270°

Steambox Seen by Newell to Have Three Tiers of Pricing, Could Start at $99

Gameranx: "Gabe Newell speaks out on the possible pricing of Steambox. There might even be a $99 version!"

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gameranx.com
DA_SHREDDER4118d ago (Edited 4118d ago )

$99 bucks and can play any steam game? I'll take 3

CyberCam4118d ago

Most likely those $99 units will streaming units kind of like the Nvidia Shield.

Autodidactdystopia4118d ago

No it wont it will just be a lower specd box.

that is all.

streaming is a nogo for now and for me... I personally hope streaming stays with movies. im not paying for a game that isnt making my own hardware sing.

thats like buying a mustang skin for your fiat so you look cool but under the surface is just a "thin client"

Korix4118d ago

@Autodidactdystopia

So what you are saying is you're not gonna pay for a game that didn't require you to pay a lot of money for an extreme PC?
That's exactly what you're saying - how is that a good thing?
Playing games isn't about looking like you spent a ton of money on that crazy "mustang" PC, it's about playing great games, as simple as it sounds.
How is streaming games comparable to cars when gaming isn't about looking cool? (which, many would argue, cars aren't either).
If anything, it's the other way around. It's not about buying a skin for your Fiat so it looks cool, but rather buying internal upgrades to make it go as fast as said Mustang - at a fraction of the price.
That's not considering all the flaws Onlive had, it's just the principle of streaming.

Autodidactdystopia4116d ago

some people are fine with a prius some people have a passion for the performance I am one of the latter.

not to mention streaming and bitrates will not be capable of matching quality of a rendered image until we can pull a 200mb/s video stream offline, till then the image will have to be compressed.

I dont want that. :

Mac is OK4118d ago (Edited 4118d ago )

The $99 version will probably be running on linux, so it will not be able to play "any" steam game, only these ones:
https://support.steampowere...

AKS4118d ago

I think it's likely that development of Linux games will increase substantially in the future considering what Valve is planning. Expect that list to grow considerably in the future. Win8 is a recent development that Valve considers to be a potential source for substantial problems for them. Expect to see changes in the future. Also, if there is a new Linux platform where money can be made, expect developers to try to use it.

zeal0us4117d ago

According to the interview they did with Gabe

http://www.theverge.com/201...

That’ll be a Linux box, [and] if you want to install Windows you can. We’re not going to make it hard.

hellvaguy4117d ago

Linux is such a total waste of time. Unless your into it as hobby for fun, its a complete joke that will never catch on mainstream.

3-4-54118d ago

Yea I'm def getting one of these.

I don't have the cash to build my own $800 PC, so spending $100-200 on a Steam only PC pretty much lets me play a ton of awesome games.

50% of the games I would have played on PC would be on Steam anyways.

Plus by the time this actually releases there should be more new games and more News of new games releasing as well.

SilentNegotiator4118d ago

A $99 gaming PC worth anyone's time?

Also, the president is fake. He makes speeches....ON THE MOON!

jivah4117d ago

But the president is fake.. a puppet front man for the rich and powerful elite... soooo $99 gaming pc worth peoples time? seems legit for people who want it

DeadlyFire4117d ago (Edited 4117d ago )

ANY is a strong word. Doubtful for $99 you get anything that plays anything unless its all streamed like NVIDIA GRID, OTOY, ONLIVE, Gaikai.

Its possible this new setup by Valve could be modular and upgradable.

Ram board, GPU board, CPU board for a little box. Similar to Xi3's designs itself.

I can't imagine its first gen tech to be super powerful for these price points. Likely AMD APUs will be a focus for hardware.

Nintendo might be worried as it cuts into their lowest price console window. I don't see Microsoft and Sony stopping. Their respective consoles might have a little more power to them than Valve's box. Aiming for $400-600 window.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4116d ago
Wizziokid4118d ago

"Since Valve, along with collaborator Xi3, decided to show off a prototype Steambox at CES"

That wasn't the steambox.

LackTrue4K4118d ago

Now I'm lost...I know the small box is called "Pistion"
And now Valve is saying they got something else?! (Interesting)

Wizziokid4118d ago

yup, 'Piston' is not valves 'steambox' it's supported by them though

Root4118d ago

Thats what I've been thinking

It's confusing though since so many sites and people around the internet say differnt things

People assume because it was shown off that it IS the Steambox but I'm not really convinced, it was supposed to be a console/PC hybrid but it just points to it being a PC.

I was expecting something which would be more like a console, with Valves own gamerpad and everything.

