Valve reveals the first 13 Steam Machines during CES 2014

announcement3-1152-610 Last year, we posted that Valve has made the big move by invading gamers living room space. Now, they revealed that they officially have 13 Steam Machines being developed by different manufacturers. Yes, we are not talking about one unit that would be using the new Steam controller and it's new Linux-based operating system called SteamOS, we are talking about 13 kinds of units.

It's crazy. The manufacturers creating Steam Machines are Alienware, Alternate, Cyberpower PC, Digital Storm, Falcon Northwest, Gigabyte, iBuyPower, Materiel.net, Next Spa, Origin PC, Scan, Webhallen and Zotac. Each Steam Machine is different, with price range as low as $500 to as high as $1400. The shape of the unit also varies depending on the manufacturer, so there's a lot to choose from when considering Valve's Steam Machines.

Unit specs for some Steam Machines were also announced with a price:

  • Alternate – $1339 CPU – Intel Core i5 4570 Graphics – Gigabyte GTX 760 RAM – 16GB Storage – 1TB SSHD
  • CyberPowerPC – $499 and up CPU – AMD/Intel Core i5 CPU Graphics – AMD Radeon R9 270/Nvidia GTX 760 RAM – 8GB Storage – 500GB
  • Digital Storm Bolt II – $2,584 CPU – Intel Core i7 4770K Graphics – GTX 780 Ti RAM – 16GB Storage – 1TB HDD + 120 GB SSD
  • Gigabyte Brix Pro – TBD CPU – Intel Core i7-4770R Graphics – Intel Iris Pro 5200 RAM – 2 x 4GB Storage – 1TB SATA/6GB SATA
  • Falcon Northwest – $1,799 to $6000 CPU – customizable Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan RAM – 8 to 16 GB Storage – up to 6 TB
  • iBuyPower – $499 and up CPU – Quad core AMD or Intel Graphics – Radeon GCN Graphics RAM – 8GB Storage – 500GB+
  • Materiel.net – $1,098 CPU – Intel Core i5 4440 Graphics – MSI GeForce GTX 760 OC RAM – 8GB Storage – 8 GB + 1 TB SSHD
  • Origin PC Chronos – price TBD CPU – Intel Core i7 4770K (3.9 to 4.6 GHz) Graphics – 2 x 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX Titans
  • Next SPA – price TBD CPU – Intel Core i5 Graphics – Nvidia GT 760 RAM – 8GB Storage – 1TB
  • Scan NC 10 – $1,090 CPU – Intel Core i3 4000M Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M RAM – 8GB Storage – 500GB
  • Webhallen – $1,499 CPU – Intel Core i7 Graphics – Nvidia GT 780 RAM – 16GB Storage – 1TB SSHD
  • Zotac – $599 CPU – Intel Core (TBD) Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX RAM – TBD Storage – TBD

It's exciting to know these Steam Machines will be available within the year. But I'm curious on how Valve and each manufacturer will manage the information for each unit. With each Steam Machine being different, it can come out confusing for consumers with all the choices.

Valve also announced that there are now 250 games now SteamOS ready.

Excited to get your own Steam Machine when it's available? Or are you good with your PC when it comes to your Steam games?

[Source: Joystiq, Valve]

Things to look forward to entering 2014

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watchdogs-police-takedown-screenshot We are now on the final days of 2013. A great year for video games indeed thanks to the amazing games released as well as the debut of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. We are entering a new era, but where do we go from here? To be honest, it's hard to tell how 2014 will shape up. how does the next generation lineup look like after March? Will early PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners have games to buy during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2014? Or will this be Nintendo's year to get things rolling for the Wii U? So many questions, but here's a couple of things to look forward to once we hit 2014.

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Wii U and it's 1st party titles

Let's face it. The Wii U isn't doing so well. Sales for the unit hasn't even hit 1M and the games isn't coming in batches as we hoped for a 1-year-old console. But we can't count the Wii U just yet. I believe this is Nintendo's year to make something happen to their next generation unit. Don't forget, their big first party titles are planned for this year - Super Smash Bros. Wii U, The new Zelda game (Footage yet to be revealed but confirmed to be in development since console launch), Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, and Bayonetta 2. But 1st party titles isn't enough to get the Wii U back in the spotlight, but it's definitely a good start to give it a sign of life to those looking for a new console to dabble with.

