Steam Big Picture released

[ToastiestZombie]

My PC has been hooked up to a TV for years and I played games with a 360 controller regularly. I don't get it :/

It's a new UI for the steam store and the steam games list and such that works with controllers. It has nothing to do with games, or letting your PC get hooked up to a TV. It simply lets Steam work with controllers for people like you.

Well then I suppose it's kind of neat.

Yeah, it's just an extra service that really doesn't do any sensible person any harm. I probably won't use it, but it's always nice to have it there.

The way I currently have things set up won't likely lead to me making use of it anytime soon. Could come in handy down the road though.

And may I ask, how do you have it setup? Before now the only way to use Steam on a TV was by using the mouse and keyboard, which must be pretty hard on a sofa. But still, it's good that it's there, and like I said there's no reason to get mad at anyone.

They make wireless mini mouse/keyboard combo devices that are about the same size as a controller, you would still want a controller for gaming, but a mini mouse/keyboard is going to be a lot better for navigation then a trying crap like a 'first person browser' and typing with a controller.

This is the sort of stuff I talked about in another one of my posts here. You don't have to use it, it looks to be a pretty good service for people who don't want to have to use two devices for navigation. It's an entirely optional thing, like it said in the trailer if you want to use a keyboard and mouse that's fine. This UI has been designed for people who don't, so clearly not you.

Yeah I get that I was just commenting on this sentence:

Before now the only way to use Steam on a TV was by using the mouse and keyboard, which must be pretty hard on a sofa.

Its a good option to have but its still going to be much easier to just have a mini mouse/keyboard not harder.

Well, to many people having to swap to two different things to play games (K+M for browsing, controller for gaming) is just awkward. And you have to worry about two things, and have a place to put them instead of just putting in a controller and playing. But yeah, browsing and typing with controllers have always been crap. But, it looks like this thing's made it a little better than the terrible Xbox or PS3 typing system, and browsing looks alright.

 

[ChildishLegacy]

Valve has released their "Big Picture" mode for Steam, designed for viewing on a TV screen.

One of the main features is how it's been designed for being operated with a controller, instead of a keyboard and mouse which can get a little cumbersome when you're sitting in a sofa.
So, what do you think? Personally, I hope this will get developers more keen to release their games to PC. And if they do, I see no need for a console anymore.

So they have released a function that's built into a computer already?

Congratulations Valve, you have once again made an advancement that everyone else made 7 years ago.

Making a different UI to support a different control scheme isn't an advancement, they've done this to make it so you can have steam have that 'media center' feel that the xbox/ps3 has at the moment.

 

[Dangit2019]

Valve has released their "Big Picture" mode for Steam, designed for viewing on a TV screen.

One of the main features is how it's been designed for being operated with a controller, instead of a keyboard and mouse which can get a little cumbersome when you're sitting in a sofa.
So, what do you think? Personally, I hope this will get developers more keen to release their games to PC. And if they do, I see no need for a console anymore.

So they have released a function that's built into a computer already?

Congratulations Valve, you have once again made an advancement that everyone else made 7 years ago.

Making a different UI to support a different control scheme isn't an advancement, they've done this to make it so you can have steam have that 'media center' feel that the xbox/ps3 has at the moment.

NOPE. All signs of customer convenience are just signs that professional game developers are stooopid.

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

So, what do you think? Personally, I hope this will get developers more keen to release their games to PC. And if they do, I see no need for a console anymore.

There hasn't been a need for a console in years. Exclusives are the only reason to get one these days.

And before anyone jumps in with "but I don't know how to use/build/jump on a PC" then I have this to say: "Learn, it's not hard".

Well what about those people that say "Oh but I'm poor", I guess they should just learn how to conjure money from the ether. Amirite?

 

[distortedreality]

So, what do you think? Personally, I hope this will get developers more keen to release their games to PC. And if they do, I see no need for a console anymore.

There hasn't been a need for a console in years. Exclusives are the only reason to get one these days.

And before anyone jumps in with "but I don't know how to use/build/jump on a PC" then I have this to say: "Learn, it's not hard".

Well what about those people that say "Oh but I'm poor", I guess they should just learn how to conjure money from the ether. Amirite?

Pretty sure they should be worrying about survival more than gaming, but that's just me I guess.

OT - cool feature, not something i'll use any time soon though. I've got a wireless kb/m combo if i'm away from my computer and need to do stuff, so is kinda redundant for me.

 

[sanquin]

What a great feature! ...That is, if I actually had games I could play that way on my steam account. >_>

 

[Smooth Operator]

It's just a new controller interface for Steam guys, no need to flip out here.

I do wonder if that "Steam box" thing is still in the works because I predict not many people who don't already have a PC+TV setup will do it now.