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[alexandros]

The Verge has a pretty neat piece on the upcoming Steam Box, describing the "story so far", if you will, and explaining in detail the whole concept based on what we know. It's a good introduction for anyone who still doesn't really understand what the Steambox is supposed to be. Some quotes follow:

In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with The Verge, Newell told us the Steam Box is real, and that it’s coming. The rumors were true: the Steam Box is a blueprint for a PC gaming console that partners can use to build and sell their own devices.

Newell told us that Valve wants to define three types of Steam Box hardware: "Good, Better," and "Best."

A Better device is expected to cost around $300, which is about what a basic Xbox 360 cost when it launched. Newell told us this tier will feature advanced processors and graphics cards, which means that it should be able to play most PC games, with graphics that could be better than anything Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo have (or will) offer. He also said that, like consoles, devices in this tier should be small and quiet;

Valve wants to make the PC as easy to use in the living room as a console. PCs have never really been convenient in the living room, at least not as convenient as the latest consoles that are specifically designed for big television screens and wireless control from your couch.

Lots more at the link: http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/6/3958162/valve-steam-box-cake

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Yeah I won't believe until I see this $300 box on store shelves.

 

[meta4]

Boring. Far more excited about next gen stuff from Sony and MS.

 

[Laughing Banana]

Somehow this reminds me to Cracked; the way they always put stuff like "Mindblowing" in each of their articles.

 

[Piggus]

Basically already been using my PC as a "Steam Box" for a while. I can switch between my monitor and TV with a couple clicks. This will be cool for those that don't want to build their own PC though.

 

[Zzoram]

Better Box at $300 with a dedicated GPU? Probably unlikely unless hardware makers get a Valve subsidy.



I think the prices would more realistically be $300/$500/$700 based on off-the-shelf components with HD7480D, HD7650, and HD7850.

 

[android.cndy]

i will buy just cause i love valve and gaben is the God i pray to every night before i sleep, and to take sales away from boredomgen nextbox and ps4

 

[Surface of Me]

I would buy best then.

=3

 

[mrklaw]

Its a PC, whats new about it?

Reinvent multiple manufacturers each making a profit on the box, like 3DO?

Reinvent using a 360 pad to play games, like a 360?

Reinvent $600, like PS3?

Reinvent not being able to buy used games, like Durango?

 

[Trent Strong]

If people are going to play PC games in the living room, then developers have got to make all their PC game's UIs much, much bigger.

 

[Striek]

Going to join the concensus and say I don't believe Valve will deliver this at $300. Hell, I don't even think they have the capability or the will to.

 

[ambientmystic]

That's right Lord Gaben. Educate the masses on the wonders of PC hardware.

 

[FGMPR]

Its a PC, whats new about it?

Reinvent multiple manufacturers each making a profit on the box, like 3DO?

Reinvent using a 360 pad to play games, like a 360?

Reinvent $600, like PS3?

Reinvent not being able to buy used games, like Durango?

It's a hell of a lot more palatable in a living room environment. I really don't understand why people can't see the potential in this.

 

[water1111]

It'll probably require on-line activation and not allow used games but nobody is bitching because Valve can do no wrong.

 

[Zzoram]

If they get a Steam Box out before I need a new PC, I'll very strongly consider one in the ~$700 price range.

 

[bodyboarder]

$300 for a "better" system, would have to either be subsidised or terrible.

 

[Guess Who]

It'll probably require on-line activation and not allow used games but nobody is bitching because Valve can do no wrong.

I do think the issue of used games when it comes to digital distribution is a tremendously different beast than with physical games. How would the economics of "used" digital game sales even work, in an economy where there is no limit to supply and used goods are indistinguishable from new goods?

 

[Surface of Me]

It'll probably require on-line activation and not allow used games but nobody is bitching because Valve can do no wrong.

Well they are certainly more trustable than Sony or MS, them being a privately owned company really helps in this regard.

 

[Duxxy3]

Whatever they decide to call it, it will still be a windows box. I love steam and i love valve, but 99% of the games on steam run on windows and no other operating system.

The only way i see this working is with a highly customized windows 8 as the OS, which would probably put the cheap box closer to $350 or $400.

 

[marc^o^]

I like that.

 

[alexandros]

Whatever they decide to call it, it will still be a windows box.

It most certainly won't be a windows box.

 

[Risette]

Whatever they decide to call it, it will still be a windows box. I love steam and i love valve, but 99% of the games on steam run on windows and no other operating system.

The only way i see this working is with a highly customized windows 8 as the OS, which would probably put the cheap box closer to $350 or $400.

Why not fix the problem instead of continuing to propagate it? 99% of games run on Windows and no other OS? Get more games running on other OSs.

 

[Uriah]

Whatever they decide to call it, it will still be a windows box. I love steam and i love valve, but 99% of the games on steam run on windows and no other operating system.

The only way i see this working is with a highly customized windows 8 as the OS, which would probably put the cheap box closer to $350 or $400.

It will be running Linux

 

[Guess Who]

Why not fix the problem instead of continuing to propagate it? 99% of games run on Windows and no other OS? Get more games running on other OSs.

I'm sure Valve would love to do this, but are extremely limited in their capability to do so.

 

[Duxxy3]

It most certainly won't be a windows box.

Then how will it play 99% of the games on steam?

It will be running Linux

So it will have 20 or so games on it.

Why not fix the problem instead of continuing to propagate it? 99% of games run on Windows and no other OS? Get more games running on other OSs.

Why? If games weren't ported to linux already, why would they start now? It's a waste of publishers money and time.

 

[vasametropolis]

If people are going to play PC games in the living room, then developers have got to make all their PC game's UIs much, much bigger.

For real? Most releases have the console UI when using a controller already.

