PeeKnuckle Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Valve announces a major update to the Steam gaming platform called Big Picture.Steam's new Big Picture mode lets gamers access all of their favorite Steam games on a television. With the press of a button, Steam displays a new full-screen user interface optimized for readability and interaction on TV. Big Picture has been designed to be used with a traditional game controller, while also fully supporting keyboard and mouse input. Steam gamers can experience Big Picture by connecting their PC or Mac to a TV, typically with a single HDMI cable. Access to the complete Steam store is included, as is the Steam Community. In addition to their complete library of Steam games, each user's cloud files, Steam Workshop content, account information and preferences will be accessible automatically in the new mode. "Sega's roots are in living-room gaming." said John Clark, Vice President of Digital Distribution at Sega. "For the first time since the advent of PC games decades ago, gamers are finally going to have access to the kind of entertainment experience we've always wished they could have with our PC titles - one that's incredibly social, comfortable, and accessible. We're excited about the opportunity, and Big Picture has inspired us to bring even more of our titles to Steam in the future.""There is nothing more satisfying than slaying thousands of orcs on your big screen. And many of the most die-hard players of Orcs Must Die 2 have always preferred playing with a game controller. Steam's Big Picture mode finally marries these two and delivers a true living room entertainment experience to players.""We're pleased that gamers on Steam will now be able to immerse themselves in our entertainment experiences in the comfort of their living room on large screen TVs," said Steve Glickstein of Take-Two Interactive Software. "From action and adventure to sports and sims, our titles deliver big fun on big screens.""PC gaming continues to be the leading edge of entertainment, whether it's social gaming, MMOs, graphics hardware, free-to-play, or competitive gaming," said Gabe Newell, president of Valve. "With Big Picture for Steam, we are trying to do our part to give customers and developers what they want - their games, everywhere, optimized for the environment in which they are playing."Big Picture also includes a new web browser designed for televisions and game controllers. It is accessible from anywhere within the Big Picture UI, and even while playing Steam games on a TV. It supports Big Picture's new method of typing with a game controller, which is useful for entering URLs, filling out forms, chatting, and other functions.For more information, including how to participate in the beta, please visit http://www.steampowered.com/bigpicture/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevnvek Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I was reading about that this morning, it sounds pretty cool. The rumors for the Steambox console or whatever are retarded though. Making a Steam console beats the entire point of it. The only functionality of a Steam console I can see being useful, is if it's a device that basically lets you play your computer in another room remotely through it, and optionally with a controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeKnuckle Posted September 10, 2012 Author Share Posted September 10, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeKnuckle Posted September 10, 2012 Author Share Posted September 10, 2012 "Plus a web browser for the TV that doesn't suck".Funny because it's probably 100% correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dateranoth Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Well, I have to say it's a good idea for them. My wife will really like it for accessing games, but not much different then what you can already do. Plus, if I have a PC hooked to my TV I damn sure ain't browsing the internet with a controller. OR any steam browser. Not when I'm 99% likely to have a wireless keyboard and mouse, oh, and firefox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sedington86 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 When I'm couch gaming I always have a laptop/tablet there anyways, so the browser is kinda useless. But the bigger ui and able to browse it with a controller, badass. Couch gaming, leaning back and no way am I using a keyboard/mouse comfortably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostassassin13 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 This really makes me rethink any chance of buying the next-gen Xbox. Build a nice small form-factor PC, have full access to all web content, Steam, and maybe the next-gen Microsoft Game Store? (depending on what MS does with Windows integration). Really makes me think I don't need a console in the living room any more because I can still play games with a controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevnvek Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Small form factor? Get a full size tower and you can do anything with it, swap out parts as many times as need be without worrying so much about space. Upgrading your graphics card every few years is better than buying new consoles, plus every single game that you ever get for it will always be backwards compatible one way or another, provided the operating systems are made right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostassassin13 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Agreed, Kevin. At the very least, I would buy a somewhat small ATX mid-tower to put in. I have considered micro-ATX (so I could put a sound card in it for my Astros), but not sure. Wouldn't happen until early next year anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skylark95 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 I would like to try this... but can't bring the motivation right now to drag my PC from the bedroom to the living room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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