Submission + - OTON - A new Ubuntu-based "Autonomous Game Console" (kotaku.com.au)
dryriver writes: Startup company EnGeniux has started advertising its new OTON console (http://www.otonx.com/), which will, if things go well, ship sometime in 2013. OTON is based on a quad-core Cortex A9 CPU, has 2 GB RAM, and 16GB Flash storage. It also has a small Laser Projector built into the back of the console unit, so you don't need a TV to play with OTON — it will happily project games onto any nearby flat surface, like a white wall. The most interesting aspect of OTON, however, apart from its OS being Ubuntu-based, is that developer EnGenieux claims that the console can "intelligently generate an unlimited number of new game levels, and game types". You have read that correctly; EnGenieux claim to have spent 3 years creating a quasi-intelligent AI game-generation system that can "throw dice" to create anything from simple 2D platform games to complex 3D FPS shooters games on demand. And each OTON owner will get completely unique games generated for his/her console. The grand idea here is that OTON will feature "unlimited procedurally generated game content", so you never have to buy new games if you don't want to. You can simply prompt your OTON to roll the virtual device and generate you a completely new game. While concrete details about OTON are somewhat sketchy — some people think that the whole thing is an elaborate internet hoax — it seems that OTON gamers will also moonlight as game-makers. The console will allow you to create your own game assets, design your own games, and share your work with the rest of the OTON community. Hoax or not, its going to be interesting what OTON looks like when it is finished and shipping...