Would you buy a Steam OS console for your living room?

Would you buy a Steam OS console?

  • Yes

    Votes: 33 22.3%

  • No

    Votes: 60 40.5%

  • Maybe

    Votes: 55 37.2%
  • Total voters
    148
Z

zamardii

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
3,106
Okay, I just read a small news bit about the new Steam OS and it made me wonder whether this will be the first real attempt to reinvigorate the PC/Gaming industry. I know the gaming industry does now need reinvigorating per-say, but this might be the first successful melding of our love of PC gaming with the convenience of living-room entertainment.

Personally for me, i am stuck in a awkward situation. I love gaming on the computer... the fluid controls of a KB+M, with the added benefits of better graphics for every title is great. However, there is nothing better at night than to be able to lay in bed with my fiance at night when I come home and play some games (she enjoys watching, but not playing). Not to mention that I have WAY more games for the PC than I do for the consoles that I actually want to play. The prices for Steam games are incredibly reasonable compared to consoles. With consoles, even used games that are months to years old can still be asking for unreasonably high prices. Having to go to brick and mortar stores and Ebay to find affordable used games... yuck. Even going through Xbox Live or the PSN, the games aren't always reasonable, although PS+ is a great deal. At the end of the day, PC games are cheaper if you can wait for the right time to buy. Like, I bought Just Cause 2 for $5 and have already over 90 hours invested into it. I've never invested so much time in a game.

Steam OS is going to be open-source which is fantastic, but to really deliver some really great titles there has to be some sort of organization in terms of developer APIs that allow controller use to make gaming easier in that way. Also, this could potentially open a whole other way for hackers to hack Steam and get a bunch of games for free. I think the idea of this is potentially amazing. PC-like graphics, affordable games, living room convenience.

If Valve came out with their own Steam OS console, I will gladly buy one. And no, I highly doubt it'll be called "Steambox." They don't want to be confused with Xbox, and I certainly wouldn't name my new console with "box" anywhere in the name.
 
Already have a full blown HTPC with the ability to put a high end GPU in it if I wanted to.

I have played on my tv before, many times, but I've never been immersed into a game as much as I am when I play it on my desktop.
 
You need yes/ no / maybe / build my own Steam OS box options IMO
 
I voted yes, but only based on the price and options for such a device.

If it's fully open and within' a reasonable price then I can see myself buying them for the "other" rooms in the house with TVs. That is assuming that can utilize "HTPC" duties as well. (Cable/OTA Tuner compatible, Netflix, Hulu+, Amazon, etc..)

If it's just strictly games, Netflix, Hulu+ and Amazon then I don't see myself buying it when I can just build my own.
 
No, given I haven't even bought a console for the current gen to play in front of my TV, I can't see me buying a Steambox to do the same given I already have a PC.

When I buy a new PC I might consider rigging up the old one to a TV... though probably not (I typically just give my old PC's away). If I really wanted to game on the TV on my PC, I'd probably just rig up my main rig to do it.
 
at what point does it cease to be PC gaming and become console gaming? In honesty I see it as a steam *console* albeit one you can build yourself.
 
illogitech said:
at what point does it cease to be PC gaming and become console gaming? In honesty I see it as a steam *console* albeit one you can build yourself.
Click to expand...

When you never exit/leave/unfocus the Steam interface/return to any other part of the underlying OS. From boot to usage to shutdown - everything you do is in Steam.
 
staknhalo said:
When you never exit/leave/unfocus the Steam interface/return to any other part of the underlying OS. From boot to usage to shutdown - everything you do is in Steam.
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are you saying this is what it will be or what it would have to be to stop being pc gaming? because i seriously doubt they will make it like that. i think you will be able to boot right into steam (basically big picture mode), but i think you will also be able to access the linux desktop just like you can on pc when you exit big picture mode.

to answer the guy's question, i would say it stops being pc gaming when you are unable to use kb+m when you want to, and when AAA games dont go on sale for 75% off less than a year after they come out. :)
 
ekuest said:
are you saying this is what it will be or what it would have to be to stop being pc gaming? because i seriously doubt they will make it like that. i think you will be able to boot right into steam (basically big picture mode), but i think you will also be able to access the linux desktop just like you can on pc when you exit big picture mode.

to answer the guy's question, i would say it stops being pc gaming when you are unable to use kb+m when you want to, and when AAA games dont go on sale for 75% off less than a year after they come out. :)
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I think they will do that on the SteamBox/console - to make it like a console - what they want it to be.

