Valve's plan

[TomWiley]

Valve's philosophy is exactly the reason I WILL buy a Steam Box. I bet there are a LOT of people out there like me who are tired of the over hyped dude-bro atmosphere of the current console options.

Valve, making a console but not forcing it on me? Yep, they've got my money.

Wait what? Are we really doing this? Are we really forgetting Valve's long history of aggressively forcing their Steam on absolutely everyone?

Hell, it was only a few years ago that the entire Internet was up in arms about Half Life 2 being DRM-locked to Steam. Now we're practically praising them for doing exactly what we like to hate Sony or Microsoft (or at least Microsoft...) for doing?

This is just insane!

 

[Billy D Williams]

Looking into this new Steam Machine & Valve's other announcements I've come to the following conclusions:
1) If you already own a gaming PC there's no reason to buy it.
2) Valve does not intend to make exclusive titles for the Steam Machine so there's no reason to buy it.
3) When it comes out most people will already have a WiiU/Xbox1/PS4 or some combination of the 3 so there wont be any reason to buy it.

Am I wrong?

1. It is not intended for people who already own PCs its for people who play on consoles who would want to play on PC but don't have to know how or time.
2. There may not be exclusives but games are cheaper on Steam. Cheaper games means consumers can buy more games. I'd rather be able to chose 10 games from a selection of 50 awesome titles than 5 from a selection of 100 titles.
3. You can own more than one system and do you seriously think that next gen consoles are going to be sold that fast? Pro-tip: they won't.

Are you wrong? Yes.

 

[Requia]

Looking into this new Steam Machine & Valve's other announcements I've come to the following conclusions:
1) If you already own a gaming PC there's no reason to buy it.
2) Valve does not intend to make exclusive titles for the Steam Machine so there's no reason to buy it.
3) When it comes out most people will already have a WiiU/Xbox1/PS4 or some combination of the 3 so there wont be any reason to buy it.

Am I wrong?

1) Actually a strength, because SteamOS will be cross compatible with PCs they'll be able to attract a userbase for the low price of a controller. This drives content creation which makes the box more valuable for non PC gamers.

2) There are already exclusives. Go to Steam search for games available on Linux, with the exception of a few that won't be playable without a keyboard (X3 comes to mind), all of those will be on the Steambox. Now count how many aren't on console. Next count how many have modding communities and add those as potential 'free DLC' exclusives (no word on if SteamOS will have mods, but Valve is very pro-mod, and it would actually be more work *not* to support mods given the model). You might be able to add in a few Linux capable games that aren't available on Steam as well (full version of Minecraft, and all its mods, comes to mind).

3 legit concern, but worth noting that the business model doesn't require it to succeed this generation.

 

[Elberik]

I wasn't aware there were small boxes capable of streaming gameplay from my behemoth PC to my TV.

ever heard of extension cables?

That's like saying "This 'automobile' isn't useful because a good fast horse does the same thing." You and I don't really know what a Steam Machine is directly capable of until we try it. It might blow other devices out of the water. it might not.

show me this horse that can match the speed of a car. Also, we know what the Steam Machine is capable of because Valve has told us.

It WILL, however, support an entirely moddable controller, moddable chassis and innards, and moddable software, so this is all very fascinating to my inner modder.

I am admittedly excited about the controller. But then I can just connect it to my already existing PC.

 

[lacktheknack]

I wasn't aware there were small boxes capable of streaming gameplay from my behemoth PC to my TV.

ever heard of extension cables?

The ledge around my TV is about three inches thick. I need something small. And while there's an internet jack and outlet in the TV alcove, there's no way I'm leaving a series of HDMI cables draped across my living room.

That's like saying "This 'automobile' isn't useful because a good fast horse does the same thing." You and I don't really know what a Steam Machine is directly capable of until we try it. It might blow other devices out of the water. it might not.

show me this horse that can match the speed of a car. Also, we know what the Steam Machine is capable of because Valve has told us.

The Steam Machine was the car in this simile. -____-

Also, they haven't actually told us very much. From the information we have, it's impossible to tell what modifications they've made to UI, boot process, Steam integration, multimedia integration, etc. You can't judge a piece of hardware OR software without actually using it first.

It WILL, however, support an entirely moddable controller, moddable chassis and innards, and moddable software, so this is all very fascinating to my inner modder.

I am admittedly excited about the controller. But then I can just connect it to my already existing PC.

