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I don’t need a Steam Machine

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Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#141

Post by lanfeust6 »

goda90 wrote: post #129

I built myself a new gaming desktop and set up my old one next to our TV, telling myself I'd get it all situated with controllers and my large library of split screen games. We have a Shield TV for most streaming, so the desktop is pretty much only used for two things: My wife watching Chinese shows on random websites and watching movies remotely with friends over SyncLounge[0]. So while the Steam Machine is intrigui…

If I purchase one it is effectively a console-killer for the big screen. The fact that the PS5 is now in the twilight phase is making me consider it. The era of exclusives is almost over as basically everything I want to play on PS5 is also available on PC.

At the same time I don't need a living room machine to be a full-fledged desktop. Nor is that desirable with kids.

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#142

Post by ekianjo »

constantcrying wrote: post #18

The Steam Machine is "just" a normal Linux PC, with good integration. The point is the target demographics. And, just like the Steam Deck, this is not something for power users. Most people on here know how to build a PC and install Linux with KDE on it, which is the same experience you would get with a Steam Machine. Valve is selling this to an audience of gamers, specifically those who want an easy gaming experienc…

> This is the same demographic which Sony and Microsoft are selling to.

Steam has nowhere near the same name recognition as Playstation or Xbox in the general public.

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#143

Post by lanfeust6 »

confident_inept wrote: post #6

I've been using a somewhat low-spec PC to play games and for general desktop usage. Finding stuff in this form factor, that you can guarantee will be well put together and worth the money is a rarity. Highly likely this could replace my desktop, as I don't need something much more powerful, just with more modern hardware. I don't do much AAA gaming and nearly game in my Steam library would run on this just fine. My r…

Ditto, I don't need to pull double duty for desktop plus gaming. One device for each works.

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#144

Post by udev4096 »

Aeolun wrote: post #2

All of this is true, but Valve is one of the best companies I know and for now, I’ll happily give them money. It’s not about the fact that I’m actually going to use it. It’s about the fact that I want people to keep making things like this. It’s about the fact I want to reward them for not locking it down completely.

Valve is still evil, just like any for-profit tech corps. They have made a fortune in csgo gambling boxes

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#146

Post by bdangubic »

udev4096 wrote: post #144
Aeolun wrote: post #2

All of this is true, but Valve is one of the best companies I know and for now, I’ll happily give them money. It’s not about the fact that I’m actually going to use it. It’s about the fact that I want people to keep making things like this. It’s about the fact I want to reward them for not locking it down completely.

Valve is still evil, just like any for-profit tech corps. They have made a fortune in csgo gambling boxes

there are tens if not hundreds of thousands of for-profit companies that are not “evil” - making money is not evil endeavor, you provide goods and services in exchange for money :)

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#147

Post by Yoric »

garretraziel wrote: post #65
Yoric wrote: post #57

Let me be that guy: we live in a time of collapse, for both the environment and international relationships – do we really need more gaming rigs?

OK, but do you expect Valve to do anything about first two problems you have mentioned? (OK, saying “our next console will be a bunch of refurbished PCs we have sourced from local junkyard” would be a flex)

No, I don't.

But the OP didn't discuss "Should Valve do something about the sorry state of the world", it discussed whether we individually should buy a Steam Machine.

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#148

Post by speed_spread »

Arch-TK wrote: post #110
mariopt wrote: post #12

Steam Machines can become an existencial crisis for PlayStation and Xbox. A “console” that I can use as a PC? I am in 100%. You’ll get the world biggest game library at a discount, this is why I sold my PlayStation after spending 200 euros and watching it becoming useless. I also suspect a lot of game devs will optimize for steam machine and finally we’ll get a console like experience on PC. Don’t let the “low specs”…

Valve isn't likely to make SteamOS the kind of platform that facilitates intrusive* anti-cheat** or which is locked down in a way to prevent cheating at the client side. This means that a number of competitive multiplayer games will never run on it. I think in this regard, consoles still have an advantage*** if you're into those kinds of games. * I don't care what the intention is, they are _objectively_ intrusive. *…

There is a real need for anti cheat / certified hardware. Valve is uniquely be positioned to address it because they have trust from the gaming community. Ideally a single anti cheat mechanism would be shared by all software vendors. Online games could request "console mode" involving hardware key exchange. Done right this wouldn't have to be invasive like current anti cheat.

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#149

Post by gausswho »

IggleSniggle wrote: post #118
CalRobert wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man, I got a free ps5 from my isp and was excited to have friends over for games. Come to find out that playing games with your friends apparently isn’t a thing anymore (I guess there’s fighting and racing games). What a lame-ass boring system.

This is why I've been all in on Steam for so long! The catalog is so huge, there's a massive number of fantastic couch multiplayer games. It is indeed a bit more fiddly... I've found that it's generally easier to connect my Steam Deck to the TV and play lower fidelity games than it is to fiddle with a Windows machine that needs to be prepped for friends popping in every other month. Although, Nintendo is still doing…

I used to rally friends over for couch gaming years ago. Think I'll try to put something together for Thanksgiving. Been a bit out of the loop - any recent PC couch games you recommend for normies? I think for my group, it'll lean casual / co-operative. Nintendo's always felt too kid-like for us.

The Trine series was a big hit for us way back.

Re: I don’t need a Steam Machine

#150

Post by constantcrying »

ekianjo wrote: post #142
constantcrying wrote: post #18

The Steam Machine is "just" a normal Linux PC, with good integration. The point is the target demographics. And, just like the Steam Deck, this is not something for power users. Most people on here know how to build a PC and install Linux with KDE on it, which is the same experience you would get with a Steam Machine. Valve is selling this to an audience of gamers, specifically those who want an easy gaming experienc…

> This is the same demographic which Sony and Microsoft are selling to. Steam has nowhere near the same name recognition as Playstation or Xbox in the general public.

Which means what exactly?

Inserting a random factoid does not make a sentence have a point.

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