LINUXGAMES

Linux Devices has the scoop on the “EVO Smart Console” being available for pre-order. I’m pretty happy to see that they’re advertising support for Tremulous:

Envizions announced that it is taking orders for an open-source Linux gaming system, and will start shipping beta units to game developers, resellers, and software partners on April 10. The EVO Smart Console is based on a 2.4GHz Athlon, and includes a Fedora-based Linux distro.

I’m curious though, how they’re implementing the gamepad support for Tremulous as I’ve only recently started investigating support for gamepads in ioquake3.

Perhaps as a friend suggested they’re using a gamepad-axis-to-mouse-movement converter piece of software. I can’t imagine that will work anywhere near as well as real support. Oh well. Lets hope it isn’t vaporware and that they submit patches back to the original authors of the code they use.

Update 1: Ok I’m calling bullshit and probable scam on this thing, check out this goofy statement on the page where they list out some Linux games:

And the whois is to some random guy named Derrick Samuels in Alabama with an AOL address. There is an office there, but who knows if they’re doing anything but counting their money and seeking more investors.

I can’t find anyone else associated with it besides the guy who is listed in the whois contact. While I’m all for small business, no real business that can ship consoles is going to have an AOL e-mail address or only one employee. This is speculation beyond the fact that there isn’t anything else behind Envizions that I can find. No other people or locations or even any hands-on press accounts of the console itself.

Yes, someone could easily make their own small form factor PC these days, load some software, and sell it. However, all my internet detective work says scam. Do not give Derrick Samuels your money unless you read a hands-on review of this thing that is positive from a legitimate site.

We’ll update you guys later if we find out anything more about it. I would very much like to be wrong.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at 11:56 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.