Topic: Valve's PC Console “Steam Box"! For the Price of Building It Yourself.

[Chozo Ghost]

I really don't see the point to this, assuming this actually happens.  I really dislike PC elitists, but this just sounds like a Steam-only PC with all the features removed that make PCs worth having to me.  Everything it does, a decent PC can already do (including hook up to a TV via HDMI).  And as much as I like the Portal series, I don't see Valve as a strong enough 1st party developer to sell the "console".  There just isn't enough variety in what they produce.  Besides, the home console market is already struggling to support 3 competitors, and I don't see how it supports a 4th that has almost no reason to own it.

This isn't a console. What it is essentially is just a standardized PC. It is going to be running windows and/or linux so you should be able to run Firefox or an office program or whatever else you use on a computer on this thing. The problem with PC gaming is there is such a large amount of components by such a large number of manufacturers which results in a large amount of hardware configurations, which is problematic for developers. Something like this which creates a unifed standard of sorts which makes things easier for both developers and consumers alike. As Morari pointed out, this sets a minimum bar which developers can target their games towards. People can still get a more high end PC, but this would be the baseline. Another advantage is this should hopefully be more affordable. Maybe it can be priced at $299 instead of 3 times more than that.

Again its not a console, but its a PC which has the console advantages of standardized hardware and (I'm hoping) an affordable price tag.

[tendoboy1984]

This isn't a console. What it is essentially is just a standardized PC.

But that's basically what a console is. For a more specific example, remember the 3DO? Same basic concept. Also the Xbox 360 and PS3 use custom PC components, and the Xbox 360 was designed to make porting from the PC easier for developers.

[Kairon]

I don't think of this as exactly a console, but more a lanbox (standardized unit made up of off-the-shelf pc parts in a small form not designed to be opened/upgraded) that out of the box comes with tv outputs, cables, a controller, and with access to downloadable games that are designed for TV output.

[Shaymin]

It sounds like this proposed Steam Box would be little more than a PC that can't do anything but play Steam games. So it would be a niche product.

A niche that covers practically every genre of gaming short of party games.

Also, I want Valve in the console space if it means they'll bring Steam sales along for the ride. Anything to bring the cost of gaming down.

[TJ Spyke]

Niche because anyone who wants Steam can already afford a PC that can play the games on the service. You could get a PC that plays most Steam games for $500, and it would be much more functional than this Steam Box.

[SixthAngel]

This is interesting and it might have a chance.  It has a standard input but the question is if the other problems can be fixed.

Computer games don't really push specs anymore since games are designed for the console audience first so they don't have to be worried about games getting too advanced for the specs for many years.

Will it be easy to plug and play or will I have to go through windows on my controller to play a game?  Will this even matter with the terrible regular controller navigated menu system the xbox has being acceptable to people?

With the rise of multiplatform games and the increasing irrelevance of more power this could make a big dent in the market that can download all their games.  I won't be buying it though because I already have a steam box that I typed this message with.

[NWR_insanolord]

If anyone could pull something like this off, it's Valve. It really depends on what price they could get it down to and how well they could design the front-end to make it streamlined without losing too much functionality.

[Morari]

Steam has had a "Big Picture" mode for quite some time now. Source.

Price shouldn't be much of an issue given the listed specs. If people are willing to mortgage their house for a PS3, I doubt Valve will have much issue with a $300-$400 PC. That's the kicker that everyone seems to be overlooking. It's ultimately just a branded PC. It's not a console. It's claerly targeted at console gamers, but it doesn't sound like it would be anything akin to the locked down ecosystems they're used to. Everyone already owns a PC, and upgrades it every few years. You pretty much have to have one, so why not spend just a little bit more to get one with a "Steam Ready" sticker on it and replace that old console at the same time?

Razor and Alienware have both had similar ideas in the past. They both failed due to insane price points... and Alienware just generally sucking.

[NWR_insanolord]

But with it being Steam, you could have people who'd buy this in addition to a PC, and you'd be able to play the games on both. If they're smart maybe they do a partnership with Google for their Google TV stuff on it in addition to Steam for a ready to go out of the box game system and media center.

[SixthAngel]

Steam has had a "Big Picture" mode for quite some time now. Source.

Price shouldn't be much of an issue given the listed specs. If people are willing to mortgage their house for a PS3, I doubt Valve will have much issue with a $300-$400 PC. That's the kicker that everyone seems to be overlooking. It's ultimately just a branded PC. It's not a console. It's claerly targeted at console gamers, but it doesn't sound like it would be anything akin to the locked down ecosystems they're used to. Everyone already owns a PC, and upgrades it every few years. You pretty much have to have one, so why not spend just a little bit more to get one with a "Steam Ready" sticker on it and replace that old console at the same time?

