GraveHorizon
poop meter feature creep
I'm wondering what it would be like. How would it be regulated so that people don't just cheat all the time? Would there be restrictions for certain games/playlists?
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Valve engineer confirms Linux-based Steambox for 2013, could appear at GDC or E3
- Thread starter alexandros
- Start date
I'm wondering what it would be like. How would it be regulated so that people don't just cheat all the time? Would there be restrictions for certain games/playlists?
This is me. That's why a Steambox would be great. Steambox + Nintendo console & handheld sounds great to me.
DXB-KNIGHT
Member
A new US company entering the HW market is interesting.
Depending on how optimistic you are, backward compatibility will likely (assuming a WINE or similar wrapper) range somewhere between slim PS3 and launch 360. Absolute worst case, basically, yeah.
Naked Snake
Member
I'm fine with this, even being Linux based. People saying "But only a handful of games run on Linux", well how many games run on any newly launched console? That's right, only a handful. You don't need more than a small strong launch lineup to introduce a new console, it's how it's been done for decades. More games will come with time.
This is like a Valve console, not a PC replacement. The Steam branding is the source of confusion/disappointment for many, but for the tons of gamers who are not yet invested in Steam, it won't matter.
This is like a Valve console, not a PC replacement. The Steam branding is the source of confusion/disappointment for many, but for the tons of gamers who are not yet invested in Steam, it won't matter.
Horse Detective
Why the long case?
For some reason I am kind of scared about how mod friendly this could be.
manzo
Member
How I see the problem with that is the current segregation that's happening on the PC market thanks for EA and Ubisoft trying to put their own games exclusive to their own services. Steam is not alone in this one - and now that Steambox would be Linux only, you get even more segregation...
Still waiting to be able to buy Battlefield 3 from Steam.
But Valve doesn't make enough games to justify the investment, and 3rd parties won't port their games to linux unless there's enough buyers out there. It just doesn't seem very appealing to buy a box that only plays a bunch of old Valve titles and some interesting indie games.
Obviously that wouldn't be enticing to Valve, but the idea that future Windows applications will need to be distributed through the Microsoft Store is nothing more than a presumed inevitability that, given Microsoft's past run-ins with anti-trust law, is highly unlikely to actually eventuate. Valve alienating its current Windows users -- that's ~95% of the Steam userbase -- because of such a grand fear would be rather ridiculous. Even if Valve did decide to drop Windows altogether, there's no need to do so until it's deemed absolutely necessary, as those invested in the platform will move with the tide.
It would be like how things are right now.
No, it wouldn't make a difference. Concurrent logins across the same device type are not possible at this juncture (meaning you can be logged into Steam on your PC as well as your mobile, but not on two PCs).
Developing a linux version of a game is going to be a lot more easier if you just do it for one single distro (steambox) and a limited hardware set (steambox) so you might see more linux port for it then usual. A big problem with porting games to linux is driver problems and the distros fragmentation. Both of these problems should be taken care of with valves own linux box.
1st Course
Member
As I said before, Valve might be a great company but they simply lack the manpower that enough to run a big business like video games console manufacturer. I think that Steamboat will not be a typical games console like most people here imagine, I'd argue that it's targeted toward PC gamers than the other way around.
I think the idea is to get comfy couch gamers into PC gaming via the back door. Present them a PC that looks and works like a console (boots up straight into Steam Big Picture mode for example). They'll have to use an SSD as a boot drive to make it work though, console gamers won't put up with regular Linux PC boot times.
alexandros
Banned
Gabe Newell himself said that the upcoming "Steamboxes" will compete with next-gen consoles, so they're not going to be like Ouya or Apple TV:
http://kotaku.com/5966860/gabe-newell-living-room-pcs-will-compete-with-next+gen-consoles
1st Course
Member
He didn't
Viola of the Abyss
Member
Depending on price, exclusives and DRM measures I might be getting this.
I like the fact that the system will be Linux based, hoping for some customisation potential.
I like the fact that the system will be Linux based, hoping for some customisation potential.
How I see the problem with that is the current segregation that's happening on the PC market thanks for EA and Ubisoft trying to put their own games exclusive to their own services. Steam is not alone in this one - and now that Steambox would be Linux only, you get even more segregation...
Still waiting to be able to buy Battlefield 3 from Steam.
I'm not sure your worry makes much sense. PCs are "segregated" by their flexible nature anyway. Not all PC gamers have access to the same content on Steam whether that be due to their choice of platform, their PCs being too old or, ironically, their PCs being too new.
You're basically advocating a closed-down system that eliminates all competition to Valve and all choice in the hardware people buy. That's not PC gaming.
