STEAM BOX Coming Soon...

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]You do know there is a massive indie base in the pc community, and specific small time devs pretty much go after this demographic.. It seems like you guys are b!tching just to B!tch because there are both types of games out right now.. Who the hell cares what super popular games are out right now were great.. The great pc games out there were rarely EVER popular in the idea we know it now except for select few ones.. Morphsis

No... you are not...i mean i can guess what he try's to say...

Not really interested in this personally but its a good thing in that it will make pc gaming more accessible to more people but what I would really want to see for pc gaming to improve the controller experience is a tablet controller like the wiiu(but with with analog triggers). The screen would have its on onboard memory and its built in kb/m mapping software so for games with no or incomplete gamepad support you could configure key mappings and all the settings on the controller it self while in the game as opposed to now where you have to alt-tab to desktop and go to your kb/m to tweak stuff in xpadder till you get what works this would be more convenient. Although it should still have a desktop program for auto detecting pc games and configuring with a keyboard and mouse on a large monitor vs 4"-7" screen is quicker but tweaking the settings just right is more of a hassle then it has to be right now.

The screen could also act as a keyboard for typing and a mouse or navigating around the desktop maybe have a built in gyro sensor for that although personally I'd just use config like I do now for xpadder where I have mapped the mouse movement and various media keys to the gamepad buttons and analog sticks as the default config and it then switches automatically to different config that I have configured for each game(have to set that for each individual game I want to play with a gamepad would be easier to do with a tablet on controller that let me configure those settings on it). Modular controller parts like swapping the analog sticks for trackballs would be nice to for fps.

Of course the thing that will improve the controller experience the most on pc is more games offering perfect pc gamepad support like what you see in portal 2 or counterstrike go( full analog movement,rumble,can remap controller buttons, and can seamlessly switch between using a controller and kb/m). If steam big picture mode and the steambox help push that in more pc games from now that will be fantastic :D now if valve would just add official splitscreen support in there games and they would pretty much the shining example of a perfect pc game from an option standpoint there 95% of the way there already.

People, calm down. We need to look at reality from the perspective of an outsider to understand what is going on. There are three types of people who play PC games:

1. Little girls who only play The Sims,

2. Your grandmas who play solitaire and Facebook games,

3. And us, who play more "hardcore" games.

The question is, where does the Call of Duty type gamer fit into this picture? The answer is that they don't. The COD series sells MUCH better on consoles than it does for PC because PC isn't perceived as a traditional gaming platformto the vast majority of the gaming population. This is why multiplat games more often than not sell more on consoles than on PC.

What we see here is a disconnect between the PC platform and game consoles. This is a problem because there are a huge amount of developers (small independent developers who probably make up a majority of developers) who don't have access to this console market due to the demands of M$ and Sony for putting content on their respective DD services. It is essentially dividing the industry. If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well. I actually know people from that COD crowd who thought Crysis looked really good and went out and bought it. Guess what? Their PC ran it like crap and they were never able to play it. That is a problem.

Developers who want to create ultra-high detail games can of course develop for the regular PC like they've always done. This Steambox will be an excellent bridge between PC developers and console gamers. I forsee nothing but positive things coming from this, if it succeeds.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]You do know there is a massive indie base in the pc community, and specific small time devs pretty much go after this demographic.. It seems like you guys are b!tching just to B!tch because there are both types of games out right now.. Who the hell cares what super popular games are out right now were great.. The great pc games out there were rarely EVER popular in the idea we know it now except for select few ones.. Morphsis

No he's right, you are just b.itching cause of b.itching and playing the nostalgia game without even truly analyzing the market.

The fact that you compare FarCry 3 to FarCry 2 and said it was the same game with better graphics already tells me you haven't played either. Far Cry 3 was a huge improvement, both from part 1 and definitely from part 2. It probably IS the best fully packed FPS this year, together with Dishonored.

I too love my old games, but let's be real, you are just going on nostalgia. If you go back and play Doom right now and compare it to modern good FPS, it lacks behind in every aspect. Not saying Doom wasn't good, cause it was... but games have evolved past that.

All ur post was based on was graphics, saying that the gameplay isn't better. FarCry 3 is still a shooter, yes, it's not going to morph into an RTS, but it's hell of a lot different from part 2.

