Hydra Console

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The HYDRA game console is the new creation of Andre LaMothe similar to the XGameStation. Like the XGameStation, HYDRA is an open system, allowing anyone to create games for it. However, being less focused on teaching electronics and more about homebrew games, the HYDRA uses a more complex and powerful CPU - the recently released Parallax Propeller processing unit, which has eight 32 bit RISC CPU's called COG's with 32KByte built in RAM and 32KByte build in ROM.

Image of the new HYDRA game console

[edit] Specifications

The HYDRA game console has the following specifications:

• Propeller CPU at 160 MIPS, 8 PIC like CPU cores with 496 32 bit words workspace, 32K RAM, 32K ROM
  
• 128K serial EEPROM
  
• two NES Compatible Game Ports
  
• one USB Programming port
• one Serial Port or second USB port
  
• two PS/2 Compliant Ports for Mouse and Keyboard.
  
• one NTSC or PAL Video Output or alternatively one VGA Video Output
  
• one mono Audio output
  
• one 20-Pin Expansion Interface connector
  
• one RJ-11 Peer to Peer Networking Port
  

The system can be programmed as the target of a PC-hosted IDE or through locally hosted programming languages. Tiny BASIC is included with the system, and the FORTH language is also available. Of course the Hydra can also be programmed in assembler, and in the Propeller's own built in Spin programming language.

[edit] Memory expansion system

A 512K RAM memory expansion card that can be plugged into the expansion connector will soon be available.

[edit] External links

• More information on the HYDRA can be found at the Parallax site here and at the XGameStation site here.
• Interview of Andre LaMothe about the Hydra at Gamasutra.