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History of video games/Platforms/CT510

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History

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A Lenovo Research and Development campus in Beijing in 2008, around the time development of the system began. Following Eedoo splitting from Lenovo in 2010, both companies worked together during the development of their console.
 
Haidian in Beijing during the year 2012. This district housed Eedoo, and this year was the launch of the CT510.

Development

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Development of the console began in 2008 by Lenovo,[1] a major computer manufacturer in Beijing, China. Beijing Eedoo Technology was founded on the 1st of July, 2010,[1][2][3] as an offshoot of the S&P division of Lenovo[4][5] and operated out of the Haidian district of Beijing in the Shangdi Information Park.[5] Lenovo continued to support the project following the split, dedicating 40 engineers to the project.[6][4][5] Further financial backing was provided by Legend Holdings and Legend Capital.[5][6]

Development of the system suffered multiple delays which pushed the launch of the console from 2011, to early 2012 to mid 2012.[4] Development of the console was costly, with $15 million spent on R&D.[7] A critical issue during development was making the system friendly to beginners, as motion gaming was uncommon in China at the time and typical conventions in motion games at the time proved strange or even insulting to casual Chinese gamers during testing.[8] The console was initially referred to as the eBox during development, and later had its name changed to the iSec and also the Sports Entertainment Center.[9][10][11] Eedoo had planned to sell 12 million consoles in China.[12]

Launch

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The console was launched on April 29th, 2012 in 11 Chinese cities, with the base model CT510 costing a sizable 3,799 yuan.[13][14] The higher spec CT520 cost 3,999 yuan.[15] This high price put it at a disadvantage when compared to cheaper imported consoles.[14] On launch the system was notably difficult to buy, both in person, and online.[16]

The device was widely mocked on Chinese websites on launch.[16] The console even received accidental criticism from a director of it's own manufacturer on social media, though this statement was later retracted.[14]

The system did not target hardcore gamers, and the company explicitly avoided the device a console, likely to dodge a ban on gaming consoles at the time.[13][4] Eedoo advertised the system in upscale shopping malls with small experience centers.[15]

By November 2012 the system had notedly poor market performance, and the CT310 price reduced model was launched for 2,999 yuan.[15] Given that a worldwide release had been planned once the console sold a million units in China,[17] and such a release never occurred, the console presumably sold less than this target.

At some point later, Eedoo had ceased operations.[3]

Technology

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The system had a dual core CPU clocked at 1.8 gigahertz, and additionally used a 3D capable GPU.[14][18]

The system used a Belgian SoftKenetic 3D camera for gameplay, integrating a which uses a CMOS digital camera with a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels and an LED to emit light for time of flight measurements.[19][20][5] Despite the system commonly being compared with the Xbox Kinect, it should be noted that this is technologically quite different from the hardware used by the Kinect. The system also used a remote control for normal navigation.[20]

There were three different models of the system, with the differing storage sizes and case colors.[15] At launch the system shipped with either a 250 (CT510[15]) or 320 (CT520[15]) gigabyte capacity hard disk drive was used for system storage.[14][14] Later the CT310 was released, which contained a paltry 32 gigabyte capacity storage drive with a reduced price.[15]

The system had four USB 2.0 ports divided evenly between the front and back of the system.[20]

The console used Beckon middleware and the Beckon Development Suite by Omek Interactive for gesture recognition.[21]

The system could use an online store, and came equipped with a "LAN port".[20]

Games

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We have localized this product for Chinese users. This is our advantage.
—Victor Wang, Executive Director of Eedoo, Computer World Interview[13]

The console featured 8 included games, which used a camera controllerless setup similar to the Xbox Kinect for exercise games.[13][14] The exergaming activities were localized, and included regional focused activities such as Taichi.[13] While some game developers for the system were based in China, two games for the system were developed by the Israeli company Side-kick,[22][23] with other official game developers for the system being based in Europe and North America.[8][21]

  • Green Exercise[20]
  • Maya Fit - A game noted for it's similarity to Wii Fit.[20][24]
  • Dance Wall[20][25]
  • Hole in the Wall[20]
  • Fun Park Adventure[20]
  • Bumper Cars[20]
  • Flyer's Story[20]
  • Kung Fu - Variant of Kung Fu Live[20]

Models

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  • CT310 - 32 gigabytes of storage[15]
  • CT510 - 250 gigabytes of storage[15]
  • CT520 - 320 gigabytes of storage[15]

References

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Wikipedia has related information at CT510