And they don't want to give the Average Joe access to the desktop/OS to screw the machine up somehow that they then have to support on a machine with their name on it/under their support.

For the tech inclined just DL the OS and install it on your own machine and roll your own out SteamBox. That is their answer.
 
staknhalo said:
You need yes/ no / maybe / build my own Steam OS box options IMO
Click to expand...

No, because that already exists. Obviously anybody who already wanted to, can just build a HTPC PC and install steam and/or a SteamOS. Those who can, will. But I am talking about more universally acceptable format, something that the average person doesn't have to build or modify...

As far as we know, Steam OS might not be universally install-able on just any hardware...
 
I'll be more inclined right away to use it if I can install it my main PC. The more I look at my own setup I find myself less likely to use the steamOS and or steambox.

I setup my HTPC to double up as a game machine as well. I use it to run the PC version of games that are on consoles (GTA, Sleeping Dogs, etc). As well as running emulators. I got all the running running pretty well in windows/windows media center.
 
I ran a hdmi through the wall and a usb plug and already play on the livingroom tv (only controller games though)
 
me wonder whether this will be the first real attempt to reinvigorate the PC/Gaming industry
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Ugh... Yes, the PC gaming industry needs to be reinvigorated:rolleyes: It's been dying since 1975.

Would I buy a Steam OS console? That depends. Are there any good games on it that I can't get elsewhere? I doubt the hardware is going to be better than my PC, so if I have to choose between my PC and a Steam console, no. But if they have exclusives I can't get elsewhere, then maybe. That depends if I like the exclusives.

Now, will such a console make it so that Valve cares less about the PC market? That's what I'm more concerned about. Sorry, I don't view Gabe Newell as divine, nor do I view Valve as the savior of PC games. The good that I can see is maybe other people will wake up and realize that there is competition to Steam.
 
I'm curious to see what is needed for the streaming, I have a pair of net-tops currently collecting dust that I'd be interesting in seeing if they will be able to stream the games from my desktop.
 
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I've been using Ubuntu to play with Steam on Linux and since I don't really use Linux for anything else I'll probably at least download Valve's distro (SteamOS) and install it to play with it but I wouldn't buy any dedicated hardware since I already have a gaming PC.
 
Let's take a PC, install Linux, remove all the PC aspects...such as multitasking, the ability to search and install mods via a proper interface, web browsing that isn't a chore, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. and sell it as a glorified console.

I voted no. Wish I could vote no more.
 
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John Stamos said:
Let's take a PC, install Linux, remove all the PC aspects...such as multitasking, the ability to search and install mods via a proper interface, web browsing that isn't a chose, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. and sell it as a glorified console.

I voted no. Wish I could vote no more.
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Embarrassing.
 
No.

Pre-NV Surround? Probably not.
Post-NV Surround? Hell no.

Games that don't run 5760x1080 disappoint me now. :D
Yes I don't have GPU horsepower (yet) to run everything @ that res with all bells, whistles, effects, dials etc. Hopefully I will within the next 6 months, but even so....5760x1080 is arguably the most incredible gaming experience I've had since the first time I played Super Mario 64.
Anything that doesn't support that (surely the Steambox won't, because that's not what it's meant to do anyway) - not interested.
 
Nope. My reason is a bit different than most though: I don't have a living room. Or rather my "living room" is also my bedroom, dining room, computer room, game room, movie room, etc. If I had a three bedroom apartment or a house I could see myself looking into something like a SteamBox, especially with the Steam OS's ability to stream games from a desktop.
 
The streaming games idea is the most intriguing part to me. Instead of having to blow money on building another gaming rig up to par with my main rig, I can just get an inexpensive living room Steambox that can game at the same quality as my main? If this actually works I'm definitely in for one.
 
I voted maybe. It would ultimately depend on how good of a value the console would be over something I could build myself.

It might be a moot point anyways as I don't game nearly as much as I used to.
 
John Stamos said:
So taking a perfectly working OS like Linux and watering it down with a re-skin of some Steam interface is not something to laugh at?
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I assumed you meant multitaksing at the OS level with the way your worded it (like not being able to have a download go on or music play while you are gaming) - not multitaksing within a desktop environment (like having a text editor and a command line window open at the same time). If you are talking about the desktop environment, then I apologize, retract my statement, and agree that I do not believe you will be able to do things like that. If you meant at the OS level, still not taking you seriously then :p

I still think though even being locked out of a desktop environment and the sort - this OS still serves a purpose. It's literally just Valve letting you run their 'console' OS on whatever hardware you choose - i.e. it would be like Microsoft giving you the Xbox OS and letting you install it on whatever and not have to buy their Xbox hardware if you happen to have something already capable/an alternative in mind. This will allow them to say we have 'x' many install base - instead of only counting those who buy actual Steam Boxes. It could also allow them to test out the actual SteamOS in the wild on newer/different hardware without having to first invest in new/different Steam Boxes themselves and seeing how the updates/newer ones would go after being pushed into retail. Instead everyone running the regular Steam client is beta testing the SteamOS for them, SteamOS users are beta testing the Steam Boxes for them. Steam Boxes are the final product.

