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Forums - Nintendo - Is the Steam Machine a good option for Nintendo console gamers?

Frogger on 16 May 2014
fatslob-:O said:
shikamaru317 said:

I've looked into that option myself since I want to get a PC for my living room. The problem is that most gaming PC's are vertical and large, not really fit for the living room. Steam Machines are horizontal and use those mods that allow you to turn your graphics card sideways, parallel with the motherboard,  which makes the cases thinner, ideal for entertainment center shelves. In my searching I never found any prebuilt, reasonably priced, horizontal gaming PC's, before Steam OS was announced. I may get a Steam Machine myself and go dual boot Windows 8/Steam OS. But first I want to see some reviews for each manufactuter's Steam Machine.

Yes PC's may be large but I see that as an advantage since it gives it alot of modularity. 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229554

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227546

This PC that I've found is quite decent at around $850. A gtx 750 ti or R9 270X and a fx 8320 is enough. Sure the price maybe excessive but since OP doesn't want to mess with shit a pre-bulit such as those is enough.


I don't care about modularity lol. That's a little more than I'm willing to play and again, it's not in console format. When I boot the thing up, I won't be greated with a gaming interface like with the Steam Machine. I'll be greated with the Windows home screen that I'll have to navigate with my mouse and keyboard. Is there a way to have it boot up straight to Steam OS or Big picture mode? Probably, but again; tinkering. I ain't about that life, yo.

Remember, I'm casual. I'm not into this stuff like you probably are. No one's trying to insult anyone here. I'm just trying to find something that fit's my preferances. If that doesn't exist that's fine, but it seems to exist with the steam machines and the only problems, for me personally, seems to be support.



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Zadainie on 16 May 2014

PC is the best option.Why would anyone buy a over priced steam machine?



fatslob-:O on 16 May 2014
spemanig said:

I don't care about modularity lol. That's a little more than I'm willing to play and again, it's not in console format. When I boot the thing up, I won't be greated with a gaming interface like with the Steam Machine. I'll be greated with the Windows home screen that I'll have to navigate with my mouse and keyboard. Is there a way to have it boot up straight to Steam OS or Big picture mode? Probably, but again; tinkering. I ain't about that life, yo.

Remember, I'm casual. I'm not into this stuff like you probably are. No one's trying to insult anyone here. I'm just trying to find something that fit's my preferances. If that doesn't exist that's fine, but it seems to exist with the steam machines and the only problems, for me personally, seems to be support.

Yes, it's a bit expensive but the hardware is good enough for gaming purposes. Yes, you will not be automatically greeted with a big picture interface but it's not hard to go there unless ofcourse you installed some strange software that autoboots some applications when your PC starts. 

I'm the casual one here, your actually the hardcore gamer but forget about that for a moment. I know your trying to find your preferences but if support is your issue on a steam machine then that's also not an option for you ... 

If you want the bells and whistles of PC gaming such as getting other controllers to work or emulating some older games your going to have to make yourself do it out of your way. 

You can't have both the cake and eat it, as it's one or the other but I assure you that it's worth it to get a pre-built PC and installing steam instead of going for a more troublesome steam machine. 



Frogger on 16 May 2014
BasilZero said:
Even though you have no interest in building a PC or getting one and then upgrading it.

I still recommend that over a "Steam Machine" - why waste monies on a device that will be underpowered cause of one piece of hardware or another? If you want to experience true PC gaming , customization at its finest is with the PC.

Also the Steam controller looks really horrible - just get yourself a Xbox360 controller or a PS4 controller and call it a day!


I don't want to experience "true P.C. gaming." I just want to play a couple of 3rd party games I can't get on my Wii U in a console format with free online. That's it. I don't care about the power. I don't care about any of that. If it's as powerful as the PS4 for $500, that's more than enough for me.



Frogger on 16 May 2014
fatslob-:O said:
spemanig said:

I don't care about modularity lol. That's a little more than I'm willing to play and again, it's not in console format. When I boot the thing up, I won't be greated with a gaming interface like with the Steam Machine. I'll be greated with the Windows home screen that I'll have to navigate with my mouse and keyboard. Is there a way to have it boot up straight to Steam OS or Big picture mode? Probably, but again; tinkering. I ain't about that life, yo.

Remember, I'm casual. I'm not into this stuff like you probably are. No one's trying to insult anyone here. I'm just trying to find something that fit's my preferances. If that doesn't exist that's fine, but it seems to exist with the steam machines and the only problems, for me personally, seems to be support.

