Valve’s Steam Machine is the anti-console. Here’s what it’s like to play.

[kenmai9]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/11/04/valves-steam-machine-is-the-anti-console-heres-what-its-like-to-play/

Topic title grabbed from article. Don't quote me lol.
Discuss.

[baldgye]

it's a nice looking box for sure

[tp4tissue]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

[Neal]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

Not true AT ALL.

To name a few recent AAA titles that do not require anything of that: CoD: Ghosts, BF4, SC2:HoTS, AC:IV, Batman Arkham Origins, ARMA III, Rome II, etc.

And especially seeing the steambox is designed for in the living room, you're not aiming for super-high specs. But more so of having an entertainment system capable of playing any controller ready games with ease.

[noisyturtle]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

What game on this green earth has these insane hardware specs? I run a 3.8ghz and can play Metro 2033 on max settings, let alone any recently released title.

[PointyFox]

Why would someone use a console over a PC except to play exclusive titles?  It's not like we're children who need to be kept off the Internet.

[tp4tissue]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

Not true AT ALL.

To name a few recent AAA titles that do not require anything of that: CoD: Ghosts, BF4, SC2:HoTS, AC:IV, Batman Arkham Origins, ARMA III, Rome II, etc.

And especially seeing the steambox is designed for in the living room, you're not aiming for super-high specs. But more so of having an entertainment system capable of playing any controller ready games with ease.

bf4  and  sc2  both require 4.8ghz...

Sc2 scales linearly with CPU frequency / performance.


During large battles... the key is "minimum" framerates...  It doesn't matter if your computer can pull off 10000x frames during a benchmark or you jumping around with no one in the server...

[alosec]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

Not true AT ALL.

To name a few recent AAA titles that do not require anything of that: CoD: Ghosts, BF4, SC2:HoTS, AC:IV, Batman Arkham Origins, ARMA III, Rome II, etc.

And especially seeing the steambox is designed for in the living room, you're not aiming for super-high specs. But more so of having an entertainment system capable of playing any controller ready games with ease.

bf4  and  sc2  both require 4.8ghz...

Sc2 scales linearly with CPU frequency / performance.


During large battles... the key is "minimum" framerates...  It doesn't matter if your computer can pull off 10000x frames during a benchmark or you jumping around with no one in the server...

You have to be joking, sc2 does NOT require 4.8ghz to play... At max settings I make well over 200 (even during fights) with 3.2ghz and a GTX 560. You have a warped reality of the hardware it takes to play games my friend.

Why would someone use a console over a PC except to play exclusive titles?  It's not like we're children who need to be kept off the Internet.

It's meant to be used as a family console I believe, where everyone can gather and enjoy games in the living room instead of sitting alone at a desk which is what most PC gamers do.

[Neal]

I'm a spoiled pc gamer (titan/3930k) so I usually look down on the console.
However, when steam machine comes out I hope that we see a lot of new party games in the trend of mario party, super smash bros, mario kart, etc.
I really like party games and love to sit down on my couch with a couple friends now and then and play some games on the same screen, PC sadly does not have many of those.

[tp4tissue]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

Not true AT ALL.

To name a few recent AAA titles that do not require anything of that: CoD: Ghosts, BF4, SC2:HoTS, AC:IV, Batman Arkham Origins, ARMA III, Rome II, etc.

And especially seeing the steambox is designed for in the living room, you're not aiming for super-high specs. But more so of having an entertainment system capable of playing any controller ready games with ease.

bf4  and  sc2  both require 4.8ghz...

Sc2 scales linearly with CPU frequency / performance.


During large battles... the key is "minimum" framerates...  It doesn't matter if your computer can pull off 10000x frames during a benchmark or you jumping around with no one in the server...

You have to be joking, sc2 does NOT require 4.8ghz to play... At max settings I make well over 200 (even during fights) with 3.2ghz and a GTX 560. You have a warped reality of the hardware it takes to play games my friend.

Why would someone use a console over a PC except to play exclusive titles?  It's not like we're children who need to be kept off the Internet.

It's meant to be used as a family console I believe, where everyone can gather and enjoy games in the living room instead of sitting alone at a desk which is what most PC gamers do.

hahahahahahahaa.....

[baldgye]

You have to be joking, sc2 does NOT require 4.8ghz to play... At max settings I make well over 200 (even during fights) with 3.2ghz and a GTX 560. You have a warped reality of the hardware it takes to play games my friend.