Razor and Alienware have both had similar ideas in the past. They both failed due to insane price points... and Alienware just generally sucking. :

With the xbox we pretty much have a branded PC.  Nearly every one of its big games came from pc devs and now they are nearly all multiplat as well.
If it can be simple enough for the console audience it becomes a viable alternative to the large amount of people who don't know dick about pcs and would normally be scared away.  Also, most people do not upgrade their pc every few years.  Most use it until it dies or refuses to run something important.  The fact that people don't like to upgrade a lot has been one of the biggest selling points of consoles for a while.

[Morari]

I'd hardly call the Xbox a branded PC. It's about as locked down as you can get and as such is very clearly a console. The hardware may be similar to a (low end) desktop, but that's really about it. The Xbox succeeds in bridging the gap because of the Microsoft's programming API. In theory, you should be able to code freely between the Xbox and PC due to that. It's not a new theory, and is in fact one of the biggest reasons things like DirecX and OpenGL ever took off to begin with. Why code for every individual little piece of hardware when you can instead stand atop a shared framework?

Reports have consistently shown that most people purchase a new PC every 3-5 years. That's about the same life cycle as any console. Having worked in the tech industry myself, both in sales and support roles, I can attest to this fact at least as anecdote.

Most people aren't scared away by the prospect of buying a PC, they're just lazy about it. If consumers were truly as overwhelmed as marketeers wanted to make them seem, no one would ever bring themselves to purchase a smart phone. Talk about convoluted, from the market and selection, right down to the billing and software.

Obviously we're simply stipulating on rumors here. That said, Valve could of course offer a front end that highlights Steam itself. They could easily work in some sort of HTPC capabilities. They could even offer access to competing programs like Origin (shudder). I don't think that's what is being hinted at however. I think you're more likely to see a combination of baseline hardware that will be "Steam Ready" or some such other branding. Multiple companies will be able to make these machines, and even make better ones... so long as it meets a minimum specification. Think of it like what the Games for Windows spec was supposed to be, but taking the route of hardware instead.

The real kicker will simply be marketing. It will be marketed toward console gamers. It'll be sold at store alongside set tops and consoles instead of laptops and towers. People will associate it with their living room instead of their office. So far, it sounds like that will be the only real distinguishing factor. Marketing. Of course, we'll have to wait until a real announcement comes. Still, it's always fun to speculate about things.

[tendoboy1984]

I don't think of this as exactly a console, but more a lanbox (standardized unit made up of off-the-shelf pc parts in a small form not designed to be opened/upgraded) that out of the box comes with tv outputs, cables, a controller, and with access to downloadable games that are designed for TV output.

You just described a console.

[Shorty McNostril]

I'm assuming if this is indeed true, that the long awaited steam support for Wii U will be extremely unlikely.

[Tamazoid]

I'm assuming if this is indeed true, that the long awaited steam support for Wii U will be extremely unlikely.

Yep. We'll probably end up with Origin. . . . .

[Chozo Ghost]

But that's basically what a console is. For a more specific example, remember the 3DO? Same basic concept. Also the Xbox 360 and PS3 use custom PC components, and the Xbox 360 was designed to make porting from the PC easier for developers.

The 3DO did not play PC games or software, so its no where near the same thing. With this steambox you don't have to pay licensing fees to Valve in order for your software to run on it. You may have to pay them to get your software to run on their Steam service, but that's also true on any other PC.

The Steambox doesn't just use PC components, it literally is a PC which will be running windows and/or Linux. I don't know why that part is so hard for some people to understand. This is not a new console or platform, its just a PC with Steam pre-installed.

[Shorty McNostril]

If this box is not designed like a companion cube then I will disown them.

[Morari]

If this box is not designed like a companion cube then I will disown them.

Ha! That would actually make it appealing. It could just as easily be marketed as the "Steam Companion Cube" at that point.

GabeCube?

[BranDonk Kong]

The original XBox was very similar to a PC, but the 360 not so much. The original XBox had a BGA 733Mhz Celeron processor and (essentially) a GeForce 3 GPU, and the controller ports were just fancy-fied USB ports. Of course everything that USB ports now, but that's more of a conformity than it is a sign that something is like a PC.

