Valve Confirms SteamBox

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="osirisx3"]Why would anyone buy this? Just build your own will be cheaper.osirisx3

For the reasons Gabe has outlined... They want to address a more "console" experience, and the PC is pretty anti-console experience, for the most part. It can be made to be, but how about a straight-to-market solution?

This could also be a great HTPC solution... Combined with other software...

My HTPC solution:

[QUOTE="osirisx3"]Console experience on pc lol wont work sorry they are two different beasts all together. Omg it has a overlay and a controller stop the presses!lundy86_4

See:

You realize that PC/HTPC/Living room solutions are becoming drastically more popular, right? As noted by the increase in HTPC case production and Steam's push to bring Big Picture mode.

Hell, this is exactly what Gabe is addressing, and he's drastically more educated on market shifts in the PC market.

i use my pc on my 42 intch tv. Its not very comfortable i might have to buy a monitor for it. its hard to read text from far away and i have to use the keyboard and mouse on a small coffee table that gets in the way and makes me have to bend over. People who buy consoles do it because of how it just works. Its still a windows pc that has the same problems as any other pc.osirisx3

I've addressed this:

For the reasons Gabe has outlined... They want to address a more "console" experience, and the PC is pretty anti-console experience, for the most part. It can be made to be, but how about a straight-to-market solution?

This could also be a great HTPC solution... Combined with other software...

My HTPC solution:

*snipped images*

This software updates all poster and background images for my shows as it reads the shows from a specified folder. It grabs the images from specific websites. Absolutely brilliant, and largely hands-off.

My PC is also set to boot straight into this.

lundy86_4

A HTPC/Steam Big Mode overlay would negate all your issues.

My computer boots directly into this:

This can be navigated with my iPhone, for Christ's sake. You can even stick in a Bluetooth dongle (if your motherboard doesn't have a Bluetooth adapter) and use your PS3 Bluetooth remote.

[QUOTE="osirisx3"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

For the reasons Gabe has outlined... They want to address a more "console" experience, and the PC is pretty anti-console experience, for the most part. It can be made to be, but how about a straight-to-market solution?

This could also be a great HTPC solution... Combined with other software...

My HTPC solution:

burgeg

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="osirisx3"]Console experience on pc lol wont work sorry they are two different beasts all together. Omg it has a overlay and a controller stop the presses!osirisx3

See:

You realize that PC/HTPC/Living room solutions are becoming drastically more popular, right? As noted by the increase in HTPC case production and Steam's push to bring Big Picture mode.

Hell, this is exactly what Gabe is addressing, and he's drastically more educated on market shifts in the PC market.

It won't sell. Neither will any console without a physical medium. Look at the PSP Go. Sali217

lundy86_4, what exactly is it that you boot into?Hexagon_777

XBMC with an Aeon Nox skin. Love it. You set it to read TV shows from your "TV show" folder, and you're good. They simply have to follow a simple title format for each show (i.e. arrow.s01e01/arrow.s01e02) and it reads everyone and fills in the posters/background images/episode titles/etc, itself.

It will also do the same with movies.

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

Mr_BillGates

You gotta be joking. Dying breed? :lol:

It won't sell. Neither will any console without a physical medium. Look at the PSP Go. Sali217

[QUOTE="Mr_BillGates"]

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

dream431ca

You gotta be joking. Dying breed? :lol:

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]lundy86_4, what exactly is it that you boot into?lundy86_4

XBMC with an Aeon Nox skin. Love it. You set it to read TV shows from your "TV show" folder, and you're good. They simply have to follow a simple title format for each show (i.e. arrow.s01e01/arrow.s01e02) and it reads everyone and fills in the posters/background images/episode titles/etc, itself.

It will also do the same with movies.

That looks awesome. I may start toying around with putting together some parts to put in one of those form factor cases.

That looks awesome. I may start toying around with putting together some parts to put in one of those form factor cases.

