Valve launches Big Picture beta

[Amit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFrL6-OhN94&feature=player_embedded

http://store.steampowered.com/bigpicture/

(http://store.steampowered.com/bigpicture/)We'll have to wait for the Steam Client update later this afternoon before we can test it out.

[BobtheGreatII]

I saw this yesterday on Kotaku. I think the keyboard thing is a nice touch. In fact most of it seems pretty cool.

[Kornman00]

I think I want to see that star-like-circle-menu in the next Halo Wars game. Scratch that, I know I want to see that.

edit: Daisywheel. I hope that isn't patented.
edit2: ah, inspiration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_wheel_printing

[Warsaw]

Now...complete the transition, Valve, and make a full operating system.

:D

[Tnnaas]

Weren't... weren't their a few old games like Medal of Honor that used the Daisy wheel for typing in your profile's name or am I just making stuff up in my head?

[Amit]

Well, big picture has been out now for a number of hours and I have to say I really like it. It's not something I'd use everyday, but when I want to kick back and fuckin' play some games on the bigscreen, this is what I'm going to use.

I have a video uploading with my very first use of it, but it'll most likely be a few hours before that finalizes. You'll be able to see it here when it's done, though:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxrTXrk7rf8

For now, enjoy some screenshots:


http://i.imgur.com/4XBLi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/92fC0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rfDBT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/efc3h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GBlcD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MLI1L.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hHKZA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qbeDo.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AvMkg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hJiuu.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WngzU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VKOFn.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/XyS49.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dyzIY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dvAwd.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/a7udg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lq0ZJ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Nl6le.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/S8kDB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dUUIP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/n4SrO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jdjV9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2oxQK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ymJ5v.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JDHjd.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e38SS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DnCCE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/agHic.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/p159n.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rr9Bo.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mzVhn.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EFExy.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/olObu.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rtcg8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/joY4O.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/digo3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uZCei.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rygOD.jpg

[Timo]

Now all I need is a long ass DVI/VGA cable and i'll be set.

[Amit]

Now all I need is a long ass DVI/VGA cable and i'll be set.

Same here, but a long ass HDMI cable may be better so you don't have to worry about sending a next cable with sound.

[JackalStomper]

why not use thunderbo-pfffhahahahahahaha

[Warsaw]

D'aaaw, you took pictures of my profile!

By the way, that UI looks slick as hell. Is it fast?

[Amit]

Yeah. Pretty damn responsive. I just wish I could use the dpad to navigate instead of the left thumbstick.

[Warsaw]

Well, it is a beta. Send feedback. :D

[Amit]

I don't know where to send it.

Edit: 2 seconds of checking on the forums found me this: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/bigpicture/discussions

(http://steamcommunity.com/groups/bigpicture/discussions)Half the shit I want has already been mentioned by other people.

[Kornman00]

Well be sure to post "this." so they have numbers behind the "do want." :p

[Amit]

Well, it's spread across multiple threads. Basically everything that was suggested is stuff I'd like to see. I would like to keep Netflix out of Steam, though.

Btw, my video is finally fucking up after about 5 hours of uploading:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxrTXrk7rf8&feature=player_embedded

It cuts off when I close the ad on youtube because this new feature crashes like a bitch.

[Kornman00]

Yeah, Steam doesn't need to become the next XBL/360 dashboard. Stay away Netflix~~

[Kornman00]

http://www.develop-online.net/news/42736/Newell-Valve-designing-its-own-living-room-PC

[Ki11a_FTW]

Saw this on the Hl2 forums, I'll be purchasing that:)

[Kornman00]

I keep the GGD forums collapsed :P

[Warsaw]

Valve just needs to make Steam an entire operating system. It has a browser, it has the ability to install applications that you need and want, it has a store front to acquire more applications, it runs on launch, and now it's going to have its own hardware. With their own OS, they don't have to worry about compatibility issues among Linux distributions.

Seriously, since they've added the ability to purchase productivity software, they might as well go all the way with it. I'd give an OS made by them a shot as long as they can fix their connectivity issue.

[Amit]

They just need to optimize the UI to have faster performance and it'd be nice OS platform.

[Warsaw]

That, too. But my biggest beef with Steam these days is the random connection issues. If they make an OS, and it's tied to an online account, they really need to stabilize that.

[Kornman00]

They just need to optimize the UI to has faster performance and it'd be nice OS platform.
Isn't pretty much the majority of their UI just web based (ie, HTML/JS)?

[Amit]

That, too. But my biggest beef with Steam these days is the random connection issues. If they make an OS, and it's tied to an online account, they really need to stabilize that.

YES THIS BEFORE ANYTHING.


Isn't pretty much the majority of their UI just web based (ie, HTML/JS)?

I know the client itself is written using C++ and Java. I have no idea what they use for the overlay, though.

[itszutak]

YES THIS BEFORE ANYTHING.



I know the client itself is written using C++ and Java. I have no idea what they use for the overlay, though.
Isn't the overlay some kinda direct3d thing? Like what xfire uses? I'm really not sure how these things work but I know OS's overlay interfered in one build with steam's overlay, and I figure it's because they probably are looking at the same thing...

[Kornman00]

The overlay is a DX hook (and I'm assuming OpenGL too, for those types of games and non-Windows platforms), yes

I know the client itself is written using C++ and Java. I have no idea what they use for the overlay, though.
The client's shell may be in C++, but content that is presented within the client's frame (eg, store, community, etc) seems to be all web based.

[Btcc22]

I know the client itself is written using C++ and Java. I have no idea what they use for the overlay, though.

I don't believe there's anything to do with Java in the client.