A new 64-bit Linux CD can instantly turn an AMD Athlon 64-based PC into the ultimate gaming console, according to Super Computer Inc. (SCI). The company has created a distribution of the popular America's Army multi-player strategy game on a bootable Linux CD, that it says was developed in partnership with AMD, nVidia, and the US Army. According to SCI, the GameStorm CD boots directly into a gaming-console-like environment that maximizes hardware access for the game software and cuts out legacy operating system overhead, resulting in the feeling of “a gaming console on steroids.”

SCI says its GameStorm technology fits onto a single CD and essentially turns the PC into an embedded Linux based “console-like” gaming system. The Linux OS scans the hardware, loads a custom distribution of 64-bit embedded Linux, and then runs the game software. The experience for the end-user is fast and powerful game playing that boots in under one minute, without the usual overhead from the legacy operating systems traditionally used in the gaming industry, SCI claims.

“It feels like a gaming console on steroids and even allows for online access so you can connect to online game servers for multi-player action,” said Jesper Jensen, CEO of Super Computer, Inc. “With a pure 64-bit environment and no overhead, SCI has created a powerful single-CD showcase for both AMD and GameStorm technology!”

SCI's first GameStorm title, America's Army, originally debuted on July 4, 2002, becoming one of the most popular games online, according to SCI. The Army has recorded more than 1.6 million registered user accounts with more than 1 million players completing basic training. Gamers have played more than 130 million missions and the average number of completed missions per day is 450,000.

“The fact that America's Army is available in 64-bit on the GameStorm CD allows gamers to get a taste of the next generation of gaming just by inserting a CD and powering up the computer,” said Major Bret Wilson, Operations Officer for America's Army.

“With the AMD Athlon 64 processor and GameStorm technology, AMD is able to showcase a fully-integrated 64-bit environment that delivers performance and realism to the most demanding gamers,” said Tim Wright, director, desktop marketing, AMD Computation Products Group. “AMD64 will revolutionize the gaming market by delivering immersive super-realistic environments.”

Earlier this year, Super Computer Inc. unveiled what was claimed to be the world's first AMD Athlon 64 processor-based gaming server cluster, featuring U.S. Army's “America's Army Game,” at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Company Marketing Manager Jay Majumdar says America's Army on GameStorm will be distributed free by AMD with Athlon 64-equipped PCs, and that the company is now working on porting several more 32-bit and 64-bit games to the GameStorm platform.

Majumdar notes that Army recruiters will use the CD during recruiting events. “They can run the game on a floor model at Best Buy, and leave the hard drive untouched,” he says.

 
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