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[Alien8]

Sorry if it has been asked before, but this thread is moving faaaaaaast!!!

We're all saying that after steamOS, the second announcement is going to be the SteamBox, that is, a piece of hardware capable of running the steamOS, made by a hardware manufacturer. Next wednesday, If Valve don't show a box with a steam logo in it, the disappointment will be massive.

It's a long shot, but I'm thinking about the possibility of 'SteamBox' not being a specific piece of hardware made by Dell or any other, but a specification of the requirements needed to be labeled as 'Steambox'. For example, if your computer (or your refrigerator, for that matter) has x Mb of RAM, a GPU post-2011 and x GB hard disk, that machine would be a 'steambox' capable machine. There also could be a gradation system (bronze, silver, gold steambox) that the publishers could use as a way to specify the requirements of their games. For the hardware vendors it'd be a selling point (like the old 'intel inside').

Is this posibility feasible?

 

[Faustek]

Curious though, how much effort would it take to make a game on the PS4 and bring it to Linux and then vice versa? I would think it would be easier than going from Linux to Windows/DirectX or PS4 to Windows/DirectX?

Well, let's say "easier". Still a lot of work.

Well ps4 to Linux and vice versa would be easier since most of the assets are already in use whereas Directx to OpenGL takes a while longer and some functions demands a total rewrite in dx11 to opengl 4.4.

I assume AMD will continue their amazing open source drive for Linux so when the huma come into play I reckon they will support it as well.
So now all we need is confirmation that Sony/AMD fixed the huma for ps4.

BTW start asking @yosp about the reality of PS Vita TV SteamOS app. It would be great.

 

[Cornbread78]

Is Valve publically traded?

 

[MrCunningham]

This is awesome. I hope it supports NTFS or ExFAT so I can have all my games on one partitions. I am going to split my SSD into two OSes now.

'

If it's Linux, then it will support EXT3/4, XFS and all the other file systems that are popular for Linux installations. But Linux has no problem reading or writing to NTFS and ExFAT partitions.

360 Controller Support.
This is critical.

The Xbox 360 controller uses xinput and it has good support under Linux. Quite a few of my Steam games and just about every console emulator I have ever used in linux works with Logitech f320 controllers in xinput mode. I would imagine that the Xbox 360 controllers will work fine in the games that support them.

 

[ashecitism]

Sorry if it has been asked before, but this thread is moving faaaaaaast!!!

We're all saying that after steamOS, the second announcement is going to be the SteamBox, that is, a piece of hardware capable of running the steamOS, made by a hardware manufacturer. Next wednesday, If Valve don't show a box with a steam logo in it, the disappointment will be massive.

It's a long shot, but I'm thinking about the possibility of 'SteamBox' not being a specific piece of hardware made by Dell or any other, but a specification of the requirements needed to be labeled as 'Steambox'. For example, if your computer (or your refrigerator, for that matter) has x Mb of RAM, a GPU post-2011 and x GB hard disk, that machine would be a 'steambox' capable machine. There also could be a gradation system (bronze, silver, gold steambox) that the publishers could use as a way to specify the requirements of their games. For the hardware vendors it'd be a selling point (like the old 'intel inside').

Is this posibility feasible?

Sure. People have been speculating that this might be something like Nexus for ex.

 

[Prophet Steve]

Interesting news.

I predict whatever hardware they put out will not be as cheap as people expect. Console makers subsidise the hardware because they make money back on software but valve already gets the same cut from a game sold through steam on windows that they would through a game sold on a steambox. So they must be wanting to make money on the hardware otherwise what's the point? I suppose they could see it as broadening the steam username but I expect the vast majority of people interested in a steambox are already steam users.

I think it makes more sense for new steam users to get it instead of existing users, since the normal users most likely are having Steam on Windows and have little use in getting something that only natively plays the Linux titles. Besides, they also are planning to have other manufacturers create the machine with free licensing, that would make little sense when they would want to make all the money on the hardware.

 

[plagiarize]

Even for a living room box, if I'm putting together a decent HTPC, I'm buying a proven, full featured OS.

This is most likely for the Valve box and not for any future proofing or Windows replacement for gaming PCs.

once upon a time, Steam was a buggy mess that no one liked. in time it improved and became a proven platform.

if Valve continue to invest in SteamOS as they have Steam, it will become a proven OS in due course.

 

[Sendou]

Is Valve publically traded?

Nope

 

[Orayn]

Is Valve publically traded?

Nope, private.

 

[ashecitism]

Is Valve publically traded?

No, Valve are a private company with approx 300-400 employees and are worth maybe $4bill (totally a guess)

 

[pvpness]

Holy shit, they finally did it. We're going to see some shit now. Exciting!

 

[Cornbread78]

Nope

they should...

 

[Nethaniah]

they should...

