Musings - Steam Machine and Gaming Obsession

[nquinnell]

So, I'm starting another topic that will die in 12 posts

I'm very intrigued by the Steam Machine. The idea of having a gaming PC in cube form, run by controller, is exciting to me. HOWEVER...

Thirty years ago, I vowed never to play another PC game. I found out the hard way that if a game is played on the PC, I have addiction issues with it. I'll go in, and then have a HUGE issue in my ability to get out of it. Back in the day, with the original Diablo, I found myself coming home from work, starting to play, then blinking, and it was 4 a.m. and I had to go to work in a few hours. One particularly bad day had me skipping sleep, and falling asleep at my desk, resulting in bad things with my boss. I vowed never to play another PC game again. This was tested when the original Black and White game came out, and I thought I could just handle it. I couldn't. I had to put it away and never play it again.

Interestingly, I don't have this issue with my XBox. It would seem that if I'm on the couch, playing the game, I'll get distracted by something - A car driving by, an appliance making a sound, having to pee... - Which totally brings me out of the game, and back into reality. I've been able to put in large amounts of time into games - Skyrim, Mass Effect, etc., - and not get caught up so bad that I affect my work.

But with this Steam Machine, I could finally be able to play some of the PC games I never participated in, due to my anti-PC-Game issues. But I'm really nervous about getting one - because what if I get sucked in again, and the fact that the games are on a console and I'm on a couch don't matter? The purchase of the Steam Machine would also not be an insignificant expense, but then again, for the amount of time I spend on my XBox, it would be worth it.

Thoughts? Opinions? Anyone else have this issue?

 

[PlasticExistence]

I'm sorry you have that problem. I find it interesting that consoles don't have the same effect. Could it be the location of the gaming device affects you differently, as in: the living room doesn't allow for you to disassociate the same way in which you do with a PC?

I am planning on getting the new Steam Machine so long as the price isn't outrageous. I will get that new controller one way or another because I own a Steam Deck, and there have been instances of wanting to play a game while docked, but really needing those touch pads to control it successfully for those few actions where a mouse is a necessity.

I don't like chasing gaming PC specs, mostly because of the cost of computer components. I'm also a Linux-only kind of person with my home PCs, so lower spec machines serve me just fine. Valve doesn't have my unwavering loyalty, but as long as they keep doing good in the open source world, I'll likely keep supporting their efforts.

 

[richleader]

When Alienware Alphas were discontinued (the most perfectly elegant micro-pc ever made until the Apple Mini), I bought one for an absurdly low price for what the hardware was: had to put another $100 into it to replace the memory, swap the HD with an SSD, but it was my favorite computer ever. And for probably less than $300 with tax. The Steam shell using big picture (could boot straight into it with a selector at startup) and have a 100% gamepad experience if you wanted was awesome on the TV, as were all the TV apps you normally use but with Adblock Plus handling everything like on a PC.

But, as Plastic says, if this is really about your environment (and not just other changing factors in life), there's probably any number of PCs that you could adapt easily enough to your living room given modern wireless keyboards like the K400, etc., that might be more performance/dollar than this Steam Machine.

 

[MichaelC]

I think it is interesting the living room offers distraction. I never liked playing in the office. Office chairs are just not that comfortable to me. I have to get up and move around.

If this is really about the environment... I moved my PC into the living room years ago. Hooked it up to the TV which is a 49" Sony HD. Usually I sit on a living room chair, but sometimes I sit on the couch. I use KBM most of the time, but sometimes I use a controller. When on the chair, I have a small table for the mouse. This is next to the chair. On the couch, I use either a small ottoman with a flat bottom or just the couch for the mouse. Mice don't require pads or... they seem to work on most surfaces.

