More talk of Steam "box" Dec. 8

[Red Storm]

I don't think it's too ambitious at all. We're seeing Nvidia is going to release Shield this year which does much of the same thing, but instead of being limited to a handheld size controller, Valve is going to make a server which means much better performance. I really do hope local streaming becomes a reality. Then all you need is an app for each platform and you can play any game on any device.

 

[BD2003]

I don't think it's too ambitious at all. We're seeing Nvidia is going to release Shield this year which does much of the same thing, but instead of being limited to a handheld size controller, Valve is going to make a server which means much better performance. I really do hope local streaming becomes a reality. Then all you need is an app for each platform and you can play any game on any device.

Well, the shield is a joke and will be a total failure. Who the hell is going to buy that?

I think local streaming will happen regardless of what valve does. It's already happening with video with stuff like AirPlay and WiDi. Even the PS3 had remote play. I'd bet the next consoles will support it pretty extensively too.

By the time it's actually a valve reality it's not even going to be big news. I doubt it'll even be a server in your closet - the server will just be your main rig, it can just extend to other devices if need be. Don't get me wrong, its a great idea....but it's also a really obvious one, and one that doesn't need valve's involvement.

 

[Red Storm]

Well, the shield is a joke and will be a total failure. Who the hell is going to buy that?

I think local streaming will happen regardless of what valve does. It's already happening with video with stuff like AirPlay and WiDi. Even the PS3 had remote play. I'd bet the next consoles will support it pretty extensively too.

By the time it's actually a valve reality it's not even going to be big news. I doubt it'll even be a server in your closet - the server will just be your main rig, it can just extend to other devices if need be. Don't get me wrong, its a great idea....but it's also a really obvious one, and one that doesn't need valve's involvement.

Your first two sentences are a bit contradictory no? The Shield's main feature is the local streaming, so I don't see how you could say it would be a total failure and then say it's main feature is going to become commonplace.

I don't want my main rig to be the server, I want a server to do that so my main rig can be a super thin laptop or tablet.

 

[Dijeangenie]

I'm 99% sure that card plus all the games he's bought would be much much cheaper than a console with the same number of games.

Your average console gamer is more of a casual gamer than your average PC gamer. They are not likely to build their own PC and they will probably not buy enough games to make that return, especially as brand new AAA titles are not much cheaper on PC. Plus buying a gaming PC requires a larger initial financial outlay, rather than paying less initially and then paying a bit more over for games over the next 5 years.

This isn't true in Kaotik's case as he has 1300 games on steam though

 

[BD2003]

Your first two sentences are a bit contradictory no? The Shield's main feature is the local streaming, so I don't see how you could say it would be a total failure and then say it's main feature is going to become commonplace.

I don't want my main rig to be the server, I want a server to do that so my main rig can be a super thin laptop or tablet.

Because the shield is going to be an overpriced android gaming tablet. It's an answer to a question no one asked, from a company with no pedigree for making platforms. Not only will the shield fail, ALL of the android consoles will...I've lost count how many there are at this point. We already have an open gaming platform, its called the PC...we don't need another. The PC has to fall from grace much further before android has an opening.

Anyway, I mean your main rig only in that its the box with all the power....either you can put a monitor right to it, or stream it out to whatever device....this will be a reality pretty soon, although I really think this is something that needs to be done on an OS level, so the ball is in microsoft's court.

 

[Red Storm]

Your average console gamer is more of a casual gamer than your average PC gamer. They are not likely to build their own PC and they will probably not buy enough games to make that return, especially as brand new AAA titles are not much cheaper on PC. Plus buying a gaming PC requires a larger initial financial outlay, rather than paying less initially and then paying a bit more over for games over the next 5 years.

This isn't true in Kaotik's case as he has 1300 games on steam though

PC gaming cost is the video card (and that is going down every year). When I got my laptop, I spent an extra $300 to make it a gaming machine. If I wasn't a gamer I'd still have that laptop. The same way I don't count the cost of an HDTV in console gaming, I also don't factor in the cost of the computer itself because like the HDTV it serves many other purposes and would be there anyway.

 

[Throckmorton]

Gabe's folly

 

[Dijeangenie]

PC gaming cost is the video card (and that is going down every year). When I got my laptop, I spent an extra $300 to make it a gaming machine. If I wasn't a gamer I'd still have that laptop. The same way I don't count the cost of an HDTV in console gaming, I also don't factor in the cost of the computer itself because like the HDTV it serves many other purposes and would be there anyway.

I don't agree - I know plenty of people who only have a tablet / have such a low end PC/Laptop that they need more than a video card to play games. However I do not know anyone who does not have a TV.

 

[Red Storm]

I don't agree - I know plenty of people who only have a tablet / have such a low end PC/Laptop that they need more than a video card to play games. However I do not know anyone who does not have a TV.

I did say HDTV. Playing console games on an old crappy TV is no different than playing PC games on all low settings with integrated graphics IMHO.

 

[GullyFoyle]

Valve Box prototype?

 

[Feneant2]

From the few details I saw I assumed the Steambox was the client in a client/server platform. I assumed it would be a media box with online connectivity to play games like Onlive offered. You buy a game from steam and play it on your client but the hardware cost is Steam's.

Reading this thread, I was wrong and my interest just went down the crapper...

 

[Dijeangenie]

I did say HDTV. Playing console games on an old crappy TV is no different than playing PC games on all low settings with integrated graphics IMHO.

I know very few people who have a TV that isn't HD ready (ie 720p) even if they don't bother to get HD channels, and 720p from across the room looks better than 720p 2 yards from your face.