You rant on and on about gameplay mechanics. This is quite funny since old school games had the most BASIC game mechanics ever created, yet modern games test your skill with a variety of mechanics, from controls, to thinking puzzles, to real time QTE, to visual mechanics, the list goes on (Play "The Experiment" for example).

Other SMALLER games like The Walking Dead, Limbo, Deadlight, Mark of The Ninja, Specs Ops, Dear Esther, Trine and the list goes on are all superb, relying on story, atmosphere, immersion and characters more than graphics to produce an excellent game.Your points are all invalid.

And again lol saying I buy games cause they look awesome. I bought "To the Moon", which is a fantastic titles that doesn't rely on graphics at all.

Like I said before, you can stay in the past and live crying about it all....or enjoy the awesome titles we get each year where PC is bigger than ever. Your choice.

Steam Box 180

Makes sense. With all the new features that Steam has gotten the past few years, it makes it much more suitable to be used on a TV. Steam Workshop allows you to install mods and stuff without having to navigate through your game directories and Big Picture Mode allows UI navigation with a controller.

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="SKaREO"] I guess Valve realizes that PC gamers are actually just console gamers nowadays. There' literally no difference except that we buy more games on average. Any old school pc gamers are immediately labelled trolls if they mention that games today aren't even worth playing anymore.Morphsis

You obviously never played FC2 and FC3 because FC3 is much better and feels like a much different game. I was expecting the same game as FC2 but with better graphics myself, but when I played FC3 its MUCh better then FC2 in almsot every single possible way.

FC2 was complete trash and FC3 is good fun, ubisoft surprised me alot.

And you want a list of all the good games from this year? There was quite alot of good games compared to the last few years.

- The Walking Dead

- Borderlands 2

- FTL: Faster Than Light (PC Exclusive)

- Legend of Grimrock (PC exclusives)

- Orcs Must Die 2(PC exclusive)

- DAYZ (PC exclusive)

- Farcry3

- Sleeping Dogs

- Xcom

- NBA2k13

- Fallen Enchantress (PC exclusive)

- Guild Wars 2 (PC exclusive)

- Counterstrike GO

- AC 3

- Chivalry (PC exclusive)

- MP 3

- Dishonered

- Natural Selection 2 (PC exclusive)

- Hitman Absolution

- Sins Of A Solar Empire: Rebellion (PC exclusive)

- Mark Of The Ninja

- Torchlight 2

- Planetside 2 (PC exclusive)

Not to mention some good Expansion packs = CIV5 Expansion and the wonderful Anno2070 Deep Ocean expansion pack

Graphics is my least important aspect of gaming, gameplay is most important to me and there was a ton of godo games this year from a gameplay aspect.

[QUOTE="yellosnolvr"]i think they are just trying to avoid making the next half-lifeC2N2

Nah Half Life 3 will launch as a Steambox exclusive next year.

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

hoola

[QUOTE="hoola"]

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

SKaREO

[QUOTE="SKaREO"][QUOTE="hoola"]

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

realguitarhero5

[QUOTE="SKaREO"][QUOTE="hoola"]

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

realguitarhero5

[QUOTE="topgunmv"]

In other words a console.

jakes456

in other words garbage.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]You do know there is a massive indie base in the pc community, and specific small time devs pretty much go after this demographic.. It seems like you guys are b!tching just to B!tch because there are both types of games out right now.. Who the hell cares what super popular games are out right now were great.. The great pc games out there were rarely EVER popular in the idea we know it now except for select few ones.. Morphsis

That you don't need to be playing these games to begin with.. That your crying about games like Farcry 3 that is like its predecessors (who would have fvcking thought, a sequel has similar gameplay to its older games!).. It honestly seems like you guys are just looking for reasons to cry about something.. And this is coming from some one that has no desire nor care to play Farcry 3 and has only played and beaten Farcry 1.. We get it, you don't like mainstream games.. Lucky for us all, we have a massive indie and small dev base that makes games that don't apply to this catagory.. That is my point.. If there is really something to complain about its the graphic whoring of teh genre where it seems like graphics take over everything.. But that would be a bit hypocritical because I have seen quite a few of these "old school" gamers cry about subpar graphics in games.