You can do that with an Xbox controller as well. IS THIS PROOF THAT THE XBOX IS REDUNDANT AND UNNECESSARY IN TODAY'S MARKET!? PROBABLY!

 

[Elberik]

Valve's philosophy is exactly the reason I WILL buy a Steam Box. I bet there are a LOT of people out there like me who are tired of the over hyped dude-bro atmosphere of the current console options.

Valve, making a console but not forcing it on me? Yep, they've got my money.

Wait what? Are we really doing this? Are we really forgetting Valve's long history of aggressively forcing their Steam on absolutely everyone?

Hell, it was only a few years ago that the entire Internet was up in arms about Half Life 2 being DRM-locked to Steam. Now we're practically praising them for doing exactly what we like to hate Sony or Microsoft (or at least Microsoft...) for doing?

This is just insane!

We praise them because they offer games cheaply. Right now Valve has their hands firmly around our throats but they haven't started to squeeze yet so the majority are not complaining.

 

[Elberik]

It WILL, however, support an entirely moddable controller, moddable chassis and innards, and moddable software, so this is all very fascinating to my inner modder.

I am admittedly excited about the controller. But then I can just connect it to my already existing PC.

You can do that with an Xbox controller as well. IS THIS PROOF THAT THE XBOX IS REDUNDANT AND UNNECESSARY IN TODAY'S MARKET!? PROBABLY!

I have a gaming PC and I have one of my Xbox controllers hooked up to it. As to the Xbox being redundant: I'm going to ignore that burst of stupidity. My point is, and has always been: The Steam Machine is not filling some void. All it is is a base gaming PC of interest only to enthusiasts. As it stands, the average consumer has no use for it.

 

[Requia]

As it stands, the average consumer has no use for it.

No gamers both want mods and don't want to shell out for a gaming PC?

 

[lacktheknack]

It WILL, however, support an entirely moddable controller, moddable chassis and innards, and moddable software, so this is all very fascinating to my inner modder.

I am admittedly excited about the controller. But then I can just connect it to my already existing PC.

You can do that with an Xbox controller as well. IS THIS PROOF THAT THE XBOX IS REDUNDANT AND UNNECESSARY IN TODAY'S MARKET!? PROBABLY!

I have a gaming PC and I have one of my Xbox controllers hooked up to it. As to the Xbox being redundant: I'm going to ignore that burst of stupidity. My point is, and has always been: The Steam Machine is not filling some void. All it is is a base gaming PC of interest only to enthusiasts. As it stands, the average consumer has no use for it.

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P. ;___;

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

 

[WhyWasThat]

They'll probably make Half Life 3 and their other titles exclusive to Steam and the Steambox. Which means I'll have no choice but to buy the damn thing...

 

[Saelune]

1) Its for a console like experience. If you are anti-console to begin with, its not for you anyways.
2) Exclusives are bad. I don't want exclusives. I want my Steam library.
3)^^^

But as Ive said before, not buying a new Steam library, so if I cant play every game Steam already sells, then Im not getting it.

 

[Bertylicious]

I agree with you and there doesn't seem any point in you or I buying it but I do think the Steambox has value as a kind of FisherPrice My First PC for non-PC gamers.

 

[Elberik]

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P.

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

The potential of the Steam Machine is intriguing. Right out the gate I see little to nothing that makes it any better than what already exists. I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP. Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

 

[DoPo]

I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP.

Right, so when people tell you they'll get one despite having a PC and that they either aren't bothered with exclusives or that Steam games would serve as the "exclusives" and that your third point is nonsensical, when you dismiss them it's NOT ignoring what they tell you but because...oh right, it's just ignoring what they tell you.

Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

So most of your argument is "It's Valve fanboys, so I'll ignore them". Sweet - can we close the thread now? Seems there is no point in continuing if your sole purpose is to go nowhere with it.

 

[lacktheknack]

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P.

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

The potential of the Steam Machine is intriguing. Right out the gate I see little to nothing that makes it any better than what already exists. I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP. Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

OK, then. What does MY post boil down to?

Analyze carefully.

 

[Elberik]

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P.

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

The potential of the Steam Machine is intriguing. Right out the gate I see little to nothing that makes it any better than what already exists. I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP. Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

OK, then. What does MY post boil down to?

Analyze carefully.

You believe in Valve and think that I am wrong because I don't believe in Valve.

 

[Elberik]

I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP.