 

[PaulExcellent]

Totes would pay $300 for a Steambox.
I am in love with the Big Picture interface. So smooth.

 

[DirtyManos]

I have no doubt a steambox would be interesting to see in the market; however, there are still plenty of concerns of whether it'll be a success.

The big one is pointed out in the article: valve would have to somehow push developers to make games for Linux or its custom os, because I doubt Microsoft would license them windows for their console.

If the former happens as expected, wouldn't that fragment steam libraries? I doubt developers are gonna retroactively convert their past games to Linux, so I'm guessing only new games would be available on it? I don't think I'd pay for that when I already have a pc and presumably a next gen console.

On that note, will new consumers bite? I don't expect many existing steam users to jump in unless they're looking for an upgrade to their old computer, and by the time steambox(es) come out the ps4 and nextbox might have a substantial stranglehold on the console market.

How will they get manufacturers to build a comparable console for only 300? Valve is a great software company, but can we trust their ability to design hardware? They don't have the money that Sony and Microsoft can leverage.

As a pc gamer, the only thing I might be interested in was that rumored $90 streaming box. Still, if a new steambox can force Sony and Microsoft to competitively price games or have sales, then Im all for it. Just can't see it being the godsend some people want it to be.

 

[Dreamgazer]

It'll be a nice living room pc solution (for those who refuse to build their own.)
However, it's unlikely to become a console-replacement for me.

Unless they force everyone to stick with steam-controller input, I don't want to worry about how my MP games might be affected because someone else is using kb/m -> kb/m on desk -> mechanical kb/m -> why don't I just go play on my regular pc.

 

[Loofy]

Hopefully its small. PCs are wayy too huge. I got a huge microatx(why even call these micro?) case that wont fit anything bigger than a 7770. And I dont think miniitx cases would be able to hold anything.

 

[Pureauthor]

The important question is whether I will be able to play Dota 2 on it.

 

[Risette]

Why? If games weren't ported to linux already, why would they start now? It's a waste of publishers money and time.

It's not a waste, it's an investment.

 

[Camp Lo]

Then how will it play 99% of the games on steam?



So it will have 20 or so games on it.



Why? If games weren't ported to linux already, why would they start now? It's a waste of publishers money and time.

It'll most likely VM.

 

[paile]

It'll most likely VM.

That's going to be a bit of an overhead.

 

[Dr.Palutena]

I'm just gonna see how all this plays out .

 

[Swifty]

I really doubt the $300 version of the Steambox will be able to edge out the next gen consoles unless Valve is willing to provide a low level, low overhead graphics API specification. That tidbit seems like rampant exaggerated speculation on The Verge's part.

 

[Duxxy3]

It's not a waste, it's an investment.

Now valve just needs to convince the industry that it's worth it. When they get finished with doing that i should be finished with my time machine.

 

[VeeP]

Very cool. As a console gamer, this is good because hopefully it will make Sony and Microsoft more competitive with the Steam Market. Better sales, more games, better UI, less restrictions, etc.

Still, I'm not sure if I'll buy a steambox. I love playing games online, but if I play with a console controller against KB&M players in a FPS, I'll get destroyed.

 

[Jtrizzy]

I still don't really get how it will play the games that require windows, like all of the one's I own on Steam now.

 

[BoosterDuck]

I wouldn't be surprised if I start to see $300 Steam boxes on the shelves of electronic stores in the next year.
Dunno if it'll be successful though...

 

[MarkusRJR]

If it actually has a large game library on it I'll probably pick one up.

 

[Baconsammy]

It will be running Linux

So a PC that I can't play WoW on. Hurray.

 

[Darryl]

I really doubt the $300 version of the Steambox will be able to edge out Durango or Orbis unless Valve is willing to provide a low level, low overhead graphics API specification. That tidbit seems like rampant exaggerated speculation on The Verge's part.

i think you're really underestimating how much $300 purchases in PC parts nowadays. you can play current-gen games on very good settings using integrated graphics alone.

 

[Dreamgazer]

So a PC that I can't play WoW on. Hurray.

You were hoping for Blizzard games on a STEAM-box?

 

[Dmented]

What it sounds like to me, as far as the tiers go is:

Good = Some sort of streaming device. You're going to already need a PC that will be the host unless they do some sort of online streaming service like OnLive.

Better = The equivalent to a next-gen console using somewhat cheaper but quite capable PC parts.

Best = A full on gaming PC. Might as well buy an Alienware or just build one yourself, it would practically be the same. But these Steambox branded ones would already have Linux and Steam installed ready to go.

Sounds good to me. I could only imagine if this were to get developer support, everyone into gaming would (should) be happy. Console gamers and PC gamers would get along just fine since every system ran the same things basically. It's just that if you want more image quality and performance, you'd build yourself a better PC. Wouldn't that be the perfect world? Everyone playing the games they want to play without having to buy 3 different consoles and a PC to get them all.

Edit: DEM SALES!

 

[Swifty]

i think you're really underestimating how much $300 purchases in PC parts nowadays. you can play current-gen games on very good settings using integrated graphics alone.

The point is that on that same 300 dollar machine, generalized OpenGL or DirectX graphics drivers will always run worse than something much more low level and fine tuned, something like PS3's libGCM.

 

[Ydahs]

So a PC that I can't play WoW on. Hurray.

If you want it as a PC too, you can still buy it, format it, then install Windows. That way you get Steam plus all the other non Steam titles too!

 

[Evlar]

I still don't really get how it will play the games that require windows, like all of the one's I own on Steam now.

I very much doubt most Steam customers have only games that require Windows. Most Valve games don't.

 

[Camp Lo]

So a PC that I can't play WoW on. Hurray.

 

[Dabanton]

Will it support EA games?