Recent posts
#1
General Discussion / Re: What gaming related trends...
Last post by retro junkie - Today at 11:06:18 AMI happen to think of something that I have really grown out of...........
The cycle. I started gaming on the Commodore C64. Then I grabbed up a Sega Genesis, excited. I saw so many games that I wanted to purchase and play. Then the SNES came along. Then the desire for those games grabbed my wallet. My interest became divided. I ended up sacrificing games wanted, money weighed between consoles. Then Gameboy, then Game Gear, then Atari Lynx, Turbe Grafx 16, Sega CD, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, PS1, GB Advance, GB SP, Atari Jaguar, Dreamcast, PS2, DS, DS lite, GameCube, N64, DSi, Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS, Xbox One, Wii U, finally the NES, and this is where I found myself willing to break the cycle. I never got the full line of games for each console that I desired because the gaming addiction monster was consumed by each new "better,: "bigger," "more powerful," "you need this," successor gaming system.
I have grown out of the desire, or need, to continue believing the gaming companies sales pitch of what I cannot live without. I have grown satisfied with the past gaming consoles and what they offer. Finally grabbing up games I missed. The continuous hype no longer affects me. What games I had fun with in the 90's are still fun. The high cost of modern consoles and their games is a great deterrent that helps you to stop and examine your gaming hobby. In the past I often haunted bargain bins and clearance shelves, for example picking up a 32X from Kay Bees for $19 and its games for $9.99 each. It doesn't take long to learn that you wait for the sale and not for the release day.
The cycle. I started gaming on the Commodore C64. Then I grabbed up a Sega Genesis, excited. I saw so many games that I wanted to purchase and play. Then the SNES came along. Then the desire for those games grabbed my wallet. My interest became divided. I ended up sacrificing games wanted, money weighed between consoles. Then Gameboy, then Game Gear, then Atari Lynx, Turbe Grafx 16, Sega CD, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, PS1, GB Advance, GB SP, Atari Jaguar, Dreamcast, PS2, DS, DS lite, GameCube, N64, DSi, Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS, Xbox One, Wii U, finally the NES, and this is where I found myself willing to break the cycle. I never got the full line of games for each console that I desired because the gaming addiction monster was consumed by each new "better,: "bigger," "more powerful," "you need this," successor gaming system.
I have grown out of the desire, or need, to continue believing the gaming companies sales pitch of what I cannot live without. I have grown satisfied with the past gaming consoles and what they offer. Finally grabbing up games I missed. The continuous hype no longer affects me. What games I had fun with in the 90's are still fun. The high cost of modern consoles and their games is a great deterrent that helps you to stop and examine your gaming hobby. In the past I often haunted bargain bins and clearance shelves, for example picking up a 32X from Kay Bees for $19 and its games for $9.99 each. It doesn't take long to learn that you wait for the sale and not for the release day.
#2
PC Rigs, Builds, and Peripheral Devices / Re: Valve Announced New Hardwa...
Last post by CreepinDeth - November 14, 2025, 09:21:21 PMVideos!
Official Hardware Announcement from Valve
Official Hardware Announcement from Valve
#3
PC Rigs, Builds, and Peripheral Devices / Valve Announced New Hardware -...
Last post by CreepinDeth - November 14, 2025, 09:00:39 PMLink: Valve announces three new products: the Steam Frame, Steam Machine and Steam Controller
Honestly surprised no topic was made yet. Valve announced this weak 3 new pieces of hardware - The new Steam Controller, Steam Machine and Steam Frame. To get it out of the way, no pricing has been revealed and they are currently set to release in early 2026.
The Steam Controller is the second iteration from Valve. My favorite part is the TMR sticks. So tired of stick drift. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo need to stop nickel and diming their customers by selling controllers when their sticks start to drift. My Xbox Series controller is drifting after only a couple of years of use.
Key specs
The Steam Machine is the one that I'm most interested in. A tiny PC cube that runs SteamOS and is meant to be played on a television. Valve claims it's 6x the power of the Steam Deck. If you look at the specs though, it's not a powerful PC. It's more of an entry/mid-range PC. Even though I technically have a more powerful computer in my office, I would love to hook this up to my TV and emulate some of my favorite consoles.
Key specs
And finally the Steam Frame. A VR device that is not just about VR. You can play non-VR games on it if you like and you don't have to hook up a computer to it. It's completely untethered. You can run games locally on the Steam Frame or stream them from another Computer over the wireless dongle.
The thing that intrigues me the most is that it's running on an ARM SOC. I believe you can even run Android games on it since it's ARM. The other intriguing part is that SteamOS is running on ARM on this device. This might be the future of the new Steam Deck. ARM is so much better with battery life and can provide some good performance with it as well.
Key specs
Honestly surprised no topic was made yet. Valve announced this weak 3 new pieces of hardware - The new Steam Controller, Steam Machine and Steam Frame. To get it out of the way, no pricing has been revealed and they are currently set to release in early 2026.
The Steam Controller is the second iteration from Valve. My favorite part is the TMR sticks. So tired of stick drift. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo need to stop nickel and diming their customers by selling controllers when their sticks start to drift. My Xbox Series controller is drifting after only a couple of years of use.