BPoole96

That's what I need to do as well. Right now this is my general use PC, as my laptop busted. Soon, they're gonna be parts in my full HTPC.

Some of those cases are so nice.

Just get one of these cases. Looks nice and sleek and it will keep all your components cool.clyde46

[QUOTE="clyde46"]Just get one of these cases. Looks nice and sleek and it will keep all your components cool.Jonwh18

Why does this remind me of the Phantom console?

So the Hermit messiah is creating a console?

Ouch.

Rockman999

Totally not a troll/idiot.

Well, it's time that they came out with something that will integrate the use of digital distribution and the setup of a home gaming system. PC gaming is a dying breed and personally, I hope it goes away very soon.

Paying 2000$ to play World of Warcraft. Come the fvck on...

Well, it's time that they came out with something that will integrate the use of digital distribution and the setup of a home gaming system. PC gaming is a dying breed and personally, I hope it goes away very soon.

Paying 2000$ to play World of Warcraft. Come the fvck on...

JameMcCabe

[QUOTE="JameMcCabe"]

Well, it's time that they came out with something that will integrate the use of digital distribution and the setup of a home gaming system. PC gaming is a dying breed and personally, I hope it goes away very soon.

Paying 2000$ to play World of Warcraft. Come the fvck on...

clyde46

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="JameMcCabe"]

Well, it's time that they came out with something that will integrate the use of digital distribution and the setup of a home gaming system. PC gaming is a dying breed and personally, I hope it goes away very soon.

Paying 2000$ to play World of Warcraft. Come the fvck on...

Jankarcop

[QUOTE="JameMcCabe"]

Well, it's time that they came out with something that will integrate the use of digital distribution and the setup of a home gaming system. PC gaming is a dying breed and personally, I hope it goes away very soon.

Paying 2000$ to play World of Warcraft. Come the fvck on...

clyde46

Your sh!t-talking really has no bounds, eh? You post in every thread that I participate in. Do you have a fvcking crush on me or something?

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="JameMcCabe"]

Well, it's time that they came out with something that will integrate the use of digital distribution and the setup of a home gaming system. PC gaming is a dying breed and personally, I hope it goes away very soon.

Paying 2000$ to play World of Warcraft. Come the fvck on...

JameMcCabe

Your sh!t-talking really has no bounds, eh? You post in every thread that I participate in. Do you have a fvcking crush on me or something?

There was a user on here a few months ago by the name of Lupin. Ring any bells?

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="JameMcCabe"]

Well, it's time that they came out with something that will integrate the use of digital distribution and the setup of a home gaming system. PC gaming is a dying breed and personally, I hope it goes away very soon.

Paying 2000$ to play World of Warcraft. Come the fvck on...

JameMcCabe

Your sh!t-talking really has no bounds, eh? You post in every thread that I participate in. Do you have a fvcking crush on me or something?

[QUOTE="burgeg"]

[QUOTE="osirisx3"] Console experience on pc lol wont work sorry they are two different beasts all together. Omg it has a overlay and a controller stop the presses!k2theswiss

There will no doubt eventually be Windows 8 HTPC Steam machines from other manufacturers that will offer more power and upgradeability-- full fledged PCs that run Steam right out of the box, and come in nice looking HTPC cases. However, the official Steam Box is a great way to warm the waters for the future of living room gaming, because they will be bringing PC games into the living room in a meaningful way for the first time in years. Other companies have tried in the past and failed, but Valve is the one company that can do it due to their firm position as the world's #1 digital game distributor.

The Steam Box is in a position to eat pretty much everyone's lunch, and even if it does not conquer the market the minute it goes on sale, it's only the tip of the blade. When the market eventually has an abundance of HTPCs that are competetive gaming machines running Steam from various manufacturers, there will simply be no point in dedicated game consoles anymore. Consoles are already moving towards being mutlimedia machines, and that is something that HTPCs are already doing better. Consoles won't even be playing catch-up at that point-- they will essentially just be off-brand HTPCs that can't run Steam.

