3 ms·

You could, before they removed that feature. They want it to be very locked down, Valve obviously does not. Valve has made a very gaming-tailored machine, yeah.

You could, before they removed that feature. They want it to be very locked down, Valve obviously does not. Valve has made a very gaming-tailored machine, yeah. But due to still being very easy to do general computer things on I wouldn't classify it as a console. Otherwise, are stationary PCs custom built for only gaming, such as those used at e-sports tournaments, consoles? They don't have the same customized software stack, but neither does the Deck in comparison to a PS5, imo.

zem 3y ago
so it's not a "console" in the pejorative sense of "locked down gaming device some company is trying to extract rents from", but it definitely is in the operational sense of "small device dedicated to gaming". the deck goes a bit beyond a general purpose pc because it does have a vertically integrated hardware and software stack that is optimised for playing games, even if they haven't restricted other uses.
- Novosell 3y ago
  Aye, there is something to be said for integrated and purpose made software+hardware making a console, but you can barely compare the software of a Steam Deck to that of something like a NES. As far as I'm aware, a NES doesn't even really have any software, all the software is on the cartridge. A custom PC running Steam in Big Picture Mode will be far more similar to a Steam Deck than a NES is to a Steam Deck. Is the ROG Ally a console? What if I load SteamOS 3.0 on it? Is the PS3 with Linux on it still a console? Are gaming-focused phones consoles? They have vertically integrated hardware and software, and are made with gaming as a focus yet can be used as somewhat general purpose devices, just like the Steam Deck.
  - zem 3y ago
    ah, i see your point, the steam deck tech stack is not designed from end to end as a gaming system; rather it specialises a broader linux stack. i wonder how much difference that will make a couple of generations down the line, but for now i agree the NES probably does do a much better job of gaming performance for given hardware specs.

zem 3y ago

so it's not a "console" in the pejorative sense of "locked down gaming device some company is trying to extract rents from", but it definitely is in the operational sense of "small device dedicated to gaming". the deck goes a bit beyond a general purpose pc because it does have a vertically integrated hardware and software stack that is optimised for playing games, even if they haven't restricted other uses.

Novosell 3y ago
Aye, there is something to be said for integrated and purpose made software+hardware making a console, but you can barely compare the software of a Steam Deck to that of something like a NES. As far as I'm aware, a NES doesn't even really have any software, all the software is on the cartridge. A custom PC running Steam in Big Picture Mode will be far more similar to a Steam Deck than a NES is to a Steam Deck. Is the ROG Ally a console? What if I load SteamOS 3.0 on it? Is the PS3 with Linux on it still a console? Are gaming-focused phones consoles? They have vertically integrated hardware and software, and are made with gaming as a focus yet can be used as somewhat general purpose devices, just like the Steam Deck.
- zem 3y ago
  ah, i see your point, the steam deck tech stack is not designed from end to end as a gaming system; rather it specialises a broader linux stack. i wonder how much difference that will make a couple of generations down the line, but for now i agree the NES probably does do a much better job of gaming performance for given hardware specs.