Next Gen Consoles

I didn't catch all the info on the new Vita model (not the TV box, but the handheld revision) until now. I feel like you'd really be missing out if you got a Vita with an LCD screen though.

volvocrusher wrote:I don't really see that happening anytime soon. Vita doesn't exactly have the kind of library strong enough to make it a reality.

Wait is this referring to it helping increase the install base or people double-dipping with the TV one and then the portable one?

People double dipping. I'm cautiously optimistic on increasing the install base.

@Trip: I was pretty excited about an overhauled Vita because of the alternate colors in particular. Then I read about the LCD and was turned off. Can't a guy get his color options without sacrificing technology?

Also, I'm curious about the "installed base" thing. Numbers or links? That's not me being a dick, just genuinely asking. The double-dipping thing is valid, but I'd like to know what the global sales are in general for platform AND games. Too lazy to research it myself.

When it comes to the library, I'm hopeful with Sony since they're throwing their weight behind Borderlands 2.

Ouya looks to be developed for small developers and the tech-savvy. No way can Vita TV cut into that. Example: I want a Ouya so I can EMU that shit and put away my obsolete consoles. Sony would never allow that. Microtransactions on the android platform is solid, but from what I know of Sony they will still try and squeeze $10-$15 for a $2 game.

It does feel absolutely criminal to pay $10 for a PSOne game, regardless of how popular it is (which is how they're priced). MGS is a short-ass game but it's priced more than much longer games so...fuck that. Should just be a fixed price.

Valve is supposedly going to actually talk about Steam Box next week. Newell talked about it at a Linux convention. If that means anything. At this point I'm considering building my own living room PC since it seems no one else can get their shit together. What's out there now is priced too ridiculous to use only for gaming.

I'm super excited to see some Steam machines. Valve's Gabecube sounds just as open as a usual PC. I just hope they're priced decently and that they catch on quickly enough to get reliable support.

I think it would be incredible if there was ongoing testing for these things. No more wondering if you could play a game. Steam could tell exactly what hardware you have, and reliably predict how well the game would work for you (assuming you don't have some serious issues with your particular system.) Of course this sort of goes on already, but it's hard to tell sometimes thanks to the huge variety of hardware out there that's made with all sorts of uses in mind

Even if it could just run what a PC could it'd be...good, with the whole steam catalog. pretty stoked.

Well it's using a Linux-based OS, so it can't run everything. Valve says "hundreds" of games are supported right now. Everything else would have to be streamed from another computer. Until it really catches on, a SteamOS version of something like WINE sounds like a real possibility

The STEAM controller is...interesting. Not what I was expecting as the 3rd announcement. Interesting nonetheless.

I don't care what anyone else thinks, I LOVE this controller. If Valve makes a quality product this controller could be something incredible

It could be the best thing to happen to modern controllers or the next power glove. I'm interested regardless. I was just hoping the announcement was something else >.>

Also, I didn't even dare look at the comments section in any of the articles I read about it. I'll go check them out after I've done my fill of surfing for the night. I want to stay on friendly terms with the internet for the time being

The button placement looks odd but the touchpads could be great if they work as advertised.

Aja, I was expecting a Half Life 3 flip out when you commented on this. Where is it?

Well they had already made it clear that the announcement wouldn't be Half-Life 3... I was just hoping it would be included in there somewhere. Like a "By the way, we're launching a new engine/game with this thing" sort of deal.

Where the hell is that game, though? Seriously

I'll do it, I'll do it! *raises hand*

Yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic. We know Valve is worth every penny when it comes to software stuff, but they haven't proved themselves in the hardware category yet but I think they care about their consumer enough that you can color me excited.

Valve is quite possibly one of the most overrated things in the gaming industry.

Thanks for just ending your best game on the fucking edge and not mentioning it ever again for years on end. Thanks for making a clunky, slow and unreliable DRM client. Thanks for making DOTA 2 a piece of shit. Yeah what a great fucking company.

Also that controller looks fucking ridiculous.

What's up with the Steam DRM thing? I see many complaints about it but am unsure what the deal is. The device registration? That hacks me off too. I don't use the client much since once I buy a game I'm OK with using other means to download and install it.

Someone explain, please. Or link articles.

Steam is pretty unobtrusive DRM, really. People probably wouldn't use it if it didn't offer cheap games and a unified community, but as far as I know you can keep it in offline mode for months at a time. Back when I had about 2 steam games I was constantly offline without any troubles. The problems came when I connected to the internet and neglected to update the client. Then it bitched at me. It also used to force you to sign in online once before switching to offline mode, but I think that's been changed.

What annoys me, though, is when you buy a game on a disc and it forces you to download the game through steam. It also complains until you install directx for every single game, and it goes and signs me out for no apparent reason pretty often (fortunately this never interferes with me when I'm playing online)

Hmm. That clears up what people are talking about. Thanks^^ Although, if you're using the service and don't know how to use it properly, you probably shouldn't complain.

You can buy games on disc that then require STEAM? This is quite the world we live in. Then again, doesn't EA do that with Origin and MS with GFWL? I wish companies would get off Apple's nuts and realize that's why the majority of the world doesn't use Apple. I'm not bashing any of these companies. They can DRM the shit out of everything and I'll buy it if there's a way to circumvent it. Yarr!

I found a few more details about the steam controller and some feedback on the trackpads

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/201195/Select_game_developers_used_the_Steam_Controller_Heres_what_they_said.php

It sounds pretty cool but I still have a hard time picturing what the trackpads actually feel like. The related article with one of the Super Meat Boy devs suggests that the final version might have little d-pad nubs on the trackpads

I saw that he mentioned it was 3D printed so I googled it and found this:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/28/steam-controller-dev-reactions/

And "haptic feedback" are a combination of words I had to also google:

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamController/

This is some sci-fi shit, mang. I'm not going to ask for the Millenium Falcon yet, but a speederbike would be cool.

Wii U now supports Wii games on the gamepad. Still requires a WiiMote though. Which makes it less exciting but still cool.

So Watchdogs got delayed. I have no interest in it still, but those of you planning on getting it for PS4 going to replace that with something else now?

Man that is a real bummer for me I don't know what game to get now. That was by far the game I was most looking forward to. Help me get excited for something else guys.