I don't see what the big deal is. I highly doubt Valve will close this thing off with security. And Big Picture mode is available for all versions of Steam.
1) Buy Steambox and hook it up
2) Format the bitch
3) Insert Windows 7 install thumb drive
4) Install Windows 7 and Steam
5) ?
6) Profit
They just don't want to pay MS licensing and deal with MS viewing them as a direct competitor to the Xbox.
1) Buy Steambox and hook it up
2) Format the bitch
3) Insert Windows 7 install thumb drive
4) Install Windows 7 and Steam
5) ?
6) Profit
They just don't want to pay MS licensing and deal with MS viewing them as a direct competitor to the Xbox.
Horseticuffs
Full werewolf off the buckle
If Valve can bring this shit to market for $350 or less I'd jump. Make Left 4 Dead 3 a launch showpiece!
Too many damned PC exclusives I want to try that I'll never get to, and I bet pretty much every PC game of note going forward would be made compatible.
Too many damned PC exclusives I want to try that I'll never get to, and I bet pretty much every PC game of note going forward would be made compatible.
deadhorse32
Bad Art
When you see the (artificial) restrictions Microsoft is putting on netbook OEM to license Windows 7 Starter. Linux was inevitable.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...s_Windows_7_Starter_restrictions_for_netbooks
http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...s_Windows_7_Starter_restrictions_for_netbooks
What if it has a locked bootloader?
TheChewyWaffles
Member
I can't believe people are still speculating that HL3 would be a steam-box exclusive. There's no way in hell that ever happens.
Bingo, also install Netflix, VLC Player, Dolphin, MAME, PCX2 emulators and it will be the ultimate game machine/media centre.
I don't see Valve restricting choice. No doubt the shipped configuration will be the only one that's officially supported, but essentially closing off the platform is antithetical to what Valve appreciates about the PC as a platform. Everybody wins if the device is left malleable -- those who don't see the need or are otherwise unwilling to fiddle with the machine beyond its default configuration get exactly what they pay for while "power users" can turn the device into something more.
I highly doubt it'll be that easy...
Sorc3r3r
Member
So we have steam running on windows with all his games, and steambox with few of them, we have the pc space that is still and will be open, and the steambox able to run just what Gabe want, or what devs may want to port on it.
Put like this there is no sense in what Valve is doing.
So there will be and there must be a strong exclusive game policy, as usual it is the software that drives the hardware.
What we will get Gabe?
Gimme games i cant have anywhere else and i will begin to think to give you some of my money.
Put like this there is no sense in what Valve is doing.
So there will be and there must be a strong exclusive game policy, as usual it is the software that drives the hardware.
What we will get Gabe?
Gimme games i cant have anywhere else and i will begin to think to give you some of my money.
What about Windows Embedded, isn't that the best option for a system like this?
outunderthestars
Banned
Yes.
Well if that's the case, and given the limitation that Linux will offer at the start, why would anyone who has a steam account and thus presumably a PC want to bother with a Steambox?
terrdactycalsrock
Member
I kinda feel like this product is for me. I like PC gaming, but feel like building a PC is to complex. Plus if given the choice between Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, or Valve I would chose to have Valve as my company of choice.
The assumption is that they'll open up some of the limitations of Linux with this if it becomes a big success.
It's possible they use non-standard hardware for performance or economic reasons. Linux technically doesn't require a BIOS/ EFI for example and boots a little faster on systems without that PC cruft. The hardware wouldn't be locked, but Windows simply wouldn't support it.
But wouldn't buy a set box with Steam on it, essentially a console, basically mean all the advantages of PC gaming would be gone? That would mostly related to the hardware being set in stone for a few years.
Oh so like a trojan horse for linux? That could be interesting.
a) People buy dumb shit all the time
b) People don't have their pcs connected with their tvs
c) Maybe it's not going to be just the linux catalog, and uses some compatibility layer.
...
n) etc
maniac-kun
Member
If the Steambox is successfull it will be a huge impact for the Linux community.
Fair point, but I have my doubts. We'll know soon enough, in any case.
outunderthestars
Banned
Not really up to date with linux, so forgive me if this is a dumb question, but do Amazon, Hulu and Netflix have linux versions of their video apps?
I'm very interested in this. I can see myself buying one in the future if they get it right. I don't care about my Steam library (don't have a big one anyway) and in time they will get more and more games Steambox-certified for sure.
I don't think so. If Valve is successful with their idea there's nothing preventing the companies from developing one, though, if that's why you're asking.
Amazon and Hulu+ both work, but Netflix uses Silverlight, so that doesn't work.
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