  1. ↑ a b Kan, Michael (27 August 2010). "Lenovo developing game console for China" (in en). Computerworld. https://www.computerworld.com/article/2755094/lenovo-developing-game-console-for-china.html. 
  2. ↑ "Beijing Eedoo Technology Co Ltd - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ↑ a b "Beijing Eedoo Technology - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding" (in en). Crunchbase. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/beijing-eedoo-technology-ltd. 
  4. ↑ a b c d "Lenovo-backed Game Console for China Hit by Delays" (in en). PCWorld. 18 December 2011. https://www.pcworld.com/article/246521/lenovobacked_game_console_for_china_hit_by_delays.html. 
  5. ↑ a b c d e "EEDOO Selects SoftKinetic 3D Camera Technology for Gesture-based iSec Sports Entertainment Center" (in en). www.businesswire.com. 9 May 2011. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110509005086/en/EEDOO-Selects-SoftKinetic-3D-Camera-Technology-for-Gesture-based-iSec-Sports-Entertainment-Center. 
  6. ↑ a b Bennett, Colette. "Lenovo Developing A Motion Control Console For China" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/120917/Lenovo_Developing_A_Motion_Control_Console_For_China.php. 
  7. ↑ "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. https://www.techinasia.com/chinas-eedoo-isec-console-postponed-again-will-break-15m-in-rd-costs. 
  8. ↑ a b Orland, Kyle. "China's Unexpected Cultural Challenges For Motion Control" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/128061/Chinas_Unexpected_Cultural_Challenges_For_Motion_Control.php. 
  9. ↑ Rose, Mike. "Lenovo's Chinese motion control games console launching later this month" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/169263/Lenovos_Chinese_motion_control_games_console_launching_later_this_month.php. 
  10. ↑ "Lenovo-funded eBox gaming console renamed iSec, still can't shake Kinect comparisons". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2011-05-06-lenovo-funded-ebox-gaming-console-renamed-isec-still-cant-shak.html. 
  11. ↑ Graft, Kris. "Lenovo-Funded Chinese 'iSec' Console Planned For Second-Half 2011" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/124804/LenovoFunded_Chinese_iSec_Console_Planned_For_SecondHalf_2011.php. 
  12. ↑ Alexander, Leigh. "Lenovo's China Motion-Sensing Gaming Console Sees Launch Delay" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/122987/Lenovos_China_MotionSensing_Gaming_Console_Sees_Launch_Delay.php. 
  13. ↑ a b c d e Kan, Michael (3 May 2012). "Lenovo-backed firm sidesteps hardcore gamers, with Chinese video game system" (in en). Computerworld. https://www.computerworld.com/article/2726212/lenovo-backed-firm-sidesteps-hardcore-gamers--with-chinese-video-game-system.html. 
  14. ↑ a b c d e f g h "Lenovo's Eedoo CT510 motion gaming console to finally hit China, wants your $600". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2012-04-28-lenovo-eedoo-ct510-motion-gaming-console-launch.html. 
  15. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j "China's Homegrown Console Still Lives!" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/chinas-homegrown-console-still-lives-5957671. 
  16. ↑ a b "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. https://www.techinasia.com/eedoo-ct150-game-console-launch-china. 
  17. ↑ Orland, Kyle. "Motion-Controlled iSec Console Hitting China In December For $470" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/127809/MotionControlled_iSec_Console_Hitting_China_In_December_For_470.php. 
  18. ↑ a b Robertson, Adi (29 April 2012). "Kinect-like Eedoo CT510 console goes on sale in China for $600" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2012/4/29/2986294/kinect-like-eedoo-ct510-console-on-sale. 
  19. ↑ Orland, Kyle. "SoftKinetic On The Technology Powering Eedoo's iSec" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34698/SoftKinetic_On_The_Technology_Powering_Eedoos_iSec.php. 
  20. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Sizing Up China's Home Video Game Console, the CT510" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/sizing-up-chinas-home-video-game-console-the-ct510-5909967. 
  21. ↑ a b Rose, Mike. "iSec Console Will Implement Beckon Middleware" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/124863/iSec_Console_Will_Implement_Beckon_Middleware.php. 
  22. ↑ "Designing Kinect Games: Challenges and Lessons" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EhudLavski/20120807/175503/Designing_Kinect_Games_Challenges_and_Lessons.php. 
  23. ↑ "Designing Kinect Games: Challenges and Lessons" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EhudLavski/20120807/175503/Designing_Kinect_Games_Challenges_and_Lessons.php. 
  24. ↑ "China's First Official Home Console Is Much Better Than Anticipated" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/chinas-first-official-home-console-is-much-better-than-5907254. 
  25. ↑ "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. https://www.techinasia.com/lenovo-isec. 


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