[LDSO] Tron 2.0 Forum

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/03 ... x-console/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So there's a rumor going around that Valve is going to make a console. Only, it's not really a console. It's a small form-factor PC that looks like a console, can connect to a TV, and will have gamepads/controllers by default.

Microsoft actually did the same thing with the original Xbox. It was a PC in disguise. But there will be two key differences. 1) The original Xbox was a low-spec PC, while the Valve one will be high-spec. It's rumored to have an i7 CPU, 8 GB memory, and a reasonably powerful Nvidia GPU. 2) The Xbox was deliberately designed not to run Windows software. Specific Xbox versions of games had to be made, which wouldn't run on a PC even though the Xbox and PC were very similar.

It's funny, because just a few months ago I was talking with someone about this, and saying: why doesn't Valve make a console-like PC? But not one that's closed and restricted, like the first Xbox was. A Valve console/PC that can run all Windows software and use all PC hardware. It's just an easier to use, more user-friendly, lower cost PC with Steam pre-installed.

If this takes off, it could give PC gaming a significant boost.

Here's another rumor I came across, that's related. If you thought the idea of Valve making a console-like PC was weird, then check this out.

http://semiaccurate.com/2012/03/02/sony ... n-amd-gpu/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


So now there are whispers going around, that Sony's Playstation 4 will have an x86 CPU and a GPU both made by AMD. That, in effect, the PS4 will also be a PC in disguise.

This rumor is just . . . too bizarre to be true. But if it is true, then it would be both a good and a bad thing for PC gaming. Good, because it would mean the PS4 version of a game is effectively the same as the PC version. Very little effort would be required to port from one to the other.

Bad, because knowing Sony: they'll make sure as many games would be PS4 "exclusives" either to start with, or permanently. So a game that could easily run on a PC would end up being stuck on the PS4 only.


At any rate, like I said, this rumor is just too ridiculous to be true. Then again: who would have thought Macs would end up with Intel processors, effectively making them PCs as well.

Maybe someday they'll just toss out the 'ol CPU altogether and the entire machine will mainly be a GPU.

I would have hoped that Valve was dedicating resources to ensuring that Half Life 3 would be the greatest game created ( up to its release, anyway ), but the rumor is interesting. Hopefully it doesn't run into over-heating issues that are so frequent with 360s.