[QUOTE="hoola"]

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

SKaREO

If valve is able to reach a new market with this Steambox then indie developers WILL have access to a completely different customer base. I don't know how you can possibly disagree. Unless you are arguing that it is unlikely that they will successful. I will not argue against that because it may be true.

Regarding Valve and communism - not having a traditional management structure doesn't mean it is structured more like a communist company than, say, a government-less free market system. Nobody has any true legal authority in a communist society, but the same applies to a true free market. Nobody has any legal power over anyone else. Then consider that at Valve there IS true structure within projects, like there is true structure within companies in a free market . Proof is that there was recently an interview with Marc Laidlaw and he commented that there were areas that he was not allowed to go in because the people in charge of those projects didn't want anyone seeing what they were working on. Also, people at Valve earn money, which doesn't exist in a perfect communist society.

I have actually been thinking about Valve's structure lately and wondering if it would be possible if they didn't have Steam providing them with a constant source of money. I honestly don't think it would be.

I have actually been thinking about Valve's structure lately and wondering if it would be possible if they didn't have Steam providing them with a constant source of money. I honestly don't think it would be.hoola

This is a great point that I want to emphasize to the doom and gloom users of this thread. I think it was slightly mentioned before too.

Steam is its own brand and will not be going anywhere for a very long time. If Steam Box is a critical failure, it will just turn into a learning experiment for Valve. No matter the outcome of this, its good for gamers and companies to move into more progressive thinking for the medium. The market has been stagnant for a long time now and needs to be poked at.

[QUOTE="hoola"]

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

SKaREO

[QUOTE="Elann2008"][QUOTE="FelipeInside"] Valve make great games, but I'm not a fan of Gabe. He is probably one of the most hypocritical people I've ever encountered. FelipeInside

- Sayz that PS3 is a piece of crap...and it is a waste of time to develop for it...later he makes a partnership with PS3...and brings Steam to PS3...

[QUOTE="SKaREO"][QUOTE="hoola"]

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

hoola

If valve is able to reach a new market with this Steambox then indie developers WILL have access to a completely different customer base. I don't know how you can possibly disagree. Unless you are arguing that it is unlikely that they will successful. I will not argue against that because it may be true.

Regarding Valve and communism - not having a traditional management structure doesn't mean it is structured more like a communist company than, say, a government-less free market system. Nobody has any true legal authority in a communist society, but the same applies to a true free market. Nobody has any legal power over anyone else. Then consider that at Valve there IS true structure within projects, like there is true structure within companies in a free market . Proof is that there was recently an interview with Marc Laidlaw and he commented that there were areas that he was not allowed to go in because the people in charge of those projects didn't want anyone seeing what they were working on. Also, people at Valve earn money, which doesn't exist in a perfect communist society.

I have actually been thinking about Valve's structure lately and wondering if it would be possible if they didn't have Steam providing them with a constant source of money. I honestly don't think it would be.

[QUOTE="SKaREO"][QUOTE="hoola"]

If this Steambox catches on with the console gamer crowd (and with some good marketing and word of mouth i'm sure it will), then indie developers will be able to make that simple game that they would have made only for the limited hardcore gaming PC crowd, for the console crowd as well.

INF1DEL

[QUOTE="INF1DEL"][QUOTE="SKaREO"] First of all, that's never going to happen. Common sense man, do you use it?SKaREO

If its affordable I can see many pc gamers getting it as a secondary machine.. Much like a laptop..

[QUOTE="SKaREO"][QUOTE="INF1DEL"] What? Sense man, do you make it? No, no you don't.sSubZerOo

If its affordable I can see many pc gamers getting it as a secondary machine.. Much like a laptop..

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="SKaREO"] Okay, how many 360 owners also own a PS3? How many also own a gaming PC? I owned all three myself, but today I only have a PS3 and my gaming PC. My friend is a 360 fan, he refuses to buy a PS3 and he only plays League of Legends on his PC (which could run on a cell phone probably.) I'm not really an expert in demographics, but marketing experience is telling me that to penetrate the market you need to find a niche. What niche is this "Steam Box" going to fill? People with lots of money buy a gaming PC and all the other consoles. Peolpe with very little money just buy one system. Go over to system wars and ask the question: Would you switch from Xbox or PS or Wii, over to the "Steam Box" if it was priced competitively. I'll guarantee you without even doing any research myself, the results will be dismal. People who currently own a gaming PC aren't going to downgrade to a closed system (aka a console) And console users aren't going to throw away all their favorite console exclusives to get half a gaming PC. This is destined for failure, it doesn't take a genius to understand why.SKaREO

If its affordable I can see many pc gamers getting it as a secondary machine.. Much like a laptop..

