I'm glad they're choosing to go competitive on this one rather than mark up their prices like they usually do.
Now we just need to see some specs.
I almost forgot about Steam Machines for a while. I don't plan to get one but I still hope they are a success.
I actually really like the design? what
[QUOTE]and will be released once a year to counter a lack of upgrade options[/QUOTE]
ew
Im more interested on how games will run on Steam Machine.
[QUOTE=Scot;44849813]ew[/QUOTE]
If anything, this'll be what hurts them.
Except they look terrible compared to first concepts, the manufacturers putting their own designs out for the steam machines kinda ruined the aesthetic and now they won't be easily identified at first glance like how an xbox or play station would. I guess that's just the trade off, but they seriously just look like lazy mini-ITX adaptations (mostly, some are original) rebranded and with a higher price tag.
But yeah I doubt this is surprising from Alienware, because they sell overpriced crap already, not exactly hard to beat on value.
[QUOTE=Tasm;44849867]Except they look terrible compared to first concepts, the manufacturers putting their own designs out for the steam machines kinda ruined the aesthetic and now they won't be easily identified at first glance like how an xbox or play station would. I guess that's just the trade off, but they seriously just look like lazy mini-ITX adaptations (mostly, some are original) rebranded and with a higher price tag.
But yeah I doubt this is surprising from Alienware, because they sell overpriced crap already, not exactly hard to beat on value.[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://static.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2013-11-04-image-16.jpg[/IMG]
Liking this one the most, a Steam logo on the big button would be nice though.
I still do not understand who Valve and their vendors are marketing this too. Why would an exclusively PC player want to shell out $600 for this when they could spend that same amount on new components, retain the functionality of their desktop and still play games. On the flipside, why would a console gamer, who has probably already invested hundreds of dollars into their system of choice (PS4, XB1) want to suddenly switch to a new more expensive platform. Not to mention the allure of having all of your Steam games transfer may not apply if they don't even own a Steam account.
I can only think they're hoping to attract people who either don't know how or don't want to upgrade their own computers, and don't want to spend $800-$1000 on a pre-built machine. I just can't imagine that being a significant enough demographic to make this appealing for manufactures and the lack of the 3rd part royalties seems like it forces them into exactly what they said, releasing new machines every year.
I dont care to much for the actual machine i just want that sweet,sweet controller for my pc.
[QUOTE=Srillo;44849958]I still do not understand who Valve and their vendors are marketing this too. Why would an exclusively PC player want to shell out $600 for this when they could spend that same amount on new components, retain the functionality of their desktop and still play games. On the flipside, why would a console gamer, who has probably already invested hundreds of dollars into their system of choice (PS4, XB1) want to suddenly switch to a new more expensive platform. Not to mention the allure of having all of your Steam games transfer may not apply if they don't even own a Steam account.
I can only think they're hoping to attract people who either don't know how or don't want to upgrade their own computers, and don't want to spend $800-$1000 on a pre-built machine. I just can't imagine that being a significant enough demographic to make this appealing for manufactures and the lack of the 3rd part royalties seems like it forces them into exactly what they said, releasing new machines every year.[/QUOTE]
I think the main target group is console gamers that would like to switch to PC, but
- building a PC's too much effort - thus prebuilts
- they still want to comfortably game on their couch in the living room instead of in their own room with a huge honking tower/the big towers are too immobile to bring to parties and such - thus the console-like chassis
- they don't have the huge PC game library their friends already have - thus the Sharing beta
- they don't want to find, buy and set up an OS and a bunch of programs to enjoy the same basic multimedia functions consoles already have built in - thus SteamOS and stuff like the music beta
At the same time it may also appeal to PC gamers that would like to get into console gaming (because it's more comfortable from the couch or great to play locally with friends or the kinda games they like are made for controllers already anyway), but
- that console would lack all of the games they already enjoy (thus streaming)
- the closed-off nature of consoles means the manufacturer can keep a short leash on you (Steam Machines are open)
- which also means no mods (yes mods)
- some console games have to be dumbed down because of the controller (thus new Valve's controller)
- you can't just "console a bit on the side" for cheap unless you carry your tower back and forth every time a friend comes over (but you could prolly do it with a cheap "StreamMachine" which probably won't need a hardware upgrade)
I don't think the Steam Machines are targeting people perfectly fine with their current setup. I don't think they're trying to replace consoles or PCs (tho they might sound like the best of both worlds to some).
There's a lot more variety in gaming platforms nowadays than there used to be, from the traditional PCs to notebooks to tablets to smartphones to living room consoles to portable consoles, and pretty much every time that variety expanded it also expanded the gaming audience. Valve might be interested in finding the next niche... and maybe carve out a piece from unhappy MS and Sony customers while they're at it.
So maybe the audience Valve primarily targets with SteamMachines isn't there yet because there's nothing quite like SteamMachines out there yet. For comparison, if Steam Machines would become popular, we might get PC games completely designed for controllers (maybe even Valve's own controllers), which would also be a category of games that has (almost) no grip or audience today, but might once Valve pushes out the tools.
