Quick look is perhaps not the correct term for it, but I think you know what I mean. I am hoping they do. They probably have an adequate enough PC that they wouldn't need to, but I am curious how good the machines are, and what the group here think of them when/if they get their hands on them, not only the console, or consoles (I'm mostly thinking about the Alienware version right now), but also the controller. I would ask what everyone else thinks about it, but I kind of assume the answer from most is 'just build your own PC', and the question is already asked elsewhere. That said, if you want to talk about it here, you can. I want to be excited about it.

They don't do hardware. If only there was a website for testing technology.

@ch3burashka: They do, do console launches, which is basically what I'm talking about. Also, perhaps you're referring to Tested, which I never (well, rarely) go on. I'm more interested in what the staff at Giant Bomb think honestly.

TBH I don't think they will. It's not a "console", it's just a Linux box running Steam Big Picture Mode.

They'll probably announce their thoughts on the Bombcast which will be akin to "niche controller, not enough Linux games".

I think it's a misunderstanding to see Steam machines like a console launch. I also think it's unlikely that Giant Bomb will do a quicklook of them. The only thing that's truly new is the Steam controller, which I'm sure Giant Bomb will try out and give their impressions on. I think the Bombcast, for sure, and maybe UPF are the most likely venues for that content.

The rest of a Steam machine is just a prebuilt PC with SteamOS preinstalled. SteamOS has been available for free for almost two years, so not only is it simply Linux optimized for Steam, it's also old news now. As for prebuilt PCs, they can talk about price versus specs, though they have little expertise to offer there, and they can talk about the aesthetics of the box, but that's pretty light of substance.

It would be interesting to see how it worked but then there are/will probably be a ton of YouTube videos to fill the GB void.

the interface is just Big Picture. They might talk about the controller at some point.

They did a Playstation TV stream, i could see them do a quick one for this one. Especially because the majority of the people on Giantbomb play on PC.

edit: woops, totally thought OP was talking about the Steam Link instead of the steam machines. No quicklooks for that since it's just a PC in a small formfactor.

Useless, there are a number of different steam machines from several manufacturers, which one would they pick? Not being a hardware focused website they certainly cannot do them all; They might as well just install steam OS in a any PC and it would be the same experience basically.

But steam link I guess would be interesting for them to take a look at.

It'd be pretty cool to see them do a quick look of the Steam Controller.

They did a video for the Vita TV. It's not out of the question, especially with the controller.

They don't do videos about computers, so probably not since that's all a "steam machine" is.

Thats not true at all. They did the PS4 and Xbox One when they launched...

Aren't Steam Machines just a PC that runs steam big picture mode? If so, I don't think there will be a point to do a launch party thing like the crew did with the PS4 and Xbox One.

What is there to look at? Steam Machine is just a fancy marketing name for a bunch of pre-built PCs running Valve's custom Linux distro(that's came out almost two years ago) instead of Windows.

I can see them tinkering with it on UPF but probably not for a featured video.

Heck, gbeast did a 2 part PC build video, so anything is possible!

If the controller is the real deal maybe they can stop playing PC games at the desk and sit on the couch instead?

I don't see any reason why the GB staff should devote any time to Steam Machines. They are just underpowered and/or overpriced PCs that are running SteamOS, which itself just a Linux distro. I sincerely doubt anyone on staff is even going to buy a Steam Machine, and thank goodness for that. The only Steam Machines even worth owning are severely overpriced, and I really hope that none of the guys wastes their money on one of them.

Now, the Steam Controller? That's a different story. However, that seems like a piece of hardware that takes not only quite a bit of getting used to, but a lot of tweaking for individual games. Also, since Valve is likely going to be updating the software and/or firmware for the Steam Controllers a number of times over the course of the next few months, a look at the Controller seems like something that someone on staff should do after a long period of owning and using one. Otherwise, I'm not sure how useful a first impressions type of video is even going to be. We've already got a couple of those types of posts from users on the forums, and the one thing that is clear to me from what I have read so far is that people are going to need a lot more time with these controllers in order to get a true sense of what their capabilities are.

Probably not, unless one of the manufacturers reaches out to them for some reason. Like @mike said most Steam Machines are also HORRENDOUSLY overpriced... There's one that's $1100 that comes with, and I shit you not, an i3 4130 and a GTX 750 ti. Alienware's Steam Machines are also just a re-release of the Alpha that came out last year... and at least with the Alpha you got a fully licensed copy of Windows... (Which I believe is eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade)

I hope no one actually spends their money on one. They are all just so... garbage. You'd think having an OS that's free would make the prices a bit lower, but nope, they're just as overpriced as any other prebuilt PC... (It actually seems like they charge a premium on the Steam logo)

@turtlebird95: Yeah, they all seem to be overpriced. I hope that there's maybe a few reasonable options but the ones I see cost about 25-33% more than they should. I can't see anyone dropping that much money on one of these things simply "because they're small". You're better off building a proper desktop and then figuring out some other solution for piping the video to your main tv. The savings would buy you a year's worth of games.

I'd like a video on the controller, as I really don't keep up on the Bombcast, but yeah, a video on the Machines themselves would be a little moot.

@ntm: You should try CNET. I heard they have someone who has your Backalar.

There's nothing to look at, it's just an overpriced PC (which is running Linux, so you can't even play all of your games).

I hope they take a look at the controller though.

Did they do an official video on the Amazon TV or was that just part of a UPF?

@mtfikhan said:

Nice.

@savage: I don't really see it as a console, in the same manner as the PS4 or Xbox One.

And in general, as a response to all responses, alright. I got it. Yeah, I know they're basically just PC's. I guess I just want to hear what they have to say, though I do also know in time, there will many enough videos and what have you elsewhere.

I don't think it would be a bad idea to road test that streaming-only box, the Steam Link.

I would like to get their take on the controller, and i'm on the fence about the steam machine since it is basically a low profile pc running steam os. Then again, what exactly are consoles now but low profile pc's running there own OS? This one is just linux based and more open sourced.

I think they should, if only to give their impressions on the controller and SteamOS, how it all looks as a sort of PC/console thing, and where it might stand in the market.

Regular sort of stuff.

Meh, if one of them buys one they might play with the controller and show some Big Picture mode. but if tiu are expecting a "HEY WOW NEW STUFF YOU GOTTA SEE" reaction form them...don't bet on it. They fooled with Jeff's OUYA for an hour, they might do that again if anyone on staff actually buys one which seems unlikely given everyone on-staff has a gaming PC already.

The Steam Machines are just overpriced pre-built PC's. The Steam Link is a streaming box that will probably be impossible to look at in their office because of their weird corporate internet. The controller is the only thing they could look at, and I'm not sure that lends itself to video coverage well. They could record the controller with an over the shoulder camera like they have done for Wii U and Vita stuff in the past, but I'm not sure that's really worth it. I'd rather just hear some impressions or something on the bombcast.

@mattyftm: they could do a friday thing where they just sit around playing games with it and talking about how it is to play games with. That could be cool.

They'd probably need to mess around with it first though. With all the configuration and setup needed a blind first look thing might just end up being frustrating for everyone.