Quoting: wleoncio

Quoting: Purple Library GuyNo apps for Netflix and similar webby multimedia stuff. That's something well within Valve's power to fix, they should get on it.

I may be the minority here, but that's actually the biggest thing that drove me away from the Xbox 360. I wanted a simple videogame system, not an OS that clumsily tries to do everything my computer already does marvellously.

All the more ridiculous it is that Steam Machines can't easily do this. And it's not like it has to be built in (forced on you). The apps could be optional, and many people want them. In fact, the lack of Netflix and YouTube and a UPnP app are the reasons why I just keep a Linux distro with full repos (Debian) on my living room Steam machine, rather than SteamOS. If I have to much around with third-party repos and scripts and this and that, I may as well just use what I use on all of my other PCs... And my PS3 will stay hooked up so my wife can easily use the Netflix and YouTube apps without having to learn how to use GNOME3 (she uses XFce I think, with no virtual desktops) or shortcuts to switch between apps and virtual desktops and use my browser and whatnot. Hopefully SteamOS turns into a real living room OS sooner than later.

I, for one, would much rather have the multimedia apps than the built-in web browser that Steam has.

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Quoting: mirowell, most other consoles all had one `advantage`, if you will, which was that they had exclusive titles or at least top-titles on launch. honestly, I thought that could be HL3 here, I bet that this title would have kicked the steambox to a best seller.

Really? You thought Half-Life 3 was going to appear out of thin air? You don't seem to live in the same reality that Valve and the rest of the world does.

As far as the other consoles "advantage" - first, good to see you agree that Steam Machines are competing with consoles. Secondly, which other console has Civilization V? Euro Truck Simulator 2? FTL? Papers, Please? Sproggiwood? Legend of Grimrock? Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition? Baldur's Gate 2 Enhanced Edition? Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition? Pillars of Eternity? Sword Coast Legends? Cryptark? ARK: Survival Evolved? Cities: Skylines? Prison Architect? System Shock 2? Shadowrun Returns? Shadowrun Dragonfall? Shadowrun Hong Kong? Crusader Kings 2? Empire Total War? Company of Heroes 2? The Stanley Parable? The Book of Unwritten Tales? Deponia? Shadowgate? Super Win the Game? DOTA2? And many more that are not, or are not yet, on any other console.

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Wow. It's sad to see the comment section on such a beautiful game devolve into a completely irrelevant debate about DRM and Steam.

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Holy f-- are you for real? THIS is the extent of the vast improvements that were leaked early? This is a joke. AMD, seriously, what the hell? I want to give you money, but... THIS!

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Quoting: DuckeenieI follow loads of gaming/tech/Linux sites and haven't seen it publicised anywhere prior to this. Nice that the sale they had and told nobody about is gaining them so much publicity NOW!

Uh, it was advertised directly on the front page of Steam, AND in the Steam client itself.

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Hmm, it looks OK... I'm not a major roguelike fan or anything, but I loved Sproggiwood to death. I'm still looking for something as good as that.

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I've been playing mostly The Fall of the Dungeon Guardians and ... AdVenture Capitalist (WHY?? What is the point?! Why am I clicking these things?!). And also been doing a lot of testing and making profiles for the Steam Controller.

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Quoting: ricki42

Quoting: Purple Library GuyNow this makes sense to me. There's a selling point here somewhere. I'm not sure, for example, if an Alpha boots straight into Big Picture. I'm not sure if you ever need to do any configuring in Windows

I don't know how much configuring you have to do on the Alpha, but engadget had this comparison in their review last month [External Link]:

Quoting: EngadgetThe Alienware Steam Machine is everything that Windows-based PC "game consoles" aren't. It's easy to set up, easy to use, extremely reliable and practically idiot-proof. Let me invoke the Alienware Alpha one more time to illustrate this: When I booted up Dell's original media-center gaming PC for the first time, it presented me with a "grab your mouse and keyboard" Windows 8 setup screen. It was awful. The new machine? It showed me a simple outline of Valve's Steam Controller, asked me to press a single button and then effortlessly led me through signing EULAs, adjusting TV settings, setting up the internet and logging into Steam. It was easy.

Exactly my point. Thankfully you were able to read, unlike the first response to my post. :P

Also, beyond just needing a keyboard and mouse, Windows does annoying things like forced updates, including forced reboots, even while you are in the middle of doing something. Yeah, you can delay it, but at some point, you just can't, and even if you're in the middle of a game, or in the middle of a Skype call, or in the middle of a 3D render - too bad! It's reboot time! Because Microsoft knows what's best for you.

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Quoting: BillNyeTheBlackGuyI would tell people to get an Alpha instead of a steam machine.

Windows as a gaming console OS is crap. And last I checked, the Alpha ships with the 360 gamepad, not a Steam Controller, which is going to cut down the number of playable games by a ton. Keyboard and mouse in the living room sucks, unless maybe you own one of those virginity-protecting keyboard and mouse tray things.

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Quoting: KeyrockAs an aside, I hope they didn't fix females in the game peeing while standing up, that was hilarious, I'll miss it if it's gone.

If they did, maybe they will add it back in with some free She-Wee DLC?

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