The Gaming Lounge: Beyond - Part 5

[Fading]

I definitely give credit to Sony for their comeback on the PS3. I also give them full credit for their mistakes with it in the first 2 years.

I'm not trying to be down on it though. PS3 has been my favorite console gen thus far. In no small part thanks to some fantastic Playstation exclusives. I just hope they start next gen with the strength they got later in the current gen.

 

[Iceman]

360 is fully dead in Japan. I have a Japanese XBox and the UK population for trading in Japanese imports is probably the lowest for any console I've had. Sony is well placed to make a big push in Europe with the PS4. Same way the US is Microsoft's to lose due to that massive install base.

I've always been interested in technical specs of electronic devices and remember doing a school project on game console specs 20 years ago. t: Wish I could find it so I could bring it up to date.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

You have captured my pain.

All of us
I feel ya bro

 

[Iceman]

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/why-valves-steam-box-is-a-console-killer-1124160
Why Valve's Steam Box is a console killer

Anyone planning on getting a Steam Box?

 

[Havok83]

No I already have a pc

 

[Nathan]

No I already have a pc

This. Also, as long as there are exclusive titles like Uncharted, The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls for the next generation, I will have no choice other than to buy a PS4.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I'll get a new PC
Not this system

 

[Benstamania]

I'll get this system. Yes. However I think it's the PC killer... Not the console killer. Though it may be a console game changer.

Reason One: It'll probably be cheaper than building a new PC.

2: I believe PC's are a dying breed. They'll always be around sure... But with this... It's pointless almost to have a PC... I can browse the Web on anything now.

3: It will have killer exclusives... I can see Valve making HL3, Team Fortress and the next Portal maybe even L4D3 Steambox exclusives... And they'd be smart to do that. What better way to ensure people buy your stuff? If Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo can have their exclusives... Steambox should be able to have theirs.

 

[Havok83]

This will never kill PCs. This is a niche thing and created for gamers. PCs are for everyone. That market is too huge to penetrate especially since this will target only a small percentage of current PC users

 

[Benstamania]

Ok, it will put a dent in desktop PC gaming... Better? I could easily, easily see it damaging that market.. More so if they get exclusives like HL3, etc.

I'm no pc gaming hater, obviously... But I can see that happening. It's a game changer for both consoles and pc market.

Oh... I also just picked up Binary Domain based on what Soapy said about it.

Edit: I didn't mean to sound like a price here... Haha.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/why-valves-steam-box-is-a-console-killer-1124160
Why Valve's Steam Box is a console killer

Anyone planning on getting a Steam Box?

Yea im deff gonna look into that.

 

[Soapy]

The PC is definitely on the decline for average people mostly due to tablets and smart phones. I really don't think the Steam Box will cut into PCs though. At least not too deeply. Valve is looking to expand their market with this thing, not move their current one. Which means aiming at console users.

Oh... I also just picked up Binary Domain based on what Soapy said about it.

Fully prepared for, "Soapy is an idiot! He doesn't know what he's talking about! He's got **** taste and I can't believe I wasted my money on this!" :P

 

[Fading]

Honestly, I think the Steambox's biggest strengths are it's biggest weaknesses. Consoles, Ipads, handhelds, ect., are popular for their no hassle mentality. You buy one, and you're good to play all of the games for the entire gen. Steambox is open ended, and allows for upgrades. How long until the core system can no longer play certain releases, and requires an upgrade. At roughly $500 at launch, and requiring future upgrades, what's the difference inbetween it, and a pc at that point. It's fighting for a niche spot by asking for PC maintenance and pricing, to play PC exclusives, in a console market, without the name brand of a Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft.

Then there's the games. I love Half-Life, and it's various mods, but not enough to pick it over Sony, or Nintendo exclusives. Valve releases games far too slow to make it worth buying based on their exclusives alone. Third party support will no doubtfully still release their big titles on PC, consoles, and Mac as well. Not to mention I already have HL 2 on PC, and CS on my PC, and PS3. It makes it hard to buy a console for an upgraded experience I already have on two gaming machines.

So pretty much I have 0 intrest in the Steambox. As much as I've *****ed about the PS3's RAM, I think a console having universal specs is a good thing. Steam doesn't have enough powerhouse exclusives, or release them often enough. I doubt they'll steal any significant console, let alone PC games as exclusives. The only negative, IMO, from not having one is the possible loss of Steam, and it's deals, on PC.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

The PC is definitely on the decline for average people mostly due to tablets and smart phones. I really don't think the Steam Box will cut into PCs though. At least not too deeply. Valve is looking to expand their market with this thing, not move their current one. Which means aiming at console users.

I would assume people like me would be their primary audience. Iv been wanting to get into pc gaming for some time now, but the barriers for entry have been the huge ugly towers and the fact that i dont want a desktop setup. I wanna be able to easily hook my pc up to my tv.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I would assume people like me would be their primary audience. Iv been wanting to get into pc gaming for some time now, but the barriers for entry have been the huge ugly towers and the fact that i dont want a desktop setup. I wanna be able to easily hook my pc up to my tv.