Why don't Valve just say "This wasn't the Steambox, the steambox hasnt been shown off yet"

AKS4118d ago

It's confusing because there is so much misinformation out there right now. I guess writers were scrambling to get their stories out and were not cautious enough with their data. I hope this new info from Gabe at the very least puts a stop to the "But it's going to cost over $1000! Just build your own PC, brah!" argument I keep seeing parroted everywhere.

Valve's top concern is just finding ways to get more people on board with Steam by giving them more ways to do it, which includes cheaper and simpler options. They are obviously not targeting hardcore PC gamers with the "SteamBox," and they're not going to care nearly as much as their competitors about selling a specific game box.

NicSage4118d ago

I hope this thing turns out, i've got several games on steam I never got around to.

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4118d ago (Edited 4118d ago )

Did Valve find a way to sell hardware for good prices like they do software? A steam box for $99 that plays steam games? O_o..

If this is true somehow they win next gen..

kevnb4118d ago (Edited 4118d ago )

pc always wins if you really think about it, not that consoles arent worthwhile. This gen it won with games most of n4g users don't care about. Wii came in second, with games most n4g don't care about either.

nirwanda4118d ago

It depends what you mean by winning, steam won big time as a publisher, but pc gaming as a whole makes less than the same game on console, winning in business is the companys that make a large profit, Apple are currently the biggest winners at the mo.

kevnb4118d ago (Edited 4118d ago )

im talking overall, and even on multiplats thats not always the case (depends on the game, and not to mention pc versions have higher profits per copy sold). Games like maplestory, farmville, cityville, wow, and the other 100s of casual and free to play games are making a killing.
But none of this matters if you mostly like to play console based games.

grailly4118d ago

for 99$ people would just get a console and a steam box, I think...

I'll buy the cheapest model that can play any steam game at 30fps regardless of the visual fidelity. it'll be fun to have a new platform with already hundreds of games including 20 or so I haven't played yet.

PurpHerbison4118d ago

I understand the budget, but aim a little higher bro. 30FPS is THIS current whack gen. Sales on steam are already going to save you hundreds.

Gamer19824117d ago (Edited 4117d ago )

Aim a little higher? 30FPS is easily fine as long as it doesn't drop below and there is no tearing. A $99 box would get you low specs though meaning low settings on latest games and the box only comes with linux so it doesnt run every steam game.
http://store.steampowered.c...
theres all the games steambox will run 41 games so far..

Blank4118d ago

Man I wouldnt doubt valve would price it at that considering the 3 tiers im lovin it and normally I dont get excited hearing it from some sites no matter how credible I like to hear it from the horses mouth but like I said I wouldnt doubt valve would price it at that

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70°

Why Are Steam's Recommendations Dogpoop?

Blindfolding myself and clicking a Steam page at random would serve me better recommendations than Steam’s algorithm

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thegamer.com
UltimateOwnage9d ago

Hmm, not sure I agree with that. The recommendations I get are usually pretty good, but then again I have pretty large library of games on Steam and hundreds of them in my wish list, along with lots of curators I follow for it to build recommendations off of. On occasion it will throw me a random FIFA game or something I've never bought or shown interest in, but mostly its decent IMO.

80°

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jznrpg20d ago

Skul is a metroidvania ? It’s on PS+ soon I’ll check it out. If it’s good I’ll buy a copy physically if they have one

Nacho_Z19d ago

If Pseudoregalia is one of the best I'd hate to see what the worst look like.

330°

Dragon’s Dogma 2 releases to mixed user reviews, as microtransactions criticised

Players can pay to edit their character, resurrect the dead and other actions.

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videogameschronicle.com
AdonisIsBeast28d ago

Who cares as long as it’s optional

phoenixwing28d ago

paying to edit your character is kind of crap as far as microtransactions go

Xristo28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

I hate any/all MTX in a paid game (especially a full-price game)... but know that you can spend in-game currency (RC), which you get from killing mobs, to completely remake your character.

phoenixwing27d ago

@xRisto how much did it change the gameplay though? Changing your character would have probably not cost any rc if they weren't hellbent on getting money by making it inconvenient

koga8827d ago

You can literally edit your character using in-game gold, dropped from monsters or obtained from selling items, as soon as you reach the first main town. You can even use Rift Crystals obtained from other people using your pawn or dropped from monsters to change your entire character or Pawn. It's paying to avoid doing something that is literally in the game.