[QUOTE="Rockman999"]

So the Hermit messiah is creating a console?

Ouch.

Jankarcop

Totally not a troll/idiot.

A console.

What is Valve creating?

A "very controlled enviroment" computer.

Stay classy Jankarcop and keep them tears flowing. :)

[QUOTE="Jankarcop"]

[QUOTE="Rockman999"]

So the Hermit messiah is creating a console?

Ouch.

Rockman999

Totally not a troll/idiot.

A console.

What is Valve creating?

A "very controlled enviroment" computer.

Stay classy Jankarcop and keep them tears flowing. :)

Valve is trying to leave a sinking ship and go console.

Thing is though, I can just play my Steam games on another machine, you cant play your xbox games on anything except another xbox. Its not really a limiting factor, its just a means of getting people into PC gaming.clyde46

Your "other machine" is just another Windows PC.

How's that any different from using another Xbox.

[QUOTE="clyde46"]Thing is though, I can just play my Steam games on another machine, you cant play your xbox games on anything except another xbox. Its not really a limiting factor, its just a means of getting people into PC gaming.ZombieKiller7

Your "other machine" is just another Windows PC.

How's that any different from using another Xbox.

just a pre-built pc nothing to see here people...

[QUOTE="ZombieKiller7"]

[QUOTE="clyde46"]Thing is though, I can just play my Steam games on another machine, you cant play your xbox games on anything except another xbox. Its not really a limiting factor, its just a means of getting people into PC gaming.clyde46

Your "other machine" is just another Windows PC.

How's that any different from using another Xbox.

So software will automatically rewrite itself to run across Windows, Mac and Linux? Or will they have to develop 3 ports of the same game?

Right now most games aren't available for Mac, and even fewer are available for Linux and in many cases you have to rebuy the same game cross platform.

How is that any different from buying a game on Xbox and then buying the same game on Windows?

Steam is trying to become a hardware independent "platform."

I believe XboxLive/GFWL is trying to do the same thing and is actually further along in implementing that concept.

The rest of your post confuses open vs closed systems with brand X vs brand Y.

I can do all of the above on my phone on a train moving 60mph and it fits in my shirt pocket -> Superior system confirmed yes?

Is it really gonna be called SteamBox? Thats kinda... bad

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="ZombieKiller7"]

Your "other machine" is just another Windows PC.

How's that any different from using another Xbox.

ZombieKiller7

So software will automatically rewrite itself to run across Windows, Mac and Linux? Or will they have to develop 3 ports of the same game?

Right now most games aren't available for Mac, and even fewer are available for Linux and in many cases you have to rebuy the same game cross platform.

How is that any different from buying a game on Xbox and then buying the same game on Windows?

Steam is trying to become a hardware independent "platform."

I believe XboxLive/GFWL is trying to do the same thing and is actually further along in implementing that concept.

The rest of your post confuses open vs closed systems with brand X vs brand Y.

I can do all of the above on my phone on a train moving 60mph and it fits in my shirt pocket -> Superior system confirmed yes?

This actually sounds a lot more appealing to me than next gen consoles.

To those saying it is nothing but a pre-built PC - You might as well be saying that consoles are a pre-built PC too. They all have processors, video cards, ram, vram, hard drives etc,.. Valve is essentially making what they wanted to happen with the PS3. That is, you buy a game on one platform and it appears on all of them through Steam (buy on PC, play on Steambox). There is a large segment of the gaming population that only plays on consoles and Valve wants a piece of that. What better wayt to do it than to sell them games on their own platform?

Really, consoles and PC aren't that much different in functionality. There have been several companies trying to make this "PC console" but they have all failed because they were all running basic Windows. They were literally just PCs. What Valve is doing is creating the console experience as well as the console hardware.

I believe this is what they are going to do:

1. throw some hardware together,

2. make the console UI run smoothly,

3. make the packaging and design look cool,

4. sell it as a console,

5. profit

I like the idea

But most importantly,

Master shake, why is the gif sig gone?

