Could The Steam Box eat at the PS4/XBone? (Sales Wise?)

[Albino Boo]

With the mindshare Valve has built over the years, they probably have the best shot of anyone at introducing a viable console to compete with the Big Two.

The problem is whatever console they introduce will be based on Linux, so it will not benefit from the deep existing library that Steam on Windows enjoys. They'll basically be building their library from scratch.

Quite a few games are on Linux, so it wont be from scratch, but I agree that it will be missing alot of Windows only games like Call of Duty. Having said that, most publishers would quickly start releasing games on Linux if such a system came about, since PS3 is running on Linux doing a 'pc' version wouldn't be as complex as you might think.

I strongly doubt there will be rush by the big publishers to convert to steambox. Its not about technical issues but economic ones. Porting a game costs money, so they would have be over 500000 units sold before it would be even worthwhile. The second problem is is that EA and Blizzard are not going to port to rivals system. What Valve have released indicates that they intend it to be like android with steam being the main point of sale. Its not in the interest of rivals to port to platform that valve have a guaranteed monopoly on.

 

[Vivi22]

The vast majority of Steam users, from what I gather, are PC gamers who already like to build their own rigs.

There is absolutely no way you could know that for certain, nor is there any evidence to support the assumption.

 

[The_Echo]

Well, I assume the vast majority of Valve/Steam fans are PC gamers, so...

I uh.

I don't really see a lot of people... buying it? Just from a brand loyalty standpoint.

The vast majority of Steam users, from what I gather, are PC gamers who already like to build their own rigs.

There is absolutely no way you could know that for certain, nor is there any evidence to support the assumption.

Really? I mean, barring the "build their own rig," it seems incredibly obvious that a very large number of Steam users are PC gamers.

Considering Steam is nigh-synonymous with PC as a gaming platform. And considering that Steam only just recently became compatible with Mac and Linux.

 

[lacktheknack]

One of the potential scenarios I've heard is the idea that Valve could introduce Half-Life 3 exclusively on Steam Box to drive sales of the platform. Valve is one of the few companies that could get away with releasing a hit AAA game exclusively on a platform no-one owns. And it's clear to me that Valve sees Windows 8 as an existential threat to its business. SO I actually think this is a scenario worth discussing.

The thing is, Valve couldn't actually do that. Can you imagine how much hate they would garner? Far from selling their console it would actually make people want to leave Steam altogether. They're already walking this fine line of 'it's DRM but you love us right so thats okay?' and that line would be absolutely smashed if they released Half Life 3 as a console exclusive. Think about how much people complained about Left 4 Dead 2 and then imagine the orders of magnitude difference if they didn't release the most anticipated and delayed game ever on a platform people have.

There would be Valve effigies.


And then Valve headquarters literally getting mobbed aside, it destroys the one selling point of a Steambox. That you can play your PC games where you like when you feel like, on a computer or on your TV. Instead it would be a incredibly cruddy console with no real third-party support.

I think they mean "console exclusive" in the same way that they talk about Titanfall being a "console exclusive" - it's coming out on PC, but only to one console.

OT: Valve could very easily garner a lot of love if they played their cards right.

Methinks we'll find out in about a day.

 

[lacktheknack]

And if it's literally Steam then it would come with the mandatory 2 week on-line checks at the very least. (If you don't connect Steam to the internet every two weeks offline mode stops functioning)
http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/828937979095845728/

It seems likely that they have a program wiping their passwords/history/cookies/etc every two weeks. My Steam has been offline on my laptop for quite a few months.

 

[Battenberg]

If it's anything like the Steam box there have been rumours about I think this would be a great middle ground between pc and console gaming and if the console gaming industry continues to stagnate like it has been may even lead to an eventual shift to pc gaming which would absolutely serve Sony and Microsoft right for taking their market for granted.

In the short term though I think the key factor will be game library. If their console is essentially backward compatible and has a game history stretching back as far as the Steam library (or even further) then you can bet there will be a good few of the more hardcore gamers (i.e. not the CoD and Fifa crowds) interested in it. And then all they need to grab the 'middle group'/ average gamer is for the library to be up to date.

 

[BrotherRool]

I think they mean "console exclusive" in the same way that they talk about Titanfall being a "console exclusive" - it's coming out on PC, but only to one console.

That's not a lot of reason to actually buy a steambox then. It wouldn't be an incentive for any of the people who already have Steam on the PC (And that's a pretty significant portion of Half Life fans, from what I can tell it sold a lot better on the PC than on the consoles) and if a console fan were interested they'd probably think about buying a new computer first (unless it's very cheap)

And if it's literally Steam then it would come with the mandatory 2 week on-line checks at the very least. (If you don't connect Steam to the internet every two weeks offline mode stops functioning)
http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/828937979095845728/

It seems likely that they have a program wiping their passwords/history/cookies/etc every two weeks. My Steam has been offline on my laptop for quite a few months.

I did a little more research and you're right apparently it's an acknowledged widespread bug which has been affecting people since 2004 all the way up until now
http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1ixzzw/steam_offline_mode_only_works_for_2_weeks_now/

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Dunno. It depends on too many factors that haven't been announced yet such as price. I hope Valve knows what they are doing though.

 

[Abomination]

I don't even know what market it's aiming at... console owners who want to play PC games?

If anyone has the power and the reputation to back an enterprise of pushing a console into the market it's Valve. I remember when the XBox was announced many people poo-pooed it because it was considered a white elephant at the time. Good specs, no library.

But Microsoft forged on ahead during a financial boom where many had the disposable income (or rather, credit) to afford a new console and they got to play a few exclusives. So I might be wrong, but the situation isn't the same as it was around the XBox release.

