Tell me about Steam Big Picture [Archive]

crunchyfrog555

03-08-2011, 05:28 AM

It's certainly whets my appetite, as is.

But likewise, I really need to know more before I truly pass any judgement. Even if it's just another way of displaying your output on a large screen TV, then it's a bonus as far as I'm concerned.

Mind you, I wouldn't be surprised if there something typically Valve-like and mind-blowing in that premise though :)

NeoandGeo

03-08-2011, 05:28 AM

I hope it allows me to start it in full screen mode instead of seeing my windows desktop so I can turn on the PC, grab the controller and plop on the couch. :D

miX_

03-08-2011, 06:32 AM

I hope it allows me to start it in full screen mode instead of seeing my windows desktop so I can turn on the PC, grab the controller and plop on the couch. :D

SteamOS.
OSteam.

MIEZOO

03-08-2011, 06:39 AM

SteamOS.
OSteam.

Valve did not ported Steam for Linux to and you say about their OS...SteamOS i lol'd. :D

Super Fun

03-08-2011, 06:53 AM

I think its big enough - The over sized text for one.

DocVM

03-09-2011, 05:41 AM

I'm just surprised we haven't heard anything else about it. We heard about Steam Guard and now we have a beta. I'd just like to know more details about big picture. It sounds like another awesome step for Steam.

It kinda would be like an OS, but we have no idea how it's going to be implemented. I mean, I'm sure they'll do more than increase the text size, right?

Ganger

03-09-2011, 06:00 AM

What I have read about the big picture on the forums is that you will be able to use your PC on any screen in the house, be it a televison or another monitor. What I don't know is how will it be implemented.

The big picture sounds very interesting, I would love to play games that require a control pad like racing games, fighting game on my LCD TV without the need to move my PC all over the house.

DocVM

03-09-2011, 06:07 AM

What I have read about the big picture on the forums is that you will be able to use your PC on any screen in the house, be it a televison or another monitor. What I don't know is how will it be implemented.

Can that even be implemented? Being able to play games on any TV in the house will require some serious hardware and cabling. I don't think that's what Valve is doing. They can only do stuff on the software side, so I'm thinking implementing features that mimic the console experience.

The multiple screen anywhere in the house thing, I think, is just wild speculation. It would be great, but Valve can only do so much.

Agent_Kyramud

03-10-2011, 04:19 PM

It is indeed possible...with very long cables. What I'm *really* hoping is that 'Big Picture' mode introduces a service like OnLive, where all your games' files (and all the high-end hardware required to run them) are stored in some warehouse, accessible (and playable) over a streaming internet connection. This would be perfect, but, sadly, I'm never that lucky.

DocVM

03-11-2011, 09:42 AM

derrman0426

03-11-2011, 10:08 AM

I found some more info on Valve's Steamwork' page.

"They’ve got the big screen, now give them the big picture. It’s time to come out of the den and explore a few more rooms of the house.

Heading to the living room—or anywhere there’s a big screen—is Steam’s soon-to-be-released big-picture mode, offering simple, easy-to-read navigation designed specifically for TV. With full controller support, big-picture mode will let gamers kick back and enjoy their favorite games on the biggest screen in the house.

Steam’s big-picture mode doesn’t require any additional development from you. Just ensure your game works well with a controller, and we’ll take care of the rest. And don’t worry, keyboard and mouse aren’t going anywhere—users will be able to switch between input devices at any time.

This revolution will be televised."

So it'll be Steam, but made to fit on a TV screen, and probably with controller support to choose and start up what games you want to play.

http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/thebigpicture.php

Thanks for that! They even updated the Steamworks brochure: http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/SteamworksBrochure2011.pdf

Sound like its gonna be awesome! I wonder how it'll work, would you need hook your TV up to your home network through a router or wi-fi or something?

Well i think this is the best Steam can do beat consoles in a way, a Steam console is a possibility, though it would be running some PC games that require higher specs to run, so cost would be an issue to the consumer, unless Intel and Steam team up more and make a really affordable high powered machine.

PDAisAok

12-08-2011, 01:06 PM

Any new news on big picture mode? It's been ~9 months since this was first announced.

Alshain

12-08-2011, 01:13 PM

Interesting, this is the first I've heard of it. I already use Steam on my 50" but this looks like it's going to be more designed for it, like Windows Media Center vs. Windows.

slbbenfica

12-08-2011, 01:15 PM

so this is like onlive?
if so this is so awesome

Alshain

12-08-2011, 01:29 PM

so this is like onlive?
if so this is so awesome

Well, if I understand it (which I'm not saying that I do) it is an interface designed to be used on large screens with a controller as opposed to the current Steam interface which is designed for small screens with a keyboard and mouse.

