madbassman39

6 months, then its only $10 more than what I'm paying now for slower internet for the next 6 then after that its $30 more than what i was paying. Good thing is no contract, plus I'll be moving within the next year.

I guess its a purchase, I upgraded my comcast internet service to include Cable TV with HBO and faster internet. All for 20 dollars less that what I was currently paying. Now if Comcast can actually let me use the services I asked for, then I'd be happy.

I think the advantage a Steambox might have over an HTPC that you can purchase and download steam on, is the fact that it will be marketed for the specific reason of playing games. Most people who are into gaming will know that this isn't all that different, but I have friends who will not buy a gaming PC because its "too confusing." They say "well I know any Xbox game I buy plays on my Xbox, I don't have to check requirements minimum/recommended." The steam box will alleviate some of this confusion for those people if they can buy a game that says "Steambox" on it.

If you buy that on the Vita do you also get the PS3 version? Or is it only when you buy it on the PS3 you get the Vita version?

I would even go as far to say that you probably wont be able to access windows on this machine. It just runs windows secretly, in the background. Probably customized enough so somethings that are memory eaters that allow windows to run certain things to be turned off. I don't know much about programming, but it is my understanding that Windows has a lot of processess running that are not essential to running Windows itself, but essential to running Windows as a full experience. Maybe those will be eliminated in the programming? Also, because the Xbox uses Direct X, does it run a heavily optimized version of Windows?

That might be my problem is its not marketed towards someone as me, but we really don't know who its marketed to either. At the end of the day WaS I think you are right, they want to hit a market that want's to get into the PC gaming scene but can't/won't. We just don't know that as fact yet.

I miss wrote what I meant to say. I didn't mean appeal to those who are not interested in PC gaming as much as appeal to those who aren't interested in shelling out the cash to enter the world of PC gaming. If this was an option 2 years ago, I would probably have jumped on this instead of waiting 2 years until I had the financial ground and luxury to purchase myself a mega-machine. @Thursdaynext: That is why I am so interested, and seemingly pessimistic about this machine. Even as FDS says the problem is build, for 600 dollars you can buy (with enough searching) a pre-assembled machine that is equal or even better than an xbox 360 as far as gaming is concerned. I think I have given the wrong impression all around making it seem like I'm really doubting the legitimacy and business practices of Steam, but I really am trying to figure out the reason behind the market room for a Steambox. I don't doubt its there, but who are they targeting? Why? How will they make this a success? Is it even intended to be a success? My biggest question is: What advantages does the Steambox have over a desktop PC that is hooked up to your TV? I don't doubt Steam could sell this at cost or even at a loss, but I don't think Steam would jump into a market that they could already potentially have and sell a a loss. Again this is all speculation on my part, and really I am very interested in hoping for the best what this Steambox could be. This coud potentially be a game changer, and (probably not) be a console killer. If Steam is successful, EA might make an Originbox, Ubisoft might make a Uplaybox, Activision might make a Call Of Duty box. I doubt thats going to happen, but I wouldn't doubt that these companies are watching with this option in mind and doing market research.

I agree 100%, aside from the third movie which I'm blanking on. I never saw that one.

I guess thats where I am having issues understanding what Valve is trying to do with the Steambox. If it is what Dean speculates, then that is actually a smart idea. Computers with Steambox levels on it, steam preloaded, auto boots into big picture mode maybe, then I get that. If its a stand alone box that is another console, then it will divide Valve's user base. If they want to make the best of it they have to give incentives for one to buy the steambox and link their account to that, and to those who already have a PC running Steam, probably will need some large incentive. I guess the target though is to grab the market of gamers who don't have any interest in PC gaming. Those who only game on xbox/playstation may see this as a "console" and jump into steam. At that point, its getting steam in front of those people, but you have to hide the OS, and it probably will be windows to get the maximum number of games available for that system. There are just so many possibilities that this thing could be.

