Quantum Seeks Console Projects

A subsidiary of the Quantum Corporation's hard drive group, the Consumer Electronics Business Unit, is actively pursuing the incorporation of its new QuickView audio/video hard-drive technology into all four next-generation gaming systems. Quantum believes that hard-drive technology can be used to enrich single-player, online, and multi-player games. The company further stated that a hard drive included in a console that is connected to a broadband network will drastically reduce latency and lag in online games, as the hard drive can provide the means to rapidly cache large amounts of information. Though Quantum boasts that the hard drive will allow consoles to stream digital audio and video, it's possible that the company, not having any true game development experience, is unaware that the technology doesn't necessarily make a better game.

Nevertheless, the company remains optimistic. Matthew O'Neill, marketing manager for consumer electronics at Quantum, told GameSpot News: "We have been in negotiations with the big four console companies - Sony, Sega, Nintendo, and Microsoft - about our storage technology. Some discussions are far enough along where we are talking about specific price quotes, and with the Quantum QuickView hard-drives, developers can start to include video and robust audio into their entertainment software products." He further added, "With CE-class hard-drives, players can have infinitely more choices. A hard-drive for console platforms not only can provide data protection, but it also can enhance the gaming environment. For example, in a golf game, the console can automatically download data on weather conditions for that particular day on a specific course, then that information can be implemented into the game, adding a broader level of realism."

As far as actually integrating the new drives into the consoles, Rob Lopez of Quantum told GameSpot, "Hooking the drives to the consoles is the responsibility of each individual company. We'll be there to provide them with support, but basically it's up to each company to find out how to best incorporate Quantum technology."

We'll have more information on this new development in the gaming industry as it unfolds.