Not sure How well that name is for it but here is valves new project

Three different very informative links

http://news.yahoo.com/valve-reported-de ... 04911.html








I want on

it's a decent idea, but steam is way behind the times here. If they do it they have to seriously offer something that PS and Xbox don't. Right now the only thing I can see them having over the others is mouse & keyboard, which will only appeal to a certain pool of people. Yes there are different games on steam, but I'm not sure that will be enough to seriously compete.

It could revolutionize the industry due to the fact that developers only have to create a game for 1 platform instead of 2, 3, or 4 platforms.

Then again it could suck and fail miserably like the turbografix, or sega saturn, or the sega system that was one of the first to utilize cds instead of cartridges(can't remember the name).

The Dreamcast I believe is what you are thinking of.

I think its a good idea, and will revolutionize the console world if it is done properly. Only time will tell.

i guess i just don't understand how it can revolutionize the console market. everything that steam does Xbox and PS do already, minus the mouse & keyboard thing.

It's a computer for your tv. Neat.

While it's entirely possible that there's a real niche market for this, I'm more convinced it'll be the move that bankrupts Valve and EA will swallow them whole.

Wasn't a big fan of consoles before, and I don't think there's a necessity for one for those who have a PC other than the lack of console-exclusive titles.

Personally, I'm kind of tired of hearing about consoles. It's funny to me that the better these consoles get, the more expensive and more PC-like they get. Amazing, huh?

Bingo acid. I think eventually we ware going to see them merge into everyone having a PC for their TV or a PC as a TV. Then everyone can play everything from one machine. Until then all these things are kind of a waste of money.

It will revolutionize consoles because it will be mainly based on digital content instead of the current disc system. If it is bound with your steam account (which I assume it will be) all of the titles you DL for it will be available to you on the console and PC and assuming it will utilize cloud storage for save games and what not. If pulled off right I think it would be a game changer.

xbox and PS are already moving toward digital content. and microsoft is already looking to bring xbox live to the PC. again, steam box is already behind the times....

All consoles are behind where they should be. This is going to bring them to a standard that neither Sony or Microsoft wants because it costs money to patch updates. Valve and Steam already patch games regularly with updates that are on their network. I don't even think the TF2 Xbox version has hats.. That is how bad it is to patch on consoles right now. Not only are they limited on patching content keeping up with an actual better version on PC, but there is a limit to how big the game file can be before Xbox denies further updates, a main reason why it hasn't updated in years.

Add in that Steam has F2P games and known sales on big name games regularly that consoles now can't compare to and probably won't in the future because of the problems that come with it, they will be ahead of the market in every way except being their first generation console. You also can't ignore that Steam will probably allow you to cross over from PC to console and still have the ability to play on any other Steam console or PC as long as you log in and download the game.

i don't know about PS, but xbox has patches or "updates" for games, because i have to download them fairly regularly depending on the game. however, i have no idea whether or not the updates are limited on file size, game modifications, or otherwise. i know rockstar had multiple expansions of games based on GTA 4, which added characters, plot and missions all based on the original game engine and "city." my ignorance on this subject leads me to believe that updating Xbox Live or PSN to allow for those types of patches you are referring to should not be that difficult. i have already seen major changes to the Xbox Live platform since it's inception to allow for many major additions like apps for netflix, hulu, facebook, etc. and allowing for the download of full, new games, music and movies.

So here's what I'll do... I'll build a PC, put it inside a cardboard box and make it mini-atx... and call it PC-Box!

Part of the biggest problem I have with these "going all digital" type consoles is the hundreds of ISPs around the world imposing bandwidth caps on all their customers. With ATT doing a 250GB cap and lots of Canadian ISPs out there having a 100GB or even lower caps in other areas, what happens to all those who are forced to download one game a month due to their caps? Aliens Vs. Predator is about 25GB, and tons of other games are even bigger than that. One can't simply just decide to move out of their home and go to another city just because they have a different ISP. What happens to people who can't afford a place in a super-populated metro area and have to go with whatever service their apartment complex has a contract with?

With the way the Internet is going, this idea of all-digital gaming is going to fall flat on its face unless something is done.
Also, why the F*CK would I buy an Xbox for services like Netflix or Facebook when the only way I could use them and other apps like Facebook was if I paid Microsoft for a F*CKING Live subscription? Facebook is free! Why pay? Twitter is free! Why pay? I'll stick with a PC.

PSN is free and offers the same apps. i'm just highlighting what is currently offered by the console platforms. obviously PC gives you the best options, but the consoles have the high numbers of users and are the big money makers.

Sega CD and Sega Saturn were out long before the dreamcast.

Steam has a big advantage over consoles considering that i look at steam as a console client for PC. And bringing steam to a console can have advantages and disadvantages.

Pros: most likely more affordable than building your own PC, The reason for most console gamers. Plus steam is streamlined for purchasing and playing games. They have a well thought out system.

Cons: Its not really any different than extending and HDMI from my PC to my TV. I can get then same effect for an additional $20. Not a good selling point. I doubt many PC gamers who already use steam will make the change. At the same time, I doubt that Valve wants us to change.
Next con is the sheer fact that it is a console, and console blow IMO.


I'm sure that none of it will matter because as long as the consumers are dumb enough to buy it, they will sell. I just hope that the rumor circulations aren't true, but microsoft and sony still take this idea into consideration. Steam doesn't need to move to consoles, and this is an improved idea for the consoles already available.

This could revolutionize the industry If they put a hole some where on it I could stick my C*CK in during those extra lonely gaming sessions.

Other then that, I'll use the PC I paid all that money for to play video games (and bust nutz).

I really believe that this is a breath of fresh air to the console world. Myself as a consumer and a gamer have many dislikes with the current console situation. What is an x box more than a glorified pc? That I got to pay to own the game and then pay to play it all the while paying for the interent to play the game on. Not to mention the lil 12 year old hackers u deal with on a constantly unmoniterd sever. As far as combining the tv and Pc yall should have seen that coming if not valve the Google will do it look what apple and Google.have done.with phones come on but wait a second what about microsoft? Have u tried a Windows phone ? If u haven't they are junk I started this rant now I'm distracted and forgot were I was going with it. " Squirrel"

I'm pretty sure it's the other way around. Consoles are anything but glorified PC's. They haven't HALF the capability of a PC of a modern user.

Anyone now-a-days can build a PC for a thousand bucks. I can guarantee you this Valve box shit will be just around the same amount to compete with all the other consoles out there (don't forget next-gen). You can't say a thousand is too steep once you think about the extra controller you'll need, the microphone to talk to people... the wireless card so you can get online, and so-on.

How many people own a console, but not a PC?
Now, how many people own a console, but not a PC?
You already know the answer to that but just for numbers' sake:

Pay close attention to the chart now. 72% own a console or PC!
How many of those do you think don't own a PC? Probably none...

What's the point then? Why are Valve targeting a market that already exists and has been dedicated to their PC's? This thing is going to flop ridiculously if there isn't something that sets it completely apart from a PC. Something exclusive to it. Nobody is going to give a shit enough to care about cross-platform gaming so much, that they're going to sell their Xbox360 or PS3 just so they can play with their computer friends. The reason why? They already own a F*CKIN' PC!

See all that reaffirms there is a major problem with the console. why the console needs to be revitalized. from fall in revenues,gpu,total cost of ownership to the total functionality of the systems In this day and market. So I'm pretty sure that if descent laptops/netbooks,desktops can be massed produced and sold for under $500. There shouldn't be a problem for Valve and if not Valve Then some other brain trust to rearrange the console gaming and community as we are accustom too.

Or we could just get rid of them altogether....