But only Steam Box/SteamOS users will count towards the install base of SteamOS - if you just run steam on whatever OS of you're choosing you are simply a 'regular' Steam user. Or maybe they'll include regular Steam users too. I could see them doing either or. But this is the general idea of how I see it playing out.
 
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staknhalo said:
I assumed you meant multitaksing at the OS level with the way your worded it (like not being able to have a download go on or music play while you are gaming) - not multitaksing within a desktop environment (like having a text editor and a command line window open at the same time). If you are talking about the desktop environment, then I apologize, retract my statement, and agree that I do not believe you will be able to do things like that. If you meant at the OS level, still not taking you seriously then :p

I still think though even being locked out of a desktop environment and the sort - this OS still serves a purpose. It's literally just Valve letting you run their 'console' OS on whatever hardware you choose - i.e. it would be like Microsoft giving you the Xbox OS and letting you install it on whatever and not have to buy their Xbox hardware if you happen to have something already capable/an alternative in mind. This will allow them to say we have 'x' many install base - instead of only counting those who buy actual Steam Boxes.
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Correct, I worded it improperly I suppose. The desktop is just too useful for me to get rid of. Even though I use Windows 8, it's the reason I dislike the Metro interface because you lose all accessibility to other things since you're bound to some full screen of colors when using "apps". Which is why when I hear Linux, but then hear full Steam interface, it makes me wonder how much of the Linux code will be rewritten and what core OS features will be lost. Will I have no web browsing with the ability to download (and use) .exe files, .zip files, etc.?

Game modding is almost a necessity for some people these days, and when you throw a game like Skyrim on this Steam Box, will we be able to get access to mods on this console-esque OS since it's strictly for gaming and gaming only? I realize Steam has their Workshop which I'm sure they will tie in somehow....but how will we be able to edit .ini files or config files?

Gabe is trying so hard to bring down Windows with his little arguments that he's completely forgetting the core reason his company started in the first place. A PC running Windows. Furthermore, he's now turning this Steam Box into a straight up console. How is this revolutionizing the PC gaming world when you're making another Xbox/Playstation?

All speculation of course!
 
John Stamos said:
Correct, I worded it improperly I suppose. The desktop is just too useful for me to get rid of. Even though I use Windows 8, it's the reason I dislike the Metro interface because you lose all accessibility to other things since you're bound to some full screen of colors when using "apps".

Which is why when I hear Linux, but then hear full Steam interface, it makes me wonder how much of the Linux code will be rewritten and what core OS features will be lost. Will I have no web browsing with the ability to download (and use) .exe files, .zip files, etc.?

Game modding is almost a necessity for some people these days, and when you throw a game like Skyrim on this Steam Box, will we be able to get access to mods that we couldn't get on a restricted OS? I realize Steam has their Workshop which I'm sure they will tie in somehow....but how will we be able to edit .ini files or config files?

Gabe is trying so hard to bring down Windows with his little arguments that he's completely forgetting the core reason his company started in the first place. A PC running Windows. Furthermore, he's now turning this Steam Box into a straight up console. How is this revolutionizing the PC gaming world when you're making another Xbox/Playstation?
Click to expand...

Windows 8/Metro is a good way to picture what I envision - just imagine there's no desktop tile to select. So no desktop.

Steam has the Steam Workshop - so you can download mods/mod files from there through the same type of browser/similar Steam Workshop interface we currently have with Steam Big Screen mode. And they will auto install once downloaded. Nothing will be done by you except for hitting a download button. The same could be done for music and video files seeing as they said they plan to have those as Media Center features - any file supported OOB by the OS like just say .mp3 and .flac would be able to be downloaded through the Big Screen browser and because the OS recognizes those file types - auto puts them in the music directory that the music app/function is monitoring. The same for video files. Application files or file types not supported OOB would either not download and be blocked or download to a USB drive only or something for you to later take to a computer elsewhere to use - but would not execute/run on the Steam OS machine itself.

