ESO on Steam and Alienware Alpha

Uberkull

Couple questions...
Does anyone play ESO on Steam? Meaning bought and running from Steam? Does it perform he shame? Can you use addons!? Etc etc.

And, does anyone have the Alienware Alpha cinsole PC and is playing ESO on it? I'd love to get your review or feedback on the experience.


I currently play ESO with a Xbox 360 controller and ipad for the keyboard, for typing or guild store.

IcyDeadPeople

Alienware alpha is overpriced, lots of better options out there.

ESO runs on steam with no problem, if you already have account, you just need to buy the steam version as well to add it to your library. Addons work fine, you install them in the same place (my documents).

Uberkull

IcyDeadPeople wrote: »

Alienware alpha is overpriced, lots of better options out there.

ESO runs on steam with no problem, if you already have account, you just need to buy the steam version as well to add it to your library. Addons work fine, you install them in the same place (my documents).

Thanks on the steam part. I would have hoped I could just get a steam key from support of I already own a copy of ESO. I bought the imperial edition from the ESO online store, so it's linked to my account.

On the Alienware Alpha. I was just looking for someone that has it. I know it's overpriced, but there is a convince factor in its footprint and OS setup for steam. I currently have to run Pinnacle, Airkeyboard, and script it all to start from one icon just to use a Xbox 360 controller. Then I have to deal with the countless driver updates other than just the GPU driver.

IcyDeadPeople

You definitely need to purchase a second copy to add it to your Steam library, but It seems likely there will be a good sale at some point this year.

Spottswoode

uberkull wrote: »

vince factor in its footprint and OS setup for steam. I currently have to run Pinnacle, Airkeyboard, and script it all to start from one icon just to use a Xbox 360 controller. Then I have to deal with the countless driver updates other than just the GPU driver.

The Alienware Alpha is a windows 8 machine. Hence, it will generally fully support anything that Steam supports. To reiterate what IcyDeadPeople said, you mush purchase the Steam version to play it on Steam but the Alpha can use the non-Steam launcher just fine.

Uberkull

Spottswoode wrote: »

uberkull wrote: »

vince factor in its footprint and OS setup for steam. I currently have to run Pinnacle, Airkeyboard, and script it all to start from one icon just to use a Xbox 360 controller. Then I have to deal with the countless driver updates other than just the GPU driver.

The Alienware Alpha is a windows 8 machine. Hence, it will generally fully support anything that Steam supports. To reiterate what IcyDeadPeople said, you mush purchase the Steam version to play it on Steam but the Alpha can use the non-Steam launcher just fine.

But then you are in PC mode and would need to configure Xpadder or Pinnacle to get the controller working. Basically what I have now.

Troneon

Alienware is just an overpriced dell with generic parts, fancy looks and a sticker. Any PC builder with half a brain would tell you to not touch Alienware with a 10 foot barge pole, unless you like setting fire to your money for no reason.

Uberkull

Troneon wrote: »

Alienware is just an overpriced dell with generic parts, fancy looks and a sticker. Any PC builder with half a brain would tell you to not touch Alienware with a 10 foot barge pole, unless you like setting fire to your money for no reason.

Again, a conviemce factor. I've built PCs all my life. Once you get a job, family, and all the extras that go with it, speccing out and building another PC isn't on top of the list.

And, yea, I use my dollar bills for kindling.

Troneon

uberkull wrote: »

Troneon wrote: »

Alienware is just an overpriced dell with generic parts, fancy looks and a sticker. Any PC builder with half a brain would tell you to not touch Alienware with a 10 foot barge pole, unless you like setting fire to your money for no reason.

Again, a conviemce factor. I've built PCs all my life. Once you get a job, family, and all the extras that go with it, speccing out and building another PC isn't on top of the list.

And, yea, I use my dollar bills for kindling.

I disagree on the convenience factor argument. I also build PC's and it's more convenient for many reason to do than buy from prebuild retail crap.

If your telling the truth and have built PC's all your life you would know it's so easy plug and play nowadays that it would only take you about a few hours to build it with that much experience or less once the parts have been bought and delivered for a half of the cost and better quality parts hand picked by yourself than the over priced crap that is alienware.

You would still be waiting for AW to deliver your PC and charge you a fortune for it by the time you finished building your own better PC at half the cost.

Not to mention the amount of bloatware that would come with an Alienware PC...

Save yourself a fortune, get a better PC/parts, have a fine tuned OS with no bloatware, save a lot of time and hassle and be playing games before you alienware pc even arrived...

But yeah man if you got dollars to burn you go for it, whatever floats your boat.

I just rather build my own pc's, save money and have full control over what goes in it and on it. Also there are great build your own communities and websites that are 1000 times better than the crap retail support you get from companies.

This site is pretty awesome, most pc builders use it especially for gaming rigs, one stop place for community, suppliers, parts and builds / information etc etc. Even has a custom build tool. I use the UK site but there are other versions for round the world.

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/

JimT722

I like my alienware alpha, I got the base model just after it came out. At that time at least, it was of decent value because it would be very hard to build an equivalent machine. It runs eso decently at about 60 fps on high settings with occasional dips to as low as 3 fps for some reason. I plan to transfer to ps4 so it will work for me until then.

Uberkull

Err...ok, back on topic. You miss the point entirely. I'm not using a keyboard and mouse on my current PC ESO setup, just a Xbox controller and ipad for wireless keyboard.

