Valve's plan

[lacktheknack]

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P.

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

The potential of the Steam Machine is intriguing. Right out the gate I see little to nothing that makes it any better than what already exists. I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP. Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

OK, then. What does MY post boil down to?

Analyze carefully.

You believe in Valve and think that I am wrong because I don't believe in Valve.

That's not what I said AT ALL.

Go re-read the post and show me where I said "It's good because Valve did it". Maybe you'll notice that I've not even SAID the word "Valve".

SHOW ME.

This is a Chewbacca defense at its finest worst.

 

[Elberik]

I'm considering buying one because it looks like a really cool hack-box.

I'm considering buying one because I hate Microsoft increasingly and welcome the Linux revolution with open arms.

I'm considering buying one because it has more options than a console.

I'm considering buying one because it might show us all how to do streaming right.

I'm considering buying one because Linux is easier to code for than Windows, meaning I might actually learn how to program games.

I'm considering buying one because I already have a huge library for it.

Most importantly, though, I'm considering buying one to spite quite a few people.

Also, my friend's considering getting one because he's intimidated by PCs, so this is a good compromise for his interests.

This? Seems to prove my point that the Steam Machine is of interest only to Valve enthusiasts. I'd like to hear from your friend, though.

 

[DoPo]

People have told you why you're wrong over and over and over and over and over and it's like talking to someone in R&P.

A prebuilt Steam Machine holds a ton of value to any console gamers wishing to take a stepping stone to PC gaming, as well as potentially the entire hardware-modder community. The OS holds immense value to Microsoft-haters, as it indicates a step into Linux that wouldn't otherwise be taken if the Steam Machine was not released.

Just because it doesn't fill a void doesn't mean it doesn't do some things better. The upcoming consoles don't "fill a void" either, as they have predecessors.

If you're going to reply with "But it doesn't hold any value to the general public!" and ignore everything I just said, please don't bother. I won't.

The potential of the Steam Machine is intriguing. Right out the gate I see little to nothing that makes it any better than what already exists. I'm not ignoring what people are saying, but no one has disproved my OP. Most of them boil down to "I believe in Valve."

OK, then. What does MY post boil down to?

Analyze carefully.

You believe in Valve and think that I am wrong because I don't believe in Valve.

The funny sad thing is, I was about to make a joke that went along the same lines as that comment.

This? Seems to prove my point that the Steam Machine is of interest only to Valve enthusiasts. I'd like to hear from your friend, though.

Are you...serious? Seriously - are you serious? Let me analyze it for you and you can explain to me how you make any goddamn sense:

I'm considering buying one because it looks like a really cool hack-box.

It means that it's moddable. Not "It has the spirit of Valve powering it" or anything like it - it's a thing you can modify and play with. Like Raspberry Pi - which somehow has popularity despite not being affiliated with Valve (it must boggle your mind, I know).

I'm considering buying one because I hate Microsoft increasingly and welcome the Linux revolution with open arms.

This says "I like Linux". It's not "I hail my lord and master Gabe Newell". It seems that you've mistakenly assumed Gabe was the one who created Linux - now, it's true, he made, like, 99.99999999999% of it and it wouldn't exist without Lord GabeN's glorious presence but...wait, I got that the other way - no, GabeN has no affiliation with Linux other than pushing it as more of an alternative to Windows. Still - liking Linux =/= being a Valve fan.

I'm considering buying one because it has more options than a console.

You know what - I like options, too. That's part of the reason I don't use Chrome - I can't tinker with it enough straight out of the box (compared to Firefox), at least I couldn't before. It's perfectly viable to like something because it offers more customization than something else. For some reason "Valve shines through it" is not the same thing as "I like options".

I'm considering buying one because it might show us all how to do streaming right.

How in Hastur's name is that sentence in any way tied tightly with Valve is beyond me.

I'm considering buying one because Linux is easier to code for than Windows, meaning I might actually learn how to program games.

A variation of "I like Linux" that also omits the "I pray to the Valve gods every day" undertones.

I'm considering buying one because I already have a huge library for it.

Finally - something tied with Valve. The guy has a Steam library - duh, if he buys a console, he wouldn't have any games immediately available to play on it. It's actually not about making sacrifices to the Valve altar under the stairs, however - it's just a reason to get this as opposed to something else.

Most importantly, though, I'm considering buying one to spite quite a few people.

OK, this translates to "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh GabeN Valve wgah'nagl fhtagn"

Also, my friend's considering getting one because he's intimidated by PCs, so this is a good compromise for his interests.

Translation: "Ia! Ia! GabeN Fhtagn!"

 

[lacktheknack]

snip

Thank you kindly. I'm not supposed to start snickering in the middle of class, though. D:

This? Seems to prove my point that the Steam Machine is of interest only to Valve enthusiasts. I'd like to hear from your friend, though.