[QUOTE="Jonwh18"]

[QUOTE="clyde46"]Just get one of these cases. Looks nice and sleek and it will keep all your components cool.clyde46

little pricey for case don't you think? w/e your money

To those saying it is nothing but a pre-built PC - You might as well be saying that consoles are a pre-built PC too. They all have processors, video cards, ram, vram, hard drives etc,.. Valve is essentially making what they wanted to happen with the PS3. That is, you buy a game on one platform and it appears on all of them through Steam (buy on PC, play on Steambox). There is a large segment of the gaming population that only plays on consoles and Valve wants a piece of that. What better wayt to do it than to sell them games on their own platform?

Really, consoles and PC aren't that much different in functionality. There have been several companies trying to make this "PC console" but they have all failed because they were all running basic Windows. They were literally just PCs. What Valve is doing is creating the console experience as well as the console hardware.

I believe this is what they are going to do:

1. throw some hardware together,

2. make the console UI run smoothly,

3. make the packaging and design look cool,

4. sell it as a console,

5. profit

hoola

But a lot of the profit from console manufacturers comes from the fee they have per sold game. Also they get money from developers who buy development kits.

If valve is basically going to sell PC games on a console than they can't have that fee (it would make games 10-20 dollars more expensive than on steam)

and if developing for steambox is the same as for a PC than they can't sell devkits.

[QUOTE="hoola"]

To those saying it is nothing but a pre-built PC - You might as well be saying that consoles are a pre-built PC too. They all have processors, video cards, ram, vram, hard drives etc,.. Valve is essentially making what they wanted to happen with the PS3. That is, you buy a game on one platform and it appears on all of them through Steam (buy on PC, play on Steambox). There is a large segment of the gaming population that only plays on consoles and Valve wants a piece of that. What better wayt to do it than to sell them games on their own platform?

Really, consoles and PC aren't that much different in functionality. There have been several companies trying to make this "PC console" but they have all failed because they were all running basic Windows. They were literally just PCs. What Valve is doing is creating the console experience as well as the console hardware.

I believe this is what they are going to do:

1. throw some hardware together,

2. make the console UI run smoothly,

3. make the packaging and design look cool,

4. sell it as a console,

5. profit

R4gn4r0k

But a lot of the profit from console manufacturers comes from the fee they have per sold game. Also they get money from developers who buy development kits.

If valve is basically going to sell PC games on a console than they can't have that fee (it would make games 10-20 dollars more expensive than on steam)

and if developing for steambox is the same as for a PC than they can't sell devkits.

So? Valve doesn't have those things now, whats the difference? they make money buy offer good deals on games that 6 million peak time gamers will be playing. They are also one of the most high quality developers of games out there, with DoTA2 peaking at 180k players and growing. Teamfortress 2 still going strong ect. VAlve is that mix between Nintendo and Sony/MS..... know what actual games are, make them timeless looking AND offer the depth/complexity and technology behind it.MBirdy88

What I'm saying is making something successful and lucrative on PC isn't the same as making a successful and lucrative console. What do you mean with "so?" I'm just pondering something, is that not allowed ?

[QUOTE="clyde46"]

[QUOTE="Jonwh18"] that looks similar to what I'm lookg for for my build this summer. How much and what all does it have?

k2theswiss

little pricey for case don't you think? w/e your money

[QUOTE="MBirdy88"]So? Valve doesn't have those things now, whats the difference? they make money buy offer good deals on games that 6 million peak time gamers will be playing. They are also one of the most high quality developers of games out there, with DoTA2 peaking at 180k players and growing. Teamfortress 2 still going strong ect. VAlve is that mix between Nintendo and Sony/MS..... know what actual games are, make them timeless looking AND offer the depth/complexity and technology behind it.R4gn4r0k

What I'm saying is making something successful and lucrative on PC isn't the same as making a successful and lucrative console. What do you mean with "so?" I'm just pondering something, is that not allowed ?

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

Mr_BillGates