[Opinion] The Steam Machine platform could be a big flop and here's why

[FordGT90Concept]

Keep in mind that DirectX is far more than just a competitor to OpenGL. That's just the Direct3D component. There's also XInput (keyboard, mice, Xbox controller, generic joystick support, etc.), DirectSound (OpenAL competes with it), DirectCompute (OpenCL competes with it), DirectDraw (2D GPU acceleration), DirectMusic, and DirectPlay (networking). DirectX is pretty much all inclusive for game development and there's nothing unifying like it in the open source community.

The API used on consoles always has to be unique from PC because of the hardware differences in the consoles. Sure, it makes it easier to port between similar APIs but the fact they are still different results in a lot of costly debugging. That's not going away.


What Valve needs to do is get a licensing agreement with Microsoft to get a stripped-down copy of Windows NT for cheap (maybe like $20-30 per unit). If they could, its success would likely be assured.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

LOL. Glad the title was changed to [OPINION].

 

[Easy Rhino]

LOL. Glad the title was changed to [OPINION].

really? somebody actually changed the title to include [OPINION] ? Brilliant!

 

[MxPhenom 216]

really? somebody actually changed the title to include [OPINION] ? Brilliant!

You don't get it I guess.

 

[theo2021]

The first comment i wrote in techpowerup was about Linux Gaming, it was about 2 months before the announcement of steam machines and it seems i will copy it :

I believe that we gamers should support more linux gaming.
Microsoft is getting worse over the years in the gaming environment for windows although they made it better for the some consumers and we have to pay for the software.

If games would run smoother in linux we would see many consoles using linux since it is opensource and many companies would make their own consoles customizing the linux software. (Price Drop in consoles)

But the best thing is that the game developers would make only one version of the game since pc and consoles will have identical environments so they would sell games cheaper too.

OpenGL maybe will replace all the way DX? (i want to see your opinions)
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTQ1Mjk
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTU5OTU

Steam Os wasn't something new just instal ubuntu or some other linux distributions and install Steam or PlayOnLinux , get XBMC and make a smart Launch for Games in XBMC there you have it a console software.

With features of tv , movies and many apps that xbmc has you can make torrents being download automatic subs too , it has netflix and many stuff that Steam Os has not.

The only problem is that there is some trouble instaling a new games although there is a steam app in XBMC , i haven't tried it yet .

Gaming in Linux , it's getting better over the years i remember playing WoW many years ago without Problems.

Now i can play Dota 2 ,L4D, Metro , CS , Amnesia thank' s to Valve

Many Games now are coming with Linux support just like Windows support http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTA4Mjk
All the new CryEngine games will come with linux support like http://kingdomcomerpg.com/

Nevertheless , my point is that if we do promote Linux gaming in general , Linux platform will be more used and the monopoly of Microsoft in a gaming environment for the PC will stop , Linux is a great operation system because it is opensource and we should consider using it since it's free.

I want to hear your thoughts! I really liked your comments so far.
Cheers

 

[DannibusX]

It's funny. I think Valve is doing great things with Steam Machines. Is it an underdog? Yup, that's for certain. Will AAA's develop for it? If they can sell games on it I'm sure they will.

What Valve needs to do, and is probably doing is make a SteamOS devkit and wrangling the API's for it. Sure, the plethora of Steam Machines that have been announced is cringe worthy, so they need to get that under control and set their official tiers to their recommended specificatons.

You also have to remember that Valve really doesn't so anything big fast. Remember Half-Life 2? That little requirement that engraged most gamers? Yeah, now that little requirement is the largest digital distribution store/client in the market. They'll make it work.

 

[Easy Rhino]

You don't get it I guess.

I guess I don't. I can't read your mind so why don't you explain??????????????????????????? Or are you going to sit there with your thumb up your butt?

 

[Frag_Maniac]

The only way it would become a complex nightmare for those wanting console simplicity is if the customer chooses to buy and install Windows. As far as I know Valve are going to try and keep the default system as user friendly as possible, including auto updates through Steam, which may even include the Linux driver updates for the GPU. Complexity is pretty much a non issue if they do that. Then it only becomes a matter of whether the customer is happy with the selection and price of games.

That article is more of baseless speculation than opinion. People that want their gaming simple don't go out of their way to make it complex. The nice thing about Steam Machine though is you can have a simple console experience, then do more with it as you learn about PCs. In that sense it will be the best transition gaming system, esp if you opt for one that is upgradable hardware wise, like the $500 CyberPower model.

 

[qubit]

really? somebody actually changed the title to include [OPINION] ? Brilliant!

Yes, I changed it as it's more appropriate for this thread.

 

[Vario]

Its been said before in this thread but the ability to skip buying Windows can help you put that money into hardware. I think Steam OS will be great and I plan to dual boot it on my ITX case.

