Make host usable

[testman]

from Q&A:
Q: Can someone use my computer while I’m streaming a game from it?
A: No, your computer is dedicated to running the game and input is coming from both the remote client and the local system. It would be very confusing if someone were trying to use the computer at the same time.

Yes, since In-home streaming at the moment displays game on both, host and client. Even plays sound on both. I am sure it would be possible to implement In-home streaming in such way that host would use resources to run game, but not actually display it. One of solutions I see is to create virtual monitor (that can be set to client's native resolution, therefore no black edges on client), record and stream that. Actual physical monitor could then still be used for some lightweight tasks like internet browsing. There could be small notification or taskbar icon that says "streaming in progress".

And input from host and client at the same time should not be allowed. Host should just stream, not actaully play the game.

That is my opinion.

[Frozen Fry]

I agree, there is no need to actually show the game running on host. I'm sure something like this will eventually be implemented. I'm just glad that in-home streaming is being worked on. I remember looking for some software to do this some years ago but there was none.

[testman]

So am I :)
All those "local OnLive software" google searches with no useful results.

[DeludedFool]

Presumably the difficult thing about this is limiting the inputs from the Client PC to just the one Window on the Host, otherwise the Host PC is receiving two different sets of inputs.

[Macaroni Love]

What DeledudFool is describing could very well be an issue.

Some games do some really weird stuff to detect mouse movement and keyboard keys, so I guess it might not be possible to make all of them work well while someone else is also using the computer.

[Confetti Camouflage]

I'm sure the devs would like to do this too, but atm it would require MANY workarounds; a load of work which could be better used right now for optimizations and bugfixes. It's not going to come for at least quite a while, if not then it might never become a reality.

[DarkPlayer (IR)]

From technical point of view it is a waste of time. Yet I like to use my desktop PC too.

[RanitoFrog]

I'd be happy with just an elegant blank screen saying "Steam In-Home Streaming in progress...", no sound and a button to stop the streaming. Meanwhile, I'll have to remember to turn off the screen and sound of the host computer before streaming to not scare anyone who passess by it.

[testman]

Originally posted by DarkPlayer (IR):

From technical point of view it is a waste of time.

Why do you think so?
I am sure there are things with much higher priority that have to be resolved first.
That does not mean that making host as usable (or should I say "non-occupied") as possible is irrelevant or irrational to work on.

Also, did anyone notice that non-steam games can also be streamed? That is really great feature.
edit: oh, it was in changelog 3 days ago.

[JSON Bourne]

I don't think there is a way to actually capture the game if it is minimized or not currently displayed. Technically speaking, this would be impossible (or at least very, very impractical).

[MDuh]

I don't think that it's possible to have a separate second input even you have a second monitor to justify what you want.

I do however want to have a feature to lock down the host so no one can ♥♥♥♥ it up while I'm streaming.

[All Terrain Venomoth]

Valve would have to install various drivers to achieve this, something which would dramatically increase the amount of work to implement this feature. I am completely unsurprised they are not supporting this, it's a tall order.

They would need to have a virtual monitor driver to render the game to, a virtual mouse/keyboard to send to the game, and a virtual sound card to route the game audio to. Not only is that a ton of drivers (which would be completely platform specific as well!), but it would significantly increase the load on the host too.

[MikeSharpeWriter]

One thing I think has be made clear.. The Host PC is going be taxed heavily in terms of GPU, CPU and Bandwidth. Remember you're talking about making a Game Like Crysis, known Processor/GPU Killers, and forcing the PC in question to also run another Program on top of it.

So unless you're planning to just surf the net or write a novel, or other Low powered programs. Some Programs are as CPU intensive as Crysis is, such a 3D Modelling, Video Editing Software. At this point I think it may be better for all those involved to get out of their seats and sit at the host, or Just stop playing the game on the host.

BUT I Recommend if it doesn't create many issues, the Ability to enable a "Privacy Mode". I recommend that the option for host PC should be able to regain control after a Password is inserted. (This is to force the host to cut the connection at the host end, or to enable host to control the game for a while.)

[Morthasa]

I would really like it if this could be implemented. Then again, from the obve posts I guess it would be a bit hard to do...

[Telaran]

I don't know yet what I should think of it...
As for now the In-Home Streaming seems most likely a remote-access solution. So the only thing what make it different -> Implemented Play-Buttons in the Steam-UI for a more seamless feeling.

So in my opinion it's less a revolution as expected...

I'll agree, that implementing a "minimized service" would cause a lot of work (they would have to really dig in a lot of core programming) and maybe they don't have yet the resource and time for this. Still I hope they will reconsider it. Some machines are capable enough and in combination with family option it also would be possible to restrict In-Home Streaming to less hardware intense games.

So at the moment:
First get it smoothly running and optimized. Second increase the features.
The streaming itself looks promising. Could play quite fluent on a Intel-Centrino Duo Notebook. Hope I will get time to test the SteamOS combination.

[Air]

I agree with that, my current computer has a six-core 3.5Ghz processor in which using an internet browser while a game is running works pretty well. I have the hardware for it, so it would be nice to see this implemented... that is, if the in-home streaming worked for me. I'm getting about a whole second or more of input lag and constant fps stutters.