You can. It's called an HDMI cable.

If you want your PC to be something for your living room, look into home-theater PC (HTPC) builds.

 

[Soapy]

Honestly, I think the Steambox's biggest strengths are it's biggest weaknesses. Consoles, Ipads, handhelds, ect., are popular for their no hassle mentality. [...] How long until the core system can no longer play certain releases, and requires an upgrade.

There are lots of games and other pieces of software that simply don't work on older generations of iOS devices.

I would also argue that a lot of the hassle and headaches associated with PC gaming (with none of the benefits) have encroached into the console space this generation. Patches, games launching broken, some games requiring a HDD while others don't, mandatory installs, optional texture packs, etc. Console gaming is no longer the simple "plug and play" thing it once was.

At roughly $500 at launch, and requiring future upgrades, what's the difference inbetween it, and a pc at that point.

A: We have no idea how much it will cost.

B: There is no difference between the Steam Box and a PC. The Steam Box IS a PC, just one that is designed exclusively for playing games on a television.

Valve releases games far too slow to make it worth buying based on their exclusives alone.

Valve has released ten games this generation and provided a ton of continuous support for at least a few of them.

Third party support will no doubtfully still release their big titles on PC, consoles, and Mac as well. Not to mention I already have HL 2 on PC, and CS on my PC, and PS3. It makes it hard to buy a console for an upgraded experience I already have on two gaming machines.

So pretty much I have 0 intrest in the Steambox. As much as I've *****ed about the PS3's RAM, I think a console having universal specs is a good thing. Steam doesn't have enough powerhouse exclusives, or release them often enough. I doubt they'll steal any significant console, let alone PC games as exclusives. The only negative, IMO, from not having one is the possible loss of Steam, and it's deals, on PC.

Once again, just for clarity; Steam Box is a PC.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

You can. It's called an HDMI cable.

If you want your PC to be something for your living room, look into home-theater PC (HTPC) builds.

No, my Mac (or a desktop PC I would get for gaming) isn't anywhere near my tv so that option is out of the question.

I think I rather just get the 'Steambox' that will already be built and small enough to move to any tv in my house

 

[Havok83]

Ok, it will put a dent in desktop PC gaming... Better? I could easily, easily see it damaging that market.. More so if they get exclusives like HL3, etc.

I'm no pc gaming hater, obviously... But I can see that happening. It's a game changer for both consoles and pc market.

Oh... I also just picked up Binary Domain based on what Soapy said about it.

Edit: I didn't mean to sound like a price here... Haha.

I dont think this is competing against PC gaming. It IS PC gaming. Its not like when MS went and released a new console which directly competed with Nintendo and Sony. There is no uniformed platform or PC entity for this thing to compete against The purpose of this is to make PC gaming more accessible. Especially since its Steam powered, Im sure whatever comes out on traditional PCs will come out on both

Valve has released ten games this generation and provided a ton of continuous support for at least a few of them.

10 over a 6-7 year period isnt a whole lot, especially when you consider the others do that number or more a year

 

[Soapy]

10 over a 6-7 year period isnt a whole lot, especially when you consider the others do that number or more a year

Not sure if serious.

 

[Benstamania]

The PC is definitely on the decline for average people mostly due to tablets and smart phones. I really don't think the Steam Box will cut into PCs though. At least not too deeply. Valve is looking to expand their market with this thing, not move their current one. Which means aiming at console users.



Fully prepared for, "Soapy is an idiot! He doesn't know what he's talking about! He's got **** taste and I can't believe I wasted my money on this!" :P

Hey now. I really liked the demo. Plus I think Silent Hill Downpour is the best Silent HIll since 2 & 3...So...I tend to like games that some people question.

Seriously, I have no idea why SHDP scored so low.

 

[zenith16]

If any thing this is being done to make sure what happens that Ubisoft pushed is made to happen. Remember last year E3 the pc won best showing. cause of watch dogs being shown on pc and number of other ips which was a hint to publishers/ console makers that next gen better be on par with pc or very close to it.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

No, my Mac (or a desktop PC I would get for gaming) isn't anywhere near my tv so that option is out of the question.

I think I rather just get the 'Steambox' that will already be built and small enough to move to any tv in my house

Macs don't count anyway. If you had a tower, you can move it.

 

[Nathan]

Depends on a tower. No way in hell would I be willing to move my tower around. That thing is gigantic. I can't just tuck it under an arm like the PS3 or 360. Or carry it in one hand like a Wii.

 

[Godzilla2000]

So...can anyone verify that the Kinect is some executives way of dreaming up methods to make gamers look ridiculous with all the flailing about?

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Macs don't count anyway. If you had a tower, you can move it.

Thats not feasible, unless the tower is really small. Thats why the Steambox is going to be the best option for someone wanting to use a pc for gaming.