History of video games/Platforms/VIA MOMA

History edit

Development edit

As early as May 4th, 2004 VIA had made public their plans to get their computer parts in a handheld game console after they were excluded from the ApeXtreme.[1]

The MoMA design initially had controllers detachable from its screen.[2]

The MoMA Eve was designed by Meyerhoffer Studios, which had previously done design work for Apple and Porsche.[3]

Announcement edit

The MOMA was announced at E3 2004 for a release in Q1 2005 at a cost of under $500.[4][3][5][6] News outlets panned the console for it's design making it awkward to carry when not in use, though some also appreciated it's aesthetics.[7][8][9][10] A major perk news outlets noted was it's ability to play existing PC games.[11]

A trademark issue in 2004 with CCP Ltd. of Iceland delayed the launch of the console as a name change was required.[12][13]

The MoMA page on the VIA website was unchanged a decade after it was first announced in October 2014.[14] By 2015 the website had been taken down.[15]

The MoMA console is not known to have officially launched.

Technology edit

Compute edit

 
A VIA Eden-N processor, similar to the one that would have been used in the VIA MOMA.

The VIA MOMA is powered by an x86 VIA Eden-N processor clocked at 533 megahertz.[5][16]

The console has a 128 megabytes of DDR266 RAM which is shared between the GPU and the rest of the system.[17][16]

The VIA MOMA GPU is a S3 Graphics UniChrome Pro clocked at 200 megahertz.[5]

A CN400 chipset and VT8237 southbridge is used.[18]

Hardware edit

The MoMA has a six channel audio system.[16]

The system has a 1.8" 20 gigabyte hard drive.[17][8][19]

The system has Wi-Fi B, two USB ports, a compact flash slot and TV output.[7][16]

SIM Cards are used for DRM.[20]

The VIA MOMA has a 4 inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 640 by 480.[17][19] The screen was detachable.[11]

The VIA MoMA uses two prismatic lithium ion batteries in tandem to provide two hours of charge time per battery, and to allow for hot swapping batteries on the fly.[5][19]

Software edit

The MoMA runs embedded Windows XP.[16] However the system was planned to be configurable to be fully open for power users to use as they wished.[2]

A P2P network called GameDweller by AceGain would have delivered DRM content for purchase or rent, supported server browsing, game updates, and instant messaging.[11]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. "VIA Plans Handheld Gaming Console?". Neoseeker. https://www.neoseeker.com/news/3342-via-plans-handheld-gaming-console/. 
  2. a b "Welcome to the Ministry of Mobile Affairs". web.archive.org. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  3. a b "VIA Und MoMA Mobilisieren X86-basierte Spiele - Spiel 2020". Game lists (in German). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  4. "E3 2004: Eve Pictures - IGN". Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  5. a b c d "New "Mobile Console" Plays PC Games - ExtremeTech". www.extremetech.com. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. "New Gaming Handhelds Enter Fray". PCWorld. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  7. a b "VIA's MoMA Eve portable game console - Engadget - www.engadget.com". web.archive.org. 3 June 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  8. a b "Moma's Eve: Irresponsible". web.archive.org. 3 June 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  9. "PortaGame.com - System Watch: Via's MoMA Eve New "Handheld" System". web.archive.org. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  10. "VIA's MoMA Eve portable game console". Engadget. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  11. a b c "Via's mobile Eve has big screen, small footprint". web.archive.org. 27 December 2004. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  12. "Welcome to the Ministry of Mobile Affairs". web.archive.org. 23 September 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  13. "MoMA's Eve takes a bite of forbidden trademark fruit". Engadget. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  14. "MOMA Mobile Gaming Console - VIA Technologies, Inc". web.archive.org. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  15. "Website in 2015". web.archive.org. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  16. a b c d e Smith, Tony. "Start-up touts x86, Wi-Fi as mobile gaming future". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. a b c "Via-based Handheld Game Console Runs PC Games - Slashdot". games.slashdot.org. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  18. "mini-itx.com - news - "Eve" - Eden-N based x86 Handheld". www.mini-itx.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  19. a b c "VIA Technologies, Inc". web.archive.org. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  20. "VIA's mobile affair with Eve". iTnews. Retrieved 4 November 2020.