Not saying sc2 needs 4.8ghz to run properly but even the best rigs out there struggle when you've got max out armies in 3v3s/4v4s... Though I'd argue that's becasue Blizz sucks at making engines....

[tp4tissue]

I'm a spoiled pc gamer (titan/3930k) so I usually look down on the console.
However, when steam machine comes out I hope that we see a lot of new party games in the trend of mario party, super smash bros, mario kart, etc.
I really like party games and love to sit down on my couch with a couple friends now and then and play some games on the same screen, PC sadly does not have many of those.

right.. you're correct to point out that the steam-machine is catering to a different audience.. the-Casual-Gamers aka n00bs..

The 3930k is good for every game except Starcraft 2, which is its achilles heel.. unless of course you don't play starcraft 2, in which case it's decent as a gaming CPU..

best gaming CPU currently is 4770k > 4670k > 3770k > 3570k > 2600k > 2500k

If you play starcraft 2... it's 4670k > 4770k > 3570k > 3770k > 2500k > 2600k

This is assuming You're overclocked to 4.8ghz on ALL CPUs..

The 6 core x79 platform cpus is somewhere between the 3770k and 2600k in terms of gaming performance...

[baldgye]

I'm a spoiled pc gamer (titan/3930k) so I usually look down on the console.
However, when steam machine comes out I hope that we see a lot of new party games in the trend of mario party, super smash bros, mario kart, etc.
I really like party games and love to sit down on my couch with a couple friends now and then and play some games on the same screen, PC sadly does not have many of those.

right.. you're correct to point out that the steam-machine is catering to a different audience.. the-Casual-Gamers aka n00bs..

The 3930k is good for every game except Starcraft 2, which is its achilles heel..

Why? Sc2 isn't even on Steam, why would it come to the Steam box and why does that even make sense its designed for a TV...

[tp4tissue]

I'm a spoiled pc gamer (titan/3930k) so I usually look down on the console.
However, when steam machine comes out I hope that we see a lot of new party games in the trend of mario party, super smash bros, mario kart, etc.
I really like party games and love to sit down on my couch with a couple friends now and then and play some games on the same screen, PC sadly does not have many of those.

right.. you're correct to point out that the steam-machine is catering to a different audience.. the-Casual-Gamers aka n00bs..

The 3930k is good for every game except Starcraft 2, which is its achilles heel..

Why? Sc2 isn't even on Steam, why would it come to the Steam box and why does that even make sense its designed for a TV...

well, here's the thing.. starcraft 2 is 3rd or 4th in terms of popularity on PC...  people who game mostly just play the top 10 games...  so yea, the casual gamers won't care..  but most current gen PC gamers will because it's LIKELY that they have SC2 in their roster...

[baldgye]

I'm a spoiled pc gamer (titan/3930k) so I usually look down on the console.
However, when steam machine comes out I hope that we see a lot of new party games in the trend of mario party, super smash bros, mario kart, etc.
I really like party games and love to sit down on my couch with a couple friends now and then and play some games on the same screen, PC sadly does not have many of those.

right.. you're correct to point out that the steam-machine is catering to a different audience.. the-Casual-Gamers aka n00bs..

The 3930k is good for every game except Starcraft 2, which is its achilles heel..

Why? Sc2 isn't even on Steam, why would it come to the Steam box and why does that even make sense its designed for a TV...

well, here's the thing.. starcraft 2 is 3rd or 4th in terms of popularity on PC...  people who game mostly just play the top 10 games...  so yea, the casual gamers won't care..  but most current gen PC gamers will because it's LIKELY that they have SC2 in their roster...

Valve makes Dota2, which is bigger than Sc2... why would they care about a game they don't make and that Blizz don't want on Steam?

On top of that, there new controller is designed to allow people to play games like Dota2 from the sofa without needing a m/k... Sc2 would be impossible to play without a keyboard...

[tp4tissue]

I'm a spoiled pc gamer (titan/3930k) so I usually look down on the console.
However, when steam machine comes out I hope that we see a lot of new party games in the trend of mario party, super smash bros, mario kart, etc.
I really like party games and love to sit down on my couch with a couple friends now and then and play some games on the same screen, PC sadly does not have many of those.

right.. you're correct to point out that the steam-machine is catering to a different audience.. the-Casual-Gamers aka n00bs..

The 3930k is good for every game except Starcraft 2, which is its achilles heel..

