2. RESEARCH
In order to begin the design process of the console, it was decided to
perform research on video games and how people interact with it, their
preferences and behaviours.
A survey was performed which constituted 6 questions (with 3 sub-
questions) which were designed to acquire particular information about
the platforms that the surveyed people played on, details on the types
of games that they play and how they play them, and the methods that
they use to acquire them.

3. QUESTIONNAIRE: PLATFORM
Platform
Xbox 360
PS3
iOS
Android
PC
When 10 people were asked about
which platforms they mostly
played, they produced these
results:
This tells us that the majority of the
group play on mobile
platforms, such as iOS and
Android, while the other platforms
are the minority in this group.
We can correlate this information
with later results to create a more
rounded understanding of people’s
preferences in video games.

4. QUESTIONNAIRE: TIME
On the questionnaire, 10 people
were asked about the amount of
time that they played video
games, on average, in a single
sitting.
From these results, we can gather
that the vast majority of people play
games in very short time frames of
up to ten minutes. This correlates
with the previous results, as mobile
devices such as iOS and Android
phones are more popular than other
platforms among the surveyed
group.
Length
1-10 Minutes
~1 hour
3+ hours

5. QUESTIONNAIRE: MULTIPLAYER
Interaction
Single player
Online competitive
Here, the surveyed group were asked
about the amount of interpersonal
interaction that they preferred in the
games that they play.
From these results, we can gather
that the majority of people in this
group prefer single-player games. If
we correlate this with previous
results, it can be speculated that this
is related to the amount of time that a
person spends on a game and the
platform, as multiplayer games often
require a stable internet connection
and a greater amount of time to play.
It is also notable that none of the
surveyed group preferred primarily
multiplayer co-operative games.

6. QUESTIONNAIRE: DISTRIBUTION
The survey group then were asked
about their preferred method of
acquiring new games.
Digital distribution is the most
popular, and is also the only method of
distribution that is common among all
video game consoles and
platforms, which is partially the cause
for it’s popularity. Digital distribution
have become more convenient for
users than retail stores, and doesn’t
suffer from the same weaknesses as
physical copies, such as necessity for
space and limited supply.
Distribution
Retail
Digital
Online store

7. QUESTIONNAIRE: CONTENT
In this question, the survey asked
people about the type of content
that they most look for as a feature
in their games that they play.
The most notable statistic here is
the very low proportion of people
that focus on graphics as a feature
in games, which suggests a
change in consumer interests
considering the large push in
recent years for games to be ‘more
realistic’ and to have higher
graphical fidelity.
Content
Story
Gameplay
Graphics

8. QUESTIONNAIRE: CONTENT: STORY
This is a follow up from the
question about the interest of in
content in video games, for those
who chose ‘Story’ as a focus.
The majority claimed to prefer the
characters in games to be the
aspect of the story that it focuses
on. This is relevant
information, considering the
recent popularity of Bioware
games, which have a large
amount of focus on character
interaction, which features in
many their multiplatform titles.
Story
Characters
Backstory

9. QUESTIONNAIRE: CONTENT: GAMEPLAY
This question is a follow up from
the question concerning the
content people prefer in their
games, for those who declared a
preference for gameplay.
When asked about the ‘type’ of
gameplay that they prefer to
experience, the majority answered
that they prefer their games have
‘simple’ gameplay, which in
practical terms means that a game
has a smaller amount of mechanics
that the player has to learn in order
to play the game. This result is
related to the large amount of
people that play mobile
games, which have games that
utilize the simpler control
system, the touch screen.
Gameplay
Simple
Deep
Open

10. QUESTIONNAIRE: CONTENT: GRAPHICS
Surveyed people who answered
that they have a preference for a
graphical focus in video games
were asked about what exactly
they prefer in terms of ‘graphics’.
Due to the very low number of
people who answered that they
had a preference for
graphics, these results are
difficult to extrapolate from.
Graphics
Fidelity
Design

11. QUESTIONNAIRE: COMPLETION
In this question, people were
asked about their stance when it
comes to ‘completing’ games –
defined in this case as
continuing the game until it’s
primary game mode can be
considered to be finished.
The notable result here is the
large result for completion being
N/A, which refers to games
where the ability to ‘complete’ a
game does not exist, which is a
feature of certain mobile and
arcade games.
Completion
One-by-one
Multiple over time
Scored improvement
N/A

