novelhk Chapter 35 Self-developed Languages and Inexpensive Chips
Chapter 35 Self-developed Languages and Inexpensive Chips
"Wait...What?"
Vivian stared at the screen in disbelief, almost doubting her ears.
"So... you built this test level using this tool?"
"That's right."
Lin Lixin nodded and immediately pulled up a document.
The exact same layout as the level Sam was playing immediately appeared on the screen.
"Each grid can be represented by 3 numbers, and this map uses less than 1KB of space."
He typed a command on the computer, and the originally clear map immediately turned into a matrix of numbers.
Each cell clearly displays three numbers.
Vivian glanced at it and immediately understood just how powerful this extremely simple and easy-to-understand function was.
"The first two numbers represent the location it's rendered in, and the third number tells the graphics processor what it looks like?"
"That's right. The texture only needs to be loaded into video memory once. After that, all we need is the index."
Lin Lixin had actually created a prototype of this technology during the development of Contra.
But making it into a dedicated program was something he only thought of when developing Metal Gear.
With tile maps, both memory and video memory usage are drastically reduced.
The saved capacity can be fully utilized for animation and special effects.
Vivian was at a loss for words. She silently sat down in front of the C64, intending to try out the map editor.
"Hey? By the way, you weren't using ASCII or BASIC just now, were you? What language was it?"
She was about to type when she suddenly realized that she didn't seem to know how to use the program at all.
After checking the command line logs, Vivian realized that it didn't seem to be any programming language she knew.
Despite this, the content is surprisingly easy to understand, simply named in straightforward English.
"You can call it [N language], or Nova language, which is a programming language I'm currently developing."
"?"
Vivian watched as Lin Lixin took a stack of printed documents out of the drawer.
This is the specification manual for the N language.
"With its help, the development process can be simplified a lot."
Lin Lixin flipped through a few pages and stopped at an example.
Vivian glanced at it a few times, seemingly guessing what kind of program's source code it was, and her breath caught in her throat.
"...Is this Tetris?"
"That's right, rewrite it in N language, and it will only require this one page of code."
Sam sat to one side, looking much better than Vivian, who was completely out of her mind.
He had long been accustomed to Lin Lixin's outrageous technical skills.
However, he was indeed very interested in this map editor.
He took the keyboard and tried to design a map based on the content written in the document.
Ten minutes later, a simple cross-shaped corridor was drawn.
Sam used the instructions to compile and burn the code into the chip, then restarted the game.
The map indeed turned out the way I had designed.
This practically lowers the development difficulty to a baby's level; anyone can quickly master the map drawing method.
"Do you still think level 200 is difficult?"
Lin Lixin shrugged, knowing he didn't need to say anything more.
With this technology, they can even be divided into dedicated planning and development teams.
The planning team only needs to design the level concept on paper, and the development team translates it into a game map based on the concept drawing.
This is a revolutionary next-generation development model!
……
October.
He Guoyuan submitted a report.
The graphics card, designed using the new ASIC integrated circuit technology, was finally born in the former VideoSoft office in Santa Clara.
This new technology has almost drained GAMENOVA of all the revenue it had earned from arcade games over the past few months.
But no matter how much Sam complained, Lin Lixin insisted on using it in the first graphics chip.
Now, this unconventional semiconductor technology is finally going to start generating revenue for him.
Lin Lixin clearly understood that ASIC was the key to ATI's ability to defeat other giants, a small company with only a few hundred thousand Canadian dollars in initial investment.
"Sam, look at this."
In his hand was the first graphics card prototype that Vivian had sent him.
Compared to previous graphics cards, it appears much simpler, with significantly fewer external components.
"You spent so much time just to make its area smaller?"
Sam watches GAMENOVA's financial reports every day, so he naturally knows exactly how much the design process for this chip cost.
Lin Lixin smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he waved the chip in his hand and asked, "Guess how much this graphics chip costs?"
"$40?"
Sam often talks to the OEM manufacturer about this, and has his own estimates of the price.
Lin Lixin shook his head and gestured the number '3' with his hand.
Sam's eyes widened.
"$30?! That definitely saves a lot of money!"
But Lin Lixin shook his head again before slowly saying, "No, it's 3 US dollars."
"Clam?"
"Of course, this is the price for large-scale tape-out, which is still around $10 at the moment."
Lin Lixin put the chip aside and picked up another quotation.
This is the production cost of the arcade board for Metal Gear Solid.
"At this price, our hardware cost can be reduced to less than $200. Including the frame and the labor cost of the contract manufacturer, the production cost of each unit is only around $500."
Sam took the quote with trembling hands, making sure Lin Lixin wasn't joking.
"I did say I wanted you to make a cheaper arcade machine... but this is just too outrageous!"
A 500-dollar arcade machine? I'd never even heard of that before.
Keep in mind that an Atari 2600 costs $200.
This means that the price of two home consoles can buy a complete arcade game console!
"Including shipping and storage costs, one unit only costs $1000... My goodness, the same price as Pac-Man!"
Sam felt dizzy; the price was still too much of a shock to him.
Lin Lixin wasn't too surprised by the price.
Separate manufacturing, low-cost graphics chips, 8-bit processors...
From the very beginning, he had already planned to drive the price down to the bottom.
At this moment, all the planning has finally yielded results.
……
Meyer finally received the call from the God of Wealth he had been longing for.
Without asking a single question, he set off directly to Lin Lixin.
"Mr. Lin! I've missed you so much!"
"Here it is, the prototype of METAL GEAR. Want to try it out?"
"Of course! Of course!"
Meyer nodded hurriedly, went straight to the arcade machine, and entered the game.
Half an hour later, Meyer realized once again how terrifying Lin Lixin was.
He was breathing rapidly, his face was flushed, and he was gesticulating wildly as if he were in a frenzy, spitting everywhere.
"Mr. Lin! This game will definitely sell for a price comparable to Contra! Tell me, what's the cost price? I'll take a hundred units upfront, cash on delivery!"