But again, not a replacement
Back in October, I had the chance to test out the new Alienware Steam Machine’s mid-range model (i3 Dual Core, 8GB DDR3, 1TB HDD), and was fairly pleased with the results. As the hardware manufacturer even noted before launch, it’s not exactly a replacement for a real gaming PC, but an add-on.
It’s a rather expensive piece of kit that could otherwise be invested back into a PC upgrade for sure, but my hardware is still kicking in spite of that fact.
I find myself coming back to it multiple times in a week, mostly when I just want to relax and play some games that are on my backlog. I’ve ended up getting back into games that I’ve drifted apart from as well, like Awesomenauts, which works well with the Steam Controller despite my issues with it.
Part of the allure, of course, is un-tethering yourself from the typical PC rig setup. Although most people can just run an HDMI cable across to their TV, I have the Steam Machine in the basement, which makes it far easier to access. The streaming capabilities have also improved with some system updates, and any games it can play have been running smoothly. Alienware’s model is also pretty light, and the form factor makes it easy to lug around when I want to change up my setup.
I think the longevity of this thing is pretty far reaching, mostly because of the aforementioned streaming feature, but also due to the fact that so many indie games are being released these days that will run on SteamOS. It helps that the Steam Controller is improving slightly over time, particularly with titles like RTS games that just don’t work very well on a traditional pad.
In all, I’m happy that the Steam Machine is part of my overall family of consoles, even if the program still has a long ways to go. Alienware has done well by the concept right out of the gate though, and if they can get the price down, it’ll be a great gift for a lot of hardcore PC gamers out there.