12. QUESTIONNAIRE: REPLAY
The final question in the
questionnaire asked people
about the frequency with which
people would go back to an
older game in their possession
and play them.
The majority voted that they
never go and play older games
in their possession, which is
curious, considering that most
modern games are bound to an
account or a device rather that
being a physical object that can
be bought and sold, which also
means that people may find
themselves with a larger amount
of games that they do not play
and cannot re-sell.
Replay
Never
Occasionally
Updates/Expansions
Certain Games

13. PS4 REVIEW (FROM TECHRADAR.COM)
‘Gaming on the PS4 is fantastic. The graphics are good, not mind blowing if you've used a
expensive gaming PC lately, but a big step up from last-gen consoles.’
‘The interface is fast too. Everything is speedy and responsive right from minute one, and the
interface is full of clever design choices that speed things up. Games begin to install the second you pop in
the disc, firmware updates download while the system is on standby and game patches do too if you have
PS Plus.’
‘The DualShock 4 controller is a significant upgrade. The most bothersome aspects of the
DualShock 3 have been addressed, resulting in a comfortable controller that's more functional for games of
all genres. The touchpad, while currently underused, is well built and nicely placed, the light bar makes
player identification simple and the system can finally charge a controller while it's off or in standby.
‘The interface is too stripped down, and the What's New feed is a mess. Having the PS4's
Dynamic Menu constantly reorder is too simplistic, especially if you're going to tuck Netflix into a Movies &
TV folder. This is nit-picking really, it's the What's New news feed that needs work. All the useless trophy
spam is burying genuinely engaging stuff like gameplay video and screenshot shares.’
‘Sharing of gameplay videos and screenshots is shackled to social networks. There really ought
to be a way to grab your gameplay videos with a USB drive, or a the very least upload them to a private link.
Being forced to share them on Facebook or on the PSN just makes us not want to do it.’
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/gaming/games-consoles/sony-ps4-1131803/review/8#articleContent

14. XBOX ONE REVIEW (FROM POLYGON.COM)
‘Microsoft had the unenviable task of redesigning something that nobody thought was broken.
The Xbox 360 controller was universally praised, so it shouldn't be surprising that the Xbox One controller is
familiar. Improvements have been made to the triggers, which now feature rumble motors; the D-pad, which
is now a cross; and the thumbsticks, which are now smaller and more accurate. It's a comfortable controller
with a good amount of weight, and a great texture not only makes it feel more premium but ameliorates the
gross, slippery feel following a long session with the Xbox 360 controller.
Microsoft has insisted it has the software gamers want. But it's also maintained that this
generation is about more than that. It's repeatedly outlined a vision for a console based around
entertainment, apps and connected experiences, tied together by Kinect, which has been met with
apprehension by the enthusiast audience.
To be clear, Kinect isn't a fully realized product yet. Gesture support is functionally non-
existent, and there's a lack of good examples of how Kinect can contribute to games. There are certain
elements of Microsoft's strategy that are missing at launch, like support for Twitch streaming and HBO Go.
And the console's television functionality impresses … if you watch television.
But in many ways, the Xbox One's bold direction for the future is well in place. The integration
of voice controls and its media strategy are a boon to everyone, and the ability to run apps while playing
games is something we now want on every gaming console we have. That it has a handful of
strong, exclusive games at launch only supports its legitimacy as a gaming console and not just an
entertainment hub.
The Xbox One is an impressive marriage of software and hardware that raises the bar in terms
of what we expect from a living-room machine. ’
http://www.polygon.com/a/xbox-one-review#console

15. WII U REVIEW (FROM TRUSTEDREVIEWS.COM)
‘If you’re a serious gamer planning to buy just one console in the next twelve
months, it’s unlikely that the Wii U will be it. If, however, you’re a fan of Nintendo’s
classics, or a more casual gamer looking for the next step on from the Wii, then the
Wii U is much easier to recommend. It might not turn out to be the future of
gaming, but it’s in with a credible chance of mainstream success.
Even by Nintendo’s standards, this is no ordinary run-of-the-mill console. The Wii U
GamePad is a strange, brilliant and versatile controller, and employed properly
might just power a new wave of fantastic, innovative games. As a vehicle for family
fun, the Wii U is a formidable system, despite a slow UI and the odd niggle here
and there. The struggle will be working out how it fits in between the current
console generation and the next, and maintaining third-party support, but the
potential is there for some great games, and some really unique experiences. ‘
http://www.trustedreviews.com/wii-u_Games_review_the-verdict_Page-3#tr-
review-summary

16. INTRODUCTION
The Y-Play is imagined as a medium-power, lower-end console that
attempts to get by in a very tightly competitive console market by being a
relatively low cost option compared to it’s larger competitors in the
PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.
To that end, the Y-Play is designed with achieving at the least the bare
standards of gaming in it’s hardware, while putting a greater focus on its
software accessibility by using an open source operating system, without
shutting away the possibility of viability for core games as well as more
‘casual’ games.