:| Thank you for making stupid assumptions, I know exactly what my desktop can do.. That doesn't mean I want to lug it into my living room or to a friends house EVERY TIME I want to use it over there.. Hence why I could see this as desirable option much like the same reason why I own a modest laptop.. Especially when I have no desire to build a mini itx kit....

So you're saying that you would rather buy a laptop instead of a HDMI cable ...Morphsis

Ah yes because thats what I was talking about:| either your incredibly stupid.. Or trollin.. I think its a little bit of both.

Great idea! I would like to have the benefits of Steam on a console.

Micro-ATX based PC hardware in a Steam-branded case loaded with a Linux based Steam OS and a USB controller.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="SKaREO"] Okay, how many 360 owners also own a PS3? How many also own a gaming PC? I owned all three myself, but today I only have a PS3 and my gaming PC. My friend is a 360 fan, he refuses to buy a PS3 and he only plays League of Legends on his PC (which could run on a cell phone probably.) I'm not really an expert in demographics, but marketing experience is telling me that to penetrate the market you need to find a niche. What niche is this "Steam Box" going to fill? People with lots of money buy a gaming PC and all the other consoles. Peolpe with very little money just buy one system. Go over to system wars and ask the question: Would you switch from Xbox or PS or Wii, over to the "Steam Box" if it was priced competitively. I'll guarantee you without even doing any research myself, the results will be dismal. People who currently own a gaming PC aren't going to downgrade to a closed system (aka a console) And console users aren't going to throw away all their favorite console exclusives to get half a gaming PC. This is destined for failure, it doesn't take a genius to understand why.SKaREO

If its affordable I can see many pc gamers getting it as a secondary machine.. Much like a laptop..

i can see the appeal of that

but i don't play on tv's except old consoles

Micro-ATX based PC hardware in a Steam-branded case loaded with a Linux based Steam OS and a USB controller.

-Unreal-

Interesting decision by Valve, I'm not sure I have the time or investment to actually pick up another gaming system, plus all my PC gaming (as little as it is) is done from my primary few years old PC anyway.

It's an option however and I'm always supporting giving people choices. It seems like Valve is trying to expand their gaming audience, this could be a good thing for future competition.

Great idea! I would like to have the benefits of Steam on a console.

JW-toch

It will not only be the benefits of steam, it will have all the benefits of pc, and this is really great.fluffy_puppy666

Valve is saving PC gaming this is a genius idea. Let the console gamers dip there toes into the pc games we play and let them want to buy and build a computer and join us! The steam box is going to be a system to convert said console gamers.

[QUOTE="fluffy_puppy666"]It will not only be the benefits of steam, it will have all the benefits of pc, and this is really great.SKaREO

then yes to all

well, assuming the terminal isn't locked down.

Also write a new programming language in c++?
okay gov

[QUOTE="fluffy_puppy666"]It will not only be the benefits of steam, it will have all the benefits of pc, and this is really great.SKaREO

Wow everyone so mad. I totally dislike this as they should focus on improving their product, what they're good at.

But stop trashtalking about playing HD stuff on 3 monitors, using it for professional means, programming and everything u can imagine. Go spend 3000 Bucks on a real pc for that, consoles are a bad idea cos u can't make 3d models and play stuff on a bunch of monitors..

Most of my rl friends play on crappy HP laptops with vista, full of garble, and they struggle to get 20-40 fps on css. Imagine this thing can play a relatively good amount of pc titles and valve games at the best quality for the price of a console or even less, being able to do basic things like browsing and using keyb/mouse.

These ppl don't just throw the cheese knowing there are no mices around

Valve is saving PC gaming this is a genius idea. Let the console gamers dip there toes into the pc games we play and let them want to buy and build a computer and join us! The steam box is going to be a system to convert said console gamers.

Xiumph