technology Smach Z, a handheld for Steam

[Limeblossom 482]

Remember the Steamboy? Now it's on Kickstarter as Smach Z. How do you think this will turn out?

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smachteam/smach-z-the-first-handheld-steam-machine?ref=video

[EddG 554]

I hope it turns out well, because this looks like an interesting product.

Heck if I had the money I would back it and use it for handheld Emulation

[Limeblossom 482]

Heck if I had the money I would back it and use it for handheld Emulation

I hope it could emulate some GOG games too.

 

Has anyone used the Steam gamepad? Does the touchpads work fine?

Edited December 11, 2015 by Limeblossom

[Limeblossom 482]

A bit old news, but they cancelled the Kickstarter campaign. They explained it was because of lacking a prototype and the strong demand for a Windows/DirectX version by enthusiasts. It shows that DirectX is still supported by both gamers and developers.

Edited April 26, 2016 by Limeblossom

[Limeblossom 482]

And, unfortunately for them, Valve isn't interested in handheld gaming. It does make it clear why Smach Team didn't get any response

[Guest]

To be honest... Their idea while ambitious teetered on the verge of impossible. PC gamers demand DirectX, they demand specs too. Few people would have wanted a device dedicated solely for emulation and lower end games. With how much PC games evolve and how the demands for games grow, this thing would have met the same problem as the Open Pandora: By the time it actually came out, it would have already been too weak.

 

It's a cool idea, but execution wise... It just wasn't feasible.

[Limeblossom 482]

To be honest... Their idea while ambitious teetered on the verge of impossible. PC gamers demand DirectX, they demand specs too. Few people would have wanted a device dedicated solely for emulation and lower end games. With how much PC games evolve and how the demands for games grow, this thing would have met the same problem as the Open Pandora: By the time it actually came out, it would have already been too weak.

 

It's a cool idea, but execution wise... It just wasn't feasible.

It seems the product is considered as dead on arrival . Still a pity they never made a prototype of the handheld.

[Guest]

It seems the product is considered as dead on arrival . Still a pity they never made a prototype of the handheld.

 

I am looking forward to the dragonbox Pyra though as a portable handheld PC.

[Limeblossom 482]

I am looking forward to the dragonbox Pyra though as a portable handheld PC.

*Searched Dragonbox*. It's looking interesting. The use of Linux was predictable.

 

P.S. It's like more companies prefer Linux over DirectX. I would still choose for DirectX since most games are compatible with it and it's still widely used.

[Guest]

*Searched Dragonbox*. It's looking interesting. The use of Linux was predictable.

 

P.S. It's like more companies prefer Linux over DirectX. I would still choose for DirectX since most games are compatible with it and it's still widely used.

Well it's because of licensing issues. Technically speaking since the device is open source, it will be capable of running Windows, but you'd have to buy and install, etc.

[Scrubbed user 3,417]

Has anyone used the Steam gamepad? Does the touchpads work fine?

 

*raises hand*

 

I'd say they work quite well when you set the right one to trackball mode as mouse emulation doesn't work that well, and trying to emulate an analog stick doesn't work either. As for the left, it can be used for the same thing, so it isn't a traditional D-pad. I like to set my left pad as a D-pad that doesn't require it to be clicked, just touching the spot I need for switching weapons and such.

[Limeblossom 482]

Well it's because of licensing issues. Technically speaking since the device is open source, it will be capable of running Windows, but you'd have to buy and install, etc.

They don't want to pay Microsoft for the system I guess. Still neat you can run windows on it.

 

*raises hand*

 

I'd say they work quite well when you set the right one to trackball mode as mouse emulation doesn't work that well, and trying to emulate an analog stick doesn't work either. As for the left, it can be used for the same thing, so it isn't a traditional D-pad. I like to set my left pad as a D-pad that doesn't require it to be clicked, just touching the spot I need for switching weapons and such.

Kinda useful on certain events . I really like the idea they did with the Z-pads: