Posted this in another thread:

Because Key-Board & Mouse give you accuracy and precision.

Sure you to can wave a 1.1(wand) thing at the screen, but rest that 1.1(mouse) on a counter top and it's level for added accuracy and precision.

There have been more then enough PC controllers.... shit, any controller made has a mod to have it work on the PC anyway.

I say don't waste your time, just wait for the next gen and use their controllers on your PC.

The difference between PC Compatible controllers and a PC built with a range of dedicated controllers is that the platform is committed to support those input methods, at least that was the case with traditional consoles like the NES onward. Unless Valve does a horrible job supporting their interface devices, this is a right approach to the PC compatibility dilution problem the medium faces.

A PC played with the TV in the same style as a console. Happy? :P

Yup, it's a PC in that case so Pezus would be right. But I think what Valve is intending on doing is making a PC with a set of certified and dedicated controllers and inputs, as well as a form of licensing out of the box for Steam games, with the possibility of other PC functions as a secondary measure from there on out. And with that description you would be right, in that it would be a PC-console hybrid of sorts like we've never seen before.

Not sure though. In essence it would be a uber-console as it would have all the things a console has, but it would be HW expandable just like a PC is.

It's not just bundling a controller, it's supporting it (via flagship software and an official API), giving it a brand name that matches your box, marketing it, all that yes makes a console believe it or not. Oddly enough, there are business constraints to the market as well as technical ones, it'll blow you're mind.

What I mean is that steam will be the system's main form of licensing for Valve (which it already is), and will be the de facto marketplace for the hybrid console. A neat idea. There's more to this I'm not saying.

Yeah I beat you do =) But consider this (and this is all based on stats I saw here a while ago, but that I can't bother to find ;P):

about 30% of all gamers are under 18 years old

about 30% is between 18 and 30/35 years old

and about 30% is over 30/35 years old

Now, using a TV for the PC is (mostly) only available to those between 18 and 30/35 since they might own their own TV's and don't have to share it with the rest of the family. So about 60% of all gamers wouldn't be able to use their TV's if it were hooked up to the TV. You're not actually playing all the time on a PC; you're visiting pages like this one. So that would mean you're gonna have a PC for playing games and another one for surfing the internetz? I don't think so.

It would still be a PC; you could surf on it and watch porn if ya want to. But considering your family might sit next to you, I imagine you wouldn't want to do it ;) But that's what I'm saying any way; a PC that has the same function as a console, i.e. it'll be in the living room
, right under your TV, wouldn't work out

It would be hybrid in the sense that you could exit out of the console mode (most probably) and enter into an OS. And even if not, even if it's a PC, but steam branded with all the APIs exclusive to that piece of hardware, it's a hybrid in essence, part closed console, part PC.

Not a topic for semantics to be honest since this is stuff that hasn't really been done before.

I doubt this will be a console in the traditional sense or even anything that could be considered console-like. Most likely they will be looking to produce innovative peripherals that can complement game playing. The heart rate sensor is one, but they did mention wearable components, perhaps ways of continuing minor aspects or side quests whilst on the move. Or perhaps pads that give more feedback (e.g. vibrations on your back if your being attacked from behind). The possibilities are endless.

I also see them opening this up to not just PC, but consoles as a third-party accessory.

Well considering that Valve was talking about how they made a computer you can wear.

This does not surprise me.