How would Valve's console affect PC gaming?

I honestly don't know what to think about Valve's "Steam Box", as referred to people on the Steam Forums, seeing that Valve has been one of the largest contributors to PC gaming. I am also skeptical about how it would work, since technical limitations could affect multiplayer modding outside of Steamworks-enabled mods.

It will likely run on Windows. Steam will simply be a full-screen application that starts up every time the unit is booted.

The user interface will be tweaked to allow better browsing on the TV.

That's it, really. It's a way of capturing a bit of the console gaming market by tuning the PC gaming format slightly.

I can't really see it affect the platform negatively since PC is an open platform so even if it fails PC will still live on.

My idea is how are they going to enfore developer optimization since after all it is a PC.

I think it would just be what ONLIVE is trying to achieve. It will be a console with gamepad but with Steam's content and services through the PC account.

Who's to say the console isn't a console at all but an overglorified PC? :o

Who's to say the console isn't a console at all but an overglorified PC? :o

Goyoshi12

i dont even see how it would work. But i guess it will be a pc with a striped down windows os and that a controller.

If anything all it would do is bring even more dev support (Japanese support). SAGE_OF_FIRE

wont do ****

wont do ****

wewantdoom4now

[QUOTE="SAGE_OF_FIRE"]If anything all it would do is bring even more dev support (Japanese support). lawlessx

3 words:

Goodbye, Master Race!

I honestly don't know what to think about Valve's "Steam Box", as referred to people on the Steam Forums, seeing that Valve has been one of the largest contributors to PC gaming. I am also skeptical about how it would work, since technical limitations could affect multiplayer modding outside of Steamworks-enabled mods.

flashn00b

How would it affect PCgaming? Only positively, would help to grow the market, leading to more games and propably even more ports from consoles.

3 words:

Goodbye, Master Race!

WiiCubeM1

hell no.

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

3 words:

Goodbye, Master Race!

wewantdoom4now

hell no.

If it's a TV console, yes. That was the thing that makes hermits so different from consolites. When it's just another console that plugs into a TV, you're no different than the rest of us, whether or not it would have superior hardware.

People act like refurbished computers are bad lmao...my refurbished emachines has a bestbuy sticker on the back lol but i didnt buy it from bestbuy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xQtc9l4rxw8

[QUOTE="wewantdoom4now"]

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

3 words:

Goodbye, Master Race!

WiiCubeM1

hell no.

If it's a TV console, yes. That was the thing that makes hermits so different from consolites. When it's just another console that plugs into a TV, you're no different than the rest of us, whether or not it would have superior hardware.

[QUOTE="wewantdoom4now"]

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

3 words:

Goodbye, Master Race!

WiiCubeM1

hell no.

If it's a TV console, yes. That was the thing that makes hermits so different from consolites. When it's just another console that plugs into a TV, you're no different than the rest of us, whether or not it would have superior hardware.

bs i have my pc hooked up to my tv lol.

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

[QUOTE="wewantdoom4now"]

hell no.

wewantdoom4now

If it's a TV console, yes. That was the thing that makes hermits so different from consolites. When it's just another console that plugs into a TV, you're no different than the rest of us, whether or not it would have superior hardware.

bs i have my pc hooked up to my tv lol.

Then what the hell is the point of PC gaming if it's just another console?

Then what the hell is the point of PC gaming if it's just another console?

WiiCubeM1

I honestly don't know what to think about Valve's "Steam Box", as referred to people on the Steam Forums, seeing that Valve has been one of the largest contributors to PC gaming. I am also skeptical about how it would work, since technical limitations could affect multiplayer modding outside of Steamworks-enabled mods.

flashn00b

[QUOTE="flashn00b"]

I honestly don't know what to think about Valve's "Steam Box", as referred to people on the Steam Forums, seeing that Valve has been one of the largest contributors to PC gaming. I am also skeptical about how it would work, since technical limitations could affect multiplayer modding outside of Steamworks-enabled mods.

Shielder7

[QUOTE="wewantdoom4now"]

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

If it's a TV console, yes. That was the thing that makes hermits so different from consolites. When it's just another console that plugs into a TV, you're no different than the rest of us, whether or not it would have superior hardware.