Right, so when people tell you they'll get one despite having a PC and that they either aren't bothered with exclusives or that Steam games would serve as the "exclusives" and that your third point is nonsensical, when you dismiss them it's NOT ignoring what they tell you but because...oh right, it's just ignoring what they tell you.

Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

So most of your argument is "It's Valve fanboys, so I'll ignore them". Sweet - can we close the thread now? Seems there is no point in continuing if your sole purpose is to go nowhere with it.

Not ignore, just that they are not valid arguments. "but I really like this" is not argument against the OP. Thus far people was disagreed with me, but no one has proven me wrong. No one has explained what supposedly makes the Steam Machine better than already-existing PCs or consoles besides "it's from Valve."

 

[lacktheknack]

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P.

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

The potential of the Steam Machine is intriguing. Right out the gate I see little to nothing that makes it any better than what already exists. I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP. Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

OK, then. What does MY post boil down to?

Analyze carefully.

You believe in Valve and think that I am wrong because I don't believe in Valve.

That's not what I said AT ALL.

Go re-read the post and show me where I said "It's good because Valve did it". Maybe you'll notice that I've not even SAID the word "Valve".

SHOW ME.

This is a Chewbacca defense at its finest worst.

 

[Elberik]

I'm considering buying one because it looks like a really cool hack-box.

I'm considering buying one because I hate Microsoft increasingly and welcome the Linux revolution with open arms.

I'm considering buying one because it has more options than a console.

I'm considering buying one because it might show us all how to do streaming right.

I'm considering buying one because Linux is easier to code for than Windows, meaning I might actually learn how to program games.

I'm considering buying one because I already have a huge library for it.

Most importantly, though, I'm considering buying one to spite quite a few people.

Also, my friend's considering getting one because he's intimidated by PCs, so this is a good compromise for his interests.

This? Seems to prove my point that the Steam Machine is of interest only to Valve enthusiasts. I'd like to hear from your friend, though.

 

[DoPo]

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P.

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

The potential of the Steam Machine is intriguing. Right out the gate I see little to nothing that makes it any better than what already exists. I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP. Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

OK, then. What does MY post boil down to?

Analyze carefully.

You believe in Valve and think that I am wrong because I don't believe in Valve.

The funny sad thing is, I was about to make a joke that went along the same lines as that comment.

This? Seems to prove my point that the Steam Machine is of interest only to Valve enthusiasts. I'd like to hear from your friend, though.

Are you...serious? Seriously - are you serious? Let me analyze it for you and you can explain to me how you make any goddamn sense:

I'm considering buying one because it looks like a really cool hack-box.

It means that it's moddable. Not "It has the spirit of Valve powering it" or anything like it - it's a thing you can modify and play with. Like Raspberry Pi - which somehow has popularity despite not being affiliated with Valve (it must boggle your mind, I know).

I'm considering buying one because I hate Microsoft increasingly and welcome the Linux revolution with open arms.

This says "I like Linux". It's not "I hail my lord and master Gabe Newell". It seems that you've mistakenly assumed Gabe was the one who created Linux - now, it's true, he made, like, 99.99999999999% of it and it wouldn't exist without Lord GabeN's glorious presence but...wait, I got that the other way - no, GabeN has no affiliation with Linux other than pushing it as more of an alternative to Windows. Still - liking Linux =/= being a Valve fan.

I'm considering buying one because it has more options than a console.

You know what - I like options, too. That's part of the reason I don't use Chrome - I can't tinker with it enough straight out of the box (compared to Firefox), at least I couldn't before. It's perfectly viable to like something because it offers more customization than something else. For some reason "Valve shines through it" is not the same thing as "I like options".

I'm considering buying one because it might show us all how to do streaming right.

How in Hastur's name is that sentence in any way tied tightly with Valve is beyond me.

I'm considering buying one because Linux is easier to code for than Windows, meaning I might actually learn how to program games.

A variation of "I like Linux" that also omits the "I pray to the Valve gods every day" undertones.

I'm considering buying one because I already have a huge library for it.

Finally - something tied with Valve. The guy has a Steam library - duh, if he buys a console, he wouldn't have any games immediately available to play on it. It's actually not about making sacrifices to the Valve altar under the stairs, however - it's just a reason to get this as opposed to something else.

Most importantly, though, I'm considering buying one to spite quite a few people.

OK, this translates to "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh GabeN Valve wgah'nagl fhtagn"

Also, my friend's considering getting one because he's intimidated by PCs, so this is a good compromise for his interests.

Translation: "Ia! Ia! GabeN Fhtagn!"