Steam Box: Valve working on gaming console

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RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
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b556df72-ad94-4a3e-89af-294855f35af7.jpg
 
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maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
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i7, 8GB ram...depending on GPU this could be a console crusher.

At the very least it could greatly slacken, for example, EA-DICE's excuses for small maps.
 
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Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
It's basically a PC, which runs Windows software, based on all the description and rumour in the article.

Why not just buy a Windows PC?
Seriously. Unless they somehow undercut large hardware manufacturers, it's no different to just buying a gaming PC and plugging it (presumably) into your TV.
 
Grooveriding

Grooveriding

Diamond Member
Dec 25, 2008
9,147
1,330
126
Yeah it just sounds like a small form factor PC. I mean great for console gamers as it will better than the crap they are using, but for a PC gamer, this will offer nothing they don't already have. Except for perhaps a small form factor machine, but likely a pretty weak one graphically.

Could be a nightmare for compatibility and issues if they plan to offer the entire Steam library on it.
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,851
31,343
146
Lonyo said:
It's basically a PC, which runs Windows software, based on all the description and rumour in the article.

Why not just buy a Windows PC?
Seriously. Unless they somehow undercut large hardware manufacturers, it's no different to just buying a gaming PC and plugging it (presumably) into your TV.
Click to expand...

It's aimed at the console players (vast majority of gaming) that are, maybe, interested in PC but are also terrified of PC.

Great market to tap into, imo.

Plus, with the various cheap, independent games that are widely available on Steam, it makes for a great family system (great puzzle, interactive, cute, soft games) as well as a target for the mobile/facebook game people.

You limit the number of ports in the back, a closed plug and play system like your your console.

Granted, it will likely have the same issues that PC has--why does this game work like shit with my system? What? You mean it wasn't really designed for my GPU? wtf is that??? Not sure how to get around that, other than making a steam client that is specific for this console and limits you to certain games (terrible idea, right?) OR--refine their customer support and patching system to let steam effectively handle driver upgrades via simple button pushing--I assume it's possible to run software like CCleaner in the background, and system macros hat will automatically uninstall, restart, clean registry, restart, install fresh drivers, restart?

that sort of thing? Pretty much what the PS3 does for system updates.
 
Kalmah

Kalmah

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2003
3,692
1
76
zinfamous said:
Granted, it will likely have the same issues that PC has--why does this game work like shit with my system? What? You mean it wasn't really designed for my GPU? wtf is that??? Not sure how to get around that, other than making a steam client that is specific for this console and limits you to certain games (terrible idea, right?) OR--refine their customer support and patching system to let steam effectively handle driver upgrades via simple button pushing--I assume it's possible to run software like CCleaner in the background, and system macros hat will automatically uninstall, restart, clean registry, restart, install fresh drivers, restart?

that sort of thing? Pretty much what the PS3 does for system updates.
Click to expand...

This. Once average Console-Joe realizes that he has 'options' that affect the playability of the game(AA, AF, different settings causing different system instabilities... etc) he's going to pass off these 'options' as inconveniences. ("This thing is stupid! You have to go into this menu and turn off this antisotrophic thing so that the game doesn't play like shit")

I suppose this could all be surpassed with game profiles(like nvidia driver game profiles) since everybody will have the same hardware it might not be so difficult after all.

What about that guy trying to play counter strike with a controller? It could be pretty sweet if they made a wireless hard-top mousepad with a built-in mouse(mouse attached to a short wire so that it can't leave the pad) so that you can sit at the couch with it on your lap.

lol, ok so everything dirty about this idea I try to dig up seems to have a fairly simple solution.

Another observation: All these game publishers crapping all over their games with DRM, Valve is effectively making a DRM-machine here and nobody is complaining. I guess the difference is, Steam is more considered a convenience than an inconvenience; Steam isn't disabling my games because I have a virtual drive installed for example.

Valve is doing it right. They are bringing DRM to you designed to be convenient, not a hurdle. They move with the flow while other publishers are moving against it.
 
frozentundra123456

frozentundra123456

Lifer
Aug 11, 2008
10,451
642
126
Maybe they want to do some streaming service like Onlive. Or maybe some sort of subscription service like "you can play x games as much as you want for a set monthly fee, but you have to use our device." Actually, I see many more scenarios where Steam could take advantage of having their own platform, and very little potential benefit to gamers.
 
Born2bwire

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Sounds interesting. Granted it seems like it would just be a branded small factor media PC, but I can think of ways that they could change it enough to make it a bit more unique. More and more PC games are now compatible with game controllers like the XBox 360 controller. Installing game ports for these controllers and adding bluetooth connectivity for them would be nice. Creating a nice UI to browse and load your Steam games using the controllers. Add in a set of good media features and it would be an attractive addition to the family room.

Nothing that most people can't do themselves but then again, most people just buy their PC's off the rack.
 
KaOTiK

KaOTiK

Lifer
Feb 5, 2001
10,877
8
81
Could be interesting. I can see Valve getting developers/publisher to certify their game as Steam Box compatible if they want it sold on that device, it could work similar to Steamplay in that regard. The game could have a profile setup when it automatically detects it is running as Steam Box instead of Steamplay. The profile could have the most optimal settings already selected to run on the new "console". They could also offer different profile, such as a performance one for higher FPS or an eye candy.

Going the certification route for Steam Box would also mean they have a set of standards for that controlled hardware environment. So they could make the certification make sure there are no driver issues, supports widescreen formats, and supports controllers.

Sure a lot of this is duh and easy stuff for a PC gamer to work out most the time, but this thing isn't aimed toward us to start with.
 
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GundamW

Golden Member
Feb 3, 2000
1,440
0
0
Whatever the final product is, I just hope they don't really call it "Steam Box".
 
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maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
A good idea also would be if the GPU could be upgraded, that would be the only real weak point. And in order to allow both the Steam box to use a standard power supply, but allow people to upgrade without tearing the old PSU out, if there was enough demand maybe GPU manufacturers could make GPUs for it that would direct plug to the outlet(ie, have their own built in PSU).
 
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bunnyfubbles

Lifer
Sep 3, 2001
12,248
3
0
this was talked about in another forum where I mentioned it would be likely that the "console" would be a PC much along the lines of Alienware's new X51 SFF gaming PC
 
AyashiKaibutsu

AyashiKaibutsu

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2004
9,306
4
81
Sounds like a cool idea. Obviously there's nothing they could really do to get PC users to switch, but there's a lot of people who just want something they can plug in and it'd be cool to offer people PC gaming with ability.
 
wuliheron

wuliheron

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2011
3,536
0
0
Huge companies like MS and Nintendo can compete with each other on the cost of the hardware by developing their own custom hardware, but tiny Valve with their 260 employees can't really compete in that arena. Where they can compete is on the software side of things. Consoles use their own stripped down operating systems and games are ported to them to leverage every bit of power the system has to offer. A console with an i7 could be easily twice as powerful as a PC for playing games and offer the possibility that you wouldn't have to upgrade the system quite so soon because they are not competing for the lowest cost hardware.
 
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lavaheadache

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2005
6,893
14
81
I think they should call it..... wait for it...... PC

This would be a great idea though to push games to be pc designed and ported to consoles. Fingers crossed
 
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