RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
#26
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
The 3DO failed because of the high price and lack of games. The idea of going with an Android or Windows PC based device is that the games will already be there, although they may need to be slightly modified for console play.
They would have PC-only games as their exclusives.
Last edited by Jay G.; 03-04-12 at 11:32 AM.
#28
DVD Talk God
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
I'd be interested in this if I could play pc games from my couch with a controller. I know you can do that with Onlive, but it's sort of a different way of doing it. I want the best possible graphics my tv can handle if I'm going to play from the couch.
#29
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Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
That's what I was thinking.
And a big problem they would have is a lack of exclusive titles. Consoles rely on exclusives to sell hardware, and unless Valve is planning on making their own games exclusive to this console, they may not have any. I don't think they're big enough to buy developers like MS and Sony can, and they have nothing that can sell on the level of Nintendo's Mario or Zelda.
And a big problem they would have is a lack of exclusive titles. Consoles rely on exclusives to sell hardware, and unless Valve is planning on making their own games exclusive to this console, they may not have any. I don't think they're big enough to buy developers like MS and Sony can, and they have nothing that can sell on the level of Nintendo's Mario or Zelda.
#30
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
Right, but then they won't truly be exclusive.
Another problem is that a mouse and keyboard setup just doesn't work well in the living room. Look at people who build HTPCs. The vast majority are not sitting on the couch hunched over a mouse and keyboard on the coffee table. No, they have a remote control programmed to work with a 10-foot interface. I think that's a bigger obstacle than the price and sophistication of a PC. Notice how some here are saying they're only interested if they can use a controller.
Another problem is that a mouse and keyboard setup just doesn't work well in the living room. Look at people who build HTPCs. The vast majority are not sitting on the couch hunched over a mouse and keyboard on the coffee table. No, they have a remote control programmed to work with a 10-foot interface. I think that's a bigger obstacle than the price and sophistication of a PC. Notice how some here are saying they're only interested if they can use a controller.
#31
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Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
Right, but then they won't truly be exclusive.
Another problem is that a mouse and keyboard setup just doesn't work well in the living room. Look at people who build HTPCs. The vast majority are not sitting on the couch hunched over a mouse and keyboard on the coffee table. No, they have a remote control programmed to work with a 10-foot interface. I think that's a bigger obstacle than the price and sophistication of a PC. Notice how some here are saying they're only interested if they can use a controller.
Another problem is that a mouse and keyboard setup just doesn't work well in the living room. Look at people who build HTPCs. The vast majority are not sitting on the couch hunched over a mouse and keyboard on the coffee table. No, they have a remote control programmed to work with a 10-foot interface. I think that's a bigger obstacle than the price and sophistication of a PC. Notice how some here are saying they're only interested if they can use a controller.
#33
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
There's a software program (xpadder?) that maps mouse and keyboard buttons to your gamepad. I imagine Valve can make a similar program that would work for all their games automatically.
#34
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Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
As long as it has a developer login console in it with the password gnewell
#35
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
A lot of games (for example, anything with the Games for Windows label) also have support built-in for specific controllers like the XBOX 360 controller.
#37
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
Hmmm, I'm not sure I like it if the "D-pad" is going to be buttons like that. I'd hope that's customizable as well. It also looks kinda big.
The modular stuff reminds me of the Phoenix Revolution for PS2:
The modular stuff reminds me of the Phoenix Revolution for PS2:
#38
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
The d-pad looks bad but the modular sticks are a pretty good idea (provided they don't cause any input response issues).
#39
Banned
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
Mouse and keyboard on a TV tray table works well for me.
#40
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
And plenty of games work with the 360 controller.
#41
DVD Talk God
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
i don't want a mouse and keyboard. plus i want a smaller console sized computer. not some huge computer device.
#42
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
Especially those games that are ported over from the 360 (i.e. Call of Duty franchise).
It was a blast playing Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops on a PC and kicking ass using a 360 controller. And that's when I decided just to purchase Modern Warfare 3 for the 360.
It was a blast playing Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops on a PC and kicking ass using a 360 controller. And that's when I decided just to purchase Modern Warfare 3 for the 360.
Last edited by Matthew Chmiel; 03-06-12 at 03:02 PM.
#43
Banned
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
PCs don't have to be huge. There are mini-towers which are much smaller than the standard PC tower. Actually the compact size is the biggest reasons that modern consoles had such bad failure rates with RROD and all that. These things put out an enormous amount of heat, and having it compacted in a small size is not a good thing. With no room to breathe, the heat is what causes 99% of the RRODs. So having a powerful PC in a small size is a VERY bad idea.
#44
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df...are-x51-review
Another option could be the Mac Mini with the dedicated graphics adapter, which is the size of a Wii:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/07/...-2011-mac-mini
There's likely other options out there. There's cases for HTPCs that a meant to look like a typical A/V stackable device, which could possibly be used for gaming.
The main thing is that the compact PCs on the market now are notably more expensive than current consoles (although they tend to be higher powered too). It'll be interesting to see if Valve could make something that's competitive to consoles in terms of price, size, and power.
One thing that could give an edge is that if it's running Windows, it would have access to a lot of video streaming programs right off (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, HBO Go, etc.) instead of waiting for custom apps to be built by the providers.
#45
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
#46
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
Valve confirmed what was already rumored. What we don't know:
If it's the latter, I'll pre-order the shit out of it if Half Life 3 is a launch title.
- Are they going to be selling a pre-built PC dedicated specifically for Steam? Something similar to the Alienware X51 as already mentioned earlier.
- Are they going to build a custom console themselves and have their own OS (based around Linux) specifically for Steam?
If it's the latter, I'll pre-order the shit out of it if Half Life 3 is a launch title.
#47
DVD Talk Godfather
Thread Starter
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
I'd be curious if Valve could get all/most/many games to work reliably if they go with a Linux based OS, given the number of games supported natively is somewhat limited right now in the Steam Linux beta. I'd be afraid if they had to rely on some sort of app similar to the way people currently use Wine to play many games.
#48
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
Man, I wish I could spill some beans about this, but I can't. I'll just say, it's going to get interesting over the next couple of years. Yeah, I'm such a tease, .
#49
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RUMOR: Valve working on 'Steam Box' Gaming Console
I don't see how they could compete with the "dedicated console" option. They're not big enough to sell the thing at a loss, are they?
Also, consoles need strong first-party EXCLUSIVE games. As good as their own games are, they only release about one or two per year. That's not much of a lineup, especially if the games continue to be available on the PC and even other consoles.
Also, consoles need strong first-party EXCLUSIVE games. As good as their own games are, they only release about one or two per year. That's not much of a lineup, especially if the games continue to be available on the PC and even other consoles.