Again with the Chewbacca defense. I literally said NOTHING about Valve in the post you quoted, and 80% isn't even tied to Valve. Can you please actually point out the exact moment I revealed myself to be a huge Valve fanboy? Because I didn't. Because I'm not one, really.

 

[DoPo]

Because I'm not one, really.

*gasp* Burn the heretic! Burn him at the shrine of Valve under the stairs! All praise Gabe Newell, ALL PRAISE GABE NEWELL!

Our GabeN in Valve,
hallowed be your name.
Your Steam come,
your will be done,
on PC, as it is in Valve.
Give us this day our daily sales,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into consoles,
but deliver us from Microsoft, and Sony, and Nintendo.

AMEN!

I'm starting to think that whatever I'll say, OP would just interpret it as the above, so I though I may as well type it out and have it there for everybody.

 

[lacktheknack]

Because I'm not one, really.

*gasp* Burn the heretic! Burn him at the shrine of Valve under the stairs! All praise Gabe Newell, ALL PRAISE GABE NEWELL!

Our GabeN in Valve,
hallowed be your name.
Your Steam come,
your will be done,
on PC, as it is in Valve.
Give us this day our daily sales,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into consoles,
but deliver us from Microsoft, and Sony, and Nintendo.

AMEN!

I'm starting to think that whatever I'll say, OP would just interpret it as the above, so I though I may as well type it out and have it there for everybody.

I agree. Having an insistent OP who clearly doesn't actually read what people say is a barrel of laughs, so might as well have our laughs with him.

 

[Laughing Man]

Make an exception and try to not be...this wrong.

As wrong as sticking time and investment in to what looks to be nothing more than a multi corporation trolling. Seriously I got no problem with being wrong but the Steam box and EVERYTHING to do with Steam OS stinks of Gabe trying to troll Microsoft because he doesn't like the direction that MS is going with Windows. If I am wrong then in five years time chances are I won't even care, if Gabe is wrong, well in five years times we can at least expect to still be using the bloated buggy mess that is the current Windows Steam client and I guess Gabe will only need a small pick up to carry his wallet instead if a dumper truck.

 

[Elberik]

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Just to make sure I understand you two.
Your interest in this product has nothing, repeat nothing, to do with the fact that it is coming from Valve. For the purpose of argument, you're telling me that if Tech Company Inc. released equivalent hardware & software you would be just as likely to buy it?

 

[lacktheknack]

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Just to make sure I understand you two.
Your interest in this product has nothing, repeat nothing, to do with the fact that it is coming from Valve. For the purpose of argument, you're telling me that if Tech Company Inc. released equivalent hardware & software you would be just as likely to buy it?

Yes. In fact, I would PREFER that Intel or AMD had been the ones to make and release it.

The fact that you automatically assume otherwise only shows that you made this thread not to learn or discuss, but only to affirm your own previous bias.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

2) Since when has exclusives completely driven sales of any product?

Software moves hardware. It's perhaps the most ironclad rule of such things. The Steam Box does not offer exclusive software meaning everything on the platform can be found elsewhere. Meanwhile, not all available software on PC will run on the Steam Box natively (given that the Steam Box relies on a flavor of Linux and all) meaning it is a platform with less software than it's nearest rival. As such, the question still stands - why would you buy a system with less software and support than a system with more software and support across the board?

Unless steam boxes are incredibly cheap compared to gaming PCs it largely seems like a fools choice. And going cheaper than a gaming PC is remarkably difficult. One can, from scratch, build a platform that plays battlefield 4 on PC at the highest settings without complaint for about 600 bucks including an operating system!

There are already plenty of Steam exclusives you really shouldn't think of Steam and Steam Machines as two different platforms they are one and the same.

Steam is, more than anything else, a store front and content management system. It offers little in the way of actually making a game run in any useful sense. What the steam box offers is, in effect, a platform that simply won't be able to play a substantial amount of the Steam catalog unless game developers come along and produce compatible versions - something that's unlikely to be widely done at the outset.

 

[DoPo]

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Just to make sure I understand you two.
Your interest in this product has nothing, repeat nothing, to do with the fact that it is coming from Valve. For the purpose of argument, you're telling me that if Tech Company Inc. released equivalent hardware & software you would be just as likely to buy it?

N, no no - you misunderstand - when somebody says they like modability and opennes, they actually say "I am a slave to Valve, the oh mighty Lords!"

... YES. YES THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING. Sheesh, I can't imagine how deep your confirmation bias is considering the mere thought of somebody liking something regardless of the company is so alien to you. If/when I get a Rapberry Pi or similar, it's not because of Valve (cuz - let's face it, I'd get one for similar reasons to why I could get a SteamBox. Therefore - Valve must be behind my decision) but because I like the thing, and I want to do stuff with it.

Also, for the record, I'm not getting a Steam machine, not right now, at least (or, you know, right when they are released) - I don't have the cash to spare and I'd rather wait but not get one immediately. I am, however, downloading Steam OS ASAP.