Why? Sc2 isn't even on Steam, why would it come to the Steam box and why does that even make sense its designed for a TV...

well, here's the thing.. starcraft 2 is 3rd or 4th in terms of popularity on PC...  people who game mostly just play the top 10 games...  so yea, the casual gamers won't care..  but most current gen PC gamers will because it's LIKELY that they have SC2 in their roster...

Valve makes Dota2, which is bigger than Sc2... why would they care about a game they don't make and that Blizz don't want on Steam?

On top of that, there new controller is designed to allow people to play games like Dota2 from the sofa without needing a m/k... Sc2 would be impossible to play without a keyboard...

nobody is going to play dota on that controller..  nobody.......  if you want to be that person.....  prepare to be Un-friended or banned. ....

[baldgye]

nobody is going to play dota on that controller..

Wrong, who's to say they don't segregate the ladder to those that play with controllers and those that don't? Like they did with CS:GO were console players are/can be matched with PC players...

[tp4tissue]

nobody is going to play dota on that controller..

Wrong, who's to say they don't segregate the ladder to those that play with controllers and those that don't? Like they did with CS:GO were console players are/can be matched with PC players...

Ha... sure if you want to be on the n00b ladder... it's up to you.

[baldgye]

nobody is going to play dota on that controller..

Wrong, who's to say they don't segregate the ladder to those that play with controllers and those that don't? Like they did with CS:GO were console players are/can be matched with PC players...

Ha... sure if you want to be on the n00b ladder... it's up to you.

...I don't even play Dota2...

[tp4tissue]

After looking at the heatsink on the New PS4.. and its clone Xbox,  I think the upgradable / xpandable steam machine "IF Subsidized will come in and rape everyin'...

[Malphas]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

Lulwut?

For about a decade now midrange machines with half-decent graphics cards have been enough to run 99% of new releases on max or very high settings, whilst even crappy laptops with integrated graphics are often enough to run the same games on the medium or low settings (which is comparable to the performance on a console).

[127001]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

Just wanted to throw my hand into the you're-out-of-your-mind-with-those-specs basket.  A first Gen i7 at 2.6 plays anything. 4.8 anything, that's not a server, is a waste of money.

[tp4tissue]

IDK.....

Given how the AAA games are all pushing to require  4770k Overclocked to 4.8ghz....   Buying these boxes would put you at a pretty large gap hardware wise...

But, it makes sense for casual gamers, and younger kids that are not competitive..

Just wanted to throw my hand into the you're-out-of-your-mind-with-those-specs basket.  A first Gen i7 at 2.6 plays anything. 4.8 anything, that's not a server, is a waste of money.

LOL, n00bs.. this is why you lose.. you don't practice.. and you don't understand hardware... the 4.8ghz cpu is to keep the minimum /average frame rate high..  It has nothing to do with, "does the game run"..

In a fire fight.. the frames dip dramatically.. and your aim becomes inconsistent, because the game is no longer responding at the "same rate" relative to your inputs..

[Malphas]

Time you lost your virginity already, tp.

[baldgye]

Real pro's play on the lowest settings anyway, only real noobs play on high gfx settings....

[tp4tissue]

Real pro's play on the lowest settings anyway, only real noobs play on high gfx settings....

exactly  but this is ALSO where CPU speed counts most.. because you're cpu limited at lower gfx settings..

There's a couple of guys that I've seen go around recommending AMD cpus and even early i7s for starcraft 2..

They were all like.. yea I get 150 fps..   they're always looking at the beginning of the game..  and not the middle..

in large battles, sc2 dips to 40-50 fps on my 5ghz 2500k..    and I've seen battlefield 3 situations where I'd get 40s and 50s as well.. with MINIMUM graphics settings.. ..

CPU is king in competitive play... GFX doesn't even matter... 

I'd venture to say the cut-off for gfx is an ati 7850.. while for cpu, nothing less than a 4.5ghz 2500k..

[baldgye]

Real pro's play on the lowest settings anyway, only real noobs play on high gfx settings....

exactly  but

No buts..

[Malphas]

So tp's argument against the Steam box was essentially based on the needs of a tiny minority of stunted manchildren, and by "casual gamers" he means normal people who make up the other 99.99% of the videogame-playing public?

[baldgye]

So tp's argument against the Steam box was essentially based on the needs of a tiny minority of stunted manchildren, and by "casual gamers" he means normal people who make up the other 99.99% of the videogame-playing public?

Pretty much.
If the steam box ran windows and was cheaper than a similarly spec'd pc I'd probably use it as my main rig. I don't really care about insane gfx and I mostly only play sc2 on the lowest possible settings... but that I do have Peggle on my Steam acc...