3 ms·

Looks like what you're describing is at least partially implemented in Steam Big Picture mode. > Big Picture is a mode of Steam designed for use with your TV a

by tpxl 5y ago

Looks like what you're describing is at least partially implemented in Steam Big Picture mode. > Big Picture is a mode of Steam designed for use with your TV and game controller, so you can enjoy your Steam games from the comfort of your couch. With the press of a button, Steam displays a full-screen user interface which has been completely redesigned for readability and interaction on TV. It can also be used on your usual computer display. It wont solve the hardware/ram/compatibility problems, but in my experience there are not many of those on the latest Ubuntu. If it works, it works well, and if it doesn't it doesn't at all. And mostly it does.

lewispollard 5y ago
Yup, you can also set up Steam to launch Big Picture mode at Windows boot, if you wanted to use the computer exclusively for gaming, and in addition, it's currently the best way to use a game controller on Windows, since when running in Big Picture it takes over all game controllers with its own input wrapper, which makes nearly any game controller work in a unified way with completely configurable controls. This is quite a big problem on Windows where a lot of controllers won't work without fiddly and often suspicious 3rd party driver packages and programs. Additionally, Big Picture mode lets you remap controller buttons to basically anything you like (other buttons, keyboard keys, entire sequences of actions, mode shifting, overlay menus, different actions depending on if you press/double press/hold, etc). And, you can browse controller configurations that other people have made, too. Often there are lots of solutions for games that don't officially support controllers, and even in those that do, often there are improved mappings with added features like gyro aiming, or using a combination of gamepad and mouse input (all on the controller of course) to improve in game aiming.
- SirHound 5y ago
  Surely you still have to enter your Windows password with a keyboard?
  - lewispollard 5y ago
    Big Picture includes an on-screen keyboard overlay that you can toggle with a shortcut (by default it's the controller "home" button and "select", iirc). The first time you try to unlock the PC this way, Steam will prompt for elevated permissions to be able to do so. You can of course also set up the user to be automatically logged in. In my experience it's best to have Steam launch via the Task Scheduler with elevated permissions so that you can approve UAC requests, etc. However, yes it's worth having a keyboard connected (even if it's just one of those tiny wireless touchpad+keyboard combos) in case things go wrong.
    - tekknik 5y ago
      Microsoft used to sell a keyboard attachment that would go on the bottom of an xbox controller. I dunno why they stopped selling them, they work great for things like this.
  - goldcd 5y ago
    If this really mattered, you could use a Logitech Brio to sign you in with Windows Hello
  - tekknik 5y ago
    It’s a gaming PC, why do you use a password? Is someone going to break into your house and steal your PC on to be thwarted by your password?
m-p-3 5y ago
I've encountered some games where the default controller was downright broken and horrible. I'd expect the game developer to provide an good default controller layout of the box, as that's what I'd expect from a console game.
aloisklink 5y ago
There's also the [Steam Link app][1], if you have an Android TV. [1]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valvesoftware.steamlink https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valvesoftw... You just need to install the app on your Android TV/TV box, and if you've got a fast intranet connection, you can stream Steam games from your desktop/laptop PC via your Android TV (it also works on Android tablets/phones, but you'd probably need a high-end WiFi router). The input latency might hurt for action games, especially since TVs tend to have pretty bad latency already compared to computer monitors. And, loads of Android TVs aren't very powerful; I've seen quite a few struggle with even the Netflix app, so I doubt streaming 4K 60FPS games with low latency will work well.

by tpxl 5y ago

lewispollard 5y ago

Yup, you can also set up Steam to launch Big Picture mode at Windows boot, if you wanted to use the computer exclusively for gaming, and in addition, it's currently the best way to use a game controller on Windows, since when running in Big Picture it takes over all game controllers with its own input wrapper, which makes nearly any game controller work in a unified way with completely configurable controls. This is quite a big problem on Windows where a lot of controllers won't work without fiddly and often suspicious 3rd party driver packages and programs. Additionally, Big Picture mode lets you remap controller buttons to basically anything you like (other buttons, keyboard keys, entire sequences of actions, mode shifting, overlay menus, different actions depending on if you press/double press/hold, etc). And, you can browse controller configurations that other people have made, too. Often there are lots of solutions for games that don't officially support controllers, and even in those that do, often there are improved mappings with added features like gyro aiming, or using a combination of gamepad and mouse input (all on the controller of course) to improve in game aiming.

SirHound 5y ago
Surely you still have to enter your Windows password with a keyboard?
- lewispollard 5y ago
  Big Picture includes an on-screen keyboard overlay that you can toggle with a shortcut (by default it's the controller "home" button and "select", iirc). The first time you try to unlock the PC this way, Steam will prompt for elevated permissions to be able to do so. You can of course also set up the user to be automatically logged in. In my experience it's best to have Steam launch via the Task Scheduler with elevated permissions so that you can approve UAC requests, etc. However, yes it's worth having a keyboard connected (even if it's just one of those tiny wireless touchpad+keyboard combos) in case things go wrong.
  - tekknik 5y ago
    Microsoft used to sell a keyboard attachment that would go on the bottom of an xbox controller. I dunno why they stopped selling them, they work great for things like this.
- goldcd 5y ago
  If this really mattered, you could use a Logitech Brio to sign you in with Windows Hello
- tekknik 5y ago
  It’s a gaming PC, why do you use a password? Is someone going to break into your house and steal your PC on to be thwarted by your password?

m-p-3 5y ago

I've encountered some games where the default controller was downright broken and horrible. I'd expect the game developer to provide an good default controller layout of the box, as that's what I'd expect from a console game.

aloisklink 5y ago

There's also the [Steam Link app][1], if you have an Android TV. [1]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valvesoftware.steamlink https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valvesoftw... You just need to install the app on your Android TV/TV box, and if you've got a fast intranet connection, you can stream Steam games from your desktop/laptop PC via your Android TV (it also works on Android tablets/phones, but you'd probably need a high-end WiFi router). The input latency might hurt for action games, especially since TVs tend to have pretty bad latency already compared to computer monitors. And, loads of Android TVs aren't very powerful; I've seen quite a few struggle with even the Netflix app, so I doubt streaming 4K 60FPS games with low latency will work well.