Steam machine - What happened?

episteme

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episteme on 27 August 2014

It seems that it took longer to improve the controller...

I might use my PC as a dual boot system with Windows and SteamOS, but I won't buy a Steam Machine.

Lakai129

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Lakai129 on 27 August 2014

daredevil.shark said:

Valve surprised everyone with their take on consoles. Steam controller, steam os and steam machine were intended to capture the target market occupited by consoles. But as time is going we keep hearing less and less about steam machine. Now I am going to point out some key points about it and it future. Would appreciate any logical argument.

I think steam controller, os and machine wont be a successful product.

1. Steam controller might face more competition against xbox 360 / one controller as I can see most of my PC only friends are still using xbox 360 as their primary controller (except RTS and MMO games).

2. Steam OS might get some traction but it depends on many things. And if microsoft makes their next OS more user friendly then I dont see steam OS taking off.

3. By the time steam machines launches (full scale launch) main competitors (PS4 and Xbox One) will have $299 price tag. And their game library will be rich and have some awesome exclusives. It is possible to make a decent PC at that price range but when it comes to easyness, friends (psn / xlive) and must have exclusives (Halo MCC, Bloodborne, Uncharted 4 etc) "console" only gamers will have even less interest in steam machines.

4. Steam machines lies in the grey area. It is not a console nor a PC (if you install windows then its PC but it goes against the basic formula of PC gaming; heavily customization). But something vague and with less appeal.

Well; it sums up my thoughts perfectly. I dont think steam machine, os and controller will get much traction. The possibility of it getting successful is very very slim.

Steam controller and OS got delayed until 2015 however Alienware is planning to release its Alpha model steam machine for 549.99 that ships with a Xbox 360 controller, Mouse/Keyboard and its own Alienware console-ish OS, that allows you to launch Steam OS or Windows 8.

http://www.cnet.com/products/alienware-alpha/

1. Best part about PC is your not locked into using one style of controller. Steam OS and Windows are capable and promote using any console or PC controller that best fits the player.

2. Some steam machines are coming to market with their own propriatary splash OS that allows you the ability to easily select which OS ( Windows, Steam or Whatever ) you would like to boot to, see the alienware link above.

3. Time will tell. There are PC exclusives such as MOBA, MMO, and RTS that just dont work on console. Not to mention almost all third party games are coming to PC now, MGS5, The Witcher 3, The Division, Dragon Age Inq. Theres not much left that consoles are still hanging onto.

4. PC gaming is moving towards small form factor. With new hardware being made half the size and requiring far less power draw, meaning no more giant power supplies see Silverstone SFX power supplies or mITX chasis, motherboards, and components. mITX is where the PC market will be moving.