Maybe Valve believes there's a bit of a "no supply - no demand; no demand - no supply" cycle going on that they're trying to break, kinda like they're forcing Linux forward which in a similar circumstance (no software because no audience - why install when there's no software).
/2cents
Too bad steam machines are a bust
They were an amazing idea that Valve executed horribly, and the final ones aren't even out yet. Valve's super hard boner for the "libertarian live free or DIE software Linux OPEN SOURCE IS GOD" mantra is exactly what doesn't work for a concept like a steam machine.
Steam machines would have worked if:
1. Valve owned up to their own platform and made them first party with tiers of options, similar to a Windows Phone - you could get a low end one not much better for anything but streaming, a mid-end one good for indie games and many bigger titles on at least medium/high settings, and a high spec one that could run anything. I made the Windows Phone analogy (vs Android), as the platform isn't 100% open and as a result is consistent, smooth and good no matter what tier of device you have - low end $50 phones run the platform just as nice as a high end $600 one. This is an ideal situation to be in. You want to avoid the serious hardware fragmentation you get with Android, where low end phones run a different version of the OS and are super super shit compared to high end phones.
2. Each one was consistent in design and had Valve's official backing. I'm amazed as game designers, Valve didn't nail this one. One of the KEY tenants in any sort of design (whether it be art, graphic design, game design, product design, etc) is consistency. Consistency is what sells your idea and makes it stick, its what makes a strong design, and shows you actually take your product/design/game seriously. There needs to be no fragmentation or inconsistency between devices beyond hardware spec or certain optional features like wireless support. This means its very very easy for game makers to spec their games according to Valve's baseline hardware for each level of Steam Machine, and as a result we start seeing PC games running a bit better with a baseline of custom PC specs being born from the Steam Machines. This simplifies PC gaming and improves the situation for everyone - newcomers to Steam, experienced PC gamers (they'll get better ports and know how well their custom PC ranks compared to the "Steam Machine" baselines), etc. Valve are NOT doing this at all, and instead opting for the "android wild west approach" - an approach that is honestly a failure for the consumer at large, and doesn't really fill any need that isn't already being filled by the current PC gaming landscape.
3. Valve prices their FIRST PARTY consoles competitively at a loss in order to draw more people into steam that'll pay off the investment in the long run. This is why console makers sell their consoles at a loss - they intend that they make more money back in the long run through a large dedicated consumer base and through licensing fees from games and such. Valve don't need to worry about licensing fees or anything - having it so a large chunk of people can cheaply and easily get access to steam is ensuring you will make a profit.
4. Despite all the above, still keep it open as a hardware device. Swapping out graphics cards would be good (with obvious exceptions i.e. the streaming box would need a video card that is sized small enough to fit in the streaming box).
5. Considering all the above, it'll still be possible for hardware makers like Alienware to make their own "console" just like they are now, they'll just have to be sold as an alternative to the officially backed Steam Machine.
What they are doing now is a failure and will never work. Their laissez faire approach to hardware, the SteamOS platform, controllers, etc is exactly what will make any kind of Steam hardware not work, not be adopted, and not be taken seriously. PC gaming already has custom everything, what it needs is someone to bring it together into something that is simple and garunteed for the LARGE amount of gamers who demand such an option. Valve isn't catering to that at all, they are basically just making a junk peripherial that will never see support and end up like Google+ - a huge money sink that goes no where because there is zero actual vision behind it.
I love the concept of Steam Machines as a PC gamer. I'd love it if my console gaming friends could get a steam machine on the cheap that works a lot like a console on the front end and is priced like one. Steam Machines how they are currently making them though are a total failure, and Valve have honestly let me down. The current version of Steam Machines horribly ignores those two aspects - me wanting a nice couch-option for PC gaming, and my console friends wanting to get into PC gaming easily and affordably. I'd wager 90% of anyone interested in the concept of steam machines fits into one of those situations, yet what we are getting with Steam Machines do not satisfy those needs at all because Valve are largely don't care.
Its just amazing to me that they could go around saying that their entire employment workforce revolves around doing things that make their customers feel cared about, so their customers value Valve's services/products/etc, then they come up with someone like Steam Machines and completely go against what everyone wanted out of the platform.
I would love a Steam Machine, and my friends would too. Its a shame Valve aren't making the Steam Machine me or my friends want.
Profitable none the less. They can't be happy about a product just being profitable?
I want too see the innards.
[QUOTE=Jazer;44850748]Profitable none the less. They can't be happy about a product just being profitable?[/QUOTE]
It depends on how profitable. A 1% profit could hardly be justified.
Everyone seems to be overlooking how terribly made Alienware products usually are, I certainly wouldn't want to buy this no matter how good the specs are or how cheap it is
I just want the CAD files for the original Steam Machine, I'd gladly make one of my own.
Considering Alienware's idea of profit is 800% price markups I think they'll be fine.
So it will just be inflated to 200% its original price?
Personally I believe that the Steam Machines will tank so hard that it won't even be funny. Perhaps the biggest reason is the ridiculous price tags vs. performance and the fact that they are marketed to a hugely niche market.
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