WiiCubeM1

bs i have my pc hooked up to my tv lol.

Then what the hell is the point of PC gaming if it's just another console?

console isnt upgradable, better graphics on multiplats and exclusives.

I don't think the Gabecube will target PC gamers. They already have a gaming PC.

you mean their prebuilt pc that will probably be marketed to console gamers? I think it could be a big succcess depending on price. Being the biggest dd store gives them a huge advantage.

Who would buy it? PC gamers already have good PCs to game on, you can't upgrade it, and you need a mouse and keyboard for some PC exclusive games that require more buttons like mmos so you can't play those on a couch like with a normal controller.

If its called Gabecube I'll buy one instantly.SamiRDuran

It should be huge :o

I can't really see it affect the platform negatively since PC is an open platform so even if it fails PC will still live on.

NoodleFighter

But what if the steambox gets really popular, and developers start to develop for the specs of that device more and less for high end rigs ? I could see it having a negative impact on PC gaming.

All hypothetical though, it might not even exist.

[QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

I can't really see it affect the platform negatively since PC is an open platform so even if it fails PC will still live on.

R4gn4r0k

But what if the steambox gets really popular, and developers start to develop for the specs of that device more and less for high end rigs ? I could see it having a negative impact on PC gaming.

All hypothetical though, it might not even exist.

We already have those constraints, they're called consoles.

Look it up. Valve's console stinks of this.

But what if the steambox gets really popular, and developers start to develop for the specs of that device more and less for high end rigs ? I could see it having a negative impact on PC gaming.R4gn4r0k

They already partly do that for the consoles, but there are still more than enough PC gamers buying dedicated hardware to make it worthwhile including higher settings and such. Having ready-made gaming PCs in console form factors probably wouldn't change that.

It may be that this hypothetical system would not be a fixed system but instead hardware and software specifications that existing PC OEMs design systems to comply with, with any additional performance of a particular configuration being an added bonus for the customer.

We already have those constraints, they're called consoles.

edidili

Yes but going from the rumors this would be a standardized PC and not a console. Now I would be ok with someStandardization but it could have a negative impact too.

Say lots of PC gamers buy a steambox, now developers will start developing for that kind of set up more rather than for the high-end market. Would we still have games pushing high-end hardware?

They already partly do that for the consoles, but there are still more than enough PC gamers buying dedicated hardware to make it worthwhile including higher settings and such. Having ready-made gaming PCs in console form factors probably wouldn't change that.

It may be that this hypothetical system would not be a fixed system but instead hardware and software specifications that existing PC OEMs design systems to comply with, with any additional performance of a particular configuration being an added bonus for the customer.

garrett_daniels

I hope you are right, but than again I'm not really worried because I doubt the steambox is real.

You should be asking yourself: "what the hell is the point of a game console when it can't do anything that a PC can't?"

Ginosaji

it will just be another option for people who buy prebuilt computers or console players who want to get into pc gamingigsmither

It also might set the standard for PC developers to develop towards if it because mainstream enough.

The real question is, how would it effect console gaming? A Steambox would only improve gaming on PC since essentially it would still be a PC thats just more user friendly and all the games for it would be built for PC/Steambox gamers and 99% of Steam user base are PC gamers. A console that can do everything that console gamers wanted on their consoles from a PC ( pretty much, in a slightly gimped way ) means there isnt much point in buying other consoles ...apart from a few Nintendo or Sony exclusives.

MS, Sony and Nintendo ought to be worried. I think Valve have something that has potential to become something really amazing and possibly even change the industry if any of these rumors are true.

Go Valve!

Certainly not negatively. Since it is essentially a PC, all it would likely do would be to open up new portions of the gaming market to PC games. Console gamers who primarily don't like PC gaming because "you can't play it on your TV while sitting on your couch" (which is of course, not true), may be more attracted to this box which seems to be more ready to be used like a console which still fundamentally operating like a PC. That's the theory anyway...

There won't be a Valve console. A staff building a SFF PC and now the world is saying Valve is making a lowly console. :lol:

Who would buy it? PC gamers already have good PCs to game on, you can't upgrade it, and you need a mouse and keyboard for some PC exclusive games that require more buttons like mmos so you can't play those on a couch like with a normal controller.

Jack-o-Thompson