I don't think they will support low level modding like ini files - it will only be stuff through the workshop. They could add a text editor to the Big Screen interface like we have a browser and friends chat in there now to allow you to edit ini files - but I doubt that. Anything you can't just get/do from the workshop will have to be done on your non-SteamOS machine I believe.

Gabe isn't abandoning the PC at all - just offering another option/shape/form to Steam. It's an addition to the family, not a replacement. Just like you can use either classic desktop or Big Screen mode Steam. They aren't forcing you into one or the other - but there are some things you can only do via the classic Steam interface that you can't do via Big Screen - so depending on what you want/need to do depends on what form of Steam you are going to use.
 
Running on Windows will still be better. More stuff to do than those few games on Steam OS aka Linux.
 
seanclayton said:
Running on Windows will still be better. More stuff to do than those few games on Steam OS aka Linux.
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That is what the game streaming option is for. So you can play those games on Linux without needing them to be installed/installable on Linux. I assume this will be a SteamOS only feature - as Valve will take the approach of if you're rolling your own regular computer with just plain Steam installed - install capable hardware/software to fit your own needs. Plus it adds a selling point to the SteamBox - instead of just basically being a preconfigured Linux computer with Steam installed.

But if you want things like a desktop or access to the OS - then I'm assuming you have to just install regular Steam on whatever computer you are using and use Big Picture mode to emulate the SteamOS apps and experience.
 
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zero2dash said:
No.

Pre-NV Surround? Probably not.
Post-NV Surround? Hell no.

Games that don't run 5760x1080 disappoint me now. :D
Yes I don't have GPU horsepower (yet) to run everything @ that res with all bells, whistles, effects, dials etc. Hopefully I will within the next 6 months, but even so....5760x1080 is arguably the most incredible gaming experience I've had since the first time I played Super Mario 64.
Anything that doesn't support that (surely the Steambox won't, because that's not what it's meant to do anyway) - not interested.
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Get a projector and a 100" screen. :cool:
 
From the hardware standpoint I'm not seeing a market for it. If you build your own box for the living room you will likely want it to also be a media center.

Now if they worked with the XBMC crowd and made an easy switch between the two or somehow combined the experience I'd be game.

(control steam with any media remote or control XBMC with a controller)

Mind you there are ways to do this now but it is annoying as hell. I just launch my steam library from XBMC using advance launcher and Aeon Nox.

The streaming box on the other hand might hold significant value if it "just works".
 
For sure I'll give it a try, and if the game support improves, I'd switch my main (read: most powerful) PC from Windows to SteamOS. And if this new OS allows installations to be as easy and intuitive as a normal games console install, I would definitely look into building/purchasing hardware for my son too.

Wouldn't mean I'd outright abandon a traditional PC (I'd still need one for office work, decent web browsing, etc).

Also agree with the others opinions that Valve should get the XBMC guys onboard. Bringing XBMC to the masses would be a good thing.
 
I'd rather just use a wireless keyboard and mouse and hook my desktop up to my TV. My desktop is already in my living room. It's not a big change.
 
if its a good price and I dont have to rely on my PC to play the games i said maybe
 
SeymourGore said:
For sure I'll give it a try, and if the game support improves, I'd switch my main (read: most powerful) PC from Windows to SteamOS. And if this new OS allows installations to be as easy and intuitive as a normal games console install, I would definitely look into building/purchasing hardware for my son too.

Wouldn't mean I'd outright abandon a traditional PC (I'd still need one for office work, decent web browsing, etc).

Also agree with the others opinions that Valve should get the XBMC guys onboard. Bringing XBMC to the masses would be a good thing.
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i dont think you'll want to do this, as most games are still PC-only. you will only be able to play linux games if you install steamOS on your main rig. i plan on keeping windows on my gaming pc, but installing steamOS on my htpc and just streaming to it.

EDIT: oh, didnt see you said "if game support improves". but yeah, thousands of titles on pc and only a few hundred on linux. i dont think youll ever be able to ditch the pc completely, but only having to buy windows for one computer each gen instead of 2 (or 3 for me, as i might move my laptop over too) will save some money.
 
I have a roku, so with a steam console it should support netflix + I get access to most of my steam library. a bit of a no-brainer for me
 
jwcalla said:
Get a projector and a 100" screen. :cool:
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I've played fighters and shooters on projectors using the wall. Neat....not as neat as NV Surround though. ;)

Surround is a game-changer man.
Projectors are neat, but the only benefit is that you're dealing with a larger screen. Again - neat. Your FOV is still limited to 1 display. When you add screens on the sides of that FOV, it is exponentially better.

JMHO :)
 
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