The Video Game Console Library - DISCover Technology

	DISCover Technology
	DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
	Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy

Developer	Manufacturer	Release Date	Country(s)	Initial Price	Model Number	Game Releases	Overall Rating
Digital Interactive Systems Inc.	Apex, Alienware	May, 2004	Worldwide	$1,764 USD	Various	Many (PC Game Compatible)	08
Ratings	Reviews	Pictures\Media	Specs\Manuals	Games\Emulation	Models	Clones	Links

Special thanks to AnandTech for providing some pictures and info for this webpage.

Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release. Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality)	04
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile)	07
Controllers (design, response, feel, use)	06
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation)	10
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects)	10
Media (game media format, design, durability)	09
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging)	07
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library)	10
Innovations (technological industrial strides)	10
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?)	10
Collector Value (good collector investment?)	07
Games Rarity (general availability of games)	01
Console Rarity (general availability of a system)	07

Reviews

DISCover Technology - ApeXtreme

DW FACTS
- by Dark Watcher

It was bound to happen. Perhaps the cause stemmed from Microsoft's Xbox game console with it's computer like architecture. What are we referring to you may ask? It is called DISCover.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2003, Digital Interactive Systems Inc (The "DIS" in DISCover) debuted a patented technology that allowed console gamers the ability to play computer PC games on a console like machine. The machines themselves were merely computer components in a compact casing. It is even driven by Microsoft's Windows XP computer operating system. So what makes it special?

The DISCover patented technology was developed to take the fuss out of computer gaming. Units are preloaded with thousands of scripts that automatically configure all the game requirements needed to run a particular game. No need to adjust computer settings or tweak graphics and frame rate. The gamer simply places a CD computer game into the console, and the game simply starts up like any console game would (and either on TV or monitors). DISCover also connects itself behind the scenes via dial-up or broadband to the company's server database for script updates and game mods. This technology was called "Drop 'n' Play".

DISCover consoles would vary hardware wise. This is because Digital Interactive took the 3DO approach. In other words they license the DISCover technology out to retailers. The retailers can then put out their own versions of the DISCover console. They had negotiated with Hyundai Electronics, Pioneer, Apex, Gateway, Alienware, HP, ABS and Dell. Manufactures could use the technology with set top boxes, DVD / MP3 players, and TiVo type devices. Also since the units make use of Windows XP it will be compatible with any other input devices necessary such as game port, USB, firewire, standard mouse and keyboard connections, etc.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2004, the first console to make use of DISCover patented technology was debuted by Apex. The ApeXtreme was a set top box that would feature a 40 GB Hard Drive, nVidia nForce 2 IGP, 256 MB DDR RAM, a digital video recorder, an AMD Athlon XP 2000+ Processor, Progressive Scan and HDTV Support. It would also have a 56K v.92 modem and an Ethernet connection with four front USB ports for keyboards, mice, gamepads or joysticks and one rear port. Unfortunately, The company lacked the financial stability to bring it to consumers. It never appeared.

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2005 saw the rebirth of DISCover. The company partnered up with Alienware and used the technology exclusively in their new Media Center PC line. The technology now featured the addition of downloadable games and services on top of their existing "Drop 'n' Play" service. It was now called "My Games" and seems to have stolen the Phantom Console's thunder.

FACT: Two Alienware Media Center PC's became available in 2005, and both featured DISCover technology. The technical specs for the DHS 2 and the DHS 5 are available below.

Pictures & Media

Various picture\video media for this console. Click pictures to enlarge.

ApeXtreme Controller

ApeXtreme Loading Screen

ApeXtreme Disc Tray

Alienware DHS 2 - Front

Alienware DHS 2 - Ports

Alienware DHS 2 - Back

Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
Intel Pentium 4 Processor	3.6 GHz	800 MHz FSB, 1 MB full-speed Level 2 Cache	4 GB RAM
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
1920 x 1080 (HD)	16.8 million	Unknown	16-bit Stereo, 44.1 KHz Sampling Rate with Dolby Surround Sound
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
CD \ DVD	Varied	Thousands (PC Compatible)	MP3, CD-R\RW, DVD-R\RW
Internal Storage	External\Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
Hard Drive (various sizes)	None	Gamepad, Mouse	See Other Details
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video Connection
Two (IR Control)	FireWire/1394, Modem Fast Ethernet	RF/Coax TV In, FM Antenna, (2) , SVGA/RGB video port	S-Video In, (2) Composite Video/Audio In Ports, VGA, DVI
Power Supply - Internal	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Output Wattage: 250 Watts Input Voltage: 100-240V at 50-60Hz Backup Battery: 3.0V coin cell	(2) USB 2.0, Toslink Optical Digital Audio out, Coaxial Digital Audio out	Full DirectX 9.0 and OpenGL 2.0 graphics compatibility, PCI-Express x16 high-performance graphics, 1 PCIe slot for graphics, 3 PCI slots (0 available)
Manuals
Not available. Can you help us out? You will receive full credit in addition to keeping the history of video gaming alive for all! Please contact me.

Games & Emulation

Games, media format, emulators and screen shots for titles released on this system.

DISCover logo
Though not proprietary in nature, DISCover Technology does open the door for many gamers to experience some great PC exclusives on their HD displays.

The PC gaming world is sometimes avoided by gamers due to the necessity of setting various options, specifying video drivers and the like. With Drop 'n' Play technology that is offered with DISCover systems, you truly can be enjoying PC gaming in a matter of minutes. These systems are definitely worth a look, especially if you have an existing PC games collection.

Literally thousands upon thousand of PC games have been released.

PC games

Third Party Emulators
Program	Website	Description
Not required - this system is designed to play PC games on a standard television.

Models

Additional authorized releases for this console. Click pictures to enlarge.

$ApeXtreme Top \ Front$

Alienware DHS 2

Alienware DHS 5

Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).

There are no clones for this system to date.

Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name	Website	Description
Digital Interactive	http://www.digitalinteractive.net/	Official website for Digital Interactive, creators of DISCover
AnandTech	http://www.anandtech.com/show/1218/2	Nice article from CES 2004 on the ApeXtreme

visitors since 01-Apr-2008
Page last updated 11-Dec-2011

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