Steam Just turned PC gaming into a relaxing Console experience.

So my complaint with PC gaming was it was never a seemless relaxing console like experience, that was always why the console was still my number 1 choice, but after I was prompted to restart steam I noticed a icon in the top right hand corner called big picture, once you click that it bascially turned steam into a TV/console like OS that is fully navagational with a 360 controller.

Steam was already great but this just made my pc into the console I have always wanted :)

All hail the gaben.

Good for you.

blog ?

I didn't think Big Picture would be so cool.

It's a definite game changer as far as I'm concerned. I have no need for consoles any more. It doesn't matter what features they add, at the end of the day I have my desktop with keyboard and mouse. But if I want to lounge around on the sofa with a gamepad that option just opened up and it's easy as hell to use. It works awesome on the TV which will be perfect if my buddies or family show up and want to play a game. I toss them the gamepad and we can chill on the sofa.

My entire collection is still there, my friends are all still there and it's just a really seamless and easy to use experience. I'm surprised it hasn't been getting that much more attenton. But as far as I'm concerned, there is no need for me to purchase a console ever again. Steam just changed everything and as we move towards a more integrated future with technology standalone game devices will lose their place on the market. But what's the point of adding in social and browser features when everything I own already does those things so intuitively and now I can use Big Picture with my desktop or my laptop and just run it through the TV to get a similar gaming experience anyway? It's amazing how far ahead of the competition Steam is. Yeah, you could always connect your PC to your TV, but now the UI is totally designed for use with a gamepad and it's just that much smoother on the TV. Very nicely done Gaben.

Big Picture Mode is awesome. I like the UI much better than PSN. I'm curious if Valve will start adding apps like Netflix and all that so there wouldn't be a need to exit BPM for users with HTPCs

They need to hurry up with Steam gamepad. Playing games with keyboard is turrible.

It's pretty cool, works well with a controller. There are still some slight issues, but it's very sleek

I tried it out for a bit. I still prefer the standard layout though if I had to pick one out of the PS3, 360, and Steam, I prefer Steam's.

I just want Valve to make a gaming focused OS now. Oh, and HL3.

ITT:Hermit circle jerk.darkspineslayer

ITT: Butthurt consolites that PC is factually superior.

It's a purty UI.

A second ago, consoles suck, now Steam is amazing cause it more console like?II_Seraphim_II

That's not what was said. Nor do you understand what's being discussed.

Steam is still EXACTLY as it was. There is no change to it when you use it on your PC.

It now features Big Picture mode. It is now easier than ever to hook up your computer to your television and browse through it with a gamepad, with a sleek UI. Steam now provides both experiences.

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]A second ago, consoles suck, now Steam is amazing cause it more console like?NeonNinja

That's not what was said. Nor do you understand what's being discussed.

Steam is still EXACTLY as it was. There is no change to it when you use it on your PC.

It now features Big Picture mode. It is now easier than ever to hook up your computer to your television and browse through it with a gamepad, with a sleek UI. Steam now provides both experiences.

[QUOTE="NeonNinja"]

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]A second ago, consoles suck, now Steam is amazing cause it more console like?II_Seraphim_II

That's not what was said. Nor do you understand what's being discussed.

Steam is still EXACTLY as it was. There is no change to it when you use it on your PC.

It now features Big Picture mode. It is now easier than ever to hook up your computer to your television and browse through it with a gamepad, with a sleek UI. Steam now provides both experiences.

[QUOTE="NeonNinja"]

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]A second ago, consoles suck, now Steam is amazing cause it more console like?II_Seraphim_II

That's not what was said. Nor do you understand what's being discussed.

Steam is still EXACTLY as it was. There is no change to it when you use it on your PC.

It now features Big Picture mode. It is now easier than ever to hook up your computer to your television and browse through it with a gamepad, with a sleek UI. Steam now provides both experiences.

[QUOTE="NeonNinja"]

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]A second ago, consoles suck, now Steam is amazing cause it more console like?II_Seraphim_II

That's not what was said. Nor do you understand what's being discussed.

Steam is still EXACTLY as it was. There is no change to it when you use it on your PC.

