Video Games...Discuss Them

[Stay Puft]

There's also a new gaming handheld by NVIDIA. 2013 is off to a weird start.

[bac0n]

how much graphic horsepower does the SteamBox have? /tooLazytoLookupForMyself

[D_Davis]

how much graphic horsepower does the SteamBox have? /tooLazytoLookupForMyself

1 Brazillion.

[Lasse]

I'm not really interested in the specs, but have they shown any games - or game footage - yet?

[Lasse]

Also, it's a darn shame they didn't give the machine more than 14 USB ports.

[Neclord]

So what, I have to throw my FireWire cable in the garbage? Valve may as well be giving enthusiasts the middle finger.

[Dukefrukem]

So what, I have to throw my FireWire cable in the garbage? Valve may as well be giving enthusiasts the middle finger.

:lol:

[EyesWideOpen]

Valve has already said that's not the Steambox.

[Dukefrukem]

Valve has already said that's not the Steambox.

Not but it's the prototype shell they want to build off of.

[Dukefrukem]

Oh and Crysis 3 not coming to Wii U. Not that anyone cares.

[EyesWideOpen]

Oh and Crysis 3 not coming to Wii U. Not that anyone cares about Crysis 3.

fixed

[Dukefrukem]

More stuff on Steam box Prototype.

[Ezee E]

so it's the Gamecube on Acid?

[number8]

I'm not really interested in the specs, but have they shown any games - or game footage - yet?

I thought it's just gonna be all the games on their store?

http://store.steampowered.com/

[Lasse]

I thought it's just gonna be all the games on their store?

http://store.steampowered.com/

That's what I figured. So it's basically a gaming PC?

[megladon8]

"X-COM: Enemy Unknown" is so damn good.

[Ezee E]

"X-COM: Enemy Unknown" is so damn good.

Yeah. It is. However, my main troops recently died, and I'm afraid what's going to transpire now.

[SirNewt]

I don't get it. I mean I'm eager for a good solution for having my PC games on my TV (that consists of having them near each other and a long hdmi cable ATM) but this isn't it.

I imagine the thing will be more powerful than a Mac mini but less so than a custom shuttle/media pc. So why wouldn't I just use a console at that point?

I was kind of hoping for a local streaming box. Like onlive for your home network.

Edit: Not to poo on it. I just don't know the niche it fills.

[megladon8]

I don't get it. I mean I'm eager for a good solution for having my PC games on my TV (that consists of having them near each other and a long hdmi cable ATM) but this isn't it.

I imagine the thing will be more powerful than a Mac mini but less so than a custom shuttle/media pc. So why wouldn't I just use a console at that point?

I was kind of hoping for a local streaming box. Like onlive for your home network.

Edit: Not to poo on it. I just don't know the niche it fills.

Well I'd say that I fit the bill for this niche - I want to play a lot of PC and Steam-available games but I don't want to plunk down $1000+ for a gaming PC, and then have to continually pour money into it to keep it up to date.

[Sycophant]

I'm really interested in seeing how this plays out. When it finally releases, will they be requiring developers hoping to publish for Steambox to optimize it for the specs? Will it lock developers into having to aim for a piece of tech frozen in 2013? Will they release one every 2-5 years to keep on top of technology? Will you be able to plug more RAM into it? Since it'll be Linux-based, will there be much software for it (the list of Steam games with Linux builds isn't all that long, I don't think)? Will it, at the end of the day, just be a fourth faction for the console wars, and if it is, could anyone want it (outside of brand loyalty)? Obviously, part of the reason Valve is being very careful and slow about this is because it's aware of all those issues.

Personally, I think I'll continue to plug my competently powerful $350 Lenovo laptop into my TV any time I wanna play a game on a bigger screen in the living room. But it's still possible this will offer something new and awesome.

[Dukefrukem]

So why wouldn't I just use a console at that point?
.

Is this a serious question?

Spec Ops: The Line was $7 yesterday on steam. It's $40+ on Amazon and $30 USED at Gamestop. You don't even have to leave your couch.

[/debate]

[Dukefrukem]

Will it lock developers into having to aim for a piece of tech frozen in 2013?

You mean like consoles?

[number8]

Is this a serious question?

Spec Ops: The Line was $7 yesterday on steam. It's $40+ on Amazon and $30 USED at Gamestop. You don't even have to leave your couch.

[/debate]

For a couple of days. On a specific deal offer.

New games, you're gonna pay full price for. A lot of times (look up Hitman Absolution or Dishonored) you can get the console versions for cheaper on Amazon new, let alone finding it used on Craigslist.

Also, price on old games fall down faster on consoles than on download sites like Steam or PS Store or XBox Live, because store inventory can affect prices. Max Payne 3 is $40 on Steam and $25 on Amazon for the XBox version. Skyrim is still $60 bucks on Steam and $10 less that to get it new at stores.

[Dukefrukem]

For a couple of days. On a specific deal offer.

New games, you're gonna pay full price for. A lot of times (look up Hitman Absolution or Dishonored) you can get the console versions for cheaper on Amazon new, let alone finding it used on Craigslist.

Also, price on old games fall down faster on consoles than on download sites like Steam or PS Store or XBox Live, because store inventory can affect prices. Max Payne 3 is $40 on Steam and $25 on Amazon for the XBox version. Skyrim is still $60 bucks on Steam and $10 less that to get it new at stores.

Fair argument. But Max Payne 3 was $10 for weeks. Weeks. It wasn't just a midweek thing. Obviously the really popular games like Call of Duty and Skyrim will stay as high as they possibly can for as long as they possibly can. (it also depends on the publishers too) But the sales are far too often on steam. There's way too much to play. So if you're smart, you know when to buy and know when to wait. Dishonored, Hitman and XCom were $30 for weeks. Then they go back up. They'll be on sale again in a few days. Guaranteed. I'm on steam far too often to not notice these trends.

So yeh, if you're impatient. Steam is bad.

[number8]

I've said before that I can't afford buying a lot of new games, so I rely on secondhand market a lot to play. That's why I can never make the switch to disc-less gaming.