Home Gaming Steambox suffering heat and noise issues

Steambox suffering heat and noise issues

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SteamBox

We all know that Valve are the masters of online game delivery and are pretty good at making original games themselves but it seems that even they are not immune to the problems of making hardware.

Personally I see this is a red flag that Gabe Newell shouldn’t ignore. Stick with software and don’t risk entering the hardware business.

According to Gabe

“There are noise issues and heat issues and being able to [deal with] that while still offering a powerful enough gaming experience is the challenge in building it.”

So 1 Internet point to whoever can remember which other piece of hardware released with heat and noise issues?

Yes the original Xbox 360 which was released with a huge marketing budget and then was nearly destroyed by the Red Ring of Death. Only to be saved by a windfall $1 Billion warranty budget from its big daddy, Microsoft.

While Valve are loaded they are not in a position to launch a similar marketing or warranty campaign and if the Steambox is released with overheating problems it is possible that it could sink faster than Greece’s economy.

Valve are also rumoured to be looking at how to measure players emotions and feedback via a custom controller…. added to the fact that they are unlikely to be able to subsidise the Steambox to the same extent as Microsoft and Sony and the entire idea starts to look a little shaky.

What do you think though, are you excited for the Steambox or do you believe it may ruin Valve as a company?

Last Updated: March 6, 2013

41 Comments

  1. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    March 6, 2013 at 07:53

    I don’t think this is a good idea. But, if they put in the effort they put in to their Steam platform who knows what they may be able to achieve.

    Reply

  2. Lord Chaos

    March 6, 2013 at 07:54

    A part of me would like for them to keep steam as software and perhaps go into agreement with MS and Sony so as to have it running on their platforms.

    Yet having a portable small “steam-box” with easy wifi or usb modem config would be a boon. Easy to take with you to other locations with minor setup and logging into the same account from another location without having to re-download your games.

    Reply

    • Edwin le Roux

      March 6, 2013 at 10:26

      Also if you can plug in an Keyboard and Mouse. Then it will be awesome for LANs.

      Reply

  3. Tarisma

    March 6, 2013 at 08:01

    Well at least he has admitted their is a problem. Much better then completely ignoring it.

    Reply

    • Matewis Jubilai

      March 6, 2013 at 08:16

      🙂 ‘there’ … (ducks and retreat to cover)

      Reply

      • Tarisma

        March 6, 2013 at 08:22

        Thanks for pointing that out, its been a long morning and its only 8.30, this day is going to suck!

        Reply

        • Matewis Jubilai

          March 6, 2013 at 09:36

          lol tell me about it. I hate wednesdays but some chronotrigger and a glass of wine in the evening makes it all better

          Reply

  4. eXpZA

    March 6, 2013 at 08:02

    “Work-in-progress hardware isn’t finished and isn’t perfect”

    Slow news morning? 🙂

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      March 6, 2013 at 08:35

      It blows me away how much love and forgiveness gamers have for Valve.

      Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft all get slated for rumoured problems but Valve admits to a problem and no one cares..

      And yes it’s a very slow news day but this I thought was actually important

      Reply

      • Wtf101

        March 6, 2013 at 08:49

        The Steambox is still in development. Slating Valve for admitting hitting a snag with something in development is a bit premature. Besides, Valve doesn’t strike me as a company that just gives up after hitting the first hurdle.

        Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        March 6, 2013 at 08:54

        I think it’s because it’s new in the market and everyone is waiting to see if it’s going to make any waves or not once on the market. I’m sure people will start slating it the moment it is released.

        Reply

      • Slade Boender

        March 6, 2013 at 08:55

        beaten wife syndrome = Master Race 😛

        Reply

      • FoxOneZA

        March 6, 2013 at 09:31

        It’s still in development. I remember the beta PS3 suffering with the same issues.

        When did Gabe make that statement?

        Reply

      • Alex Hicks

        March 6, 2013 at 10:10

        Gav, I think gamers have much love for Valve because of what they produce. I cannot remember a Valve game that has been bad. Some were good, some were excellent, but none could be labelled “bad”.