I'm running a old PC build. Asus Maximus Formula with a e8400 dual core at 3ghz. Yea, old. But with a 750ti, I run pretty good at 35 - 110 fps, all depending on where. So sure, build another PC. But see, I'd want the newest Asus Maximus and all 256g SSDs, and i7 4790k so I'm already at $700 with three components. Better than the Alienware? Sure...but I'm not even done with the parts. New case, ram, GPU card...I'm over a $1000 because I don't build a half ass PC.

The Alienware can be at my door Monday morning, from Amazon. I wouldn't have the pc built by then because the parts wouldn't arrive till Monday.

Anyways, back on topic. Has anyone owned, or own one of these Alienware Alphas and play ESO on it with the controller setup?

Uberkull

JimT722 wrote: »

I like my alienware alpha, I got the base model just after it came out. At that time at least, it was of decent value because it would be very hard to build an equivalent machine. It runs eso decently at about 60 fps on high settings with occasional dips to as low as 3 fps for some reason. I plan to transfer to ps4 so it will work for me until then.

Do you play ESO in console mode off of Steam or did you install it on the Windows 8.1 Desktop side? More importantly, how are you using the controller with the unit? What's the software they are using to map the buttons?

JimT722

The controller support through steam is for select games. unless you purchase the game with steam, you must link the game to steam to run with console mode. In order to use a controller with eso even with the alpha you need a third party application to map your controls. To make matters a little worse I couldn't get my mouse profile to work in console mode. I never tried while using xpadder, but I think it will be the same problem. I just use desktop mode now for eso.

The alienware alpha won't add additional controller support to eso, so if that's what you are looking for you wont find it there. However, I heard controller support might be available in eso some time after console launch.

CodexMMO

I prefer to run it on Steam for the F12 screenshot ability that Steam has. If you do screenshots within the vanilla ESO UI you get words in the upper right hand side telling the world where the pic was saved. Otherwise, the Steam version runs the same as the vanilla version on my system.

traigusb14_ESO2

CodexMMO wrote: »

I prefer to run it on Steam for the F12 screenshot ability that Steam has. If you do screenshots within the vanilla ESO UI you get words in the upper right hand side telling the world where the pic was saved. Otherwise, the Steam version runs the same as the vanilla version on my system.

Yeah, I like the screnshot tool on steam.

I run normal ESO through Steam so I can use screenshots and for voice chat.

I just added it as a non-steam game to my library and start it through steam. Won't help the OP with controller stuff though probably.

Uberkull

JimT722 wrote: »

The controller support through steam is for select games. unless you purchase the game with steam, you must link the game to steam to run with console mode. In order to use a controller with eso even with the alpha you need a third party application to map your controls. To make matters a little worse I couldn't get my mouse profile to work in console mode. I never tried while using xpadder, but I think it will be the same problem. I just use desktop mode now for eso.

The alienware alpha won't add additional controller support to eso, so if that's what you are looking for you wont find it there. However, I heard controller support might be available in eso some time after console launch.

That's basically what I thought was gong to be said about controller support and ESO. No magic there for controller support.

This isn't a big deal as I own Pinnacle and have created a controller mapping for my Xbox360 controller that mimics the upcoming console release controller mapping almost exactly. If I went with the AlienWare Alpha, I could just install the Pinnacle program on the Desktop side.

CodexMMO

uberkull wrote: »

JimT722 wrote: »

The controller support through steam is for select games. unless you purchase the game with steam, you must link the game to steam to run with console mode. In order to use a controller with eso even with the alpha you need a third party application to map your controls. To make matters a little worse I couldn't get my mouse profile to work in console mode. I never tried while using xpadder, but I think it will be the same problem. I just use desktop mode now for eso.

The alienware alpha won't add additional controller support to eso, so if that's what you are looking for you wont find it there. However, I heard controller support might be available in eso some time after console launch.

That's basically what I thought was gong to be said about controller support and ESO. No magic there for controller support.

This isn't a big deal as I own Pinnacle and have created a controller mapping for my Xbox360 controller that mimics the upcoming console release controller mapping almost exactly. If I went with the AlienWare Alpha, I could just install the Pinnacle program on the Desktop side.

Why wouldn't they want to leverage the fact that they have developed a controller based UI for the PC? I was told the same thing when I asked about using my Xbox controller on my PC. That seems so bizarre. It would be cool if we could use either the standard WASD + mouse or a Controller.

popplebottom

Which Alpha were you looking at? I've got the i7 model and it runs the game quite well (50 fps at ultra 1080p iirc) but I'm using my desktop until they come out with official controller support. After they do that, I'll definitely hop back and forth between my desktop and my tv. I'd have to patch it up but could test a bit more with 1.6 if you were looking at the i7.

Uberkull

popplebottom wrote: »

Which Alpha were you looking at? I've got the i7 model and it runs the game quite well (50 fps at ultra 1080p iirc) but I'm using my desktop until they come out with official controller support. After they do that, I'll definitely hop back and forth between my desktop and my tv. I'd have to patch it up but could test a bit more with 1.6 if you were looking at the i7.

Yea, my choice would be the i7 model all the way. But based on the feedback here on no 'magic' controller support(which I expected), it doesn't make much sense for me to go with the Alpha. I'd be installing Pinnacle, using the desktop mode and dealing with the bloat of the Steam OS that I wouldn't use.

Thanks for the i7 info, does sound awesome.

popplebottom

No worries. You should be aware though that the Alpha is a Windows 8.1 machine right now as Steam OS isn't officially out. They're going to allow folks to update with Steam OS in the future if they want (I like it better as an 8.1 machine so I'll keep it) but right now it's just a tiny PC that gets you to Steam Big Picture mode easily.