I think the idea is to make money and increase the value of their company.
Not to mention that this thing is HUGE. I highly doubt you'll ever see anyone on the bus or train playing this thing. It'd need a backpack to itself lol.I think people overestimate the ‘on the go’.
A lot of us just like to play on the couch, in front of the tv, away from the desk. I have a monster PC but just can’t be arsed to play on it anymore.
We’ve all gotten use to tablets and handhelds.
Not to mention that this thing is HUGE. I highly doubt you'll ever see anyone on the bus or train playing this thing. It'd need a backpack to itself lol.
If you're going to play this at home and you already have a monster pc then there are already solutions that you probably own that will do the job better.
Feels like people are going in circles back to old Switch discussions. It’s exactly the same with Switch, while it’s smaller and lighter it’s still not something you carry around in the pockets of your pants, you have it in a bag. And the portability is the reason it’s selling, without that it’s just a weak console. And yes, without the portability Steam Deck is just a weak PC. Not much more to say really, we just have to wait and see if portability is a Nintendo exclusive thing or if it can be interesting for PC (and Xbox) gaming too.Not to mention that this thing is HUGE. I highly doubt you'll ever see anyone on the bus or train playing this thing. It'd need a backpack to itself lol.
If you're going to play this at home and you already have a monster pc then there are already solutions that you probably own that will do the job better.
And we already know that by itself Nintendo exclusivity does not carry a product, see: Wii U. So perhaps if the value proposition here is high enough, with all the features Steam and SteamOS bring it over a traditional Windows PC (as far as being a gaming device goes), perhaps it will indeed succeed in establishing itself.Feels like people are going in circles back to old Switch discussions. It’s exactly the same with Switch, while it’s smaller and lighter it’s still not something you carry around in the pockets of your pants, you have it in a bag. And the portability is the reason it’s selling, without that it’s just a weak console. And yes, without the portability Steam Deck is just a weak PC. Not much more to say really, we just have to wait and see if portability is a Nintendo exclusive thing or if it can be interesting for PC (and Xbox) gaming too.
I'd love to know what percentage of people actually play their switch "on the go". I'd take a stab and say it's quite a low percentage. Maybe kids in school, but that's about it I'd think. I've literally never seen a single person playing one in public, even on public transport to big cities here in Australia.Feels like people are going in circles back to old Switch discussions. It’s exactly the same with Switch, while it’s smaller and lighter it’s still not something you carry around in the pockets of your pants, you have it in a bag. And the portability is the reason it’s selling, without that it’s just a weak console. And yes, without the portability Steam Deck is just a weak PC. Not much more to say really, we just have to wait and see if portability is a Nintendo exclusive thing or if it can be interesting for PC (and Xbox) gaming too.
I’m not disagreeing but the portability is still what makes it anything other than a weak console, and it is certainly popular.I'd love to know what percentage of people actually play their switch "on the go". I'd take a stab and say it's quite a low percentage. Maybe kids in school, but that's about it I'd think. I've literally never seen a single person playing one in public, even on public transport to big cities here in Australia.
The thing is that you can already do that with your phone and steam link, and it’ll look better and be at significantly higher settings and resolution and on a better screen. I can play my steam games at high resolution and Ultra settings on my 1600p 10.5” OLED Tab S6 or my 6.8” 1440p OLED S21 Ultra via stream link. Why would I choose the Deck at low-medium settings and 720p over that?I’m not disagreeing but the portability is still what makes it anything other than a weak console, and it is certainly popular.
Slouching in the couch and gaming while the TV is occupied or gaming in bed is likely more common ways to use the portability. Goes for both Switch and Steam Deck.
Lets not exaggerated please, I use Steam Link, Nvidia Shield, Remote Play, Geforce Now, Virtual Desktop etc etc. It works but not as well as native gaming.The thing is that you can already do that with your phone and steam link, and it’ll look better and be at significantly higher settings and resolution and on a better screen. I can play my steam games on my 1600p 10.5” OLED Tab S6 or my 6.8” 1440p OLED S21 Ultra via stream link. Why would I choose the Deck over that?
If your network is good there’s no difference.Lets not exaggerated please, I use Steam Link, Nvidia Shield, Remote Play, Geforce Now, Virtual Desktop etc etc. It works but not as well as native gaming.
