It's true that the marketing around SteamOS and Steam Machines wasn't all that great, but what they're showing as "Optimized for Steam Machines" is a bit of a joke. As noticed on reddit.
On the Steam Hardware page is a scrolling list of banner advertisements for games that are supposed to work well with a Steam Machine or a Steam Controller. The problem, it seems Valve haven't really done their homework for one of them.
Optimized? Sure it is…
ARK: Survival Evolved shows up as "Optimized for Steam Machines", which to me is pretty insane.
The game has always been pretty terrible on Linux. The list of issues with the Linux version of ARK is pretty long and the developers don't really seem to care at all about the Linux version. They never seem to comment or even acknowledge any Linux bug reports. Want to see an example of a good list of issues? This review nails it. From personal experience, I've experienced nearly all the issues listed in that review, as I know many others have too.
It goes to show how out of touch Valve actually are with the marketing of their own ideas. Advertising a game that has a pretty poor Linux version will only do one thing — continue making SteamOS and Steam Machines look bad. Remember how a lot of tech sites reported on the lower performance of games on SteamOS compared with Windows? Stuff like this really doesn't help.
If Valve ever want SteamOS and Steam Machines to be taken seriously, now or in future, they really need to up their game on things like this. I understand why they did it, since it's big and popular and they needed those titles to sit along side Steam Machine advertisements, but it's still a damn poor choice.
I've grown more impatient to see what Valve will be doing with SteamOS over time. I've honestly defended it too many times. Unless Valve really start pushing the boat out for it, SteamOS and Steam Machines will fade away without anyone really caring. Thankfully Linux gaming as a whole is doing pretty damn well, just not what we all originally hoped for.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: Purple PuddingI'm sad about it, Ark seemed to be a great game. I don't own it yet, I'll wait, for Ark or for another great game with dinosaurs (can you suggest me one beside the old but great Jurassic Park Operation Genesis, which is probably playable on Wine?).I love ark so much I see through it's current state. But the current state is that I do not recommend it to linux users.
If I can recommend ark to linux users, I will be punching liam to try it. But then again, he would probably have tried it.
Anyway: still 1.5 months to go before we are at release + 2 months.
Crazy Penguin Sep 11, 2017
Quoting: lucifertdarkHas anyone on here actually tested it on a steam machine? Just wondering.Actually yes, I have the game running on a ZOTAC SN970, and that is how it looks like.
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It is an huge difference to the Windows version with the same settings. The water looks like mud, Lightning is different, effects e.g. from torches causes lots of troubles, ...
Last edited by Crazy Penguin on 11 September 2017 at 2:38 pm UTC
lucifertdark Sep 11, 2017
Quoting: Crazy PenguinI did wonder if there was some difference between performance on standard Linux & SteamOS, looks like it's the same. what you got there is what I get, muddy water, random flashes of light, BUT it is running better than it used to graphics aside.Quoting: lucifertdarkHas anyone on here actually tested it on a steam machine? Just wondering.Actually yes, I have the game running on a ZOTAC SN970, and that is how it looks like.
[
It is an huge difference to the Windows version with the same settings. The water looks like mud, Lightning is different, effects e.g. from torches causes lots of troubles, ...
Crazy Penguin Sep 11, 2017
Quoting: lucifertdarkQuoting: Crazy PenguinI did wonder if there was some difference between performance on standard Linux & SteamOS, looks like it's the same. what you got there is what I get, muddy water, random flashes of light, BUT it is running better than it used to graphics aside.Quoting: lucifertdarkHas anyone on here actually tested it on a steam machine? Just wondering.Actually yes, I have the game running on a ZOTAC SN970, and that is how it looks like.
[
It is an huge difference to the Windows version with the same settings. The water looks like mud, Lightning is different, effects e.g. from torches causes lots of troubles, ...
There aren't differences between Linux & SteamOS. If there are differences then they are marginal.
For Comparison. The same area with Windows:
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Last edited by Crazy Penguin on 11 September 2017 at 3:55 pm UTC
Despite all that, in the name of SteamOS theres have been steady advancement of Linux ecosystem. So I don't know..even nothing came out of Steam Machines Gen I, I still see that exercise what was worth to do - because it kickstarted gaming on Linux.
Nor Mantis Sep 11, 2017
I know I hated on gog for galaxy.
lm still using gog.
And to me, gog is the greater option. And I'm not saying everyone should hate steam or agree with me.
Valve was the guy's who got me to Linux in the first place.
As for Steam Machines,
I think its good that Valve are not currently pushing steam machines for one simple reason.
Its NOT ready for prime time yet.
Once GPU drivers and Steam OS are to a good enough standard and there is a sufficient library of AAA games available then Valve can give steam machines another push. I think another year of work should do the trick.
If valve fail for a 2nd time then its game over as Microsoft are effectively trying to turn Xbox and Windows 10 desktops into steam machines.
I would rather see Valve take their time with this one and get it right than fail again.
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