Why?

 

[Freeman]

Interesting news.

I predict whatever hardware they put out will not be as cheap as people expect. Console makers subsidise the hardware because they make money back on software but valve already gets the same cut from a game sold through steam on windows that they would through a game sold on a steambox. So they must be wanting to make money on the hardware otherwise what's the point? I suppose they could see it as broadening the steam username but I expect the vast majority of people interested in a steambox are already steam users.

They probably don't want to make money on the hardware side, that makes little sense, the goal is to expand the steam user base and sell more software. Since Valve is a smaller company they are less likely to subside it tho.

 

[Pagusas]

Is Valve publically traded?

Private and let us all pray to Gabe they stay that way forever. Turning valve into a public company would destroy it.

 

[Corto]

they should...

They don't need to. Fortunately.

 

[Monty Mole]

The Steambox also means endless backwards compatibility. When console people have to buy the 3rd hd remaster of the same game. You can just redownload it and start playing.

Welcome to the PC.

 

[SteveWinwood]

they should...

So that they can have idiots tell them how to run their company when they only care about their wallets?

Private and let us all pray to Gabe they stay that way forever. Turning valve into a public company would destroy it.

The avatar makes this statement really funny

 

[Grayman]

Most interesting announcement for me is that Steam is going to have music and movies. I'm wondering if we're going to see sales for thoses though.
Probably won't happen.

I think they will just run other companies services in that area. Netflix will be built into the steam UI on some level and be setup to function with the same controls as Steam(same back buttons on controller, same on screen keyboard)

 

[Gueras]

For sure will not work...

I think a OS based on Linux is ready to fail.

Maybe will have a lot of downloads on the beggining but on the long road will fail...

 

[Faustek]

I think the great majority will pay the extra $100 and get access to all the games and not just a fraction.

Um....reality is much much more.

OEMS making hardware for this wouldn't need to pay license fees to Microsoft for making hardware.
A competitive market would drive the price there as well.
And if they utilize streaming, we're going in that direction, then $100 is all you need, PS vita TV for example, to play all games on steam.

 

[ashecitism]

We can expect Twitch integration to stream our gameplay, right? I mean Origin and Uplay has those.

 

[ekim]

So the day 2 announcement seems pretty obvious. (The circle in a box)
But what about the last symbol? SteamOS + SteamOS?

 

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

once upon a time, Steam was a buggy mess that no one liked. in time it improved and became a proven platform.

if Valve continue to invest in SteamOS as they have Steam, it will become a proven OS in due course.

Steam had the benefit of being the tip of the DD spear.

 

[maniac-kun]

For sure will not work...

I think a OS based on Linux is ready to fail.

Maybe will have a lot of downloads on the beggining but on the long road will fail...

Like Android?

 

[fin]

So...
O = SteamOS
[O] = SteamBox
O+O = ?

I'm thinking some kind of partnership with another OS? Hardware partnerships?

 

[Raonak]

As a console gamer, i'm very interested.

 

[Prophet Steve]

We can expect Twitch integration to stream our gameplay, right? I mean Origin and Uplay has those.

Well, since it is not in Steam (yet), do not expect it as of now. But it may be part of one of the announcements.

 

[Baron von Loathsome]

they should...

They really shouldn't.

 

[kinggroin]

This is interesting; I wonder just who they've managed to get on-board the Linux train? A few? Some? All?

The streaming thing is excellent news for the back catalogue, but it's native support that will make or break this new system.

Bingo.

Most negative posts seem to be missing this part

 

[ashecitism]

So the day 2 announcement seems pretty obvious. (The circle in a box)
But what about the last symbol? SteamOS + SteamOS?

Prior to this I was thinking sharing or streaming, but both have been mentioned/announced today, so I don't know. Multiple instances of Steam running at the same time? Split screen? Not sure.

 

[Freeman]

Private and let us all pray to Gabe they stay that way forever. Turning valve into a public company would destroy it.

They should do an experiment and sell Valve shares on steam, it would't have to be control shares.

 

[V_Ben]

So...
O = SteamOS
[O] = SteamBox
O+O = ?

I'm thinking some kind of partnership with another OS? Hardware partnerships?

If there is, it'll be an Alienware one. They recently introduced a Linux variant of the X51, so they'll surely be all over this.

 

[MrCunningham]

So...
O = SteamOS
[O] = SteamBox
O+O = ?

I'm thinking some kind of partnership with another OS? Hardware partnerships?

God I hope O+O is a game announcement... It's been too long since you've had one of those, Valve.

 

[jediyoshi]

Everytime someone throws the HL3/next valve game exclusive to steambox hypothetical scenario out there, I die a little inside.

Spoiler

I'm dead.

they should...

