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I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 1
Videogames & Embedded Systems
I202, Fall 2003Session 4
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 2
Structure of this Session
1. Microprocessors and their applications2. Video games, as example application
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 3
Other Early Games
• Mostly text based– “Hunt the Wumpus”, a maze game– Star Trek
• Tapes passed around between DEC installations
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 4
The Microchip
• Basic idea: build several onto a single module– Transistors had been getting smaller, but
package and wiring limits miniaturization– Breakthrough is photographic process to etch
transistors and connections onto silicon• By 1970 can make memory chips
– 256-bits (64 bytes) per chip– Capabilities increase rapidly…
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 5
The Microprocesor
• Developed 1969-1971 by Intel– Ted Hoff generally credited
– Creative solution to creation of logic chips for pocket calculator
• Builds core elements of central processing unit (CPU) onto one chip– Arithmetic capabilities, Logic capabilities, Registers
– Formerly took one or more circuit boards
• Couple with different programs for different systems
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 6
Intel 4004
• First microprocessor– 2,300 transistors on one
chip– 4-bit (i.e. can handle
numbers up to 16 easily)
• Uses include– Burglar alarms– Pioneer 10 space probe
(allegedly)
• 8-bit and 16-bit chips follow rapidly
2
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Moore’s Law
• Coined by Gordon Moore in 1965– He observed exponential increase in
economically optimal number of transistors on chip over time
• Common versions are not literally true– Eg doubling every 18 months in RAM
capacity, or doubling in processor power per $
• But, increase has been impressive
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Intel’s Official Chart
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Early Applications
• Digital Watch• Programmable
Calculator• Videogames• Music Synthesizer
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Each of These
• Is a computer– Microprocessor chip– Memory (RAM) chip for temporary storage– Program, burned into ROM chip
• Called “Embedded Systems”– Simplified operating systems– High levels of integration– Simpler, cheaper, lower power processors
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 11
Current Applications
• CD Player• DVD player, VCR• Cell phone• TVs (closed caption, etc)• Cable TV box• Microwave oven• Digital Camera (& control in film camera)
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 12
Modern Cars
• Full of embedded processors– Record data in event of crash– Control brakes– Control engine
• Mechanics need special computer to interface• Tuning done via software
– Stereo/CD system
3
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2: Video Games
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Space War
• Read about this in “Hackers”
• Complex, hard, needed a PDP 1 to play
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Adventure
• Text based game– Will Crowther (1972) & Don Woods (1976)– Inspired by Dungeons & Dragons– Single player
• Walk through huge cave network– Read descriptions– Type instructions (“Go North”, “Get Lamp”)– Solve problems
• Needs powerful minicomputer to run– Development at MIT, RAND Corp & Stanford
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Computer Space
• Direct attempt to commercialize Space War
• Nolan Bushnell, 1971• Flopped – game too
complex for public
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 17
Pong
• Created in 1972– Nolan Bushnell, founds
Atari
• Powered by 4004 chip• Around 38,000 made
– About equal to bestselling computer in history
• Found in bars, laundromats, pizzerias, etc.
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 18
Pong Circuit board
Pong used many simple chips;It did not have a microprocessor
4
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Home Pong Consoles
• Quite popular– Get boring fast!
• Dozens of different versions– Hockey, tennis,
football, etc.
• This one shrinks Pong to a single chip– Technique called “LSI”
for Large Scale Integration
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 20
Space Invaders
• Created by Taito, a Japanese firm, in 1978
• Microprocessor based– Intel 8080 processor
– Running code burned onto ROM
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 21
Boom in early 1980s
• New color games– Galaxian (1979)
Frogger (1981)
• Arcades spring up in every town– Pinball machines
joined by video games
– Kids hang around
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 22
Pac Man
• Released 1980• Biggest hit of all time
– Simple
– Challenging– Appeals to both sexes
• Huge marketing event– Breakfast cereal
– Books– Many sequels
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 23
Atari VCS Home Console
• Launched in 1977– Microprocessor based– Atari acquired by Warner
Communications
• Takes program cartridges– Originally 2K ROM chips!
• Space Invaders first big hit– More than a million sold
• By 1982, Warner makes more from videogames than movies!
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Inside the VCS
5
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The Boom Ends
• By 1983, videogame market is saturated– Too many bad games, people get bored– Atari almost collapses– VCS stays on market until 1989
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Nintendo
• Nintendo Entertainment System– Introduced 1985 in US– Revives market
• Late 1980s see more powerful systems– SEGA Genesis (1989)– Super NES (1991)
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1990s – Arcades in Decline
• Power of home PCs and consoles matches that of specialized hardware– So people play at
home instead– Remaining games
tend to have fancy cases (guns, bikes to sit on, etc.)
– Also multiplayer
I202, Session 4, Thomas Haigh 28
Today’s Consoles
• Extremely powerful 3D graphics– Microsoft X-Box– Playstation 2
• X-Box is basically a modified PC– Includes hard disk, Windows version
• Consoles often more powerful than desktop PCs– 3D games are driving PC hardware
development today.