17. HUMAN COMPUTER INTERFACE / OPERATING SYSTEM
Linux-Derived Operating System
Linux is an open source operating system, and is used by many types of
devices, including phones, computers, tablets, and even other video
game consoles (for example, the PS4 is using an OS derived from
Linux).
Using an OS derived from Linux reduces the cost of development of the Y-
Play, as much of the cost of development an entirely new software
kernel is subverted, and ports between the Y-Play and PC platforms
become easier to achieve. Using this advantage, it would be easier to
gain third party support, which is a primary objective the console would
have to achieve to succeed.
The interface itself would be designed with simplicity and accessibility in
mind, which would help the introduction of newer players to the system.

18. CONTROLLER
Wireless Gamepad + Charge Cable
For playing video games, the gamepad design is still the standard
controller type, despite constant innovation by Nintendo, so it is the
safest option for the Y-Play to ship with the console.
The pads themselves would use a wireless connector, such as Bluetooth.
This allows the controller to be used from any reasonable distance from
the console, thus granting it flexibility for users.
Though the usage of wireless means that the controllers must be given an
independent battery and charger, the use of a USB interface charger
means that the console can also support previously made alternative
controllers that also use USB, such as fighting game sticks and light
guns.

19. GRAPHICS PROCESSOR
AMD Radeon Derivative
AMD is one of a few major companies that produces graphics
processors, and of its competitors it is the company most experienced
in producing and supplying graphics processors to consoles. As
such, the processor used will not only be more suitable to use in a
console, but it can be adjusted and modified to suit the needs of the
hardware and software.

20. RAM
8GB of DDR3 RAM
Although there is the newer, improved DDR5 RAM on the market, I have
chosen the less efficient DDR3 to be the RAM in the console primarily to
reduce the cost of producing the units of Y-Plays and consequently, the
consoles price.
As the Y-Play is attempting to fill a current hole in the market for a
cheap, midrange video games console some of the technology will have
to be compromised in order to keep the console cheaper.

21. CPU
Dual Core CPU
Dual core processors are currently reasonably cheap on the market, as
technology advances and more efficient and powerful variants become
available for use. By using a dual core CPU, as opposed to a quad core
CPU the overall cost of the console is reduced, keeping the price low
while maintaining a low-mid range amount of power as a console on the
market.

22. VIDEO OUTPUT
HDMI – 720p to 1080p
720p is currently a standard in the video game industry, as S-Video and
SCART have been almost entirely phased out of use, so by making the
console with HDMI it will have more longevity.
It will not be created with 4K compatibility, as the current televisions that
have that functionality are prohibitively expensive, and there is no
reason as such to believe that the functionality would sell more units of
the console.

23. SOUND
HDMI
HD sound uses the same channels and cable as video data, so it is more
practical to use the output that is already available to the console. The
fact that sound can be transferred using the HDMI cable is also useful in
that it reduces the total amount of components to be made and
packaged with the console.

24. CONNECTIVITY
Ethernet Cable + Wireless Network Adapter
Online multiplayer games are currently a large and major part of the video
games industry, so excluding functionality for those games would be a
massive loss for the console.
Ethernet cables are the easier, and more reliable method of connecting a
device to the internet, but not everyone can be guaranteed to have an
Ethernet port available in the rooms that they may wish to put the
console in. Therefore, by adding wireless connectivity, the amount of
people who can make use of the console (and therefore the amount of
potential sales) will increase.

25. STORAGE MEDIA
Hard Disk Drive, variable size starting at 60GB
HDDs are currently the cheaper and more reliable form of storage media for
larger consoles and pcs, with the only suitable alternative to be Solid
State Drives, which are not only more expensive, but also degrade
faster with use – eventually, current SSDs become entirely unusable if
they are written and overwritten on too much, which is not practical for
a console, which will need to transfer a lot of data almost constantly.

26. POWER SUPPLY
External Supply
Although external power units can be restrictive for consumers, due to the
extra space required to accommodate the physical unit, the use of an
external power supply reduces the amount of heat that builds up inside
of the console unit, which is important, as it means that internal
components will receive less damage over time and will also run more
effectively in the short term without the need for a greater added
amount of cooling and/or ventilation.