You have an elegant way with words FDS. Do me a favor and ask more politely next time. I'm saying is what is the point of them creating a steam box? If they make money off of software and not hardware, why enter the hardware business at all? I already can use steam, I don't need a steam box to do so, and that goes for everyone with a computer now. What is the incentive for me or anyone to buy the Steambox that, for all we know, doesn't run windows? If steam doesn't make money off of the steambox, like the other consoles, why are they interested in jumping into that market? They already can get steam in front of everyone without selling the box, without having the added cost of producing hardware, without adding overhead that most likely wont make any profit or even be considered a loss. I feel that asking these questions is very important, because even though it clashes with Valve's culture now, things may change in the future, or they may not. We wont know and the best way to know what direction Valve is heading in is to ask these questions.

I'm not too sure what to think about a steambox. I mean aside from selling hardware, what advantage does Valve have? They surely can't rely on the hardware to make them money because they have to price it competitively in order for it to be considered as a "gaming console." Not to mention that my PC is connected to my TV and uses a controller, and I use big picture mode, essentially I have a steambox that can potentially do more than a steam box. I guess what I'm getting at, if the steambox just a way of getting steam in peoples houses who are afraid to make the seemingly complicated jump into the PC gaming world, then I guess thats good motive, but really where the money on consoles is made is software, and how do you make profit on your system? Exclusives. I don't want to have to buy a steambox just to play the few valve games that I could potentially play on my PC but wont be allowed to because steam wants me to purchase their little box. I guess we'll have to see where this goes, but the lack of details kind of bothers me.

Are we still on in two hours? I'm looking forward to it!

I bought a Kindle Serial called Dis Enchanted by Robert Kroese. I really like having an episodic book, its a fun little adventure. Dis Enchanted is a silly over the top fantasy story about a king who is cursed and bound to his body after death instead of going to the great after life mead hall.

So I think about things like this all the time. What would I do if I had won an exuberant amount of money. I have a client who is according to Forbes worth 2.1 billion dollars and he still just works. If I had an 8th of what he had, I would have retired and owned an island. I would have a small gokart track, a paintball arena, I would have a pilots license, I would eat fancy food all the time, I would have a different car for what ever mood I was in, I would have boats, I would have a house that each room was dedicated to a hobby. A garage for cars, a room for video games, a room for reading, a room for movies, a room for music, a room for drawing/painting, a room for Legos. I would have my own small film studio, I would have a small castle on my island, and I would name my self the Count of Monte Cristo. I would also just go around and cause trouble. I would have fun with my money. My children would be working because even though I got a hand out, they will have to earn their money, because thats how I got to where I am right this moment. It would be great. I would also fly people to my island and then give them a paintball gun and a few days worth of food and say "The hunt is on!"

I made this playlist when I was away for a summer and my girlfriend came up to visit me: Closer (Nine Inch Nails) Disco Stick (Lady Gaga) The Bad Touch (The blood Hound Gang) Lollipop (Lil Wayne) I'd Rather (Three Six Mafia) Fuck Her Gently (Tenacious D) Touchin On My (3OH!3) Rape Me (Nirvana) Lets just say, it set the mood for the entire weekend.

I did the same, all to THQ because they seem to need it.

The only game on that list that I did own was Darksiders. I bought it to get saints row 3, I also am interested in Metro and company of heroes, but mostly for Saints Row.

Ok, I'll do my best to see you there.

If we set up a specific time I can make sure I'm there. I dont know how long I will be on for, but I can put the effort into scheduling it.

Pacific Time (GMT -8:00) I'm most available on weekends, my after work days are always up in the air when I can get home and whether I want to play a game or not is up to how much I had to do at work. Weekends are the best bet for me.

I played for about an hour last night. I'm used to playing games like battlefield so it was a bit of a change to get used to. My team was attacking a base and we were getting slaughtered, and I hardly could see where the enemies were shooting me from so I didn't do very well. It was fun, not my favorite shooter, but still an entertaining one.