Valve's Steam coming to TV with 'Big Picture'
- Written by xaraan on Tuesday, September 11 2012 and posted in Columns
Valve is launching a tv-mode of their Steam service for your TV! Check out their latest project: Big Picture.
Source: Big Picture homepage
Valve is launching Big Picture, a full screen option mode to play Steam that is optimized for TV's (better picture and more interactive than just plugging your PC into a TV as is):
Their video makes a good point for what's missing when you jump from your computer to console play, or what changes for you as a player. The only drawback is what has hampered most computer players jumping on the main tv set in the home: having a computer (your main gaming rig) hooked up to the main television. If this isn't an issue for you, then it seems like a great option. Though you can still use your keyboard and mouse, it's designed for controller play and even shows off a new on screen wheel-keyboard you operate with your controller.
If you are a major Steam gamer though and have the ability to hook up your gaming computer to your big screen, or use a laptop as your gaming machine, then this sounds like a perfect fit for you. You can take your entire Steam library of games, your network of friends, get access to a custome 'first person' web browser online and more.
It's now in Beta, so check out the Big Picture homepage to sign up.
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About the Author - Jeremy Shane
When not doing photography, Jeremy writes for us covering books, gaming, tv, movies, sometimes even comics, covering conventions in the SoCal area, plus creating a weekly webcomic. If you look for him offline, start in the L.A. area; online start at www.jeremyshane.info.
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