It now features Big Picture mode. It is now easier than ever to hook up your computer to your television and browse through it with a gamepad, with a sleek UI. Steam now provides both experiences.

Some people are like that, sure. But there's no denying that some games in my Steam library need a controller: Dark Souls, Sonic Generations, Geometry Wars all come to mind.

So the whole "everyone is d*ck riding" is an overstatement. This eliminates the need for me to even consider a future console purchase as it will essentially give me the option to play my Steam games whichever way I prefer, whether it's with a mouse and keyboard or with a gamepad. That and you don't need a gamepad for Big Picture mode. It's compatible with a mouse and keyboard as well. The interface is sleek and easy to use and works great on a TV. It's cool man. People are allowed to get excited about their favorite service expanding. Especially when it costs them no extra money. It's a dope idea and it's really easy to use. Hypocritical or not, it opens up further options for PC GAMING and not the other way around.

Cool, I guess. Can you make it launch at startup in this mode?

[QUOTE="clyde46"] Yes, some people did berate consoles for that fact but most PC gamers have a control of some sort so this is a very good thing. II_Seraphim_II

Funny you mention those games. I played GTA4 with a controller and Sleeping Dogs with a controller. :P

Cool, I guess. Can you make it launch at startup in this mode?

KiZZo1

As of right now, I don't like it. Hopefully they change it up, make it more smooth, and easier to navigate. I will say that I love the web searcher, and community tab. They're excellent. I should elaborate that if it's an actual console experience that you're looking for, it's not too shabby.

given that Steam is all about the games and community. i really like it.

I like PSN and XBL, but they're both so cluttered with every other multi-media app jammed in.

As for me, i need a devoted controller. All i got right now is a jerry-rigged PS3 controller. it works fine, just hate having to set it all up each time.

given that Steam is all about the games and community. i really like it.

I like PSN and XBL, but they're both so cluttered with every other multi-media app jammed in.

As for me, i need a devoted controller. All i got right now is a jerry-rigged PS3 controller. it works fine, just hate having to set it all up each time.

SaudiFury

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

given that Steam is all about the games and community. i really like it.

I like PSN and XBL, but they're both so cluttered with every other multi-media app jammed in.

As for me, i need a devoted controller. All i got right now is a jerry-rigged PS3 controller. it works fine, just hate having to set it all up each time.

II_Seraphim_II

It´s funny that the PC is the one actually doing the best controller based interface of any system lol.MrYaotubo

[QUOTE="MrYaotubo"]It´s funny that the PC is the one actually doing the best controller based interface of any system lol.clyde46

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"][QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

given that Steam is all about the games and community. i really like it.

I like PSN and XBL, but they're both so cluttered with every other multi-media app jammed in.

As for me, i need a devoted controller. All i got right now is a jerry-rigged PS3 controller. it works fine, just hate having to set it all up each time.

clyde46

[QUOTE="MrYaotubo"]It´s funny that the PC is the one actually doing the best controller based interface of any system lol.clyde46

Oh yeah. I still have to try out big picture mode but that and the XMB are my favourite controller UIs

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="MrYaotubo"]It´s funny that the PC is the one actually doing the best controller based interface of any system lol.R4gn4r0k

Oh yeah. I still have to try out big picture mode but that and the XMB are my favourite controller UIs

I dont think I'm going to bother too much with BP just yet. I dont play on a TV so its a bit redunant for me. But in the future I'm planning on building a gaming grade HTPC so it will in handy then.clyde46

A gaming grade HTPC is not easy to build right ? It can't be too big or make too much noise yet needs to have a decent graphics card.

