Rumor: Trioxide brings 360, Wii, PS3 games to PC

by Scott Jon Siegel { Jun 16th 2008 at 2:15PM }

Fancy playing your favorite console titles on PC? If our super-fountain of rumors turns out to be gushing truth, you may be able to do just that. Included in the lengthy list of leaks is a device called "Trioxide," which will reportedly allow users to use their home computers to play Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 titles.

How exactly would this work? The brief blurb doesn't say, but our best guess is that Trioxide merely allows users to send video and audio signals from their console of choice to the PC for displaying. This theory is reinforced by the blurb, which states that any games played using Trioxide utilize their original game controllers, rather than the PC's keyboard or mouse.

Joystiq previously reviewed the Elgato EyeTV Hybrid (pictured above), a device that performs a very similar signal-display operation. Unlike the EyeTV, Trioxide would likely be designed strictly for game-playing, and would be optimized for low latency. It might not be the magic bullet people were hoping for, but Trioxide could still be a pretty sweet peripheral by our guesstimation.

Tags: rumor, trioxide

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Co @ Jun 16th 2008 2:22PM

Well they certainly got the right platform on display there. Although, you gotta put the sensor bar above it.

Tyler Jones @ Jun 16th 2008 2:28PM

With HDMI ports becoming more common I think this is a bit late. I just bought a 19 in widescreen monitor with HDMI and VGA ports, and I have my 360 hooked up via HDMI. Easy to swap back and forth from comp to console.

Dave @ Jun 16th 2008 2:30PM

...doubt that.

Rob Accomando @ Jun 16th 2008 2:30PM

what's the point? HD TV > Computer monitor. (unless you're still using a 19" SD). Plus, why would u want your console powered on AND your PC just to play a game? Waste of $, imo.

Number_Zero @ Jun 16th 2008 2:33PM

It is mainly for people in College who can't afford a decent TV. I think.

Grey Acumen @ Jun 16th 2008 2:43PM

Well, I'm not interested in spending $500 for a TV that I'm only going to use for playing Wii games on, but being able to use my laptop's widescreen for that is something I've been hoping to do for a while now.

StuScotsLazyEye @ Jun 16th 2008 3:04PM

Rob,

Reasoning, please?

Haggard @ Jun 16th 2008 3:12PM

HDTVs have the ability to scale far better than PC monitors - case in point, a game at 640p (GTA IV on the PS3) looks far better on a 22" HDTV than a PC game at 800x640 on a 22" PC monitor.

This is not an anti-PC comment, I'm a massive PC gamer myself, but a mere statement of fact on the quality of screens.

animeman_59 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:35PM

As for what Number_Zero said, it's probably for people who primarily use a PC monitor (like college students), but if that's the case, then shouldn't a VGA cable do the job? Most college students I see carry a mid-size or larger laptop, and those usually have some sort of display jack for input, and those with much smaller laptops probably don't care about playing console games anyway. Others usually have a regular PC and either use a splitter for the VGA or a separate input on their monitor.

Maybe this is a USB jack or something that allows video signals to travel from the console to the PC screen, and you use software on the PC to display the game.

Other than that, I really don't see the point either.

Roto13 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:29PM

Who actually turns their computer off these days? Mine has been on for, like, a month.

UltimateQ @ Jun 16th 2008 3:31PM

HDTV == Monitor.

Fixed.

Rob Accomando @ Jun 16th 2008 5:00PM

Sorry, imo, it's still HD TV > PC Monitor.

mackid105 @ Jun 16th 2008 9:55PM

You can buy computer monitors these days that are full HD in resolution so in that case an HDTV is the same as a computer monitor and a lot of the time you can get the monitor cheaper than the TV, from some of the research I've done. I know my friends have HD monitors and use them as a TV also because its a lot more convenient. Plus having the monitor is real nice for LANs because when you're waiting for a tournament to get started or when youre not in a certain round you can just swap over to your Xbox 360 or whatever and not have to worry about missing a round or someone playing you're game as you can pause it when you need to switch back to the computer. So I'd have to say that the computer monitor makes things a bit nicer for us gamer types which use PCs and consoles. Putting a console through a computer can make things a lot easier if you cant get to the back of your TV but your computer is right there making things a lot easier and quicker to do. This isn't a bad idea imo

t_m @ Jun 17th 2008 5:29AM

Well, I'm living in a small apartment in Tokyo, and I don't have a TV. But I do have a laptop.. so being able to buy a Wii and play it on my laptop would be sweet.

I can probably do it already though, I'm sure I've seen several devices over here that claim to allow you to play console games on your PC monitor.
(I just haven't trusted my japanese translation abilities enough to buy one and try it yet...)

(PS/ most laptops don't have a video in, they have a spare vga-OUT incase you want to plug in an external monitor).

DLow28 @ Jun 16th 2008 2:32PM

The sensor bar IS there, right above the keyboard, below the screen

calvin @ Jun 16th 2008 4:05PM

how is the sensor bar hooked up? there's no sensor bar port in the macbook pro.

btw why does that macbook pro not have an isight in the top middle of the screen?

and if it's for pc only then this computer is running parallels or boot camp or something.

but in any case, something to look forward to.

Sunny @ Jun 16th 2008 5:27PM

@calvin: The sensor bar has a very long cable, and obviously its hooked into the Wii, where the computer is also hooked into.

The photo is not the Trioxide thing... its the EyeTV, which is a Mac only product. Read the whole story before making stupid comments

NATO_Duke @ Jun 16th 2008 2:36PM

Uh..weird.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 16th 2008 2:36PM

Way to get my hopes up Scott. DON'T TOY WITH ME!

