blackbox

[Skyone]

I have to say, I take that strongly. I am not at a low level such as that, the reason I'm leaving is because this projects been 'in progress' for months, and it really hasn't got to where I had hoped it would. It doesn't even use original code, like you said.

Whatever, not a big deal.

[blackbox_dev]

Ok, the reason that I thought you would be most likely to leave is that you weren't exactly fond of ANY changes I thought up. Mainly the modular controller idea, and when you heard that I might use joysticks, you said you would quit if I didn't switch back to control pads.

Sorry if I offended you or anything, I don't want this to come between us, your a great friend of mine on these forums (well, that sounded REALLY cheesy, but you get the point)

[bicostp]

@Bic: Ok, seriously, what the hell!? I wasn't bickering at all, I was merely stating that I wanted to be different from the rest of the people making consoles. Every thread about these things, good or bad, you whine and complain about it. Not cool. This thread isn't about any other consoles anyway, and if people were to post stuff about them, why wouldn't you just delete them, instead of locking the thread? The thread itself is fine, and just because your a mod doesn't give you the right to overuse your lockifying power.

The thread is fine, so long as it doesn't turn into another "BB v. WEST" war. I only have a problem with the thread if that happens. If you want to make the BB a portable, that's fine. But when it turns into a war, not-good stuff happens. (It's happened in several BB and WEST threads in the past, and it's annoying because it really detracts from the whole point of the thread, which is to help boost development.

The bottom line is, keep the BB threads about the BB, and the WEST threads about the WEST, and all is good.

And about the "lock the thread" bit, it would be done temporarily if arguing overtook the original discussion, at which point it would be split, the offending posts deleted, and re-opened. We're not here to go lock-happy, but we will click the button when it's necessary.

Anyways, back to discussion.

For A/V out, you could try using an RJ-45 connector. They're pretty standard (Ethernet). Or perhaps RJ-11 (US telephone), which has 4 wires. I'm not sure about shielding, but there are enough wires to carry composite, left and right audio, and ground. 8 pin RJ-45 would give you S-video. Or you could do up to RGB on an RJ-45 and put the audio on a seperate RJ-11...

[Sparkfist]

Dark Matter, Oct-something or something like that.

If you are going to have A/V out, you can try using phono jacks, they have a smaller profile and you can have either Composite + Stereo audio, or you can have Composite and Mono audio.

[Mageslayer]

Vortex is an awesome word. I'm always wanted to name something Vortex. Does it sound good for a portable? That's your call. If it uses a "propeller" (not that I know what that is) then you could call it something like the helicopter! I dunno, for a portable..... maybe the SlimBox or something that still reminds people of the original name but connotes portability.

[marshallh]

So now you know how I am feeling with Grand Theft Portable

First before getting too worried about making fancy hardware, make some games for it. If you have trouble there, you won't have wasted any extra effort. I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic.

But then again maybe you have everything planned out and this is just the icing on the cake of complete world domination

[teraflop122]

It is a sad day for all of teraflop kind. I came up with the name "BlackBox," and it seemed to serve the project so well- but now it will be dashed upon the rocks like so many waves!

The thing about this is...well...it's your project. You can do whatever the hell you want with it! Whatever you do, don't feel pressured to bend to the will of others (except for my will. ALWAYS bend to my will).

The only name I can think of is Ricochet, conveyed through advertising as the result of a fevered gun fight- bullets ricocheting all over the place.

[Krepticor]

OK I agree with a lot of people with this I have a few suggestions that may seem interesting,

OK first lets do get some software before the fancy stuff is empolyed, just seems practical

but here are some suggestions from me

1) I like "Black Vortex" I combines you original name and yes vortex reflects the propeller chip inside it
2) for a screen, Go with the 5" PSone/Zenith LCD
3) get a video encoder that will output RGB, I think this is a wise move if you use the PSone LCD the RGB seems the best route and all, jut makes sense( and if PsO screens run scarce use one with the Shar chip segasonicfan pinned out)
4) SD cards are perfect no matter the system since they are relatively cheap and are easy to interface, just have a lock like the ds with a spring, it rocks
5) for Batteries go Li-ION, light, affordable enough and VERY long Lasting
6) have this system do something else besides games, I would like to see it play basic video and audio files and have a method to read some sort of document
7) make programming this thing very user friendly (hard part) remember why the Saturn died
cut down the board, and do not be afraid of daughters, no more than one though
9) Let Krepticor Beta Test it!
10) have it run some sort of emulator, this way it relieves some stress on the programmers

[typamc95]

I think Chopper sounds good, here is why.

1. The Chopper's name reflects the propeller
2. The Chopper, A vice name for the heliopter, Refers to it being portable.

[blackbox_dev]

@Bic: thanks for clearing that up. The problem with RJXX jacks are that their so delicate. The little tab can snap off pretty easily

The name vortex sounds cool. I could make it 360 style and call it 'Vortex 32'

I also like the word Aero. If anybody could come up with a cool name using that word, it'd be awesome!

[jeroen]

I like Helicopter. Oh and can we give the controller analog sticks? Since hacking up a snes controller isn't exactly small.

[teraflop122]

I recommend that the main directional interface be a D-pad. After all, this device will most often end up running 2D applications, with some simple 3D raycasting stuff.

Vortex is all well and good, however it is a complex word to say. Adding to it will result in a name lacking a necessary memorable quality. If the name ends upt long, it should at least render a memorable abbreviation. Vortex32 could end up as V32, which works well enough. Calling Vortex Box by VB would obviously lead to some confusion.

"Black Vortex" does not roll off the tongue very easily. It has something to do with how you must work your mouth to say the syllables. Transitioning from K to V does not work well. As another example of what I mean: When you finish saying Play, your tongue is almost exactly where it must be to start the word Station. When you finish saying Game your tongue and lips are positioned almost exactly as they must to start the word Boy.

Aero is a neat word, but the moment a decently learned gamer hears it they will think 'Microsoft,' 'Windows,' 'Vista,' or some combination there-of. I know we're all sentient creatures, but habitual relations can be difficult to break, and that will harm the potential for this device's popularity.

[MrTroy]

Just don't name it after:

An Animal
A God (Greek, Roman, etc)
Me

[A_Username]

Maybe, but don't hold your breath. RCA jacks aren't exactly 'small', so I would have to use a custom connector, and making a matching custom cable would just add to the cost of the system.

howza bout one of those PS1 LCD AV in jack, you know it's like a headphone jack but requires a special cable for AV in. Just make something like that only reversed for TV out.

[blackbox_dev]

@Jeroen: It's portable now. We can just hook buttons up directly to the Propeller with nothing more then a few pull-up resistors. Don't need SNES controllers. Nor do we need analog sticks. However, I have a few sticks from scrap PS1 controllers. I might experiement with it, just because.

@Teraflop: Mmmhmm. Well, back to the drawing board I guess.