Read more.“Because that's where the vast bulk of game software and computer gamers are today”
Read more.“Because that's where the vast bulk of game software and computer gamers are today”
So it's essentially it's just an overpriced small form factor PC that ships with windows on it. What makes it a console?
JimmyBoy (13-03-2013)
Think I'll stick to my more traditional gaming PC, sure its in a big case, but its a lot more powerful than this thing and cost about the same (maybe less?)
My thought exactly, "console" implies appliance-level low maintenance, fool-proof integration. This news just reinforces that the Piston is just a low-spec, over priced, ugly & non-standard form factor PC. A Lian-Li ITX case, 2.5" SSD, top line AMD APU, RAM would cost a lot less, look nicer and probably perform better without being that much bigger.
The real Steam box needs to be as easy and simple as other consoles, it could be Linux underneath but it needs to just boot straight a simple 10ft UI, I'm sure Valve know this. If the mass-market future of living room entertainment and gaming was a full blown Windows PC then Microsoft would waste no time sticking it on the NeXtBox, fact is most people want something a lot simpler and easier and a full Windows box dedicated for your TV is a small niche of nerds like me. Most folk who want to see their Windows device output on their TV are better served by buying an HDMI cable/WiDi etc. Microsoft know this from experience, everyone else knows this, Xi3 are the only ones who seem not to.
I'm not sure where this product is aimed. PC Gamers are already going to have PCs and console gamers are just going to stick with a Playstation or Xbox. Then people who have neither probably aren't interested in gaming at all.
If their prices weren't so high then I'd be willing to recommend Xi3 Z3RO or X5A as a device to attach to the back of a TV to use for watching on demand content from iPlayer, 4oD and the like along with Netflix because the current offering that can do this are not good enough. BBC iPlayer and 4oD are the players I try to use on our Sony blu-ray player and Wii console only to find half the content missing, stuff that we had missed by a couple of hours that I found and played using a laptop.
Perhaps later on they'll get the prices down enough for the rest of the market to afford but right now they have priced themselves above what I am willing to recommend to any family or friends.
Couldn't agree more, even the crowd who like things to be uber-diddy will be split due to its questionable appearance. This product has an insanely slim target market and when he says he is surprised by the number of pre-orders, i can only assume that's because he didn't think he would get any!
aidanjt (13-03-2013)
“It's also important to note that the Piston Console will allow gamers to access Steam regardless of what our relationship is or isn't with Valve,”
Because it's just a small form factor Windows PC.
“Piston will also support a raft of other Internet-based gaming and entertainment platforms,"
Because it's just a small form factor Windows PC.
"In this way, the Piston Console could be perceived as something more than just a Steam Box...”
Because it's just a small form factor Windows PC.
I don't really understand what they're trying to do with the marketing/branding of this product. It's more related to a net-top than a console.
Anyone with half a brain cell would just stick to a pc so who is this aimed at? Those with only a quarter brain cell? But even then, people that stupid aren't going to be interested in this, they are the 'Xbox play nothing but cod and insult people on the mic types' so they will have no interest in this so I really can't see who would have pre ordered?!?!
'Steam Box' sounds so bland like they didn't have any better ideas other than to take the Box from Xbox (just like the myriad non-Apple 'i' devices out there).
They should have called it "The Steam Machine" or some such.
All this makes me wonder if it's just for publicity? I mean look at us we're all talking about Xi3 and Piston/Valve? Valve are not idiots and know how to build up something, just ask anyone what game they would like most and pretty much everyone will say Half Life 3. Business can be very dirty sometimes and if Valve are using Xi3 for free publicity in the PC tech/gaming community for their new console then they are geniuses.
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