 

[Brotha Desmond]

I think the biggest hurdle they have to overcome is the price. I heard rumors about how it might ship at $800 USD. If this is accurate then it would be more worth while to just buy a new PC. If it is reasonably priced I might pick one up in a year or two, depending on how it's reviews go.

 

[Rattja]

One of the potential scenarios I've heard is the idea that Valve could introduce Half-Life 3 exclusively on Steam Box to drive sales of the platform. Valve is one of the few companies that could get away with releasing a hit AAA game exclusively on a platform no-one owns. And it's clear to me that Valve sees Windows 8 as an existential threat to its business. SO I actually think this is a scenario worth discussing.

It's strange that even though this would force me to buy the thing just to get that game, I kinda like that idea.

What I am hoping for is that the Steam Box is the beginning of something new. I like the idea of an open platform, maybe we can get cross platform play down the line as well? I mean you should be able to play with anyone you'd like, even the handicapped kid down the street, even though he can't turn as fast.

It seems to me that Valve don't have the presence like the others do. Walk up to anyone and ask if they know about Microsoft or Sony, and they most likely will. Ask someone about Valve, and many will not know much.
So if suddenly som random add comes along saying "Steam Box from Valve", it would make people sceptical as they did not know them. It's also a bit late for newcomers at this point, as the minds are already won by Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo. People like what they are already familiar with.

So I think that what they have to do, and what they will do, is make something so good that people talk about it. But to do that they need people to actually use it, and that's where HL3 comes in.

At any rate, before we know exactly what it is and what it can do, all we can do is wait and see.
I for one hope for the best.

 

[romxxii]

With the mindshare Valve has built over the years, they probably have the best shot of anyone at introducing a viable console to compete with the Big Two.

The problem is whatever console they introduce will be based on Linux, so it will not benefit from the deep existing library that Steam on Windows enjoys. They'll basically be building their library from scratch.

Not from scratch; there are a hundred games on Linux right now. Unfortunately, very few of the third-party AAA games have Linux ports, which is what counts for most people.

They will need to have a killer app (say, Half Life 3), and firm commitments from the major publishers to release their future games on Linux.

 

[Miss G.]

So I think that what they have to do, and what they will do, is make something so good that people talk about it. But to do that they need people to actually use it, and that's where HL3 comes in.

How does that help, exactly? I assume most, if not all, HL fans are on PC anyway; in what way will their talking up of a third installment make people who primarily get the Big 3's consoles (or have never heard of VALVE or STEAM or Half-life, 'cuz that was me) consider it?

 

[BrotherRool]

So I think that what they have to do, and what they will do, is make something so good that people talk about it. But to do that they need people to actually use it, and that's where HL3 comes in.

How does that help, exactly? I assume most, if not all, HL fans are on PC anyway; in what way will their talking up of a third installment make people who primarily get the Big 3's consoles (or have never heard of VALVE or STEAM or Half-life, 'cuz that was me) consider it?

Half Life 3 will cause GTA level talk. People who don't know what Half Life is will still know about it because it's a cultural event and all the memes it will generate. So technically if you could somehow link the announcements that might be a way to reach a lot more people than you normally would. And just people knowing the console exists would be doing Valve some favours

Thing is, I don't know how you could link them in the way that the average joe will hear about it. They're going to know vaguely about this half life thing that people keep talking about, they're not going to do the research to find out a box was announced at the same time. You could make HL3 exclusive to the box but of course they can't actually do that

 

[Foolery]

I enjoy my gaming PC, but sometimes I hate fucking around with setting that shit up. I think if it does turn out to be a reasonably priced form factor PC, it'll be a viable solution for those looking to get into PC gaming without the hassle.

 

[LAGG]

It could affect consoles a lot. If the Steam Box has the ability to play all the games on Steam, it essentially comes with an already established library that both consoles will lack for years to come.

And that's the problem. It won't. It will run all games based on the Linux Platform, which is a fraction of Steam's active library.

IF it had the ability to play all current and future Steam games? It would kick some serious rear-end. It sadly, doesn't, and I with that, I don't think that people are going to want to buy it when they could get a PS4 or PC and get just that.

Valve certainly has the manpower (and had enough time) to build a Linux distro that could run all games from Windows (and maybe OSX) perfectly. In fact, even better because a gaming-dedicated distro would have better performance for the same hardware running an all-trades OS. Lot's of high quality indie games.

Also, if they make it with the gamepad patent they hold, it'll be the best default controller a gaming-dedicated box ever had. And it's also make crossplatform gaming possible, even competitive FPS.

 

[bug_of_war]

Even if they do announce it now with a whole, "This is the ONLY thing that can run Half Life 3, Left 4 Dead 3, Team Fortress 3" and all those other games that have somewhat of a cult following, it's just too late. Pre orders for the Xbox One and PS4 have been out for a while now, and the PS4 has already sold out in most areas, they waited to long to announce anything about the fuckin' thing and now they're gonna pay the price by being too late out the gate. They also are gonna have a very small window of consumers due to those whom just wanna console and nothing special having already gone for Sony/Microsoft, and those whom want everything to run spectacular build their own PCs to do so.

Sorry Valve, but your stay quiet and don't announce a single detail will be your downfall in this console race.

 

[mad825]

Valve certainly has the manpower (and had enough time) to build a Linux distro that could run all games from Windows (and maybe OSX) perfectly. In fact, even better because a gaming-dedicated distro would have better performance for the same hardware running an all-trades OS. Lot's of high quality indie games.

Alas technically speaking, Valve wouldn't be able to legally seeing as DirectX is owned and ran by MS and they cannot do it without their permission. WINE only gets away with it because it's a free and open source program.