So consoles are a thing, most if not all of us here own one and enjoy gaming on it. PC gaming is also a popular pastime but is different from consoles insofar as a PC is usually not used on the living room/bedroom TV. HTPCs are not new and many people will already have one and now Valve are working on SteamOS and the SteamBox to bring PC gaming into the living room. There are already products that tread this ground since Steam "Big Picture" made it easy.
On top of all that, we have our cable boxes, satellite boxes, freeview/set top, smart boxes and so on. The living room TV has all sorts of peripherals for multitudes of different services but I am still thinking about one more that I'd love to know what you all think as a product. I am thinking about the possibility of making these to sell and would love to hear thoughts, particularly on whether or not it might be something of interest.
The main benefit a PC has over a console is its openness, its compatibility with many peripherals, ability to build and add any functionality and do almost anything without the restrictions of a proprietary "walled garden" approach. My thought is to make a "device" that will be in the living room, as a console is, and be capable of decent gaming and HTPC uses.
My thoughts are along these lines:
- Windows 8.1 with Windows Media Center
- Wi-Fi and RJ45 ready with support for HDMI, 7.1 audio, HD/4K video
- It would have to play Blu-Ray and DVD films (preferably region free)
- It would have Steam with Big Picture
- It would include wireless keyboard, mouse, remote control (for media) and a game controller
- It mustn't cost too much more, if anything, than a PS4/XBone
Out of the box, it should have multiple codecs pre-installed to support every video/audio format imaginable. In particular, it should make using Netflix, iPlayer, YT and other streaming services easy. As a gaming machine, it will be around the mid-range area, capable of playing everything albeit not necessarily with max settings. It could have many emulators ready to go (albeit with no ROMs).
The idea is a product that can game with Steam (via Big Picture and a controller, or with a wireless KB/Mouse), can enjoy many types of media via Media Centre, generous codec support and a remote control with the "plug and play" ease of use of a console (eg. power, HDMI, audio, done).
I'm thinking that something around an i5 with 8GB RAM, an ITX board, quiet PSU and discrete GFX card (and obviously an optical drive) might be doable for less than a current gen console. Windows 8.1 and the input peripherals will add to that and there needs to be a profit margin obviously, but I suspect it could be doable.
So how would something like that sound? A PC with all the media capabilities the platform has to offer, games via Steam and the ease of use of a console. Would it be of interest, or does it stand no chance against dedicated consoles, gaming PCs, set top boxes, tablets, laptops and the rest?
On top of all that, we have our cable boxes, satellite boxes, freeview/set top, smart boxes and so on. The living room TV has all sorts of peripherals for multitudes of different services but I am still thinking about one more that I'd love to know what you all think as a product. I am thinking about the possibility of making these to sell and would love to hear thoughts, particularly on whether or not it might be something of interest.
The main benefit a PC has over a console is its openness, its compatibility with many peripherals, ability to build and add any functionality and do almost anything without the restrictions of a proprietary "walled garden" approach. My thought is to make a "device" that will be in the living room, as a console is, and be capable of decent gaming and HTPC uses.
My thoughts are along these lines:
- Windows 8.1 with Windows Media Center
- Wi-Fi and RJ45 ready with support for HDMI, 7.1 audio, HD/4K video
- It would have to play Blu-Ray and DVD films (preferably region free)
- It would have Steam with Big Picture
- It would include wireless keyboard, mouse, remote control (for media) and a game controller
- It mustn't cost too much more, if anything, than a PS4/XBone
Out of the box, it should have multiple codecs pre-installed to support every video/audio format imaginable. In particular, it should make using Netflix, iPlayer, YT and other streaming services easy. As a gaming machine, it will be around the mid-range area, capable of playing everything albeit not necessarily with max settings. It could have many emulators ready to go (albeit with no ROMs).
The idea is a product that can game with Steam (via Big Picture and a controller, or with a wireless KB/Mouse), can enjoy many types of media via Media Centre, generous codec support and a remote control with the "plug and play" ease of use of a console (eg. power, HDMI, audio, done).
I'm thinking that something around an i5 with 8GB RAM, an ITX board, quiet PSU and discrete GFX card (and obviously an optical drive) might be doable for less than a current gen console. Windows 8.1 and the input peripherals will add to that and there needs to be a profit margin obviously, but I suspect it could be doable.
So how would something like that sound? A PC with all the media capabilities the platform has to offer, games via Steam and the ease of use of a console. Would it be of interest, or does it stand no chance against dedicated consoles, gaming PCs, set top boxes, tablets, laptops and the rest?