Right now in order to play a game on steam, you have to launch it with the keyboard/mouse before you can switch to the controller/big screen TV and then the overlay interface can't be used.

geekofalltrades

12-08-2011, 02:20 PM

SteamOS.
OSteam.

I doubt it... Steam is really just an interface to most of its games, which then run on Windows or OS X. A Steam OS would have to emulate Windows (or OS X) in order to run any games. It would still be pretty awesome, though.

moizeus

12-08-2011, 04:46 PM

It would be pretty awesome. Now consoles geeks might come to Steam :D and we can play togethers..

here is the news: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2011/02/28/steam-big-picture-mode/

I hope it succeeds this some day.

PDAisAok

12-08-2011, 06:23 PM

It's been since February since we've heard anything about this. Anyone from Valve wish to give an update?? :)

My gaming PC is hooked up to the television in my living room so I would love to have this feature

fuller556

12-08-2011, 07:16 PM

I doubt it... Steam is really just an interface to most of its games, which then run on Windows or OS X. A Steam OS would have to emulate Windows (or OS X) in order to run any games. It would still be pretty awesome, though.

I agree with this and other comments concerning a Steam OS. The computer I use for my games is pretty much DEDICATED to gaming and entertainment; I watch videos on it and even have a TV tuner hooked up to make it a true HTPC with good gaming capabilities. If Steam COULD make an operating system that worked with DirectX and OpenGL so that you could play your games from it and which also supported basic entertainment and Internet functionality, such as a built-in Web browser and media playback, it could be the perfect replacement for Windows.

Fingers crossed that this can someday become a reality, even though I know it's a longshot at best.

MADDOGGE

12-08-2011, 07:26 PM

so this is like onlive?
if so this is so awesomeNo, it's supposed to be a UI more suited to use on a TV with a controller. It's not as far as they have said a streaming service like OnLive. Don't expect to hear anything more about it until they released it. This is typical of Valve projects. Announce something then go silent, sometimes for years, til launch.

Setarcos

12-08-2011, 07:49 PM

Sound like its gonna be awesome! I wonder how it'll work, would you need hook your TV up to your home network through a router or wi-fi or something?

I realize this is a semi-necroed thread, but this idea is doubtful...unless you somehow found a tv with a gaming pc imbedded in it. Network connections just don't have the kind of bandwidth required for high speed high resolution gaming graphics.

PDAisAok

12-08-2011, 10:54 PM

I think the thread is going off topic. This seems to be JUST a User Interface option for people who have computers hooked up to televisions. And also giving the option to use a gamepad for the complete operation of Steam. It would just be nice to hear from Valve again on this since it will be a full year passed in just a couple months since they have mentioned it.

smash

12-08-2011, 11:01 PM

I would love to see more!

crunchyfrog555

12-09-2011, 01:56 AM

No, it's supposed to be a UI more suited to use on a TV with a controller. It's not as far as they have said a streaming service like OnLive. Don't expect to hear anything more about it until they released it. This is typical of Valve projects. Announce something then go silent, sometimes for years, til launch.

Absolutely correct.

And you can't really blame them for this approach, really. One only has to look at HL2, and the obvious anticipation around that at the time. Talking to would-be magazine journalists and the like only ended up with Valve getting spoofed and giving more info than they should to guys who were pretending to be journalists.

So, I completely understand why they don't want to spend time and energy working out who's legitimate and messing around with tenuous publicity such as that. Better to announce, whet your appetites, and talk about it when it's almost ready.

That way you also side-step the dissenters who moan about such things as "you've changed that, that wasn't in your announcement statement".

In other words, say enough, but say little, then you won't get picked to pieces. You're then free to divert your energies on what you should be doing.

whateva

12-09-2011, 02:22 AM

I currently run an HDMI cable from my GC to my 52" Samsung tv so i'm pretty sure a lot of people are doing this already, if it was a wireless feature that would be kool. Wife hates all the cords :(

crunchyfrog555

12-09-2011, 02:28 AM

I currently run an HDMI cable from my GC to my 52" Samsung tv so i'm pretty sure a lot of people are doing this already, if it was a wireless feature that would be kool. Wife hates all the cords :(

Lol, that's a typical female thing, isn't it?

