That is a pretty awesome deal!Quote:
Originally Posted by Astros Fan
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That is a pretty awesome deal!Quote:
Originally Posted by Astros Fan
AWesome. Time to grab LFD2
I am building my brother a budget gaming rig and just gifted this bundle to him to get him into Steam. A phenom IIx4 955 with HD5770 and a 23" monitor for $700. It will run L4D flawlessly. Time for him to dump the pentium d and ti4200 lol!
Even cheaper stand alone.Quote:
Originally Posted by taggart6
Every time Valve releases something on the Mac they do it at an insane price point. Seriously, LFD2 is $6.79 and it's not even a year old. That's crazy talk.
Say what you want about the cost of Mac hardware, it's going to end up being a pretty cheap gaming platform. The Xbox 360 copy is still $30.
IMO Valve should work with Apple (something they'd never do because they are too arrogant) to create a Mac Mini that comes with Steam and every Mac game pre-installed. Maybe once Steve Jobs leaves the company things like this will happen.
I thought the point of having a Mac was to go to the airport or coffe shop and then pretend to be working on a project. If no one can see you using it, is it still a mac?
Haha, well played sir.Quote:
Originally Posted by senorgotti
Yeah, was expecting the "you hating" animated gif. Also had to edit the post to read "one" instead of "once".Quote:
Originally Posted by Gar
Thats less of a reflection of general gaming and more about the personal relationship of Valve and Microsoft.Quote:
Originally Posted by ImaNihilist
When a major developer whose founders used to work for your company, come out and tell their zealots that your competitor from Asia is "THE" platform for their futureconsole gaming, then you known you've done ****-ed up big time.
I'm just saying that if Valve keeps up this kind of business model they may be able to completely disrupt console gaming. All they have to do is create a "box" (or just use someone else's) that runs Steam. I only suggested a Mini because it's small and cute.Quote:
Originally Posted by taggart6
They could just as well develop an x86 Windows box that runs nothing but Steam for $500, and the TCO would be WAY less than any console game, even with 3rd party titles.
I'm working on an L4D level for class right now, if anybody jumps in it should hopefully be playable by December or so (or I've failed or dropped the class :D). Pretty sure it will turn out kind of crappy since I barely have time to get anything done, but figured I'd mention it.
At that point it would really just be a new console. I guess in that regard, Valve is shaping up to create a platform and delivery service for next gen consoling though I doubt we'll ever see them develop hardware.Quote:
Originally Posted by ImaNihilist
I would love to see them partner with one of the big 3, and have the Steam system as the primary means for playing and manging games and mp play. In fact, I think this is part of the reasoning behind Steam Cloud and its ability to be easily picked up by other tech and devs. Sony is even rolling it out on the PS3 with Portal 2.
I think Valve's goal is to just get presence on everything out there and become the preferred method of game management.
Valve/Steam should advertise more. I have had to explain the Steam thing too many times.
It could easily be done. I don't think it would have to be anymore than 300-400 dollars for a pretty badass machine if they could include a very light weight windows environment to run what they have. Make a controller, give it keyb/mouse support, and market the hell out of it. It would be great.
At that point, why not just pay the extra 200 to 300 for a full functioning computer?Quote:
Originally Posted by Timman_24
Don't get me wrong, I think a Valve system would be awesome. But all your doing is introducing a new console in an already established and difficult market.
Because I'm a 12 year old that wants this awesome new console that valve is pushing! You can download gamez, its the future!Quote:
Originally Posted by taggart6
Then partner with HTPC vendors.Quote:
Originally Posted by taggart6
What for? To create a low cost computer comprised of generic computer parts to run Valve games? Yeah good luck with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by ImaNihilist
If you want to stream line the process, you would need a limited hardware platform and software optimized for it. And that point, your basically creating a new console and the only way to mange it correctly would be to have a single group control both the hardware and software.
It would be great. PC gets practically all the games PS3 and 360 gets plus it has major indie support, more cross over, and niche games. Make a computer and package it like a console, include the windows packages you need to run the games, and a basic valve GUI. Charge 300-400 bucks and put out a new console with upgraded parts every 2 years.
This is about streamlining PC gaming. Package the PC experience so that the average person can understand it without having to go to Dell and work through what runs well. The technical barrier to entry for PC gaming puts off a large majority of the population.
Make it plug into a TV with a simple wire and have a controller. That's what most people want.
Hell, if I could get the PC experience from the 300-400 dollar box separate of my desktop then I would never upgrade graphics cards, worry about optimizing my system, etc again.
Considering that a 320M can play most games at 720p resolutions at decent FPS, you could.Quote:
Originally Posted by Timman_24
I don't think I'll ever pick up another console to be honest. Games on Steam are just too cheap.
I mean a nicely put together package with warranty, built in features, etc. I'm a sucker for an easy experience as well :DQuote:
Originally Posted by ImaNihilist
My honest guess is that someone is already probably doing this. It seems too big of an opportunity to pass up. Sure, Valve probably isn't interested in building hardware themselves... but getting Steam onto the TV is, IMO, obviously a goal for them. That's what Steam Play is all about: other platforms.Quote:
Originally Posted by Timman_24
This sounds like a console that can be upgraded, which removes the simplicity from the console. I think steam would be more interested in getting their software onto consoles like the ps3 and xbox for digital downloads. Thought xbox already has its own marketplace, and I assume PS3 has something similar, I have no experience with PS3 so I dunnoQuote:
Originally Posted by Timman_24
Edit: O snap, L4D2 for $6.79 is crazy, I have it for xbox 360 but at that price it's cheaper than the dlc will be for xbox so why not
This will never really happen because that's how Sony and Microsoft make a majority of their money.Quote:
Originally Posted by PriMaTe
If all of a sudden you can buy games from Valve and play them on a console, Sony and Microsoft start losing money.
They'll let them sync and all that jazz, but you'll never be able to buy a $30 console game for $5 via Steam... on a console.
Nah, they would just release upgraded consoles in 2-3 year intervals. V1, V2, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by PriMaTe
Ima is exactly right. Valve owns a great distribution system. It doesn't help them to try to get on the PS3 or Xbox where Sony and MS already have a distribution system in place. The great deals would get whittled down even more once MS takes a cut, valve takes a cut, and finally the dev gets a piece. Unless Sony partnered with Valve and Sony did away with their PSN store and replaced it with Steam and charged valve a reasonable royalty.
This still doesn't work well though because every game would have to be ported to the PS3. Valve needs a windows box so all the computer games they have, new and old could run on it. The need a light weight windows environment without the bloat that windows brings, dedicated solely to gaming. This way less power is needed as well.
BTW guys its not about this being marketed to PC gamers, Taggart asked "Why not spend 200-300 more for a real computer?" Yeah, ask that to the 100 million+ console gamers. Its about opening steam and the PC platform to the console world.
What is interesting about this is that Sony and MS charge developers fees for development tools and rights to use their system. This would not be the case for Valve, PC is open. However, the only way to get onto their "box" is through their distribution system, which is how they make their money.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timman_24
Yeah we have those. They are called consoles.
your basically advocating Valve becoming a console dev. I agree that would be awesome. I just don't see it happening any time soon.