Key specs
- Thumbsticks: 2x TMR sticks
- Connectivity: 2.4 GHz (puck included), Bluetooth, wired
- Battery: 35+ hours
- Extra features: 2x trackpads, gyro controls
- Release window: 2026
- Price: TBC
The Steam Machine is the one that I'm most interested in. A tiny PC cube that runs SteamOS and is meant to be played on a television. Valve claims it's 6x the power of the Steam Deck. If you look at the specs though, it's not a powerful PC. It's more of an entry/mid-range PC. Even though I technically have a more powerful computer in my office, I would love to hook this up to my TV and emulate some of my favorite consoles.
Key specs
- CPU: AMD Zen 4 (6-core)
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: Semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 (28 CU)
- VRAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512 GB, 2 TB
- OS: SteamOS
- Release window: 2026
- Price: TBC
And finally the Steam Frame. A VR device that is not just about VR. You can play non-VR games on it if you like and you don't have to hook up a computer to it. It's completely untethered. You can run games locally on the Steam Frame or stream them from another Computer over the wireless dongle.
The thing that intrigues me the most is that it's running on an ARM SOC. I believe you can even run Android games on it since it's ARM. The other intriguing part is that SteamOS is running on ARM on this device. This might be the future of the new Steam Deck. ARM is so much better with battery life and can provide some good performance with it as well.
Key specs
- Optics: Pancake
- Resolution: 2160 x 2160
- Tracking: Inside-out
- FOV: Up to 110 degrees
- SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650)
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 256 GB / 1 TB
- Controllers: 2x Steam Frame Controller
- OS: SteamOS
- Weight: 435 grams
- Release window: 2026
- Price: TBC
#4
Nintendo - Switch 2, Switch, 3DS, and Wii-U / Re: What has been your most pl...
Last post by targetrasp - November 14, 2025, 08:29:06 PMHard to tell, but probably something with Mario in the title
#5
Nintendo - Switch 2, Switch, 3DS, and Wii-U / Re: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Last post by targetrasp - November 14, 2025, 08:27:34 PMWasn't one of the Metroid releases for the switch difficult to get, at least maybe at first? I vaguely remember not preordering a Metroid, strolling into a best buy, then a gamestop, then a walmart looking for it, only to be disappointed. Now I can't even remember which Metroid it was and if I ever wound up with it.
I'd be slightly afraid of that, on the other hand, a holiday release should have plenty, unless its a Halo themed Xbox...
I'd be slightly afraid of that, on the other hand, a holiday release should have plenty, unless its a Halo themed Xbox...
#6
General Discussion / Re: What gaming related trends...
Last post by targetrasp - November 14, 2025, 08:24:15 PM@CreepinDeth
I think you're on to something. Online gaming isn't nearly as fun as I once found it to be. For me, It's the combination of sweats and trolls that's the turn off. At my age video games are something I do in my ever-shrinking leisure time to turn the noise from the adult world off. It's my choice of escapism. I'll still play a sports game or coop something with some friends but its typically private to keep the rando riff raff out.
I think you're on to something. Online gaming isn't nearly as fun as I once found it to be. For me, It's the combination of sweats and trolls that's the turn off. At my age video games are something I do in my ever-shrinking leisure time to turn the noise from the adult world off. It's my choice of escapism. I'll still play a sports game or coop something with some friends but its typically private to keep the rando riff raff out.
#7
PC Gaming and Platform / Revisting Left 4 Dead 2
Last post by Grindspine - November 11, 2025, 11:48:37 PMSpartan, MasterMario, and I have been revisiting some L4D2.. okay, Bluevoodu a couple of times too...
The game still holds up without too much stress on graphics cards or few-years-old gaming machines.
I ran across this video discussing tiers of weapons. It's a decent watch if you want to revisit the zombie hoards again!
The game still holds up without too much stress on graphics cards or few-years-old gaming machines.
I ran across this video discussing tiers of weapons. It's a decent watch if you want to revisit the zombie hoards again!
#8
CDG Game Nights / Meet-ups / Cant make CDG meetup 11-11-25
Last post by BLUEVOODU - November 11, 2025, 09:56:05 AMHey everyone... this week is shot for me. We will resume next week.
However, if you guys are able to make it happen, go for / coordinate it and make it happen whichever day works for you. That would be awesome!
Until next week!
However, if you guys are able to make it happen, go for / coordinate it and make it happen whichever day works for you. That would be awesome!
Until next week!
#9
Microsoft - Xbox Series X, Xbox One and Xbox 360 / Re: A Bunch of People Bought t...
Last post by CreepinDeth - November 09, 2025, 08:37:12 PMQuote from: Grindspine on November 09, 2025, 12:01:52 AMXbox Gamepass allowing most games to be played on PC. Newer smart TVs are somewhat game compatible. Will we hit a point where Microsoft stops making consoles?
They'll stop making traditional consoles. The Xbox ROG Ally handheld is the first step into what their future "consoles" will look like, which is just basically PCs with a game specific front-end menu. They've already confirmed this. Time will tell if this will be a winning strategy for them.
#10
Microsoft - Xbox Series X, Xbox One and Xbox 360 / Re: A Bunch of People Bought t...
Last post by Grindspine - November 09, 2025, 12:01:52 AMXbox Gamepass allowing most games to be played on PC. Newer smart TVs are somewhat game compatible. Will we hit a point where Microsoft stops making consoles?