My wife gave up on all that when I started amassing video games galore. Once I topped about 30 platforms, she stopped going on about it.

Of course, when it comes to the stereo and the cables, I've banned her from cleaning around that area. Those cables cost a fortune, so if anybody's going to have an accident with them, I'd sooner it be me.

Tatertots3231

12-09-2011, 03:16 AM

so this is like onlive?
if so this is so awesome

No, it is nothing like OnLive.

crunchyfrog555

12-09-2011, 03:26 AM

No, it is nothing like OnLive.

Indeed, and thankfully so.

OnLive has some uses, but as a true gaming platform, it is EXTREMELY limited.

one of them

12-09-2011, 04:48 AM

Indeed, and thankfully so.

OnLive has some uses, but as a true gaming platform, it is EXTREMELY limited.

I think offering an alternative for OnLive style play (like visit the store page and click "Play via OnLive!") instead of downloading the entire game while on the move, would be nice for gamers who may be traveling with their less-than-fancy laptops or even more casual gamers who want to game on their current PC and not mess with buying a new one. I'm not saying switch over to the OnLive format completely (my internet isn't even strong enough to support OnLive), but offering it as an alternative would be neat.

Probably costly and inefficient for Valve as hell though.

crunchyfrog555

12-09-2011, 06:54 AM

I think offering an alternative for OnLive style play (like visit the store page and click "Play via OnLive!") instead of downloading the entire game while on the move, would be nice for gamers who may be traveling with their less-than-fancy laptops or even more casual gamers who want to game on their current PC and not mess with buying a new one. I'm not saying switch over to the OnLive format completely (my internet isn't even strong enough to support OnLive), but offering it as an alternative would be neat.

Probably costly and inefficient for Valve as hell though.

The thing is with OnLive (and the features you've said) is that they're great in theory. In practice, the games that suit OnLive's setup are quite restricted.

At best, OnLive is a great proof-of-concept (particularly to people such as us English), but it's just a good idea too soon.

What it is very good as is a cheap method of getting a heads-up demo of a game before purchase. I know a few people who use the service this way.

DocVM

01-09-2012, 09:18 AM

Well, I guess we'll hear something about Big Picture soon. According to all the articles talking about the 40 million registered accounts, there is also mention that Big Picture will be out 'soon'.

Woot!!

PCGamer (http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/01/06/steam-is-doing-quite-well-100-sales-increase-40-million-registered-accounts/)

RockPaperShotgun (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/01/06/steam-wants-you-to-look-at-its-muscles/)

TheInsaneDump

01-09-2012, 09:20 AM

A great idea for Steam to bring it over to the big screen, but I'd have to pass as my eyes would start to hurt. I like having the screen/monitor right in front of me.

Perro

01-27-2012, 08:34 AM

I'm really interested in this! Any more news out there about this?

Satoru

01-27-2012, 08:42 AM

Look at the current Steam Mobile. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of UI elements from here are extended to the Big Picture UI

crunchyfrog555

01-27-2012, 10:50 AM

A great idea for Steam to bring it over to the big screen, but I'd have to pass as my eyes would start to hurt. I like having the screen/monitor right in front of me.

Sorry I didn't notice this comment sooner.

If you have trouble with screens being as far away as your TV for such things, then the problem is that you are too used to having your monitor close.

Now, obviously I don't know your age, but that is most definitely inviting an awful lot of eye trouble for the future.

I strongly suggest you adapt your style - I can't link you anything directly, but I'm sure if you Google you'll be able to find some recommendations.

Respect your eyes. You can't play many games without them.

M-Squared

02-17-2012, 03:14 PM

Wasn't Big Picture mode first announced at GDC 2011? If so, we may get some news or a reveal at GDC 2012. March 5th can't come soon enough...

Follower46

06-10-2012, 08:33 AM

Wasn't Big Picture mode first announced at GDC 2011? If so, we may get some news or a reveal at GDC 2012. March 5th can't come soon enough...

E3 2012 came and went and no word :-\
My HTPC still has a mouse attached for that awkward transition from steam to the game I want to play.

MunkiLord

06-10-2012, 09:03 AM

My excitement for this has gone down considerably. It was first mentioned over a year ago and barely any new info(if any at all) has been released. I realize software development takes time, but it has been a while. The impression I have from official info is that it is just a pretty new UI. For me to care about this anymore at all they need released some more info and it needs to be more than a nice UI.

Cuz I can hook my computer up to my TV right now and play my games. Making it look prettier doesn't mean much to me.