The XGameStation (XGS) is a complete game development kit, including a fully-assembled unit, a full-length eBook written by LaMothe and all the software necessary to create your own games. The book introduces the reader to digital engineering, then gradually explores the entire design of the XGS's hardware, software, operating system and graphics APIs (Application Programming Interface). Armed with a complete understanding of how the system was built and operates, users then create their own games or play games made by their peers. The online community at www.xgamestation.com completes the system's appeal, providing a place for XGameStation developers to share ideas, software and even discuss hardware modifications.
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The system plugs into any TV and supports PlayStation controllers as well as a PS/2 keyboard. Additionally, the XGS comes with a built-in BASIC programming language, giving users the power to create games in their living rooms without the need for a separate computer. XGameStation games and applications are stored on flash memory cartridges, allowing users to develop and download their games from a PC using traditional C/C++ compilers and tools.
In short, by empowering hobbyists and game developers with a game platform they can truly call their own, XGameStation is reviving the magic of programming for systems like the Apple II, Atari 800 and Commodore 64. Unlike systems from Nintendo and Sony, XGS developers face no legal or financial restrictions with XGameStation. There's no official license, no royalties to pay, and no guidelines to follow. Users are free to let their imaginations and ambitions run wild, which is what the system's designer, LaMothe, is working to provide - the freedom for the individual to once again call the shots.
The official website for the XGameStation can be found at http://www.xgamestation.com/