I don't know if steam boxes will flop but you can build a small itx powerhouse for about $5-700 with a used i5 sandy bridge,Geforce 660, etc that will max out 1080p easily and use that as a steam machine. In that price range, the OS becomes a huge expense of the overall purchase.


edit:
Notice I didn't mention any AMD parts, I'd have said 7850/7870/270 since mine sips on wattage but the bit coin stuff makes it a hassle to buy AMD cards at a low price point, and the power consumption of the AMD FX chips aren't suited for a sff especially with no motherboards available.
edit2
Sandy bridge is the way to go with about 70-100 watts delta at max and very low idle requirement.
http://www.servethehome.com/wp-cont...-Xeon-E3-1270-Power-Consumption-CPU-Delta.png

 

[GreiverBlade]

Its been said before in this thread but the ability to skip buying Windows can help you put that money into hardware. I think Steam OS will be great and I plan to dual boot it on my ITX case.

I don't know if steam boxes will flop but you can build a small itx powerhouse for about $5-700 with a used i5 sandy bridge,Geforce 660, etc that will max out 1080p easily and use that as a steam machine.

as long as we get the option to have SteamOS on our own rig and not be forced to buy a steambox... i dig it...

 

[Vario]

as long as we get the option to have SteamOS on our own rig and not be forced to buy a steambox... i dig it...

My understanding is that you will. I wouldn't use it for my regular computer. Also if Valve goes bankrupt you can at least use it as a PC.

 

[Nosada]

Things Steambox needs to start competing (and eventually trouncing, due to game-library and added use) the console market:

- Standardized hardware: Valve should have said "everyone can build a steambox, get our logo, etc etc, but the hardware should be at least this (or better): xCPU, xGPU, xGB of RAM at xSpeed". This hardware should obviously need to be price/perf king at the time.
- This hardware should be incrementally improved with new versions as hardware becomes cheaper/faster: Steambox 2014 Alpha, Steambox 2014 Beta, Steambox 2015 Alpha, etc etc
- These versions of steambox should have benchmark results on the game's page in Steam. You visit Assassin's Creed IV page and it immediately tells you a) if your steambox can run it, and how well and b) if you don't have one yet, which one you would need to buy for best performance.
- Not be expandable. Expandability adds cost and would rarely be used. Console gamers dont want expandability. They want ease of use and an incremental number that tells them if their device will run their wanted game.
- Ease of use again: Windows would need to be tweaked as so not to require maintenance or manual interaction for updates. Everything goes automatically, but should have an admin option for those who would like to maintain their machines manually.

This is, as the OP, a personal opinion. But I've been thinking for years this would be a very interesting business-model.

 

[vega22]

the only thing which will stop this being a success is valve.

if they do not get the pr spin right it will fail, that is the thing which will kill it imo nothing else.

maybe it will be microsoft pr machine which kills it idk but i think it will be spin not hardware or games which it falls over.

 

[xorbe]

Um, I already have Steam on my openSUSE box ... SteamOS is just using Ubuntu ...

 

[BiggieShady]

Valve is not gambling on this one, they patiently waited for Linux to mature enough and OpenGL drivers to get stable (at least in nvidia's case) ...

Um, I already have Steam on my openSUSE box ... SteamOS is just using Ubuntu ...

... and this is what it is all about, SteamOS is just another linux distro with steam client preinstalled and set to run in big screen mode. Only difference is it will be fully supported by Valve in such way that new kernel and driver versions will only get updated when they get stable and fully tested ... I hope

 

[Vario]

Here are the advantages I see: 100% controller support, steamlined drivers, guaranteed compatibility and gaming experience, easy content delivery system. The downsides: if its not on steam you may need a different OS.

 

[Steevo]

I don't see it becoming anything revolutionary, the fact there is already consoles that do gaming, PC's with Windows and Apple, and the few linux machines that do gaming, Two major chip producers, two major GPU producers, and a push to unify them under the MS operating system with HSA and now Mantle acting as a stand in that could very well run on all three PC systems, integrate into the next gen consoles, and mobile devices.


I see it as a overpriced under featured device that people with a PC will not need, only want, and only some will be able to afford.

 

[xorbe]

and this is what it is all about, SteamOS is just another linux distro with steam client preinstalled and set to run in big screen mode. Only difference is it will be fully supported by Valve in such way that new kernel and driver versions will only get updated when they get stable and fully tested

Yeah tested is an important point. I ran into the no-sound issue* with Metro: Last Last, which the fix was only a web search away, but that's not acceptable for the masses. Linux REALLY needs to sort out the sound API issue after all these years.

* edit: just wanted to make it clear that I'm using a custom openSUSE + Steam setup, and not the official tested Steam distribution.

 

[BiggieShady]

I ran into the no-sound issue with Metro: Last Last, which the fix was only a web search away, but that's not acceptable for the masses.

I'm kinda still in awe that Metro: Last Light runs on Linux ... also, I'm mindblown that there actually exists a fix for a sound driver issue you encountered.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

With 2014 being the year PC game sales are projected to surpass console games, they couldn't have picked a better time to launch Steam Machine.