Indrema

Indrema Corporation, also referred to as Indrema Entertainment Systems, was a short-lived consumer-electronics and video-game hardware company founded in 2000 by John Gildred. Its principal project was the L600, a proposed home entertainment console built around commodity personal-computer hardware and the Linux operating system. Indrema presented the system as an unusually open alternative to the proprietary consoles of its period, with an intended development environment that would allow ordinary users and independent developers to create software without paying the high kit prices commonly associated with console development. The L600 was conceived as more than a conventional game machine. Its planned functions included video-game playback, CD and DVD playback, web browsing, MP3 storage, and a digital-video-recorder capability similar to TiVo. The design called for an x86 processor, a hard drive, optical-media support, HDTV output, and a modular graphics upgrade concept known as the GPU Slide Bay. The proposed hardware specifications changed during development, including a move from an initially discussed 600 MHz processor to a 750 MHz AMD Duron configuration. Indrema also intended to distribute games on DVD-9 and CD-R media and to provide a development kit that was substantially more accessible than the expensive proprietary kits used by established console makers. Development of the L600 reportedly began in March 1999, before the company’s formal establishment. An early developer unit was demonstrated running Quake at Indrema’s booth at LinuxWorld in 2000. The company initially targeted the 2000 holiday season, but the schedule later moved to summer 2001 or an even later date. During its pre-launch period, Indrema used online communications and mailing-list material to build interest, including a satirical “top ten” list that compared the anticipated system with competing platforms. Indrema’s proposition faced substantial commercial and timing difficulties. The planned launch would have placed the L600 against the Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube, platforms backed by established publishers, distribution networks, and much larger development budgets. The L600’s proposed price was approximately US$299, but its advanced and relatively ambitious hardware would have been difficult to manufacture and market at that level. The company ultimately failed to secure enough capital to begin mass production. In a final chat session, Gildred stated that Indrema needed more than US$10 million to continue and advised future game startups to complete their products before promoting them extensively. Indrema ceased operations on April 6, 2001, and the L600 was never commercially released. Indrema is remembered primarily as an early attempt to combine open-source software, Linux, user-accessible development, and multifunction home entertainment hardware in a console market dominated by closed platforms. Although it produced no retail product, the company’s plans anticipated later interest in independent game development, flexible PC-derived hardware, and open platforms. Its history also illustrates the financing, manufacturing, software-support, and launch-timing barriers faced by independent console ventures.

Indrema emerged during a period when Linux advocates and independent developers were exploring whether open-source software could support consumer entertainment products. Work on its proposed console began in March 1999, before the company was formally established. The project sought to use widely available PC components and Linux rather than a proprietary operating system, reducing barriers for software creation and potentially allowing the user community to participate directly in development. The company was officially founded in 2000 by John Gildred under the name Indrema Corporation, also described as Indrema Entertainment Systems. Its planned product, the L600 Entertainment System, was intended to combine the functions of a game console and a general-purpose digital entertainment computer. Besides playing games, it was planned to play CDs and DVDs, browse the web, store MP3 files, and record television in a TiVo-like manner. The design was based on an x86 processor and included a hard drive, optical media, HDTV support, and a modular graphics concept that would have allowed a graphics-processing upgrade through a GPU Slide Bay. Indrema promoted the L600’s openness as a central differentiator. The company intended to let ordinary users develop games with its development kit, in contrast to established console ecosystems where official development hardware could cost more than US$10,000. Planned software media included DVD-9 discs and CD-R, while the Linux foundation was expected to make experimentation and free-software development easier. The system was described as a possible first open-source console and as a platform designed particularly to encourage independent developers. An early developer unit was shown at LinuxWorld in 2000 running Quake. This demonstration helped establish the project’s identity among Linux users, but the console remained in development. Indrema initially discussed a launch during the 2000 holiday season, later moving the target to summer 2001 or beyond. The company used a mailing list to maintain interest and circulated promotional material that humorously criticized competing platforms, including a Letterman-style “top ten” list. The commercial environment became increasingly unfavorable. By the time the L600 might have reached stores, it would have competed with the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 and faced the forthcoming Xbox and GameCube. Those systems had stronger publisher relationships, established retail channels, and much larger budgets. The L600’s planned US$299 price also created a difficult manufacturing challenge because the proposed hardware was ambitious for an independent company. Indrema could not raise the money needed to move from development to mass production. The company closed on April 6, 2001, and the L600 was never released to consumers. In his last Indrema chat session, Gildred said that the company required more than US$10 million in additional capital and offered a cautionary lesson to later startups: complete the product before making extensive public claims about it. The company therefore left no commercial hardware installed base, software catalog, or continuing corporate organization. Its historical importance lies instead in its attempt to link Linux, open-source principles, affordable development tools, and a multifunction console at the turn of the millennium. Indrema is also an example of how difficult it was for an independent hardware venture to secure financing, finalize specifications, build developer support, and reach market before larger platform holders established the next console generation.