Third party support, which was widely promoted after the reveal of the Wii U, shows a big decline as it enters its first year. Ubisoft's exclusive title for the Wii U - ZombiU, didn't do well in sales but was considered a good game. But big publishers look at the numbers to consider a sequel and it looks like it won't happen anytime soon. That kind of result makes third party's hesitate in bringing their big games to the Wii U. Solution? Sell more units, build a player base. But of course it's easier said than done. Maybe a name change? The conversation during stores explaining parents the difference between the Wii and the Wii U must be a nightmare for any clerk working in a video game store. So much work needs to be done. Get to it Nintendo.

Titanfall, that is all. 

Is it that great of a game? Well, the folks that have played it have nothing but good things to say about this FPS Mech/soldier multiplayer game. This is also one of the titles trying something different. I'm not talking about the fluid switch from FPS shooter to mech shooter. I'm talking about Respawn Entertainment blending in their single player campaign with their multiplayer component. A very interesting concept and a perfect way to somewhat erase a mode most people ignore with multiplayer shooters nowadays but retain a sense of story and character progression. How will it fair from start to finish? We'll have to see when it hits shelves on March for Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC. You have never seen Titanfall in action? Just watch the video below will ya?

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SteamOS and Steam Machines

PlayStation 4 and Xbox One sure got most of the attention this year, but people should remember Valve made a big move by announcing the Steam Machines, Valve's console planned to your already crowded living room. It's just  not just one console being produced by Valve, thus it being called Steam Machines. Various hardware companies will be making different varieties of Valve's console, capable of running their Linux-based Operating System called the SteamOS. The big idea is simply bringing your huge Steam library into your living room to enjoy. With a keyboard and mouse? Well, not really. They also announced a Steam controller that is trying something...different.

A controller without joysticks. Check out the controller in action below. It's built so that games like Civilization V or other games built for keyboard and mouse won't be neglected once Steam hits your living room. It's hard to describe and explain how it would work. But the demonstration shows that the controller is capable of working well with Real-Time Strategy games and First Person Shooter games.

With how it looks, I'm not a fan of the design but you never know, it might be those products that will grow on you the more you use it...or not.

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The future of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Great start for Sony and Microsoft's new consoles. In just one day, they were able to surpass the 1 million units sold mark. So what's next? To release as much games as possible in their units. Last thing you want is your new unit being turned on once a month. There are tons of games planned for 2014 like Ubisoft's Watch Dogs and CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Titanfall and Quantum Break for Xbox One, and inFamous: Second Son and The Order: 1886 for the PS4. But  how does the lineup look like during the second half of 2014? It's still unknown what Sony and Microsoft has planned but be sure to tune in E3 2014 because it's going to be an all out war. A new Uncharted was announced exclusive to the PS4 and we still need more information on the next Halo title planned for the Xbox One. If there's one thing I hope to see in 2014, it's newer franchises. 2014 will be just as exciting as 2013, and it just makes me all giddy just thinking about it.

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PS3 and Xbox 360 still alive and kicking

Sure, next-gen is now upon us and technically the PS4 and Xbox One is now current generation while the PS3 and Xbox 360 is now previous generation. But don't set aside your prevous consoles just yet. There are a couple of titles to look forward to entering 2014. If you still want to give Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII series a chance, Lightning Returns is out in Japan but  the western version will be hitting stores February 11. Dark Souls 2, the sequel to the tough but amazing action RPG is for PS3 and Xbox 360 and is launching on March 11.

If you can't wait to play Titanfall but can't afford to make the upgrade on your PC or even making the jump to the Xbox One, it is also being released on the Xbox 360 on March 11. There's also Persona 5, which was recently announced by Atlus, exclusive to the PS3 and is planned for release at the end of 2014. The next in the Tales of series was also recently announced - Tales of Zesteria, which is also a PS3 exclusive, planned for a worldwide release in 2014. Oh, and of course, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes the prologue to Metal Gear Solid V planned for release on March 18 on PS3, Xbox 360, and next-gen consoles. All of that, plus all the yearly titles like Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed is enough to keep your current consoles active in 2014.

What are you most excited for entering 2014? Sound off in the comments below. And just in case we miss the chance - Happy New Year to everybody! Hope you all have a good one.

AverMedia Live Gamer Portable

SONY DSC TMG gets yet another upgrade in terms of recording gear. With Arlie's Elgato Game Capture HD and his newly acquired PS4, I also level up with a new capture device. The AverMedia Live Gamer Portable.