        The only product that wasn’t so good initially was Steam; and they worked damn hard improving it; and now most gamers quite like it.

        In short – we, as PC gamers, feel loved by Valve; and so love Valve in return.

        I used to feel the same way about Blizzard until the abomination that was Diablo 3.

        Reply

      • CheckovZA

        March 6, 2013 at 10:40

        I think it may just be Because they admit it that so many people are happy to support them.

        It’s not like this is some big rumour or leak about something wrong, it’s Gabe saying directly, “this is an issue that we’re finding challenging”. Or at least that’s my take… 😛 plus I agree with Alex, no “bad” games = much love.

        Reply

      • Johan du Preez

        March 8, 2013 at 13:09

        Yup its because Valve doesn’t try and screw us with a cactus up the ass with no option of KY.

        Reply

  5. Wtf101

    March 6, 2013 at 08:06

    I am pro console, but I have to be honest: When compared to the big guns (MS and Sony and even Nintendo) the Steambox will be the last console I will look at buying.
    And it is not for the reason of them battling with heating/noise issues. That can still be ironed out in development really.
    Valve is a newcomer to the console market. I cannot speak for all console owners, but I will stick to a brand I know and trust, and I know will not dump their console to try and keep their losses to a minimum.

    Reply

    • Melasco

      March 6, 2013 at 08:36

      Agreed. That thing won’t have 10% of a MS or Sony budget, and will be nothing more than a reshaped ITX PC with some special cooling, and probably a high end laptop GPU. You’ll pay your balls off for a tiny PC that a few games may be optimised for, if any…

      No thanks. I’m a console gamer, but knowing my PC gamer friends, they wont buy it either… They want the ability to max out games, and change hardware when they cant… Maybe it will have a good market somewhere, but none of the gamers I know will even consider it…

      Reply

      • Uberutang

        March 6, 2013 at 10:45

        Yeah personally if I want a Steambox I will hook my gaming rig up to my HDTV and play with a xbox controller…hey you know what? I all ready have a steam box!

        Reply

  6. Admiral Chief Erwin

    March 6, 2013 at 08:17

    Red Ring of Death always reminds me of eating VERY spicy food and the morning after

    Reply

    • CaptainNemo42

      March 6, 2013 at 08:58

      The Xbox’s Red Ring of Death had the same kind of “stinging” sensation.

      Reply

  7. CodeScarwls

    March 6, 2013 at 08:26

    Got a XBOX 360, I never play any games on it.
    Playing more on my PC.

    So I might look into getting myself the Piston 🙂

    Reply

    • CypherGate

      March 6, 2013 at 09:06

      What games do you play on your pc though? There only a handful of games that are worth playing on pc. I play games on my pc and there not much that interest me compared to console.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Erwin

        March 6, 2013 at 09:20

        Really? Damn, I feel the EXACT opposite 😛

        Reply

        • CypherGate

          March 6, 2013 at 09:24

          lol yeah really. I think it most probably comes down to the kinds of games that interests you?

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Erwin

            March 6, 2013 at 09:30

            What doth interest the CypherGatus?

      • Edwin le Roux

        March 6, 2013 at 10:22

        Except the obvious (Dota 2, TFS 2, Any Half-Life game, Skyrim, Guild Wars 2, SC2, Diablo 3, X-COM, Total War games, and so forth)

        I have lately become addicted to indie games (Mark of the Ninja, Super Meat Boy, Bastion, and a bunch of others I can not remember now)

        TBO: Nothing beats FPS, RTS and MMO with a Mouse and Keyboard.

        Reply

        • CypherGate

          March 6, 2013 at 10:26

          Oh yes the indie games makes pc gaming more worthwhile yes. The obvious games kinda put me off cause thats all thats popular on pc. I do agree 10000% FPS, RTS and MMO’s are best on pc.

          Reply

      • Uberutang

        March 6, 2013 at 10:46

        Handful? Dude there are millions of PC games.

        And loads of them will never see console releases.

