I don't get it - at least two of these games (Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior) and possibly the third (Blood - but I'm unfamiliar with the title) have been available on GOG.com (and via other stores) for ages... Am I missing something?

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Quoting: maodzedunYou were saying...?

Apparently nothing of relevance...

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Gone are the days when one can upgrade their stuff forever I guess...

I wonder if this is the approach all the Steam Machine vendors will take, or if we'll see more "traditional" computers (i.e. desktop-like)?

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Okay, the GPU in the Alpha - which is likely to be the same or similar to the Alienware Steam Machine - appears to be a custom connection...

That's just retarded, but it also means you win - the GPU would be virtually impossible to replace.

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Quoting: maodzedunDude, they're using a slightly modified mobile GPU. You CAN'T upgrade it - accept it. Alienware is not a card manufacturer and Nvidia is certainly not going to make a special line of GPUs just so they can be replaces in Alienware Steam Machines, especially when 90% of the other brands will be using pci extensions in order to put proper GPUs in the small cases. So how about next time, instead of playing all smug and know-it-all and telling people to "watch the video", you stop and think over the information that was just given to you.

You can replace a graphics card in a laptop - with difficulty... How is this any different?

And pull your head out of your backside - I was pointing-out that "Chris" directly implied it can be upgraded, and the fact that even if this is a mobile GPU, it can still be replaced (it just won't be easy)!

Never once did I say or imply that it'd be as simple as replacing the GPU in an "everyday" computer... Only that based on the information provided by Alienware in this article, it can be upgraded.

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Quoting: EKRboiI know Alienware overall has a pretty bad rap for being overpriced, however I think some people forget who owns them. Dell owns Alienware and is one of, if not the only big name PC maker who offers both desktops AND laptops pre-installed with Linux(Ubuntu) and has done so for a while now.

Yeah, in a list of countries I could count on one hand!

Just ask Dell Australia about Linux-based operating systems, and you'll quickly get the usual "We do not endorse or offer any form of support for Linux-based operating systems; we recommend and support only Microsoft operating systems"... Dell overseas may be enthusiastic about Linux-based operating systems, but locally (i.e. in Australia), they're still very pro-Microsoft.

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Quoting: ElectricPrismSo my brother wanted a Steam Controller for his Steam Linux PC for graduation.

Sony's DUALSHOCK 4 (i.e. the Sony PlayStation 4 controller) is natively supported by Linux-based operating systems... They added the support about a year ago - just pair it with the computer over bluetooth, and you're good to go!

I'm still not sold on the unique Steam Controller... But I might change my mind once I actually try one (at least, that's what everyone else has said once they've actually tried one).

The Microsoft XBox 360 controllers though?

Never liked them, and I could never get used to them... So it's nice to have alternatives that work just as well.

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Quoting: IlyaHe's right though, Alienware is the one where the GPU is fixed on the motherboard (at least according to the steam forums). Not sure if you can add another one yourself.

I find it unlikely users already know that the GPU is fixed to the motherboard, considering that even those pre-ordering won't get their Alienware Steam Machines until October... Unless users in the Steam Forums are referring to the Alienware Alpha, which won't necessarily be the same as this Alienware Steam Machine (particularly given Alienware have made various hardware changes as a result of the "learning experience" that is the Alienware Alpha).

Either way, "Chris" from Alienware implies that the GPU can be upgraded ("fully upgradeable", he claims of this 'Machine in the video), being unable to change the GPU is no different to any laptop (including "gaming" laptops) and if you're really keen, there's no reason one can't remove the GPU from the motherboard... After all, this is almost certainly using a desktop GPU (considering it's using a desktop CPU), so it's not that hard to do a bit of soldering and exchange the GPU (though anyone going to this extent is probably going to building their own Steam Machine, anyway).

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"After Alienware originally shipped out a Windows-based Steam Machine the Alienware Alpha"

A "Steam Machine" is a hardware platform that runs the Linux-based "SteamOS" operating system, not a Microsoft Windows-based operating system... This was a Windows-based gaming computer, nothing more.

There's a pretty big difference, a fact this site should be well aware of.

Call it being picky if you want, but the terminology is important, if Steam Machines and SteamOS are ever going to marketed correctly... Otherwise you'll confuse people, and possibly even discourage people from SteamOS (e.g. someone buys a Windows-based computer with the Steam client - "Look, I have a 'Steam Machine!'"

Just because the majority of the users on this site use Linux-based operating systems, a Windows-based computer user might be reading this article... More likely, a third-party site will pick this article up, and then someone reading that site will mus-interpret what a "Steam Machine" is.

Quoting: maodzedunI hate the fact you can't upgrade it.

Um, did you even watch the video?

Aside from the obvious fact that a "Steam Machine" is quite literally a standard computer running the Linux-based SteamOS in a flashy case (i.e. it's just as upgradable as any other computer), "Chris" from Alienware even specifically states that you can upgrade the components!

I daresay that some Steam Machines will go with a console-like approach and make component upgrades difficult (e.g. with custom cases purpose-designed to be secure and tamper-proof, etc...), but it certainly won't be impossible for any of them and I would imagine that the process would be simple for most Steam Machines...

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Quoting: render

Quoting: abelthorneNot sure if it's the video, the Linux port or the original game but isn't the sound a bit off, with hits being heard slightly too early?

It's just intended as a work-in-progress video so the people who've been patiently waiting for the port can have some sort of update and keep up hope!

Hopefully, when Skullgirls is finally released for Linux-based operating systems, it's not one of those "give and forget" cases... With a little luck, the developers will continue to maintain Skullgirls for Linux-based operating systems alongside the same game for other operating systems.

Though in saying that, it is reassuring to see that the developers have learnt from their mistakes and are seemingly trying their hardest to appease the Linux Community...

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