A new company is preparing to enter into the ultra-competitive games console market... and they'll likely be the largest electronics giant you've never heard of.
Based in China, Sichuan Changhong Electric has reportedly approached several Taiwanese manufacturers to help build a new console, as well as entering talks with Sunplus, a chip company, to help design microcontrollers for use in the device. Changhong are said to be planning to release the console in two years time.

Last year the company, which owns several manufacturing plants in China as well as a new factory under construction in Russia, made 12 million TV sets. The firm also manufactures DVD and VCD players, audio equipment, set-top boxes and even air conditioners.

 

Microsoft have proved with the underwhelming sales of X-Box, it ain't about how big or cash rich you are - its all about the games.

Unless this company can persuade the world's top developers to write for it, it'll be another also-ran.

 

Very true. But increased competition can only be benefical for the console buying public.

 

Definitely Dunk. Increased competition is always a good thing.

For a blueprint on the successful deployment of a brand new console platform, look no further than Playstation1. In fact if it hadn't had been for the strength of that, Playstation2 may well have been a dismal failure.

-DV