Steam Machine: Overview, Features and Feedback

Steam Machine is one of the most anticipated and interesting gaming consoles from the company Valve, known for the release of games such as Half-Life, DOTA 2, CS: GO and many more. When there was an idea to turn the original Steam client into a full-fledged operating system, which is complemented by the development of its own game controller and a unique gaming platform, no one could predict what would come of it.

Brief history of creation

In the process of creating Steam Machine, Valve provided users with access to a test version of SteamOS, which was available for download and use by anyone. At the same time, it is worth noting the fact that many manufacturers have released their versions of a completely finished version of the system, ranging from extremely simple mini-computers to large gaming stations that have an incredible configuration. However, at the Steam Dev conference the company independently demonstrated its representation of what the Steam Machine should look like.

What it is?

"Stimbox", as in the common people called the new platform, is a small personal computer that is completely assembled based on the Gigabyte BRIX Pro GB-BXi7-4770R system. By itself, it is a fairly compact device, equipped with a desktop processor, which has a sufficiently high power. Among other things, the special attention deserves the presence of 8 GB of its own RAM, as well as the presence of a hybrid drive, the volume of which is 1 TB. Of course, the Steam Machine also has a built-in Intel Iris Pro 5200 card. It's worth noting that the estimated cost of this device is approximately $ 850.

Device Features

The use of a desktop processor, which is distinguished by its impressive power consumption, requires the use of a high-power power supply. Of course, this unit is exclusively external, and at the same time its size can be roughly compared with the device itself, but it's not even surprising, because only the Steam Machine, whose price is also quite impressive, has a power consumption of 65 watts.

In particular, this indicates that the device will produce a sufficiently high noise level during operation, and if in quiet mode it is heard a little more than the consoles of the previous generation, then under serious loads the fan starts to give out full power, so that the noise becomes very noticeable .

In general, there is nothing outstanding in this hardware platform, but it is unlikely that anyone in principle expected from it any technological breakthroughs. The only strange thing for many is the fact that the Steam Machine features are provided by an extremely powerful processor, used in combination with a far from the most advanced graphics subsystem. The main feature is the presence of an individual OS.

Controller

Separate attention is paid by many users to Steam Controller, and it's not surprising, because, according to the developer, it should become a veritable revolution in the field of computer games. In fact, in many respects these words are justified, as many know that standard gamepads simply can not be used in the majority of computer games. At the same time, the device from Valve is ideally used for those projects that originally moved to PCs from consoles, were developed for several platforms or at least those that provide for the possibility of playing a game with control with the help of a gamepad.

Why is it needed?

The problem here is that in the library for Steam Machines, the game review allows you to see a huge number of very diverse projects that initially do not provide for the possibility of using a gamepad in the game process. Thus, a standard Xlnput-compatible controller in this case can not be used, and it was necessary to come up with a device that could be used in any games without the need for any additional processing.

It is quite natural that the task is extremely difficult, therefore, even while the Steam Machines prefix is being finalized, Valve is constantly improving the working prototype, and even those versions that periodically accessed by users are mostly modified versions, in Which in a few days or months were introduced various changes and additions. In particular, at the moment we can note the fact that the joystick does not have a central block of four tile buttons, and those buttons that are on it have a more traditional layout.

Wired or wireless?

A USB-microUSB cable with a length of 5 m is supplied to the device, due to which you can use the gamepad in the living room, so that the player can easily stay at a great distance from the TV. At the moment it is still unclear whether the final version will be wired, or the developers will still decide to release a wireless version of this device, but each of them differs both in its advantages and in certain disadvantages.

On the one hand, in the wireless version, the gamepad will be much easier to use, but on the other - you will need to use the input lag, and the battery will make the device more heavy and, most likely, will force a few to revise the initial approach to implementing a continuous feedback using touchscreens, because This will clearly affect the accelerated discharge of energy of this unit.

Convenient or not?

"Horns" have unusual bulges, but in fact, the non-standard form in the end, many seemed very and very convenient, because the gamepad is easy to fit in the palm of your hand and securely fixed. The only thing that is worth noting is the difficulty of intercepting the controller in the game process, but in fact in this case there is no need for it, because you can easily get to any desired button.

Triggers are located directly under the index fingers and at the same time are standard buttons without any analog control. An excellent innovation can be called the presence of additional buttons on the back of the device, which are located under anonymous and middle fingers, as their use is so convenient and simple that it becomes even surprising why no one has used this idea to date.

How relevant is it?

It is worth noting the fact that the company Valve still managed to ensure that their controller was supported by any games, and this is already a good push for the popularity of Steam Machines. Games after connecting this gamepad, even to a computer on the Windows operating system, begin to perceive it as a standard mouse, so that it can be used immediately after the connection, that is, you do not need to install all kinds of drivers and perform additional computer settings. The disks located under the thumbs are touch panels, but it should be noted that the right panel provides a rather interesting feedback, which is somewhat similar to the effect of scrolling the mouse scroll.

Innovations

The form of disks to date has not changed since the original announcement of this controller, and in fact, users say that this is not necessary, since it is with this option that you can say that the Steam Machine is an ideal gaming system that represents A full replacement for a standard PC. By using these discs, the gamepad allows you to almost completely replace the standard mouse for any computer game.

The only problem with sensory control is the absence of the so-called blind perception of the boundaries of the core, but in this case, a solution is also invented for this case. The developers have come up with just using two relief rings, due to which the user tactilely feels when his finger is located in the central zone, and when it is already beginning to gradually approach the edge of the disk. Many people who have already purchased Alienware Steam Machine, say that this innovation is also very, very convenient.

In the end, it can be noted that this device though is not the best in comparison with the usual keyboard and mouse, to which everyone has long been accustomed, but certainly acts as a very and very convenient option for their replacement for most games, and therefore it does not Is in no way comparable to the standard gamepads used in personal computers.

SteamOS

This operating system is included in the Linux family and is distributed absolutely free to all comers. The system requirements of this OS are suitable for almost any computer, so if you are also interested in experimenting, you can download the system from the official developer site.

By itself, SteamOS is an add-on to the standard Debian, and if necessary, you can even go to the GNOME desktop by selecting one of the checkmarks in the preferences. Virtually the same operating system completely repeats the interface of the original Steam client, that is, there are differences between them, although they are almost invisible.

Is it convenient?

Immediately it should be said that the system provides for the use not only of the controller from the company Valve, but also the possibility of using a standard mouse and keyboard, while many note that they can already need it almost immediately, since the procedure for entering their own login and password is far from being Most convenient.

Work on this operating system can only those games that provide a Linux client. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of similar projects in the Steam library, but of course, their number is still several times less than the number of projects offered for the original Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10 operating systems .

However, many are quite satisfied with the work of SteamOS and the Steam Machines themselves. The date of release of the device in Russia has not yet been announced, but it can already be bought in America and Europe. Most likely, the company will still release its development in the near future also to the Russian market, as, as is known, in many Valve games the majority of the audience is made up of players from the CIS countries, and this can not be ignored.