*hiss*

 

[Jakeh111]

If streaming games from my computer works well Ill use it cause I dont want to build a whole other gaming machine just for my TV.

 

[Prophet Steve]

God I hope O+O is a game announcement... It's been too long since you've had one of those, Valve.

Well, I think someone tweeted that it all had to do with Steam, so I doubt so. Also I'd expect a Source 2 announcement first.

 

[Raticus79]

God I hope O+O is a game announcement... It's been too long since you've had one of those, Valve.

O+O

O+++O

O+++++++O

Things separating = Nuclear decay = Half-life

Valve specifically said that there are no game announcements this week.

D'oh. What was the wording? Can I still weasel in some hope on a technicality?

 

[LCGeek]

Steam had the benefit of being the tip of the DD spear.

Does that mean MS shouldn't have done what it did with windows and directx to make it more friendly with gaming. These comments do nothing and ignore that most of the big players had to start somewhere and make great products they weren't given what they have now.

Valve has me, I hated steam in the beginning and considering what they done with I'd love to see what they do with streaming or making a better OS for gamers.

 

[MrCunningham]

Well, I think someone tweeted that it all had to do with Steam, so I doubt so. Also I'd expect a Source 2 announcement first.

You're probably right, but it's nice to dream.

 

[DukeTogo1300]

Wow, and that thread about MS + Gaming only popped up yesterday.

This changes everything about my earlier thoughts after reading through that thread. MS's market-share is taking a major slicing.

 

[thefil]

The ideal outcome for all of this is that Valve does a ton of work on the following:

• facilitating communication between closed hardware (NVidia/AMD) providers re: X/Wayland support
• straight up kernel improvements on graphics, evdev (input), [pulse?]audio with upstream acceptance (i.e. don't bully too much) ALSA + pulse (the Ubuntu audio stack) for example is actually quite weird with some people seeing significant audio degradation with pulse on top.
• starts one or more standards bodies for gaming-related Linux issues, i.e. an open controller group ala Khronos (OpenGL)
• opens the code they are using to get the amazing performance they have on Source Linux, particularly w.r.t. loading from disk, which seems to be a huge problem on Linux right now (Europa Universalis IV, I'm looking at you)

The key thing to watch is how much goes upstream. If not much does, then SteamOS remains an essentially closed platform; you can install Steam on other distros but you can't compete on performance.

I think Valve will be good on this, but we really only see their public face. They could be a LOT more transparent. The Linux graphics stack is in a state of flux right now, how do they see the future shaking out (beyond "Linux is the future")? It seems like they are writing everything to SDL so they can avoid problems with the X/Wayland split but how are they making sure other devs are aware and forwards-compatible?

At they end of the day I just want to know what projects they are working on (LLVM, SDL presumably, ..?) and get a sense of what story their commit logs tell.

 

[Uthred]

once upon a time, Steam was a buggy mess that no one liked. in time it improved and became a proven platform.

if Valve continue to invest in SteamOS as they have Steam, it will become a proven OS in due course.

Steam is still a mess, the service itself is decent but the client is an archaic mess.

 

[Caffeine]

if chrome is on it and if league of legends is on it and they got some support for devs to move certain games over like call of duty ghosts i would just hop on board. generic printer and scanner driver etc. I use gimp more than photoshop anyway. word processing and such can be done through chrome and now skype video can be done through outlook.com i wouldnt have a need for windows...

oh yes and amd and nvidia solid driver support.

 

[warcode]

O+O

Might be the Source 2 engine running natively on SteamOS.
It might also be running side-by-side with windows, without rebooting.
Or we might go completly insane and think its SteamOS running on the PS4, side by side with their native OS.

 

[Orayn]

God I hope O+O is a game announcement... It's been too long since you've had one of those, Valve.

Last two announcements were October 2010 and August 2011, with those games releasing in July 2013 and August 2012 respectively, and it's not like they've been sitting on their hands apart from those two.

The queue is clear, just give them a bit more time.

 

[Oxn]

Don't know if anyone addressed this yet, but are we going to get a Steam Media Center, or maybe have XBMC work?

 

[Pooya]

I hope it's not 'purple'.

Watch for announcements in the coming weeks about all the AAA titles coming natively to SteamOS in 2014.

There is a Rome II shot, I guess that's one.

 

[Grief.exe]

So...
O = SteamOS
[O] = SteamBox
O+O = ?

Its been speculated that

O=SteamOS
[O]=controller
O+O=Steambox

God I hope O+O is a game announcement... It's been too long since you've had one of those, Valve.

Valve specifically said that there are no game announcements this week.

 

[jimforspeed]

I know that the "Linux year" saying has become much of a cliche, but I really think that this time it's different. With careful coordination I'm pretty confident Valve can stop, or at least brake, the Win / DX train. There are some pretty good posts here so I won't analyze it further.