This cute little device is about the size of an iPhone and can record footage with or without a computer. When connected to a PC, you can record footage using RECentral (in either TS or mp4 format) or directly use the device on streaming software such as Xsplit or Open Broadcaster Software. When not connected to a PC, it can also record footage by storing it in a class 10 SDHC card (only records in TS format in this mode). Thanks to Den for hooking me up with this new capture device.

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The box it came in is hella fancy and contained quite a bit of accessories given it's size. Included with the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable device is a PS3 SCART cable, a component AV adapter, a line in cable, a USB (male) to USB mini (male) cable, a very short HDMI cable, and a zippered carrying pouch, an instruction sheet, and finally a voucher for a 3-month licence for Xsplit.

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Here's a screenshot taken using the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable through RECentral.

AverMedia Live Gamer Portable ingame screenshot

Here are some test videos I recorded using the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable in both RECentral and in PC-free mode.

PS3 footage recorded with the RECentral software: Settings: Bitrate: 12mbps Resolution: 720p Frame Rate: 30fps Format: mp4

PS3 footage recorded PC-free on a 16gig SDHC card: PS3 footage recorded PC-free on a 16gig SDHC card: Resolution: 720p Frame Rate: 60fps Format: TS converted to mp4

Recorded using PC-free mode on a 16gig SDHC card Resolution: 720p Frame Rate: 60fps Format: raw TS file

Recorded using PC-free mode on a 16gig SDHC card Resolution: 1080p Frame Rate: 60fps Format: TS converted to mp4 PC screen setup (dual monitors) set to "Extend Displays".

Recorded using PC-free mode on a Class 10 16gig micro SDHC card Resolution: 720p Frame Rate: 60fps Format: raw TS file

Recorded using PC-free mode on a class 10 16gig SDHC card Resolution: 720p Frame Rate: 60fps Format: TS converted to mp4 PC screen setup (single monitor) set to "Duplicate Displays".

RECentral captures Wii and PS2 footage in 4:3 even if the consoles are set to widescreen so I had to change the aspect ration of this video before uploading. Bitrate: 12mbps Frame Rate: 30fps Format: mp4

Like how PSP games are displayed on TVs via the PSP-2000/3000's TV-out, I had to eliminate the black gaps around the edges. Bitrate: 12mbps Frame Rate: 30fps Format: mp4

Had to cut out the black edges on all sides. Bitrate: 12mbps Frame Rate: 30fps Format: mp4

 

By the way, you can find Arlie streaming live on our Twitch.tv channel so follow us there if you want to catch the streams.

VGX 2013: Tales from the Borderlands announced, a Telltale crossover project with Gearbox Software

tales-of-the-borderlands-pc-1386459500-001 Looks like Telltale is going all out next year. Another episodic title was announced by them but this time it's a crossover project with Gearbox Software. Tales from Borderlands will take place in the crazy world of Pandora and is played like any other Telltale game. Check out the trailer below.

Another interesting mix for this story-driven developer. All development is being done at Telltale games with only Gearbox Software simply providing the assets and materials.  There will be new characters introduced as well but like what Marcus said in the trailer- They are not Vault Hunters. Interesting stuff. We'll get to explore Pandora in a different light in 2014.

This isn't the only announcement from Telltale Games. They also announced that they are currently working on a Game of Thrones title that's also going to be an episodic series just like their previous games. The Walking Dead Season 2 starting this December, The Wolf Among Us currently on-going, Tales from the Borderlands, and a Game of Thrones title all at once? Telltale Games is a busy bunch for sure.

 

The Last Door - Free To Play Low-Res Horror Game

The-Last-Door Halloween may be over but that doesn't mean you can't play a horror game here and there. The Last Door is an episodic horror point and click adventure game that's free to play on thelastdoor.com.

It's a sort of Lovecraftian style of horror, which I like, and doesn't really rely on jump scares. As of this post, chapter 1 and 2 are free to play on their site. Chapter 3 is also currently available but will be free to play on January 2014. If you want to play chapter 3 early, you can donate a bit of money to the developers at http://thelastdoor.com/index.php/donate. They also have a few incentives if you donate certain amounts. The Last Door is also trying to get on Steam Greenlight.

We did a short Let's Play of the chapters 1 and 2 that are currently free. Check them out. If you like how it looks, I recommend you try the game out for yourself.