Still not convinced the online requirement is going to happen, but if it does, PS4 for me. Haven't bought Simcity or Diablo 3 due to the requirement, so I sure as heck won't but a console that makes ALL games that way.
I think this is a half truth here. My guess is this is that Microsoft is going to allow developers to produce games that require Internet connections to support special features. Perhaps free to play games. Keep in mind: Microsoft cannot reveal their hand yet if there is something groundbreaking at play here. I really think we should wait until the thing is revealed to raise hell and hurl insults. Letting them know your opinion is fine, but jumping to conclusions and hurling insults will make you look dumb when that Xbox 720 is sitting on your entertainment center a year from now.
I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. I sincerely hope that Microsoft is not DUMB enough to make a console that requires Internet to play ALL games after the fiascos with Diablo 3 and SimCity.
@mlavinder Unfortunately that is not the case. All things point to this being Linux based. With that in mind, they will only have the handful of games ported to Linux. They may convince one or two big developers to port a game or two to Linux to help with the launch, but they are going to need sales to make it worthwhile.
That said, I am pulling for this. If they do price it at $599 and it works out, I'll be glad to be wrong. I just don't believe history is on their side.
@MXVIII First, I don't think Valve plans to make it's own console. I think Valve wants to be the Google/Android of independently developed PC/Console hybrids. That said, they could very well subsidize someone to try it get it off the ground.
And while you are correct about the PS3, you actually prove my point by pointing to it. You cannot rewrite history. PS3 did NOT have a good start. Sales improved as the price came down. Same happened with 3DS. People had almost written it off, but then Nintendo lowered the price sales began to climb. There is a price ceiling for all consoles and that has been proven time and time again.
Devs had PS3 games ready despite the slow initial sale. It was Playstation and PS2 is the best selling console of all time. The SteamBox has NO history. If they price it over $499 it will be doomed.
I don't get why everyone thinks this going to cost $1000. RTFA. They are giving prices of existing models from the company, but that doesn't mean anything. If Valve is willing to subsidize the thing, like every other console maker does, then all this complaining is irrelevant.
I'll be the first to say if they are do expect people to spend more than $500 on console they are insane, but I really think they are way smarter than that.
@IanNottinghamX I don't think you're the target. Those willing to build rigs will continue to do so, and it seems a Valve official has acknowledged that. This is to give console gamers who won't spend a fortune on gaming rigs, or don't have the knowledge to do so, an easy, affordable and familiar way to get into PC gaming. I think they are smart enough to know hardcore PC gamers won't give this a second look. The simple fact is that most people no longer buy PCs or laptops capable of playing game. They look for cheap computers with few bells and whistles, and while it hasn't killed PC gaming, it has wounded it. I think they also want to encourage developers to develop and port games to Linux which is, and always will be, open. A console/PC hybrid could be the thing to accomplish that. Ultimately the goals don't matter if no one buys it. If this does fill a void and console gamers accept it and buy it, it could change the whole industry for the better. For me, the possible impact it could have makes it worth consideration. That said, I don't think many people will care about that, and even I won't buy it for that reason alone. It there aren't games that impress me, it doesn't matter. This thing has some major challeges ahead, but every new console does. That why for every Wii and Playstation there are 4 failures. No one ever expects a new console to do well until it does. If this gets out early this year and has Half Life 3 and some another next gen game from EA or Activision, as well as ports of Portal 2 and other Valve games, and if the graphics are obviously next gen and outshine current consoles, and if the controller is acceptable and familiar to console games, I'd say this has a shot. But those are a LOT of IFS.
This is a move for developers, by developers. Valve talks to people, and many developers are worried about the "walled garden" software distribution model that seems to be becoming the norm, especially independent developers. When you look at the top paid apps on the App Store or Google Play, they are almost always games. Games deserve their own channel of distribution, but it is too lucrative. A large chunk of the shared revenue Apple, Microsoft, and Google get comes from games.
Steam is trying to respond to what developers are asking for. EA and others have expressed intrest in Linux. If enough developers support the SteamBox early on, this thing might work out. With the original PlayStation, Sony offered something different and got enough developers behind them to be successful. I know console players often lament that they don't have access to game mods and console commands, so that is one area this device could exploit and draw in traditional console gamers. This would be a great device for hacking (and maybe even emulation).
Ultimately there are too many unknowns right now to draw a conclusion. Ultimately if this feels more like a console and less like a PC, Valve has a better chance at making this work. If you have to constantly upgrade the thing to keep playing the latest games, no one is going to put up with that. Valve will need to make sure that developers who sign to produce games agree to provide graphics modes and settings compatible with the device for several years after the launch. Better graphics from upgrades is a great option, and if you're willing to pay for upgrades, you should be rewarded. Requiring constant upgrades to play the latest and greatest games will kill this fast.
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