The thing is that you can already do that with your phone and steam link, and it’ll look better and be at significantly higher settings and resolution and on a better screen. I can play my steam games at high resolution and Ultra settings on my 1600p 10.5” OLED Tab S6 or my 6.8” 1440p OLED S21 Ultra via stream link. Why would I choose the Deck at low-medium settings and 720p over that?
That’s what I’ve been getting at - the majority of people that this is for already have other ways of doing this better, because they’re just gonna be playing at home anyway and they have better PCs than the Deck.
I took this earlier today:
Crysis 2 at Ultra settings and 1440p.
Of course it is. You get added latency and image artifacts. It’s how I currently do all my comfy couch PC gaming and for many games I play I think it works okay, but it’s not like native gaming, that’s just the reality of the tech.If your network is good there’s no difference.
Depends on your network, like I said. For me it’s completely negligible to the point where it may as well be native.Of course it is. You get added latency and image artifacts. It’s how I currently do all my comfy couch PC gaming and for many games I play I think it works okay, but it’s not like native gaming, that’s just the reality of the tech.
Having native PC gaming on a portable PC with built in controller with every control method known to man included is going to be a whole other level of awesome.
Edit: And you can obviously do your Ultra visuals in-house streaming as well, without the need of that extra Xbox controller
It can be better or worse based on your network, sure, but there are lots of near scientific tests out there showing exact figure for input latency as well as display latency in optimal conditions, so in the end it’s just that you’re used to it. I’m using it too so I don’t say it’s crappy, I’m a big supporter of streaming and in some cases I prefer PC games through Geforce Now over native consoles games. But I still know it’s not like playing natively. I think 2 frames of extra latency is what you can expect, or more depending on your network.Depends on your network, like I said. For me it’s completely negligible to the point where it may as well be native.
I don’t want to play with a 1.5KG controller. I don’t have an “extra” controller either, it came with my series X. I spent all of zero dollars on a “comfy couch” (god I hate that term haha) device yet I have one. Multiple actually, all of which have better screens than the deck and with a more comfortable controller.
The thing is that you can already do that with your phone and steam link, and it’ll look better and be at significantly higher settings and resolution and on a better screen. I can play my steam games at high resolution and Ultra settings on my 1600p 10.5” OLED Tab S6 or my 6.8” 1440p OLED S21 Ultra via stream link. Why would I choose the Deck at low-medium settings and 720p over that?
That’s what I’ve been getting at - the majority of people that this is for already have other ways of doing this better, because they’re just gonna be playing at home anyway and they have better PCs than the Deck.
I took this earlier today:
Crysis 2 at Ultra settings and 1440p.
We’ll see, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I’m honestly more excited about this than I’ve been for either of the new consoles. Somehow this feels fresh, even though it’s really not.Looking at their hardware track record I'd say this is destined for the same green storage cube my Steam controller and Steam Link are sitting in.
Regardless of commercial success, one thing about all of Valve hardware is that it's still supported.We’ll see, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I’m honestly more excited about this than I’ve been for either of the new consoles. Somehow this feels fresh, even though it’s really not.
Regarding their hardware I still use my Steam Link. Still functional. But the Steam Controller… Yeah… it’s very dusty.
O.......K......? Kinda spoken like someone who wouldn't need it to grow back in the first place.To be honest, that looks like the sort of setup that would make my virginity grow back.
You think people don't use GoG/Game Pass/EA Play/Ubisoft/Epic game store/etc?"why would they make their platform open and allow people to replace the OS and install their competitor's stores?"
You think people would install other stores? Lol.
Why on earth would you want lower required minimum specs for games?! We should be demanding higher minimum specs, not lower. Imagine if all games had an SSD and 16GB of RAM as a requirement? Gaming would be so much better.As was mentioned before, if this thing is popular it could create a new base spec for pc games. Developers could make “Steam Deck” settings for there games, targeting 720p/60 or 30. This in turn would encourage developers to optimize their games, perhaps creating a development ecosystem for the system. A result of this would be games having lower system specs which makes the entry barrier lower overall for pc gamers, thus expanding the user base (for Steam).
