Forum Settings
       
Reply To Thread

Full Steam AheadFollow

#1 Mar 05 2015 at 5:19 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
I could stick this in =22 but everyone who posts there reads here anyway.

With the whatever-game-design-expo 2015 thingie going on, Valve has expanded its coming PC gaming hardware attractions.

Steam Controller - Getting good reviews it seems from everyone who picks one up. I'm not much of a controller user, more because I'm used to KB+M than any silly "gaming purity" thing but maybe the right controller will help me switch when it makes sense. As it stands, I have a terrible habit of muddling through games like the Batman franchise on the keyboard when they really need a controller to enjoy.

Steam Link - Anyone interested in this? $45 gizmo to hook up to your TV in-home network to essentially use your TV as a gaming monitor while your PC stays in its usual spot. I'm apparently not in the right demographic to care about this judging from the fact that I don't care about this.

Steam Machines - Hyped since... 2012 now? Still look overpriced and underpowered to me and still seems to be a solution in search of a problem. People into PC gaming already know how to hook a PC up to their TV (or can get the link thingie, I guess) and those who want a console experience aren't going to be impressed by the Linux catalog for the cost. Once you get past Shadow of Mordor and the latest Batman title, you're playing FTL and Revenge of the Titans on your 50" -- yay?

SteamVR - Again, this is probably a demographic thing. The idea of sitting around my living room with a silly VR set strapped to my face while my family lives life around me seems like a nonstarter. Plus I can't even see modern 3D movies correctly so I'm skeptical about any products attempting the same thing.

Anyone more jazzed up than I am or seeing something that'll go on their holiday shopping list?

Edited, Mar 5th 2015 5:36pm by Jophiel
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#2 Mar 05 2015 at 5:34 PM Rating: Excellent
Meat Popsicle
*****
13,666 posts
I wish they'd put less energy into trying to turn my PC into an Xbox and more energy into making their Workshop something useful and useable.
____________________________
That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
#3 Mar 05 2015 at 5:39 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
More money in hardware, I'd guess. Although I guess the argument of "they're different departments!" also applies and the people working on Workshop mod support aren't the same guys working on the Steam controller.

One interesting thing about the controller is that it supposedly (per the webpage) allows you to control even games designed around KB+M controls so you could play Civ 5 or Mount & Blade or Crusader Kings 2 or other keyboard heavy titles. Don't know how well that'll work but that seems to be the goal -- allowing the full range of PC gaming with a console-esque experience.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4 Mar 05 2015 at 5:46 PM Rating: Excellent
Meat Popsicle
*****
13,666 posts
Yeah, I can't blame them at all from a financial point of view; can't imagine there's really any monetary reason to put more effort than necessary into supporting game mods, and such.

Will be interesting to see how well that controller works. With so many buttons and controls on a keyboard/mouse, simplifying that down while not losing any important functionality would be quite a feat, especially with established games that weren't designed with a controller in mind. Or is this where the controller and keyboard crowds get randomly matched up in a multiplayer team thing somewhere and continuously complain about each other while losing badly?

Edited, Mar 5th 2015 3:48pm by someproteinguy
____________________________
That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
#5 Mar 05 2015 at 8:38 PM Rating: Excellent
Will swallow your soul
******
29,360 posts
Jophiel wrote:
More money in hardware, I'd guess. Although I guess the argument of "they're different departments!" also applies and the people working on Workshop mod support aren't the same guys working on the Steam controller.

One interesting thing about the controller is that it supposedly (per the webpage) allows you to control even games designed around KB+M controls so you could play Civ 5 or Mount & Blade or Crusader Kings 2 or other keyboard heavy titles. Don't know how well that'll work but that seems to be the goal -- allowing the full range of PC gaming with a console-esque experience.


That'd be cool. Among other things, it's really hard to find a left-hand gaming mouse that isn't a complete piece of crap. A controller is much more ambidextrous.
____________________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

#6 Mar 06 2015 at 4:58 AM Rating: Good
Soulless Internet Tiger
******
35,474 posts
I'm so used to using a normal mouse I think I'd run off every cliff available in game if I used a left handed mouse.
____________________________
Donate. One day it could be your family.


An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo

#7 Mar 06 2015 at 6:57 AM Rating: Decent
Lunatic
******
30,086 posts
Steam Machines - Hyped since... 2012 now? Still look overpriced and underpowered to me and still seems to be a solution in search of a problem. People into PC gaming already know how to hook a PC up to their TV

Particularly now that it's "Plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI hole."

The OS project is more interesting. Linux and OpenGL could be an ideal solution for a 'gaming OS', DirectX is a steaming ball of ****, and Microsoft has a platform to tap the gaming market already, it's not like they're an entrenched competitor. I think SteamOS/steambox is just about Valve just trying to guarantee there's a viable alternative if Microsoft decides to let PC gaming wither. I doubt they much care if they make a penny at it so long as their is an easy way for me to buy 425 games for $30 and play 4 of them.
____________________________
Disclaimer:

To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.

#8 Mar 06 2015 at 8:36 AM Rating: Good
*******
50,767 posts
someproteinguy wrote:
I wish they'd put less energy into trying to turn my PC into an Xbox and more energy into making their Workshop something useful and useable.
Which is fun, since they're going to the same lengths to turn your XBox into a PC as well.
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
#9 Mar 06 2015 at 10:07 AM Rating: Excellent
Will swallow your soul
******
29,360 posts
My computer IS my TV.
____________________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

#10 Mar 06 2015 at 10:59 AM Rating: Excellent
Meat Popsicle
*****
13,666 posts
lolgaxe wrote:
someproteinguy wrote:
I wish they'd put less energy into trying to turn my PC into an Xbox and more energy into making their Workshop something useful and useable.
Which is fun, since they're going to the same lengths to turn your XBox into a PC as well.
See this is why we teach kids to share. If they could just take turns with each-others product they wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of building a crappy knockoff. Smiley: oyvey
____________________________
That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
Reply To Thread

Colors Smileys Quote OriginalQuote Checked Help

 

Recent Visitors: 285 All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (285)