PRIMORDUS27d ago

They are lucky there using Denuvo or their game and all future DLC etc. would be for free. 🤣

phoenixwing27d ago

@koga you completely missed the point i was making but go ahead and act like i'm being the wrong one

lucian22927d ago

you can pay ingame currency though; why are ya so derp

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 27d ago
Crows9028d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Capcom cares quite a bit....hence why it was kept from reviewers and initial impressions.

As far as optional...yeah...ALL mtx are optional. That's not the problem. The miss the mark entirely.

Heck buying the game is "optional" too.

The fact that they were hiding this is scummy as hell. I was going to buy this day 1 or day 3. Now I'm reconsidering the purchase entirely because as the reviews point out...there are certain design decisions which have not changed but funnily enough seem to be remedied by these mtx...

In other words they may have left certain features in the game in order to monetize them. So the mtx affected the development of the game in a negative way.

garos8228d ago

I'm certainly not buying it anymore. It has affected at least one sale from me. I'll pick it up second hand

peppeaccardo28d ago

Very close to buy the game at a discounted price but not anymore.
Bad business practice and hence they do not get my support/money !

warriorcase27d ago

It wasn't kept fromreviewers s though. Twitter reviewers are saying there was mention of mtx's in the reviewers guide

-Foxtrot28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

STOP. USING. THAT. SHITTY. EXCUSE

God damn man

Look how DLC changed after Oblivions horse armour, within 10 years most developers took the absolute p***. What was said then aswell? “It’s only optional who cares?” Now look where we all are.

There’s no half measures with these things, when will people realise this.

jwillj2k428d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Oh it’s gonna get worse. Ng+ locked behind mtx, “cool downs” preventing you from playing for more than 3 hours at a time unless u pay the mtx for unlimited access, main campaign bosses, in-game music, certain dialog, difficulty modes, certain npc interactions, all locked behind mtx, etc.. etc. gonna end up being like the NBA 2k games eventually paying for cross overs and shit… They gon get mid-evil on our asses.

OMGitzThatGuy27d ago

I can guarantee most of the items you can buy with mtx and ingame currency wouldn’t exist in ANY paid form if the main goal wasn't monetization. If the goal is to give idiots who are willing to pay for basic game features as mtx a way to do things faster then the only ones the mtx hurt are the non paying players as you are now locking features behind a grind that you chose to put in the game that you are essentially admitting to creating some type of time sink. I have never heard of a game locking basic character editing behind a ingame paywall, it’s usually just an option.

Chard27d ago

Takes two to tango though - unfortunately people buy this garbage which incentivises the behaviour. It's an inevitable outcome of the profit motive

thorstein28d ago

@Mario

Yes. And so are resurrection "Wakestones." You can find them but they're rare.

victorMaje28d ago

Buying the game is now very optional too. If you don’t know why then you don’t get it.

shinoff218328d ago

Because it's only a door way. That's why we care. We've already seen some shit since Mtx was introduced.

Rimeskeem28d ago

1. DD2 is an ARPG with 8 different playable classes
2. There is no multiplayer aspect to the game
3. You can only have one character (have to pay for more)
4. You cannot delete the character unless you go into the game files
5. The game is $70 dollars upfront

Having to pay for more character slots in a game that *features* 8 playable classes is pretty much not optional for an ARPG.

Angyobangyo27d ago

Judging from steam reviews, gamers care. Not plastic gamers. Why didn’t Itsuno mention such MTX would be available in-game? Why weren’t the MTXs there for review copies?

Kiryu199227d ago

Who cares is how all this started. The many many excuses. Please keep defending these greedy publishers and unfair tactics. We be gamers are the problem

Horse armor

$10 online passes if buying a used copy

Cheat codes gone and are replaced by micro transactions

Unlocking stuff by playing games behind micro transactions and XP boosters

It’s only cosmetic

No one is being forced to spend even though publishers are literally making their games more grindy to force people to play

Full priced games have mobile game type micro transactions

$70 priced games because higher development costs while making record profits and laying off record number of employees

And to play the game early pay us extra $20-30 on top of full price

Release games now and promise to maybe fix them later only to abandon the game

Day one patches that make the games worst

If it’s your favorite game defend the publisher if it’s not hate on another publisher for similar content

SixFrvgz27d ago Show
+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 27d ago
kenpachi28d ago

Must have picked up some EA crew to put this in the game

robtion28d ago

Yeah these are really bad ones. Directly impacting gameplay too. Super scummy move. I hope nobody buys them.

