Why Steam Deserves To Be Your New Console!

Do you know that romantic comedy cliche where the young twenty something chick has to choose between the good looking jerk or the wealthy foreign dude?  Then in a sudden twist she finds out that her best friend, Todd, has been the one the whole time.  That is your relationship with Steam.  While we were fretting over which Xbox or Playstation to get, Steam sat quietly promising to console you in your darkest hour.  Not once did it charge you for online capabilities and it doesn't get jealous if you use its Netflix.

5.  Backwards Compatible In Its Truest Sense

Steam did something smart.  It stuck to one media format for all its games-The digital download.  And because you have that one media format you never have to worry about your games becoming obsolete.  Your system can still play Max Payne, Serious Sam and Doom 3 like it was the day you first bought it.  No system can ever promise that longevity.  And Steam has cloud saves, which means you can still keep your progress in a game even though you switch computers.

The CD or the game cartridge are no longer the golden standard that sits above the PC.  Now that next gen systems have to find updates, install data, use up gigs and store to the hard drive it doesn't make it much more of an advantage.

Toaster not included.

4.  The Perfect Balance of Internet Capability

Did we mention that Steam is 1 of 2 game networks on the market that does not require 60 bucks a year?  The other system has an Italian plumber as its mascot.  Steam could also be a real jerk about being an online digital company and make some rule like, "your computer must be online at all times in order to play."  But Valve has a heart and a love for the Tiny Tim in us all.

3. The Thin Line Between Console and PC is Closing

It used to be clear as day to whether you were a PC gamer or a console gamer.  If you wanted 2D adventures, fighters and beatem' ups you went with console, if you wanted games that would make Star Trek engineers cry you went with computer.  That is no longer the case as more and more varieties of games are being ported to Steam.  Don't want to use your mouse?  Fine, be that way!  But also remember that a startling amount of Steam games are becoming gamepad compatible.  The Steam Box is also coming out with a controller that will take the place of your keyboard and mouse.  As mentioned earlier, the disc drive media is not convenient, fast or easy as it once was so Steam has the advantage.

2. The Issue With Upgrading

You may think to yourself, "Aha, computers must be constantly upgraded and consoles last about 8 years."  But you also have to remember that Steam is not asking you to get a whole new $600 system every 3 years. A strong PC can last 3-4 years before becoming irrelevant.  After those 4 years you can switch out any technical hardware to make the system better.

The mascot...a blue collar engineer with a degree in miming

1.  And Those Prices...

It's Christmas Eve and you turn on your warm and lonely computer to find out that Batman Arkham City is only $5, while the newest indie games are selling for $2.  Who has this power and authority?  It isn't Sony or Microsoft.  It is Valve.

Xbox One Vs. PS4 (What are gamers really looking for?)

Can Gaming Consoles Keep Up with What gamers Really Want?

The numbers and peripherals may not be enough.

Back in the Early 2000's PS2 and Xbox had some pretty clear differences.  Xbox was an American focused company that utilized a lot of PC software and showed off crisper graphics, while the PS2 was the import king, giving tons of RPGs and Japanese games.

Now the PS4 and Xbox One have unveiled their next generation models and it seems like both companies are fighting for the same market.  What does the gamer care about?  Here is a list of what the gamer's care about

1. Will it Be Pretty and Smooth?

PS4 uses a Jaguar processor with an AMD chip, while the XB1 uses an 8-Core CPU.  Loads of internet sources will tell you that the PS4 has the better hardware or that XB1 has the better layout, but you have to remember one thing; everything is speculation thus far.  We will be lucky if everything speculated comes out accurately within a year.  I remember when the original Xbox came out and my friend was bragging about how this system could "be upgraded so you never have to buy a new console" or that the graphics are "3x the power of the PS2."  We like to hear those numbers pre-purchase because it gives us security in our buying decision. Those numbers all sound impressive, but in the end the average gamer is looking for two things...

Will the game look pretty?

Will it run smoothly?

But then you have the peripherals like the Kinect, the controller, the Eyetoy, and the Illumiroom.  Both companies are fighting to put motion control and voice activation in their games so that will be really close (unless Sony scraps their motion gaming again).  The Illumiroom is going to be expensive and requires that you have a pretty sizable living room.  It will be as exciting as 3D television. If you are like me. you are going to buy a third-party controller to save money (Thank you Walmart).  The only reason I would make a purchase for one over the other is if one company decides to scrap motion gaming (ahem...Sony).

2.  Will It Scratch My Shooter and Sports Itch?

If you are studying on which system to buy then you probably don't care at all that Nintendo Wii U has a huge head start.  You are probably looking for that mind blowing shooter to wow your bros (or sis') in the dorm room.  You have a choice between Killzone Shadow Fall and the inevitable Halo 5.  Also, don't forget the closet full of military shooters that will topple the market.  If you are not into that then you will probably be looking for the experience grinding, fully customizable dragon slaying RPG.  Both systems would not be caught dead without one.  You might be into the sports franchises in which case Sony's market has the slight advantage, but in most cases you are pleased with 2K and EA.  The point is that both systems will scratch that itch.  The question is...what story will you be more loyal to?  Do you want to get deeper into The Helghast or venture further into the Brute war?  It would have made a difference in the Xbox/PS2 war when Xbox was the leading supplier of sci-fi games, while Sony cared more about Japanese offerings.  Now both systems promise to be overly saturated.

Since we are up to our necks in sequels, I really think the system that will win over the new people is the one that produces an original game away from the shooter/sports agenda.

3. Will it Last?

Sony and Microsoft are betting their entire fortunes that you will throw away all your games and previous systems to get their new system.  They are confident that you will treat last year's model as crap and throw it all away for the new stuff.  In the 7 years it takes to make a new system, they will be asking us to do that again.  This seems to be the norm for systems that lack backwards compatibility.  Did we get won over by new games or prettier sequels?  I bet these new systems will make you crap yourself in excitement, but I can't help wonder if the gamer has been reduced to a formula.  A few sequels here and there, a few digital contents here, a Netflix over there and a Facebook to have the complete package.  Let's not forget that game technology is becoming more like food buffets.  Video games are no longer a single purchase investment that you get to take home.  Now they are a digital subscription on a cloud.

As a Bible scholar who cares deeply for the soul, I don't think more digital cramming is good.  The routine of buying mind blowing software every 7 years, racking up tons of digital content and throwing it all away is absurd.  We were never made to be so reckless in our purchases.  I don't care how many frames per second and pixels you have.  Jesus said it best..."The treasures of Earth fade away, rust and get eaten by moths".  Our treasure, to put it in modern terms, lose their value and purpose in 7 years.

In the end, both systems are doing phenomenally well at ensuring fun and mind blowing entertainment.  It really comes down to what franchises you want to see grow.  The question you need to ask yourself is...is it worth drooling over?