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Andrespetmonkey on 04 January 2013
Is it a bunch of engineers and dudes in suits discussing what goes into the next console? Is it testing different components and versions of components and different ombinations of components? computer models? physical models?
I say it a lot, I hear it a lot, but really I'm not so sure I know what it is. I assume the above... is that basically the extent of it? Mostly I'm interested in where the costs associated with it come from, and why they can be so astronomical.
Thanks in advance.
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bananaking21 on 04 January 2013
well it starts off with research and then they do some development
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Andrespetmonkey on 04 January 2013
bananaking21 said:
well it starts off with research and then they do some development |
/thread
thanks. think we should wrap it up here then.
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green_sky on 04 January 2013
I am thinking many prototypes with different specs. Trying to find new input devices (wiimote, wii u pad, kinect, move, sixaxis). Getting inputs from in house and outside developers. Architecture of online store and other functionalists. Finally testing it enough to the point that it doesn't blow up.
Edit: Costs would be high paid engineers, material costs of prototypes, reseraching cell and in hour propreitary technology costed a lot. Thus Sony is rumoured to go for off market components for PS4.
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bananaking21 on 04 January 2013
Andrespetmonkey said:
bananaking21 said:
well it starts off with research and then they do some development |
/thread
thanks. think we should wrap it up here then.
|
pretty much yeah. though i would like to ask a favor, next time you make a thread dont ask us to explain something so long and complicated
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green_sky on 04 January 2013
bananaking21 said:
Andrespetmonkey said:
bananaking21 said:
well it starts off with research and then they do some development |
/thread
thanks. think we should wrap it up here then.
|
pretty much yeah. though i would like to ask a favor, next time you make a thread dont ask us to explain something so long and complicated
|
Why not. I think it is a great thread. Certainly 100 times more interesting than arguing over xbla/psn/steam imo. 
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bananaking21 on 04 January 2013
green_sky said:
bananaking21 said:
Andrespetmonkey said:
bananaking21 said:
well it starts off with research and then they do some development |
/thread
thanks. think we should wrap it up here then.
|
pretty much yeah. though i would like to ask a favor, next time you make a thread dont ask us to explain something so long and complicated
|
Why not. I think it is a great thread. Certainly 100 times more interesting than arguing over xbla/psn/steam imo.
|
you killed the joke :(
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green_sky on 04 January 2013
bananaking21 said:
green_sky said:
Why not. I think it is a great thread. Certainly 100 times more interesting than arguing over xbla/psn/steam imo.
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you killed the joke :(
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Sorry. I am buzz kill sometimes 
And we deretailed the topic. Hopefully it gets more hits from people who study hardware engineering.
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Soleron on 04 January 2013
There are probably over a hundred different component suppliers for a console, and each one is competitively bid upon so needs to be prototyped and tested. The more advanced components won't even exist yet when the process is begun so you have to work with simulations and promises.
Then they design how the components will fit together on the board and connect to the case and external ports etc
Then they need to choose which OEMs will build the thing and how their production line will be set up to receive each of the parts and integrate them, while having the thing cost only a few hundred dollars per unit.
The longest part is validation. You have a hacked together working board in the lab, but now you've got to make it mass producible, with a 99.99%+ pass rate for every one of a hundred components in their new environment (space, heat, power, electrical susceptibility) so that the vast majority of consoles coming off the production line work for 5+ years in possibly terrible conditions (cramped in a corner with no ventilation).
Not spending enough time (a year plus) on validation between on-paper 'final' hardware and first production is what gave us RROD.
What takes the most time overall is getting a hundred companies with completely different processes, ideas and expectations to work together across time zones.
Source: Dad works in a similar high-tech industry with the same process.
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I would think it would have to do alot with consumer surveys. See what direction the consumer is wanting to go into.