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 16th 2008 2:38PM

This could work good if you only have one TV in the house. It could certainly cut down on bickering for who gets to use the TV. I wonder if there is a slight delay like with the slingbox or how close the console needs to be for the controller to work properly if at all. I can run any of my consoles through the slingbox but it is not practical for gaming because of the 4-5 second delay in movement in the real world and on screen. The only practical use in that situation would be movie playback or viewing photos.

FOXHOUND @ Jun 16th 2008 2:42PM

x_o Coincidentally, I bought those VC games depicted.

thecmoneyshow @ Jun 16th 2008 2:45PM

Go ahead honey, you can watch your show.

Haggard @ Jun 16th 2008 3:00PM

I disagree with your guess that it'll just be a device to put console video output to your PC.. those have already been invented (called 'cables'). It's likely that it requires the controllers because it would be ridiculous of them to program PC control schemes for every console game in existence.

Besides, if the blurb states you need the controllers, why doesn't it state you need the consoles? And elsewhere in it, it mentioned two price points, one at $49 and one at $299. $299 just for a few cables and video display software?

Ben @ Jun 16th 2008 3:49PM

I totally agree that it's definitely not a cable for hooking your consoles up to your computer screen... unless the $49.99 unit would be for one system, maybe a Component-HDMI/VGA or HDMI-VGA and the $299.99 unit would be some sort of HDMI/VGA/Component switch box complete with three sets of cables for each system. Look it up, HDMI switch boxes are expensive, add in the fact that the Wii only does component at best, you'd have to have some sort of HDMI and Component combo switch box that outputs to either HDMI, DVI, or VGA for PC input. The price would add up. Also, HDMI-VGA converters are also expensive as it has to convert from analog to digital, so it's not just an average cable.

Ben @ Jun 16th 2008 4:02PM

But, what I really think it is (and what I hope it is) is an emulator along the lines of Bleem! If they could some how write an emulator for all three systems in assembly language, like Bleem! was written, then you'd have as damn close to a 1:1 ratio of performance on console to PC emulation. Granted, it would also be extremely difficult (read near impossible? especially converting the multi-core optimization of 360 and PS3 games) to write those emulators in assembly, but if it could be pulled off, it would be expected that most PCs that could run modern games smoothly could also run 360/PS3 games almost as easily.
Also, that whole "any games played using Trioxide utilize their original game controllers, rather than the PC's keyboard or mouse" does nothing to prove that it's simply a way to hook up video/audio to your PC. Wouldn't it say "utilize their original game controllers and consoles"? I have a wired 360 controller hooked up to my PC right now, I've connected my Wii remote to my PC over bluetooth, and I'm pretty sure you can do the same with a Sixaxis too (and a wireless 360 controller using an RF dongle). I'm sure they could easily write drivers that could make Wii/360/PS3 controllers a breeze to connect and use on your PC, especially if they have the talent to write an emulator for "now-gen" systems.
I'm thinking the $49.99 product will include just the software, where as the $299.99 might include a Bluray drive for PS3 games as well as other hardware, like maybe a controller or two (or maybe just the drive, who knows).

Haggard @ Jun 16th 2008 4:39PM

That's what I think/am hoping.

Haggard @ Jun 16th 2008 4:41PM

Also the 360 controller already works on the PC and can be used for quite a few PC games already. I read somewhere about the Sixaxis working too.

The wii would probably require a few peripherals though.

Haggard @ Jun 16th 2008 4:41PM

Catprog @ Jun 16th 2008 7:53PM

Wii controllers can run a pc
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/how-to-control-a-pc-with-a-wii-remote/

Cigol @ Jun 16th 2008 3:01PM

I find my PC is better at rendering videos than, for example my PS3. Sometimes I wish I had the power of my PC when playing my PS3. T'is a crying shame.

kataztrophy @ Jun 16th 2008 3:04PM

Bleem with another name?

Sam406 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:15PM

I think its for using the PC as a TV screen, which is cool, it means less shaky cam footage on YouTube.

UltimateQ @ Jun 16th 2008 3:29PM

"...merely allows users to send video and audio signals from their console of choice to the PC for displaying..."

Yeah I can do that already, it's called a $50 tv card.

Roto13 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:31PM

"This theory is reinforced by the blurb, which states that any games played using Trioxide utilize their original game controllers, rather than the PC's keyboard or mouse."

The Xbox 360 and Wii controllers can be used with any PC with bluetooth. Probably the PS3 controller, too.

Superstar90 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:40PM

WTF, this post's title is misleading! I thought I could put my 360 game in my DVD drive and play it! It's just a way to wirelessly transmit sound and video which can be done already. Also, the actual wires are very cheap.
I can already connect my 360 controller to my PC (I play audio-surf with it all the time), Wiimotes can be connected to bluetooth devices (and DS3/Sixaxis as well, I believe).

Cabal @ Jun 16th 2008 3:46PM

This seems rather pointless since its already possible to hook the consoles up to a computer monitor much cheaper than whatever this will cost. Now if the PC is actually running the game, just you connect the original gaming controllers to the PC, thats an entirely different matter.

Residentevil72501 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:47PM

I got an HDTV for my 360 and my wii, and then dual computer monitors 24" 1080p for my PS3 and it looks hella nice :) It costs a shit load of money but its worth it. I love my MSG4 and Bluray movies for sure!

Ben @ Jun 16th 2008 3:59PM

Ben @ Jun 16th 2008 4:01PM

And that post was supposed to be a reply to my post of a reply to Haggards post a few posts above these two posts that I just posted in the wrong spot because this posting system is as bad as the US postal service is at making sure your postage gets to the postmarked address.