Yes, it's a bit expensive but the hardware is good enough for gaming purposes. Yes, you will not be automatically greeted with a big picture interface but it's not hard to go there unless ofcourse you installed some strange software that autoboots some applications when your PC starts. 

I'm the casual one here, your actually the hardcore gamer but forget about that for a moment. I know your trying to find your preferences but if support is your issue on a steam machine then that's also not an option for you ... 

If you want the bells and whistles of PC gaming such as getting other controllers to work or emulating some older games your going to have to make yourself do it out of your way. 

You can't have both the cake and eat it, as it's one or the other but I assure you that it's worth it to get a pre-built PC and installing steam instead of going for a more troublesome steam machine. 


I don't want all the bells and whistles of PC gaming. I want all the bells and whistles of console gaming. I don't care about emulating and shikamaru said that big picture mode lets you natively use (some) other controllers.

I'll wait to see if it gets support then. If it doesn't, and there's no console-like way to get it to play the games I want, I just won't buy it.



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VanceIX on 16 May 2014
spemanig said:

I own a Wii U and don't plan on buying another next gen console unless it has free online. Since that's not gonna happen, I was actually thinking about investing in a Steam Machine. Is it a good idea? I really don't care to learn the ins and outs of P.C. gaming, but I'm afraid it won't really be supported. I was planning on getting one of the Alienware boxes. Any advice? Is it a good alternative for someone who just cares about Nintendo like me?

EDIT: I'm not building or buying a P.C. I'm not getting a PS4 or XBO. Those aren't options. Please stop trying to convince me. I just want to know "Steam Machine good or bad." I don't care what you think is better, because I clearly don't think they're better.

Get a PC from CyberpowerPC. It'll be much cheaper (than getting a Steam Machine) in terms of power-to-price. You just pick out your components and they assemble it for you and ship it to you. 

That way you'll have a Windows operating system (a lot more compatible than the linux-based SteamOS), and have more flexibility in terms of usage. 



                                                                                                               You're Gonna Carry That Weight.

Xbox One - PS4 - Wii U - PC

fatslob-:O on 16 May 2014
spemanig said:

I don't want all the bells and whistles of PC gaming. I want all the bells and whistles of console gaming. I don't care about emulating and shikamaru said that big picture mode lets you natively use (some) other controllers.

I'll wait to see if it gets support then. If it doesn't, and there's no console-like way to get it to play the games I want, I just won't buy it.

Unfortunately steam big picture only supports the use of steam controller (duh), dualshock 3 & 4, and xbox controller ... 



fatslob-:O on 16 May 2014
VanceIX said:

Get a PC from CyberpowerPC. It'll be much cheaper (than getting a Steam Machine) in terms of power-to-price. You just pick out your components and they assemble it for you and ship it to you. 

That way you'll have a Windows operating system (a lot more compatible than the linux-based SteamOS), and have more flexibility in terms of usage. 

I tried everything I could but these past failed attempts mean that he will not yield to the idea of PC gaming ... 



Zkuq on 16 May 2014

No, Steam Machine is probably not a good idea any time soon. Whether it will receive adequate support or not is not known yet, and it's just a custom-built PC with some price added on top of it. If you want to try PC gaming of some sort, you're better off getting a more traditional gaming PC, trying if it fits you and if not, install SteamOS on it yourself because, you know, SteamOS is just an OS like Windows and Linux, and if you can always install a new OS if you don't like what you already have. Once SteamOS gets to a more mature state, it'll probably be very easy to install (if it isn't already).

EDIT: And just for the record - SteamOS is what makes Steam Machines what they are instead of just regular PCs so that's literally all there is to it (unless you care about having Steam logos on the box as well and unless you really, really want a Steam controller included).



Skidonti on 17 May 2014

Okay spemanig, I'm sure it has to be clear to you by now that almost none of us really understand your aversion to Windows or to gaming on PCs. Most of us have found it much less daunting once we got into it.

Steam machine is still just kinda a custom PC. You might find some of the same things you apparently don't like. If you can get one for cheap (used?) maybe you can jump on it. It'd be a little easier to use than PC I guess, to suit your fairly specific set of needs. I'm not sure how much it will really be just like a console.

You could also just wait a year, buy a used PS4/X1 for cheaper, and not use online. Or just buy a PS3. That's e closest to what you want I think.