Steam Console News

[Trunks]

I logged onto steam today and saw this

http://puu.sh/4BDIe.jpg

May be hinting toward a console that has been rumored and talked about for awhile. It didn't really say much about it. All it said was this:
http://puu.sh/4BDOf.jpg

Definitely would be interested in getting in the hardware beta, would be awesome to get a console before it was released.

[LiNuX]

We were talking about this at work earlier. Hardware beta would be awesome.

[Trunks]

http://puu.sh/4Cte3.jpg
Found a picture of the controller from steam. Has 16 buttons, and the two track sides on each side have new rumble technology called heptic feedback power by electromagnets. They're apparently so powerful that they're able to function as speakers or as a slow soft rumble depending on what's happening in the game.

Just signed up for the hardware beta though, they're only picking 300 people out of the 200,00 who already entered :(

[LiNuX]

Lol yeah, we were staring at that at work. When I first saw it, I thought it was a speaker, and apparently it does function as a speaker. Very interesting.

I'm about to enter for the hardware beta too.

[Trunks]

Yeah if anything, I'll probably just get the controller for my PC to use for steam, assuming that they will allow that, but I can't see why not. Valves definitely treading in new water though.

[ROFLBRYCE]

Yeah if anything, I'll probably just get the controller for my PC to use for steam, assuming that they will allow that, but I can't see why not. Valves definitely treading in new water though.

It should work just fine, I mean their "console" is really just a computer running their new Steam OS. Apparently all of their games will have full functionality with this controller too which is super awesome. I'm excited to see more on it

[Mizel]

Signed up for the hardware beta too. Only 300 people get in. I am not holding my breath lol

Honestly though, I think the controller looks like a **** design. I don't like how instead of sticks it's just an area you move your finger around on. And I also don't like how the AB XY buttons are separated instead of grouped together. It seems the combination of those 2 factors would make it just awkward and hard to get used to. I am definitely not against trying it in any way- that was just my first thought about it.

[ROFLBRYCE]

Signed up for the hardware beta too. Only 300 people get in. I am not holding my breath lol

Honestly though, I think the controller looks like a **** design. I don't like how instead of sticks it's just an area you move your finger around on. And I also don't like how the AB XY buttons are separated instead of grouped together. It seems the combination of those 2 factors would make it just awkward and hard to get used to. I am definitely not against trying it in any way- that was just my first thought about it.

It almost looks as if they centered it around moving using the bottoms of your thumbs (like directly under the knuckles) and then are supposed to use the tips of them to press the buttons. Seems awkward, but it'd have to be comfortable if they kept this as their final design. I'm just gonna stick with my 360 controller though, haha

[Mizel]

Holy crap we got into beta!!!!!

---------- Post added at 08:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

I'll let everyone know we receive the stuff in case anyone has any questions :)

---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 AM ----------

AW MAN!

We got into Family Share beta... not hardware beta. That's what I get for not reading the whole email first :{

[ROFLBRYCE]

Holy crap we got into beta!!!!!

---------- Post added at 08:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

I'll let everyone know we receive the stuff in case anyone has any questions :)

---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 AM ----------

AW MAN!

We got into Family Share beta... not hardware beta. That's what I get for not reading the whole email first :{

At first I was all "AAHHH MY GAHD" then it was crushed. Can't imagine how you felt! D: What's the Family Share beta?

[Mizel]

Such disappointment. You have no idea lol

Family Share is where you can add up to 10 people on Steam and you can share games. Like I could add my husband and a couple friends and they could all play any game I have and I could play any game they have :)

[LiNuX]

Aw, I got excited too when I read your post :(

Family Share beta actually sounds cool. You don't have to buy the game multiple times. Wonder how that will be.

[Mizel]

I am actually really excited about the Steam Family Share beta as well. Just now *as* excited as the Steam Machine beta stuff haha :P

I'm wondering how the Family Share beta is going to work. I assume that someone with beta can connect with their friends that don't have beta?

[Trunks]

If so, connect with me :p, I have like 100 games that can be shared :D

[Mizel]

Steam Controller Demonstration - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeAjkbNq4xI)

It actually looks really awesome. I didn't think the design looked like it would work very well.... I'm pretty impressed after seeing this though.

[LiNuX]

Very interesting. I agree that it's pretty impressive. I would definitely like to try it out. But when he was going through the Counter-Strike gameplay, I kept trying to imagine doing it myself, I think I'd still prefer a mouse and keyboard for FPS though.

[Mizel]

Agreed. Mouse and board for FPS all the way for me too lol

I was really surprised at how well the controller responded as well. I want to test one :(

---------- Post added at 09:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:02 AM ----------

Some spec info:

Spec Analysis: the Steam Machines prototypes Eurogamer.net (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-steam-machines-prototypes-spec-analysis)