New Console Developer? Ian Bell Announces 'Mad Box'

[Paul Jeffrey]

Slightly Mad Studios Ian Bell has confirmed on Twitter that the developers behind Project CARS are working on a new and super powerful console.

Intending to pitch right into the fight for console supremacy with the likes of Microsoft and Sony, Bell has confirmed that SMS are working on the provisionally titled 'Mad Box' device, with plans to significantly move the console marketplace forward with what has been described as "the most powerful console ever built...".

Although plans are in the infancy at this moment in time, Bell has stated that the new Mad Box console should be VR compatible from the off, with a proposed 90fps per eye, 180 FPS internally expected at the point of the consoles release - expected to be two or three years away at this stage.

Although much of the internal spec is still under consideration by Slightly Mad Studios, the overall design of the console has surfaced earlier today, as can be evidenced by the screenshots in this article, and Bell has been in very bullish mood during much of initial reveal discussions on social media - coming straight out of the blocks with some very impressive statements about the consoles capabilities once launched - easily putting the new Mad Box in the frame as a potential Xbox and PlayStation 4 beating piece of hardware.

Of course it is still early days in the development of the new Mad Box, but if the initial plans for the console do come to fruition this will be a very impressive piece of kit indeed. One of the key features mentioned briefly by Ian is the desire to open up the game engine to developers, presumably allowing game developers to access the engine platform in which to develop new games. Furthermore, Bell has stated that this will be a free facility for developers, which should be a powerful incentive for game studios to create content that works well with the new console.

All in all this is certainly a surprise move from SMS, and one very interesting topic to keep an eye on in the coming months..

 

 

[Nick Gregory]

What I don't like about this concept design looks like it completely chokes the fans that are in the front. It absolutely drives me up the wall when a case manufacturer purposely blocks all airflow to the PC inside (assuming this is essentially a PC) for the sake of looking pretty.

 

[NDG]

What I don't like about this concept design looks like it completely chokes the fans that are in the front. It absolutely drives me up the wall when a case manufacturer purposely blocks all airflow to the PC inside (assuming this is essentially a PC) for the sake of looking pretty.

It's not exactly like that to look good. It's a mad man's idea of a console with his signature all over the box. A monster bug on it's side, a big M for mad and I still wonder why no one noticed the bell bottom. All I see is a bugged mad bell.

 

[cubadoo1]

SMS moves from bullshots to ….

Mod Edit: Language please!.

 

[John Chaser]

He should make a limited edition Project Cars 3 version.

 

[RufGTI]

Mod Edit: No personal insults please

 

[jorgewao]

 

[CC]

What I don't like about this concept design looks like it completely chokes the fans that are in the front. It absolutely drives me up the wall when a case manufacturer purposely blocks all airflow to the PC inside (assuming this is essentially a PC) for the sake of looking pretty.

To me if someone shown me a new console and they was claiming it to be the most powerful console in the world,
and it was the size of a matchbox and could hold it in the palm of my hand,
I would be jesus this is totally mad yeah, and they was calling it the mad box,

but this thing is the size of a small fridge, its just not impressive at all, either way good look to them, I will be sat here watching it unfold with the rest of you guys and I know 1 thing,
it wont be a red carpet.

 

[billyblaze13]

Ian Bell - a true Renaissance man....

 

[DND]

Free Project Cars for life...that's not priceless. It's worthless.

 

[CC]

Free Project Cars for life...that's not priceless. It's worthless.

I wouldnt play Pcars if it came free in a box of cornflakes, so yeah offering free games is far from winning me over.

 

[DND]

I wouldnt play Pcars if it came free in a box of cornflakes, so yeah offering free games is far from winning me over.

I would be afraid as to what the corn flakes would taste like.

 

[DND]

So now, two days later, it's up from 60 fps to 90 fps, per eye. Okay.
It's borderline insulting listening to this guy babble on, promising the world. I think he's a little out of his league this time

Mod Edit: No personal insults please

 

[Deleted member 197115]

Has a product rendering ever been released three years in advance before? Ignoring how aesthetically-challenged it looks, three years is a long time in consumer taste. Also:

Confirmed, it"s an AssHat.

 

[CC]

These last 2 SMS threads have been smoking hot with opinions and comments,
thanks a lot @Paul Jeffrey keep up the good work!

 

[ZeldaACFan17]

Get this: I'd rather invest money on upgrading this PC that I have than buy a console that looks like aliens made it

 

[GTR233]

I will always be thankful to Ian Bell for having made GTR2
That said, console world is a hard place to live, and the most important stay alive during many years. We all know many famous brands which vanished (PCengine, Atari, SNK, SEGA...) in the past.
Moreover, at the beginning, both PS for sony and Xbox for MS were sold at a loss.
About specs :
- "you want 60hz"... no we want 120hz per eye as next gen vr sets
- "you want 4k"...no, we want 8k like new tv and vr sets
- we want raytracing/dlssr at 120hz in 8k
- all that for reasonable selling price under 600€ because this is what ps5 will cost in 2 years
So I wish you good luck SMS... and change your name as SEVERLY MAD STUDIOS because this is a really crazy project for a racing game dev team

 

[Paul Jeffrey]

Hey guys,

Ok I know SMS based topics often result in some.... heated opinions... however please try to stay civil in here, and steer well clear of personal insults. Come on, I don't want to have to spend time debating if I post SMS related news in future for fear of the way the comments will go - so work with me here please and keep it respectful!

Cheers

P

 

[DND]

Mod Edit: No personal insults please

People are referring to Ian Bell as a Retard and I get docked for Trump University of Delusion. God help you.

 

[DND]

And what type of response did you expect @Paul Jeffrey from a developer that by the majority of people have felt like they have been short changed? Was I edited for the reference to the incompetent leader, and his defunct university and the factitious offspring of it. Or was it implying that Mr. Bell attended the made up lower level of business acumen?

self imposed indefinite timeout from RD

 

[Neil Farren]

Stay classy RD...