Anyway, PCs are so hard to fit into any definite category now, so it really isn't easy to say that something is "just a PC" or "is not a PC." Lots of things run Linux (for instance, every Android phone and tablet), but they aren't necessarily PCs. There are many HTPCs that use "non-standard" parts, but that doesn't make them a console.

The point is, I really have no point, and I'm just trying to make this more confusing. If it is running any type of PC operating system, then it would have to be Windows, however.

My guess, if it actually exists, is that it won't be anything like what people have been saying, and it will be either a Tegra 3 or Snapdragon 4 based piece of hardware, with maybe 4GB RAM and a huge hard drive, and will run a highly customized version of Android 4.0 (without access to the Market, and won't even use a GMail account)...but that's just my guess.

[Spak-Spang]

Actually, I can see this working great as creating a standard for gaming consoles.

Right now, I can imagine that it is difficult for developers of computer games to know what low end baseline hardware they should support for their games.  Yes, they can develop games that you can turn certain features off to make it run on lower models, but wouldn't it be better to have a cleanly defined base line. 

This is where Steam box is useful.  If Steam comes out and says here is the baseline specs of power your games must play under to be on Steam Box certified, then developers know what to shoot for.  Gamers know that games one Steam will be capable of running on their Steam box computer....or Steam certified computer, because there is now a standard.  If Steam really wanted to push it they could even set up a high end standard for the games...but that is purely optional and not necessary.  Default game settings would just be at the Steam certified level. 

Then Steam can make an pledge to developers and gamers...this standard default level will be kept for 4-5 years.  All games on Steam must be playable at that level or it will not be offered on Steam. 

The same could be done with the controller.  The games must have a control option to support the default controller.  Then Steam can partner with a controller company to make official Steam box compatible controllers, keyboards, mouses, ect...

[BranDonk Kong]

What if the Wii U is the Steam Box?

[tendoboy1984]

Actually, I can see this working great as creating a standard for gaming consoles.

Right now, I can imagine that it is difficult for developers of computer games to know what low end baseline hardware they should support for their games.  Yes, they can develop games that you can turn certain features off to make it run on lower models, but wouldn't it be better to have a cleanly defined base line. 

But that's basically what a console is for.

[Spak-Spang]

Yes, and it is the one advantage the console market has over the computer market...what if Valve is trying to take that advantage away and make computer gaming easier to be mainstream? 

Valve could be following Apple's strategy build the infrastructure and apps (games) first and then launch the hardware which people will want to play it.  Steam now already has the games and support it needs to make a launch like this a success...now it just needs the right device, marketing and a good controller.

[Morari]

It sounds like if anything, it'll be more akin to an Android environment than Apple's. Valve may be manning the store, and developing their own software, but they won't be making any of the hardware. It'll be open for any manufacturer, so long as it meet's the baseline specs.

Thankfully they already have access to the best input device for gaming... a mouse and keyboard.

[Ian Sane]

If Steambox games are literally PC games that you can play on your PC, then this is a pretty unnecessary product.  That means it is a restricted PC.  If Steambox games are only compatible with Steambox then this is a console.  Yeah, the Xbox was essentially a PC in terms of parts but it wasn't because Xbox games were Xbox games.  You couldn't put your Xbox copy of Halo, put it in your PC's disc drive and it worked.  That's what makes something a console - the games are only compatible with the console.

If Steam is merely going for some standardized benchmark for PC games, I don't think it is going to work.  One thing to note is that the closed approach of consoles is trading safety for freedom.  You don't get some unplayable bugfest like Big Rigs on a console.  Yes, there are terrible console games but the licencing structure doesn't allow unplayable broken games.  PCs have that sort of anarchy where you can get swindled into buying that kind of broken junk.  But PC gamers know that and that is just something they take the risk on in exchange for the freedom to customize their hardware and make mods and stuff like that.

If this has no licencing structure like a PC, what is stop someone from making a virus and selling it as a "game" or to sell some crap like Big Rigs?  A console gamer doesn't want that **** and a PC gamer will tolerate that if he can customize things to deal with such issues.  Steambox would be locked up tight like a console but without the quality control.  That doesn't sound very appealing.  It's the worst of both worlds.

Oh and best controller for games: the OPTION to have a mouse, keyboard, controller, motion control waggle wand, lightgun, Atari style paddle controller, etc.  Different games work better with different setups so you offer the option and let each game use what works best instead of shoehorning it in to one standard.

[Stogi]

This product appeals solely towards console gamers who want to get in on PC gaming, but don't have the means or simply don't want to deal with the hassle of PC gaming (and yes, there is a hassle).

This, honestly, appeals to me.