 

[Sureshot324]

I think the Steam box will be a great product for non tech savvy gamers who want to game on their couch on the TV. Most people on this forum would probably rather build their own, but a very small percentage of gamers are willing to do that. Also if you want a PC with a capable GPU in a very small package, you're options for building it yourself are very limited.

The Steam box will be pretty much plug it in and start playing, just like a console. There are definitely pluses and minuses compared to consoles, but I think the pluses are enough to make it a success.

 

[Red Storm]

I think the Steam box will be a great product for non tech savvy gamers who want to game on their couch on the TV. Most people on this forum would probably rather build their own, but a very small percentage of gamers are willing to do that. Also if you want a PC with a capable GPU in a very small package, you're options for building it yourself are very limited.

The Steam box will be pretty much plug it in and start playing, just like a console. There are definitely pluses and minuses compared to consoles, but I think the pluses are enough to make it a success.

I don't think that's the "Steam Box" that Valve themselves will be launching. From what I understand, there are companies partnering with Valve who will be making stuff like small size computers ready to go with Steam Big Picture and all that, but the actual Steam Box that Valve is making will be a server, that will stream games to devices on your local network. It's like OnLive except local only (so removes the lag problem), it's with your games (so no ownership problems like with OnLive), and it will be your server to control and do with as you see fit.

At least, that's my hope. If it's just a smaller computer that sits under your TV then that's just a complete waste of their time.

 

[mizzou]

I like the server concept. If it's just a small PC, I see how that is sort of pointless.

I would like to see steam box something ambitious like, "Half-Life 3, developed exclusively on Linux/OpenGL, and distributed over SteamBox" and then see what happens.

And then if it fails, "Half-Life 3, now for PC, Xbox360, PS3", and they can recoup some of the losses.

PC's desperately need some sort of normalcy from a gaming perspective. The PC Gaming heyday, back in the 90's, there were much fewer options from a hardware perspective, it may have been literally three different choices "budget, medium, advanced", with vast majority having some type of medium hardware, with the advanced kit making the game ridiculously playable.

Now, you have like 1000s of options, tons of different versions of the same hardware, chipsets, all floating around, making it much more difficult to troubleshoot a game before full release. I.E., "This game won't load on my computer" or "I click on the .exe and nothing happens"

But if PC gaming is consolized, will that make PC gaming less interesting in the long run? I don't know, probably not. PC gaming is really not much different then console gaming. You have a developer who makes the game, a software company that distributes the title, and a system which runs the game. The only reason PC gaming is considered more complicated/advanced/nuanced is because it's likely easier to develop on and distribute titles (everything done electronically or as in the past, on a simple burned CD)

A steam box running linux, would still have this open environment, you wouldn't have to "crack" it like you would a PS3 in order to release its full potential.

Now, give yourself a very capable device which is fully open (albeit with a immature form of an OS) and give yourself a stable device which was distributed, I would be excited with what indie or established developers could do with this.

 

[Lonyo]

Yeah, we've gone from DX, OGL, Glide, S3D with PowerVR TBR, 3DFX, Matrox, 3DLabs, ATI, NV, SiS, Rendition, Intel etc to only Intel, AMD, NV.

So much harder now with different configurations...

GAMES have become far more complex.

 

[Sureshot324]

I don't think that's the "Steam Box" that Valve themselves will be launching. From what I understand, there are companies partnering with Valve who will be making stuff like small size computers ready to go with Steam Big Picture and all that, but the actual Steam Box that Valve is making will be a server, that will stream games to devices on your local network. It's like OnLive except local only (so removes the lag problem), it's with your games (so no ownership problems like with OnLive), and it will be your server to control and do with as you see fit.

At least, that's my hope. If it's just a smaller computer that sits under your TV then that's just a complete waste of their time.

How would the controller connect to the server? Wifi?

 

[Mopetar]

I like the server concept. If it's just a small PC, I see how that is sort of pointless.

I would like to see steam box something ambitious like, "Half-Life 3, developed exclusively on Linux/OpenGL, and distributed over SteamBox" and then see what happens.

It would fail, and they'd end up pissing off a lot of their long time fans and customers in the process.

 

[mizzou]

Yeah, we've gone from DX, OGL, Glide, S3D with PowerVR TBR, 3DFX, Matrox, 3DLabs, ATI, NV, SiS, Rendition, Intel etc to only Intel, AMD, NV.

So much harder now with different configurations...

GAMES have become far more complex.

i dont understand what you mean, you just named some direct x and opengl refrences and some previously popular 3d and VGA manufacturer brands.
are you trying to say the 3d card market nowadays is less complicated??

 

[mizzou]

It would fail, and they'd end up pissing off a lot of their long time fans and customers in the process.

unless its bold, i dont think its going to be unique enough to have a chance anyway. heck, sony can barely compete as it is. what if sony sold control of its playstation brand to steam?

 

[Red Storm]

How would the controller connect to the server? Wifi?

Valve is looking into alternative forms of control, they aren't trying to make another dual analog controller. So anything's possible.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Your first two sentences are a bit contradictory no? The Shield's main feature is the local streaming, so I don't see how you could say it would be a total failure and then say it's main feature is going to become commonplace.

I don't want my main rig to be the server, I want a server to do that so my main rig can be a super thin laptop or tablet.

I thought the shield only streamed from Nvidia's version of OnLive which is another reason why it's going to fail? Did I miss the local streaming part?

 

[AlexAL]

The size of a grapefruit?

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2235029/ces-valve-shows-off-its-steam-box

 

[mizzou]

The size of a grapefruit?

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2235029/ces-valve-shows-off-its-steam-box

my first thought was "alternator sized" lol

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I hope it looks like a TF2 turret or dispenser.