        Recently been playing a lot of Warzone EU escalation and since last night… Arma3! A game that makes even high end PC ‘s sit up and say please no more…

        Reply

        • CypherGate

          March 6, 2013 at 10:55

          but you see Uber… Arma3 is FPS. I play all sorts of games, but sometimes there are games on console i would love to play like i mentioned earlier. There are over enough FPS’s on pc. I also know there plenty of pc games out there, but there is a handful of them that i actually enjoy playing and that interests me.

          Reply

          • Uberutang

            March 6, 2013 at 11:01

            Arma is to standard FPS what the Star Ship Enterprise is to a steam ship.
            It also simulates (in 3rd person if you like) Land, sea and Air combat.
            😛

            Guild wars 2. Only on PC (so far). Probably the best MMO ever made.

            And then we have not touched on mods yet. Most pc games can be evolved by the user community to be something magical even years after release. Dayz? Nothing else like that experience and made possible due to the open nature of PC gaming, vs the gimme your money for a bit more of the story on consoles.

            Consoles had their place in my heart at some point in the past, but they have killed the loved with retarded drm, bad dlc and stupid updates.

            Perhaps the PS4 stepping in as more of a ‘PC’ can turn that around, but it will always try and keep you in the walled garden and that is something I detest.

          • CypherGate

            March 6, 2013 at 11:08

            I do agree Guild Wars 2 is the best MMO made. My buddy believes FF14 online is though lol I dont deny that PC gaming community is top class and will never get that on consoles. I enjoy pc and console. Its just that i wish all games came on pc. Then I wouldnt need to consider a console again. Forza series, God of War, Uncharted etc etc is games i enjoy playing and if they could have been on pc it would be perfect and i wouldnt bother for a console again. So there are certain games like those that are not on pc that i enjoy. Its just that PC is mostly specialised in FPS, RTS and MMO which isnt bad. Its just a wider variety would help for me.

            Maybe the PS4 changes things a bit. Will have to wait and see.

          • Uberutang

            March 6, 2013 at 11:16

            Forza…meh 😛 RFactor2 is a real racing sim!

  8. CheckovZA

    March 6, 2013 at 08:34

    I think it’s potentially a very good idea, and might help bridge the gap for many PC gamers nervous to get into the console arena, and if Valve put even half the effort into polishing their console as they tend to do with their games I think it will probably be a fantastic success.

    It would also be nice to see some competition to the big boys in the console world that actually handles the more top end games (and has them on their system), sometimes it feels like they spend too much time squabbling over game developers, titles and “the latest fancies” to give the people that support their console what they want.

    Reply

  9. Sir Captain Rincethis

    March 6, 2013 at 08:47

    Nah, not in the least interested. Thing looks like it should be in a car anyway (I know)

    Reply

  10. Slade Boender

    March 6, 2013 at 08:53

    Interesting times. Being such a small console as is, I can see why these snags could be in the loop, I dont know how invested they are but imo changing the consoles design itself could alleviate these issues.

    And Is it just me or is it almost every first gen of a console there are always heating issues? Is it only the master race worried about keeping their “bits” cool??!

    Reply

  11. Otto_ki

    March 6, 2013 at 09:16

    Gotta love the ironic pun in the title 😀

    Reply

  12. string_slinger

    March 6, 2013 at 09:23

    I remember pre-ordering Half-Life 2 back in the day, and all the grumbling against the fact Steam was bundled, etc, and that opinions that it would fail horribly. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that, where are those voices now? Anyone can blow it, but I wouldn’t bet against Valve. They’re very good at making gamers very happy. They know what we like and love, and they’re working on that. That should make all of us optimistic, at the very least interested, but not pessimistic.

    Reply

    • Edwin le Roux

      March 6, 2013 at 10:24

      I was one of them. Hated Steam. Mostly because I did not have internet.

      But now with internet being allot more available, I’m one of Steams biggest fans.

      Reply

  13. Uberutang

    March 6, 2013 at 10:50

    I think the steambox is a bad idea. We really need to make it far harder and not easier or console noobs to play on the superior PC platform!

    Reply

  14. OVG

    March 6, 2013 at 13:04

    Valve is going to get pisston by Wii :p

    Reply

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