• 2001

  Indrema ceases operations

  [1]Indremaen.wikipedia.org

  The company shuts down on April 6 after failing to obtain sufficient funding for mass production.

• 2000

  Indrema is formally founded

  [1]Indremaen.wikipedia.org

  John Gildred establishes Indrema Corporation, also known as Indrema Entertainment Systems, to develop and commercialize the L600.

• 2000

  L600 prototype appears at LinuxWorld

  [1]Indremaen.wikipedia.org

  An early developer unit is demonstrated running Quake at Indrema’s LinuxWorld booth.

• 2000

  Initial holiday launch target is postponed

  [1]Indremaen.wikipedia.org

  The planned 2000 holiday release is moved to summer 2001 or a later date.

• 1999

  Development of the L600 begins

  [1]Indremaen.wikipedia.org

  Work on the proposed Linux-based L600 console reportedly starts in March, before Indrema is formally founded.

Indrema positioned the proposed L600 as an open, Linux-based alternative to proprietary game consoles, emphasizing independent development, user programmability, PC-derived hardware, and integrated home-entertainment functions.

• Video-game console and home-entertainment computer

  Indrema L600 Entertainment System

  The L600 was Indrema’s proposed flagship console and was never commercially released. It was designed around Linux and PC-derived x86 hardware, with a planned 600 MHz processor configuration later described as a 750 MHz AMD Duron system. Proposed specifications included 64 MB of system RAM, 96 MB of total memory, a 10 GB hard drive expandable to 50 GB, DVD-9 and CD-R game support, HDTV output up to 1080i, and a GeForce 3 graphics processor. Beyond games, the device was intended to play CDs and DVDs, browse the web, store MP3 files, and record television. Its user-accessible development environment and planned GPU Slide Bay were central to its open and upgradeable positioning.

• 2000Indrema mailing-list launch promotion

  United States · International

  Indrema used its mailing list to build anticipation for the L600 and circulated a humorous Letterman-style top-ten list that mocked competing consoles while the launch was still pending.

  Outcome. The promotion generated attention among enthusiasts but did not lead to a commercial launch.

  Source

• 2001

  End operations after failing to fund mass productionStrategy

  Background

  Indrema was unable to raise enough capital to manufacture the L600 at commercial scale.

  Action taken

  The company shut down on April 6, ending development of the console.

  Aftermath

  The L600 remained a prototype-stage project, and Indrema became an example of an independent console venture that did not reach market.

  Additional capital reportedly needed to continue. (2001)

  Source

• 2000

  Position the L600 as an open Linux consoleStrategy

  Background

  Indrema entered a console market dominated by proprietary platforms and sought to distinguish its system through Linux, free-software support, and lower barriers to independent development.

  Action taken

  The company planned to make development tools available to ordinary users and to base the console on common PC hardware rather than a fully closed platform.

  Aftermath

  The open-platform concept became Indrema’s defining identity, but the company did not secure the financing or production capability needed to commercialize it.

  Source

• 2000

  Delay the L600 release scheduleProduct launch

  Background

  The L600 was initially expected during the 2000 holiday season, but development and financing work remained incomplete.

  Action taken

  Indrema shifted the expected release to summer 2001 or a later date.

  Aftermath

  The system never reached the revised schedule and was cancelled when Indrema closed in April 2001.

  Source

1. 1Indremaen.wikipedia.org