Point is, if the room offers lots of distractions, then unless there is a specific reason for the PC to be in another room, put it where your console is where you are easily distracted and don't have your marathon sessions. See if that works for you. Of course, this is dependent on whether your PC is currently able to play games. If you have to get a video card for instance vs a SteamMachine... is there a cost benefit for one over the other? Is there a benefit in having yet another (single purpose) device vs just adding a video card to your PC which is a multipurpose tool? Your PC allows you the option to play non-steam games and perform other tasks.

 

[nquinnell]

I'm sorry you have that problem. I find it interesting that consoles don't have the same effect. Could it be the location of the gaming device affects you differently, as in: the living room doesn't allow for you to disassociate the same way in which you do with a PC?.

I'm thinking so. I've always had the x-box in the front room, and not like, for example, hooked up in my bedroom.

 

[nquinnell]

But, as Plastic says, if this is really about your environment (and not just other changing factors in life), there's probably any number of PCs that you could adapt easily enough to your living room given modern wireless keyboards like the K400, etc., that might be more performance/dollar than this Steam Machine.

Thanks, Richleader. But its more about the convenience of having a box that is totally dedicated to games, rather than adapting a PC. Having a gamecube-looking-thing with another controller makes me think its only for games, not that it could other things. Yes, I have mental issues .

 

[nquinnell]

Point is, if the room offers lots of distractions, then unless there is a specific reason for the PC to be in another room, put it where your console is where you are easily distracted and don't have your marathon sessions. See if that works for you. Of course, this is dependent on whether your PC is currently able to play games. If you have to get a video card for instance vs a SteamMachine... is there a cost benefit for one over the other? Is there a benefit in having yet another (single purpose) device vs just adding a video card to your PC which is a multipurpose tool? Your PC allows you the option to play non-steam games and perform other tasks.

Thanks, Michael. I'm a tech guy - My home computer is way too old, and I only use it for e-mail and websearches I can't do at work. The last thing I want to do when I go home is to do computer stuff . I would be using the steam machine as a gaming device, and gaming device only.

 

[jdietz]

I didn't know PC makers made gaming PCs for 1080p gaming.
I don't know if these products were developed because of the threat of Steam Machine.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/These...form-PS5-Pro-and-Steam-Machine.1264970.0.html
If you don't want to click, the competing products are HP Omen 16L and One Gaming Next Level II. These are both about $1k USD and in my layperson opinion are suitable for 1080p gaming. Both are more powerful than Steam Machine (which itself will handle 1080p gaming just fine).

It's still blind speculation because we don't know Steam Machine price. i.e., those competitors are very likely more expensive than Steam Machine, which if true, wouldn't ruin the value proposition of Steam Machine. To me, Steam Machine is less attractive now because it doesn't compete well on price/performance.

Other factors: Steam machine is smaller and most likely quieter than those options, so it's more suitable for a home theater / living room setup.

 

[richleader]

I bought an Alienware Alpha on clearance for like $250 after they were discontinued, probably around 2015. (Had to put about $200 more into it for a SSD and to double the memory) Having everything boot up to Big Picture and being able to run internet apps with adblock was fantastic.

I deleted that install and moved it from my TV at one point to my office and it was wonderful having a nearly mac-mini sized unit to run everything off of. At that point the hardware was fairly aged but it still played Warframe and Magic Arena and most indie games that I wanted to play at my desk.

I wanted to replace it with an Intel Skullcanyon build

But the pricepoint was way too high compared to the discount I had gotten on the alienware alpha.

At any rate, small form factor PCs have been a thing that they keep trying over and over again and it sometimes works out when the nvidia xx60 part delivers acceptable 1080p performance. But time after time shows people aren't REALLY willing to pay for it.

And when the cycle happens again, everyone pretends it's for the very first time. Meanwhile, Valve's latest attempt is really just a zen shuttle and isn't even aggressive in its miniaturization.

 

[Papageno]

Apparently Valve took delivery of a shipment of Steam Controllers, which is feeding speculation that we might see it by July--maybe even with the Machine as well?:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlTGKqH9sJA