Valve killed console gaming...

...for me that is.

So I received my Steam controller and Link about 10 days ago now....and 10 days later I have removed the final remnants of console clutter from my main TV cabinet. My gaming PC now lives in a cupboard upstairs and streams to either my dual monitor office setup, lounge TV or bedroom TV as I wish, 1080p and 60 FPS.

Wake-on-lan (WOL) features mean that, from complete power off (S5 at least), just turning on my Steam controller switches my TV input, wakes my computer and loads me into Steam...the convenience of a console on your PC.

The Steam controller allows me to use the PC in gaming mode (big picture mode) as per the consoles or PC mode as per your normal desktop, without needing to switch control type and without the hideous inaccuracy of a standard console controller (for mouse like actions). Entire genres of games that consoles do not handle well and yet are perfect for playing on the couch (with or without friends) are now open to me without a cumbersome device laden sofa.

I can customise my (or my friends) controls to suit any playing preference I (or they) have and fine tweak every setting you could realistically need to improve your gaming experience. It's not perfect (yet) and does require initial setup for your games but the results are miraculous. I've even found a perfect setup for racing games and the idea of going back to a standard controller after is laughable! (tapping the stick to turn corners always felt rubbish).

After extensive use my decision became quite easy. I'm not paying to play online, I'm not paying premium prices for games, I'm not locked to specific hardware and I don't have problems with backwards compatibility (I had a glorious session of Baldurs Gate 2, chilled on my couch playing with a pad).. Oh and the link allows me to use the Steam, Xbox, PS4 or whatever controller I want (simultaneously I might add) and all from a box no bigger than a portable external HDD.

All that is left for the consoles are the 1 or maybe 2 exclusives I might want to play in a year...and that just isn't enough to even feel like I'm missing out. For me, the consoles have been outconsoled by the PC! I just think it's a shame many will ignore it because they simply don't understand or haven't the patience (maybe brain power) to learn a new control technique.

-_-

Spending time on System Wars is probably like being at the Special Olympics!

I would ordinarily simply say 'blog it'

But I recognise you have actually put some time into writing this thread, so instead I shall say:

Cool, perhaps this would be better suited to a blog? Or maybe ask a question that can make it easier to reply?

Sounds pretty sweet, i need to get me one of these, will look good going beside my Wii U.

Underappreciated PC controller.

After Oculus controversy, meanwhile Valve's take on exclusivity in VR: "We don't need to pull out that dusty playbook and repeat it" This is why Valve will get my money. RIP Oculus. :D

It's like hitting your head against a brick wall, console gamers just don't see the benefits you describe for some reason.

Good for you and agree it's the best set up, but console gamers will give enough personal reasons soon why your set up wouldnt work for them.

I've yet to buy steamlink as I'm still unsure how well it would work over powerline wiring, might grab it when I have time to test it around, not like it's going to be expensive and while I generally prefer the 144hz monitor for gaming there are situations where link to big tv would come handy

I'm running mine over crappy 200mbps powerline adapters. I had the same concern, turns out no need as it's been flawless.

Sounds like you have a similar setup to me. Yeah I miss the 144hz at times but just being able to chill out at night on the sofa and play something like the Total War games is too good to miss :).

I wouldn't usually bother with writing something like this but its pretty relevant to system wars (and it didn't take long). There have been two area console (only) gamers claim they have the upper hand; One is convenience they bring combined with playing from the couch and the other is exclusives. Now that convenience is gone and 'exclusives' are usually timed or so infrequently released I honestly don't see the point in a console any more. Especially considering you need to have 3 of them and a huge bunch of peripherals to get the exclusives you want.

Actually it would :). Strangely the Wii U is the only console that I considered after using this stuff.

@quadknight said:

I love this particular meme. Not because it's funny, not because it's cool but because it takes you more time to find/link/post it than to read the post in the first place. Oh I know that's not the point of posting it, just makes me chuckle at the thought.

See I would say consoles still have the slight upper hand in terms of convenience. Not having to worry about incompatibilities or poor optimisation is a great plus to console gaming, and I say this as an ex-hardcore hermit who has a pc more powerful than I really need here.

PC has definitely come on a long way in that regard no doubt, but personally I would still much rather boot up my dedicated gaming console for a game than boot up my pc.

I believe they call it buyers remorse ;-).

It might be kiling for you Hermit Crab, but millions purchased the PS4 and Xbone on Black Friday.

@_Matt_: You're right, it's not quite there yet but as a first step down the road this is HUGE. Now that I've spent a bit of time getting my favourite games set how I like I can say it really is as easy as the console....but you do need to spend time getting there. I can only imagine what gen 2 of this thing will be like + VR + AR + me drooling!

Maybe the fundamental difference is some people don't ever want to change settings...but it's hard to count the number of console games I've dumped before finishing due to janky controls and no way to change them.

You're not a PC fanboy, you're part of the rising cult of Valve fanboyism. Steam Machine and Steam Link will be failures in the long term

This belongs in a blog. I think you could re-write the OP to express your views but using a less personal experience. The board would get buried in threads about personal preferences otherwise.