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So far they do seem to be just HTPCs with Linux instead of Windows and Steam installed (with a neat controller bundled in)... that's not good enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by negative chill
There's plenty they can do to really make it worth it, but I really don't think they'll put in the effort.
Here is my biggest question about the steambox, and what I see as their biggest hurdle.
Steam will still work as a program on other OS's computers. Me, as a gamer, wanting the most bang for my buck, would be FAR better served with making the system a Windows box with steam installed. Why? Because there are tons of games that just won't work on steam OS right now, and potentially ever.
But they WILL work on Windows running steam.
So what is that situation going to be?
Because if the devs have no major incentive to shift resources to the linux platform used by the steamos... they are just going to make more windows games.
Basically the steambox could be like the wii u. It could be a decent system (and obviously you can make one with WAY better hardware than any other console), but if valve and a couple others are the only ones actually making games for it... then what is the point of it?
Sure, you can put WINE on it and work to get older games running well, emulators, etc. It's a pretty wide open platform to "do stuff" with as it's a nix box. But that's not going to do a thing for the average person looking at a device like this. They want to turn it on and play, the end.
But I'm certainly interested to see where this goes. Because this model, if it takes off, could be MS's next console as it were. Stripped down Windows following a rigid set of hardware guidelines, then bundled with a controller and the shiny Xbox GUI on top of it.
I am... underwhelmed by the Steam Boxes thus far. I don't see them "converting" a lot of console gamers at these prices, not to mention the fact that the 13 choices are likely to be confusing to folks who are not already somewhat PC savvy.
The controller looks pretty cool and I might get one depending on reviews, etc.
I will say that I really do like the concept of Linux gaming via Steam OS (or Linux gaming at all, really). I dual boot now (Ubuntu) and really the only thing that keeps me from going 100% Linux is gaming. If the gaming world ever gets on the Linux bandwagon I will happily be kissing Windows goodbye.
A 'pathetic number' close to the global lifetime sales of the Sega Dreamcast?Quote:
Originally Posted by bultje112
That's a record of 7.6 million concurrent users on at the same time. There are more than 65 million Steam users in total.
I think a lot of people generally underestimate the popularity of Steam because of how universal console gaming is compared to PCQuote:
Originally Posted by Knuckle Duster
I used to be a vehement anti steam. I... I... Kinda like them now...
It sure is convenient to let Steam install and update everything automatically, rather than rooting around install folders and third party websites looking for patches. As long as they continue to let me patch my games with user created content and locally back up my installs I'm okay with Steam. I do hate that most of the games are non-resellable though.Quote:
Originally Posted by MaxWar
75 million users now.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/15/st...s-at-dev-days/
damn 10 million users in 3 months thats a huge jump
wonder if the sales had anything to do with that
Nah, PC gaming is dead and sucks...Quote:
Originally Posted by Knuckle Duster
75 million VIRGIN NERDS of course because PC gaming 'just sucks'Quote:
Originally Posted by Knuckle Duster
so most of the japanese male population then ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gogogadget
Does Japan actually play PC games? I always imagined since PC's are so... western, they don't play them.Quote:
Originally Posted by KitsuneNight
Seriously though, PC gaming is such a market at this point, an install base of 75 million users easily rivals consoles.
i dont know to be honest
i can imagine japan is more console centric because of the space premium
but the pc 98 msx and several other pc's thrived in japan like the fm towns http://www.old-computers.com/museum/...asp?st=1&c=968
or the fm series or the sharp x68000 series http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=298 ( they still look kinda classy )
not too mention macintosh mania ( seriously some japanese people are crazy about compact macs )
id say steam equals the ps 3 and xbox 360 their number is around 80 million each
but pc gaming is nowhere near dead
http://www.threadbombing.com/data/me...rk-approve.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by Barone