Kevin Karhan Nov 18

No wounder #Valve doesn't release shit:

They took at least 6 years for the #SteamFrame to #develop, and that's just the time frame they've admitted in front of a camera working on it, which means said engineers chose to get involved at that point in time, with the project propably being on the stove 'cooking' for a decade.

  • I do assume that it took that long because they needed to test and design a lot and because they needed an #ARM - #SoC that can deliver the power without needing active cooling or melting the users' face off...

Tho I do assume the #Steam Frame aka. "#VirtualGabe" to not be a $499 device, but closer to $749 because #LPDDR5X is not cheap right now!

Valve Steam Frame Engineering Deep-Dive: Water Cooling, Thermals, Power, Acoustics

YouTube
Show threadKevin Karhan Nov 18
Engineering #PortableElectronics that are in constant contact with a user's skin is NOT trivial and the #SteamDeck certainly started it's development way before the #NintendoSwitch or #GPDwin were announced.
Valve Steam Deck Secrets: Engineering & Design of Memory, PCB Layout, and Thermals

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Show threadKevin Karhan Nov 18
Like the #SteamDeck propably got started propably before the #SmachZ got announced...
STEAM DECK: The Handheld PC Has Finally Arrived

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Show threadKevin Karhan Nov 18
For those who don't remember: #SmachZ was that scammy #Portable #SteamMachine running off a #Tablet-PC #IntelAtom SoC.
SMACH Z EXPOSED!! $652,909 SCAM?

YouTube
Show threadKevin Karhan Nov 18
So yeah, #Valve really nails the #meme from ages ago:
Show threadStarkRGNov 18
@kkarhan Yeah, one of those rare cases where a for-profit company is *more* ethical than its CEO.
Show threadStarkRGNov 18
@kkarhan (not that that says much)
Show threadKevin Karhan Nov 18

@StarkRG nodds in agreement...

At least #Valve knows how to "read the room" and so far they delivered on their promises.

Show threadStarkRGNov 18
@kkarhan The Frame (stupid name, by the way) is what I'm really interested in. I've got an Index and quite like it so I might not actually end up getting one. Sadly the last time I used it, there was still about 100-200 ms of lag on Linux which isn't awful, but is still noticeable. The Frame's features might make that less of a problem, though.
Show threadKevin Karhan Nov 18

@StarkRG Granted, #Valve does address these things and also worked towards making it a better "standalone #VR system" than the #OculusQuest by packing in a lot of power and making it run #SteamOS.

  • And I'm shure games like #BeatSaber will just run perfectly smooth on it!
Show threadStarkRGNov 18
@kkarhan Really, the main thing I don't like about Valve is that you don't own the games you "purchase", they can yank your access at any time, or change their service agreement to something unconscionable and force you to choose between your games or your morals. I don't like that they have an almost total monopoly on game distribution, which has a bad effect on game prices and development. They are still relatively benign when compared to other megacorps.
Show threadKevin Karhan 

@StarkRG yes and all these criticisms I do share as they are all valid.

  • Granted, there are very, very few companies "doing better" for consumers with #GOG's #DRMfree options being better.

I mean, #Valve's #Steam basically is the #monopoly and refusing to sell on Steam is basically suicidal for #IndieDevs...

Not "genius" but "criminally incompetent competiton" from #EA, #EpicGames, #Xbox / #Microsoft, #Playstation / #Sony and #Nintendo is why #GabeN can just "Thanos - Snap" basically "look like a saint"...

You Can't Beat Steam

YouTube
Nov 18 at 1:02pmWeb