If it sells. If not, it’ll be yet another curio from Valve. It will also be a killer portable emulation machine
A minority use gog and the others aren't worth mentioning. So no.You think people don't use GoG/Game Pass/EA Play/Ubisoft/Epic game store/etc?
Well that's wrong lol.A minority use gog and the others aren't worth mentioning. So no.
I can't imagine with all of the exclusives Epic/Tencent pays for that they haven't brute forced their way into a significant share of the market.A minority use gog and the others aren't worth mentioning. So no.
Because 99% of what higher requirements allow you to get with modern games, is doable on lower requirements with a bit of effort. It justs costs more to make and buy the hardware to run it. I've yet to see a modern AAA high-requirement game that didn't do something I could easily see a simpler, less resource-intensive game doing. In fact I know of one very old indie game that makes better use of extremely potent hardware than all of the AAA games this and past year together, because it actually needs that computing power and RAM.Why on earth would you want lower required minimum specs for games?! We should be demanding higher minimum specs, not lower. Imagine if all games had an SSD and 16GB of RAM as a requirement? Gaming would be so much better.
If you keep the minimum specifications super low and keep making them lower, you stifle innovation and progress. This isn't new or controversial.Because 99% of what higher requirements allow you to get with modern games, is doable on lower requirements with a bit of effort. It justs costs more to make and buy the hardware to run it. I've yet to see a modern AAA high-requirement game that didn't do something I could easily see a simpler, less resource-intensive game doing. In fact I know of one very old indie game that makes better use of extremely potent hardware than all of the AAA games this and past year together, because it actually needs that computing power and RAM.
Dwarf Fortress, if you're wondering. One word about graphics out of you and I'll melt your motherboard with fifteen thousand years of a planet's worth of history.
edit: In a less snarky manner, a lower base spec allows games to reach a broader range of people, most of whom don't live in the US and thus can't afford constant upgrades, and also demands that a developer actually pay attention to optimization. So that if a game's "minimum spec" is 1080p@30, or even 720p@30, on reasonable hardware, all the 'enthusiasts' who demand eye-gouging resolutions and framerates, can actually get what they want with hardware they're likely to already have, including that of the consoles. The game runs better for more people, reviews and sells better, and in all likelihood doesn't cost all that more to make.
If you keep the minimum specifications super low and keep making them lower, you stifle innovation and progress. This isn't new or controversial.
Valve has the money. Look what they did with Steambox and that controller with the double pepperonis. Didnt flinch them one bit.The throw shit at wall see what sticks blue ocean strategy
Almost all handheld ecosystems are "garden walled" devices e.g. Android, iOS, Switch.Gabe Newell in an interview to IGN said that "Hitting Steam Deck Price Was 'Painful' but 'Critical'". That means they might be eating some of the costs to release their PC/console at 399, but at the same time, it's completely open and people can even install other stores on it.
Something seems wrong. If they're investing in a long term plan to increase the adoption of Steam, why would they make their platform open and allow people to replace the OS and install their competitor's stores?
Just for some context, in article Gabe also says “We’re doing this for the long haul. And there’s a lot of opportunity.”, so this is clearly a long term plan and they've been working on this for a long time.
What do you think is their master plan?
The thing is that you can already do that with your phone and steam link, and it’ll look better and be at significantly higher settings and resolution and on a better screen. I can play my steam games at high resolution and Ultra settings on my 1600p 10.5” OLED Tab S6 or my 6.8” 1440p OLED S21 Ultra via stream link. Why would I choose the Deck at low-medium settings and 720p over that?
Nope, not at all true. If it's "absolutely disgusting" for you then you need a better network setup.Because streaming games to a phone is cheeks, no matter your internet speeds. The input lag is absolutely disgusting.
I.e. you need to live in a richer family, neighborhood, town, or country. "Better network" is like "better air", you don't always get to choose.Nope, not at all true. If it's "absolutely disgusting" for you then you need a better network setup.
If you're on GAF posting about games, you've already long past that threshhold of pure nerd, brotherTo be honest, that looks like the sort of setup that would make my virginity grow back.
No, just buy a better router.I.e. you need to live in a richer family, neighborhood, town, or country. "Better network" is like "better air", you don't always get to choose.
A better router for what, my 3G cellular? If that's the only thing available where I live?No, just buy a better router.