CrimsonWing6928d ago

Yet Helldivers 2 gets a pass? Y’know a GotY contender by the name of RE4 had them and so does Devil May Cry V. The funny thing is I enjoyed both of those games thoroughly without having to buy a single microtransaction.

What I do consider a valid complaint is not being able to start a new game or being able to edit your character. That’s kind of a seriously baffling decision, but then I think how I played Dragon’s Dogma 1 and I never edited my character and I just did a 100% playthrough on a single file and didn’t start a NG since. So, I don’t think these are really going to impact me, but I can see how it will others.

Crows9028d ago

Helldivers 2 is a live service game where everything is obtainable in game with incredible ease.

Not sure about re4 or DMC but nobody is giving anyone a pass ...this article is about dragons dogma 2...not those games.

What is valid are in game features made to supposedly force you to think carefully only to have a surprise online store offer solutions to built in problems for more money.

Goosejuice28d ago

Those same things they are selling can be found Ingame as well. U can buy the character editor through merchants with gold. Don't get me wrong..I dislike these mtx they are doing but you don't need to buy them to be able to get them.

CrimsonWing6928d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Oh my bad, I can’t bring up games with microtransactions that nobody had a sh*t fit over. My mistake.

I love how people move the goalpost.

Crows9027d ago

@goose
@crimson

All mtx sucks. I'd rather helldiver's not have them because it makes me wonder if the rate at which you collect materials. That said. The games features are all fully enjoyable and aren't affected by the mtx.

That's not the case with dragons dogma 2...they left in place features that are supposedly part of the challenge of the game only to let you buy your way out very conveniently. I didn't look through all of them but I've heard some are rare but can be purchased with more money now. Even more so in a game about managing weight load there's a tent, I believe, that you can pay more money for that weighs less than your typical tent...not all sure on all the mtx and I'm aware that you can purchase many through in game vendor but they're incredibly useful mtx that are obtained much more slowly in game...or even a limited amount of them.

Instead is selling fast travel...just let us don't for free....or instead of selling cosmetic changes...how about letting us do it for free...

Nothing in helldivers comes close to this abomination

Angyobangyo27d ago

One is a single player game and one is a live service game. One is $40 vs$70. And most importantly, one game is there to spread democracy.

Ironmike27d ago

It's not incredibly easy for certain things in helldivers though u still have grind quite bit but u ate correct in saying u can eventually get enough medals to purchase stuff

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 27d ago
Moegooner28d ago

Read your comment again and maybe, just maybe you might realise how dumb it was.

CrimsonWing6928d ago (Edited 28d ago )

What was dumb about it? That I pointed out the hypocrisy?

garos8228d ago

It was extremely scummy that capcom hid this from reviewers. I have no doubt this game is good but these type of microtransactions don't sit well with me. They've lost a sale from me

Lionsguard28d ago

I was going to pay full price to support this game because I've been waiting for it for forever but I think I'll wait until I get it for free from Epic or a Humblebundle monthly.

Redemption-6428d ago

I am not defending Capcom, as I am not a fan of MTX in single player games. I do however belive they were open to reviewers about having MTX in their game. The reviewers just decided to leave that part out. Which is very disingenuous. There are some companies that get away with these things. Image if this was done by EA, Ubisoft, or even Activision? I am positive those defending Capcom, would have had their pitchforks ready if the companies listed above did this

anast28d ago

That's why reviewers can't be trusted. In fact, they are not reviewers at all. They get free codes to talk about stuff they don't understand nor care about.

Sanctusone27d ago

I mean it was pretty obvious to anyone with eyes...one of the items you get from deluxe edition was in game items.
1500 Rift Crystals - Points to Spend Beyond the Rift (A)
Which honestly I figured they kept a similar mtx system like DMC5 and the optional red orbs.

Lionsguard27d ago

1500 Rift Crystals doesn't mean anything. The first game had Rift crystals too, you just earned them by people hiring your Pawn and you get it from certain quests.

anast27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

A reviewer's job is to point out the obvious of a product as though they were the consumer. This means reviewers, to do their actual job, would need to review the complete game: the edition they are reviewing, how they got the game, technical aspects, story, and monetization scheme. Since, it is obvious that MT's are a part of the game, it would need to be reviewed. This way people can be informed, so they can decide if they want to play this style of game/monetization scheme.

For example, AC Origins was bad with Mt's. I had to farm side missions or pay to advance the story. This was after I already did close to 25 or more side missions. While I was grinding there were constant reminders that I could pay to ease the grind. I would have never bought the game if it were reviewed properly.

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