Quoting: FergleFergleson

it's come with plenty of bugs across all platforms

This is something I was especially concerned about for this release. Paradox has had a lot of quality problems in the last few years and IIRC this is the first update for Surviving Mars not being done by the original SM team. All of the good SM work up to this point was done by Haemiont Games but for whatever reason they're out and someone called Abstraction is in.

This is definitely a release I was excited for but also definitely one I'm waiting on. :(

Paradox sacked their entire publishing QA department last year with very little warning and didn't even tell their other departments. They outsourced the work instead. They kept their own development QA who I believe work on their own PDS titles but there seems to have been some overlap on work and overall Paradox release quality has really suffered since then with significant bugs in most titles.

EDIT: There have also been issues reported with interal problems including bullying and harassment, and their CEO just suddenly quit citing irreconcilable differences with the board over the company strategy. Seems their incredible growth over the last few years is resulting in some issues, along with similar abuse and discrimination coming out of most game companies.

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Quoting: slaapliedjeOr that the earth is flat! :P

Yeah, I don't see a whole lot of people buying it just to format and install Windows on it. There are plenty of Windows Mobile PCs out there. Windows could potentially also stink for the controls that the Valve guys have been tweaking and perfecting to run under Linux. Windows' game input can consume a full satchel of richards as far as I'm concerned. Only Windows would force me to disable drivers in device manager because it can't figure out that my mouse is not a game pad, or even allow me to re-order the game controllers it does detect, so that I can actually get the controller to work. This happens on a lot of games in Windows... Never had such an issue in Linux.

I once plugged in one of Microsoft's own USB joysticks, a Sidewinder, and Windows detected it as a Palm handheld computer and installed it as such. Manually sorting it all out was a right pain.

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Quoting: Philadelphus

Quoting: Purple Library GuyShe's older, but as far as I can tell the younger supposedly all tech-savvy generation is pretty much the same--they're just really comfortable clicking those icons, but they mostly don't look beneath that.

A bit off-topic, but a friend of mine was talking this past week how she was teaching students in high school and had to show them how to do complicated computer things like…creating a folder to put their project photos in (it was an art class), or selecting more than one file at a time. :dizzy: Apparently "digital native generation" doesn't automatically equate to "knows anything about computers beyond surface level"! :happy:

I do IT support and I see a regular pattern that above a certain group (around 60) there is a dropoff in IT knowledge, but now also below 25 there is also a similar dropoff. Go close to 20 and below, and it is intense. I regularly have to talk people under 25 through IT basics, even on Windows. How to create and navigate folders, use Outlook, how to use the start menu, what a browser is and the difference between them, and so much more. The Pi Foundation has it right: education in IT is severely lacking these days and everyone should have to use a Pi and learn IT basics on it.

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Quoting: SpykerI also share this concern than most people will put Windows on it, even if Valve nailed Proton compatibility and performance, those who use the Microsoft Gamepass will want it on the device too and we can't do anything against that.

I think a lot of people will just play it as is, no different to any other handheld or console. If people want to install Windows, they can and probably will end up regretting it if it doesn't work exactly as hoped for. They probably will blame Valve too, but better that than it being a locked down device, and they can always go back to SteamOS setup as no warranty or secure feature tripped. As long as the majority are happy and it boosts the overall success, they can complain all they like in their reddit corners. Maybe we will even see some converted if they rage on a Windows install then realise SteamOS works well.

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Quoting: slaapliedjeFunny thing is, with Windows 10, the opposite can be true as well, where games haven't been updated to work with it, and you're hosed if you run anything newer than Windows 7. Linux in this case with Proton/Wine has way better compatibility.

This is very true. I mentioned to a Windows 10 friend that I was finally going to play Fallout 3 and New Vegas. He described the misery of getting them working under Win10 and I expected similar under Proton. Aside from the Windows Live DLL needed for Fallout 3, they both ran perfectly with no fixes required whatsoever and I have yet to experience the regular crashes reported by Windows 10 users. He was very surprised by this, assumed it would be even worse for me than it would be for him.

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Quoting: scaineGreat to see actual hardware, instead of a loose spec.

Great to see it running Linux on custom AMD hardware.

Great to see twin sticks and twin touchpads.

Great to see a pledge from Valve on the subject of anticheat. Very excited by this!

Maybe I missed it, but I'm surprised that third party app support like Netflix, Prime and Spotify hasn't been mentioned?

But overall, I'm super-excited. Reckon I'll stick myself in the pre-order queue. For £4, I can always change my mind when my delivery date comes through and they ask for payment. Although... I doubt I will change my mind. This whole thing just looks pretty damn epic.

I think the third party apps built in would really cement this device, for those who just want them there ready to use. You can obviously just load up a browser and login or install services manually yourself, but a slicker ready to go option would be best for most people.

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Quoting: Solitary

Quoting: KohlyKohl

Quoting: Purple Library Guy

Quoting: KohlyKohlI'm also concerned about the switch to Arch. I would have preferred a more stable distribution such as Ubuntu.

It's not like you're going to be installing a stack of AUR stuff. Someone's carefully set up bare-bones Arch is probably very stable.

Arch is inherently less stable by design. Adding in the AUR just makes it more unstable. Arch has its place I just don't think a consumer device is one of them.

Just because it's based on Arch doesn't mean it needs to have Arch issues. The updates are still tested and controlled by Valve. It is SteamOS, not Arch.

Absolutely agree. I run Arch on my desktop and some various home servers. My desktop is the messiest with AUR stuff wedged and lots of random bits I tinker with, and even that hasn't had any issues in a long time. The issues I have had were ones I caused. My servers are kept lean and focused, and I have never had an issue with them. Even when I slack off and realise I haven't updated packages in months, it all just works as it's as minimal as possible.

On the contrary, I recently switched to Ubuntu to give it a go again, expecting it to be something that would just work and have a decent default experience. Sure, it installed easily and had a flashy GUI, and I didn't have to manually do everything as I do when installing Arch, however I have had more issues with Ubuntu in a few weeks than I had on Arch in the last two years. Stuff that just worked in Arch due to up to date packages and a huge central repo has involved forum scouring for fixes, random private repos added, and a host of other issues. Give me Arch anyday.

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I want one, really badly. I am hoping that with all the protondb info out there and whatever they get from Steam directly that it has a Lutris like system as well for setting up Proton correctly for the games that need it. That is a missing piece in the desktop version and something Lutris manages far more effectively. Also, if they can improve their video streaming options with it or even just offer them as available to be installed for use, that will add another important aspect. Carry your whole Steam library and all your streaming films and TV with you in one package.

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Would a device with swappable controller bits work? Like a way to have the section where a D pad/stick would go instead be able to have it unclipped and fitted with a physical D pad or stick or the touchpad like the Steam controller or potentially even something else. Customise the controller setup to your preference.

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Be aware that Elite Dangerous does not launch on GE 6.8. Tried both as default and with the tweaks used prior to 6.8 and nothing happens, the launcher won't even load.

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