I'm thinking about moving my PC up to my room where I can hook it up to my HDTV, would be great for playing games like GTA IV or Most Wanted which I'm playing with a controller anyway:)

My major issues with PC gaming were that it was very uncomfortable and the lack of Japanese software. The integration of 360 controllers (and UI) into games is a great start. Now we have a UI that works well as well (before you would need a mouse and have to sit at your workstation to load up a game). As for Japanese games...well they have almost no prominence on consoles these days anyway (having moved to handhelds), and to an extent the indie scene scratches the same itches. There are still some steps that could be taken though to improve the experience. For instance, some games need UI tweak options to make them TV friendly (RTS in particular) and other games inexplicably have console UI and input removed for the PC versions (almost all the recent Bioware games). I don't expect the former to ever change (though I guess I do mostly use the PC for console ports). Now all I need to do is find an effective way to kill the fan noise on the PC and we're good.Articuno76

The lack of Japanese software is a little sad. I still managed to buy a few Japanese games: Binary Domain, Dark Souls, Recettear, Sonic Generations are what I have on Steam (and Guilty Gear X2 #Reload off of GoG). I'm eyeing Half-Minute Hero and even considering The Last Remnant at the moment. But there really isn't much.

I'm still really hoping that Platinum Games intend on releasing their titles on PC as there were some articles about that earlier this year when they visited Gaben and the Steam offices.

[QUOTE="clyde46"]I dont think I'm going to bother too much with BP just yet. I dont play on a TV so its a bit redunant for me. But in the future I'm planning on building a gaming grade HTPC so it will in handy then.R4gn4r0k

A gaming grade HTPC is not easy to build right ? It can't be too big or make too much noise yet needs to have a decent graphics card.

I'm thinking about moving my PC up to my room where I can hook it up to my HDTV, would be great for playing games like GTA IV or Most Wanted which I'm playing with a controller anyway:)

Used BPM while it was in beta. It's okay, but since FIFA 13 is the only game I play via the 360 pad, I don't actually need it.

I really like the Big Picture UI, it looks great. Much nicer and fluider than PS3's and 360's UI. It's good that Valve is doing something good for the PC.

Now all I need to do is find an effective way to kill the fan noise on the PC and we're good.Articuno76

Liquid cooling. Total silence, and it'll keep your components cooler than any fans ever could.

Or, if you're feeling adventurous (and a little ghetto), remove all your fans, and put your entire motherboard (with RAM, CPU, GPU, etc. attached) into a fish tank full of vegetable oil. Keep your power supply, disc drives, and harddrives out of the tank, and just run their cables right into the tank, and peripheral cables (mouse/keyboard, controllers, monitor) out of the tank.

It works because, unlike water, vegetable oil doesn't conduct electricity, so the components submerged in it work just fine, and aren't damaged (aside from being messy when and if you remove them). However, being a liquid, the oil makes full surface contact with every component, and every little nook and cranny of the mobo, absorbing all the heat right out of them. Works so well you can overclock your processors to more than double their factory speeds, and they'll never even rise above room temperature.

But how do you actually get it to run on your TV? My PC isn't connected to my TV and you don't have it on Wii/WiiU/Xbox360/PS3. So how the hell does it work on your TV?amaneuvering

Umm... by plugging your PC into your TV. Which any PC built in the last 10 years can do, with any HDTV.

I'm no more, or less relaxed when I game on my PC in comparison to console gaming.

I donno, maybe it's because I bought a quality computer chair, but I can sit in it forever, and not care too much.

With that said I won't find much use for this new mode. It's just rare that I actually buy a PC game that works best with a controller, and I don't have a seperate in my living room. If I did then I'm sure I'd download what controller-friendly games I do have onto it

I really like the Big Picture UI, it looks great. Much nicer and fluider than PS3's and 360's UI. It's good that Valve is doing something good for the PC.

GamerwillzPS

I really dig it too. Makes me want to get more games that I would control with my 360 controller. I only have a few games on Steam I even could play with a controller. And a couple of them are shooters, which control as well as you could expect from a console game, but I'd still use m/kb more often because, you know, they're shooters.

[QUOTE="amaneuvering"]But how do you actually get it to run on your TV? My PC isn't connected to my TV and you don't have it on Wii/WiiU/Xbox360/PS3. So how the hell does it work on your TV?clyde46

I'm talking about getting it ON MY TV.

Sure, I can run it on my PC that's stuck in the corner of my room but that doesn't change anything.

How do I actually get Steam to run on my TV that's sitting in the center or my living room in front of my nice comfy sofa?

That's the whole point selling point of this right, to be able to play it on my big TV from the comfort of my sofa, no?