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[Nibel]

The time has come! We are ready to begin shipping Steam Machines and Steam Controllers to the 300 selected beta participants. The machines are due to leave the factory on Friday!

The 300 selected beta testers are being notified today (at about 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) that they’ll soon receive Steam hardware and SteamOS for testing. Each selected user is also being awarded a special badge on their Steam Community profile, indicating that they’re a beta participant. In addition, a number of games that run natively on SteamOS are being added to each selected user’s library.

We’ve had to make the difficult decision to limit our beta to the U.S. only, because of regulatory hurdles. This was not our original plan, and it means we can’t collect beta feedback from Steam customers world-wide, which is pretty unfortunate. All things considered, we’re sure it was the right decision, because the alternative was to delay the whole beta beyond the point when we’d be able to incorporate any feedback into the 2014 products. This decision only affects Valve’s 300 prototype units; the commercial versions of Steam Machines that are for sale in 2014 won’t be affected by this. More information on those will be announced at CES on January 6.

SteamOS will be made available when the prototype hardware ships. It will be downloadable by individual users and commercial OEMs. (But unless you’re an intrepid Linux hacker already, we’re going to recommend that you wait until later in 2014 to try it out.) We’ll post info soon about that. Oh, and stay tuned for the in-home streaming beta to begin soon, too!

Happy holidays. And happy unboxing to our beta testers. See you on Steam.

Source Engine (SteamUniverse Steam Group)

 

[Dead Prince]

i assume people got emails for this? if so fml.

EDIT: you updated OP

The 300 selected beta testers are being notified today (at about 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) that they’ll soon receive Steam hardware and SteamOS for testing. Each selected user is also being awarded a special badge on their Steam Community profile, indicating that they’re a beta participant. In addition, a number of games that run natively on SteamOS are being added to each selected user’s library.

So there's a chance for me to get one? YES.

 

[PartTimeWarrior]

Anyone on GAF get an email?

 

[KHlover]

.

Damn just was about to post this.

BUT WHY DID THEY LIMIT IT TO US ONLY ;(

 

[JaseC]

So I'm guessing the lucky few hundred have been contacted, then?

Edit: Ah, the edit states e-mails will be sent out within the next few hours.

 

[InsaneZero]

Which gives us enough advance warning to intercept shipments.

 

[DenisQc]

We’ve had to make the difficult decision to limit our beta to the U.S. only, because of regulatory hurdles. This was not our original plan, and it means we can’t collect beta feedback from Steam customers world-wide, which is pretty unfortunate. All things considered, we’re sure it was the right decision, because the alternative was to delay the whole beta beyond the point when we’d be able to incorporate any feedback into the 2014 products. This decision only affects Valve’s 300 prototype units; the commercial versions of Steam Machines that are for sale in 2014 won’t be affected by this. More information on those will be announced at CES on January 6

... was hoping ...

 

[Nabs]

oh snaps. Controllers in the wild!

 

[IcyRhythms]

The 300 selected beta testers are being notified today (at about 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) that they’ll soon receive Steam hardware and SteamOS for testing. Each selected user is also being awarded a special badge on their Steam Community profile, indicating that they’re a beta participant. In addition, a number of games that run natively on SteamOS are being added to each selected user’s library.

 

[zephervack]

Hyped for impressions, are these things under NDA?

 

[giant_frying_pan]

Damn just was about to post this.

BUT WHY DID THEY LIMIT IT TO US ONLY ;(

Looks like legal stuff or local certification issues.

Shame, although I doubt I would have been picked anyway!

 

[km3k]

~4 hours until disappointment!

 

[Lunaniem]

I'm ready to not get one.

 

[JaseC]

We’ve had to make the difficult decision to limit our beta to the U.S. only, because of regulatory hurdles.

Pfft.

 

[SteveWinwood]

SteamOS will be made available when the prototype hardware ships. It will be downloadable by individual users and commercial OEMs. (But unless you’re an intrepid Linux hacker already, we’re going to recommend that you wait until later in 2014 to try it out.) We’ll post info soon about that. Oh, and stay tuned for the in-home streaming beta to begin soon, too!

hmmm

 

[FreddieQuell]

The 300 selected beta testers are being notified today (at about 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time)

So you're saying there's still a chance.

 

[Mrbob]

The 300 selected beta testers are being notified today (at about 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) that they’ll soon receive Steam hardware and SteamOS for testing. Each selected user is also being awarded a special badge on their Steam Community profile, indicating that they’re a beta participant. In addition, a number of games that run natively on SteamOS are being added to each selected user’s library.

Everyone hoping for the golden ticket today.

 

[therealminime]

Really bummed about it being US only now.

 

[dreamfall]

I want to try that haptic feedback goodness.

Profound sadness when not contacted.

 

[IcyRhythms]

If it were 3000 participants I'd feel much better about my chances(obviously)but these will likely be given out to people who play Dota 2 and CS like it's their life. lol

 

[EvilKatarn]

Can't say I'm surprised. Us Europeans never get free stuff.

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

Awesome.

Still blown away they got a titan n that box.

 

[scitek]

Before, the odds of being picked were 1:400,000, I wonder what they are now.

 

[Gamerloid]

Please, Valve...

 

[Vinterbird]

Sucks they had to cut back to U.S. only.

But I really hope some third part will have a Chromecast/Apple TV size stream box to show at CES.

 

[Nibel]

Mods, please update the title that this has become US only

 

[sekrit]

Damn just was about to post this.

BUT WHY DID THEY LIMIT IT TO US ONLY ;(

Probably logistics and some legal reasons.

 

[epmode]

I'm totally in on this. I just know it. I don't win ANYTHING. Except for this. Thank you in advance, gaben.

 

[Firehead]

*crosses fingers*

 

[JakkuFurosu]

Some lucky GAFfer, that isn't me, will be posting here later that they got in.
I will hate you

 

[Human_me]

Its only just now been announced its US only?

Really guys?
Thanks for getting our hopes up.
Sincerely, Rest of the world.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

it's now US only, argh!

 

[Dreams-Visions]

It begins.

 

[alba]

Posted in the duplicate thread, oops. Good luck to all applicants, fingers crossed I'm in

 

[indigo-cyclops]

What a dream if I get selected, by the chances of that are mind-numbingly great.

It will be cool for those that do get selected though.

 

[alr1ght]

I'm in

Spoiler

for disappointment.

 

[CountAntonius]

Let's all hold hands and pray gaf.

 

[Ilúvatar]

*crosses fingers and waits for 5 PM*

 

[ClassicVintage]

What would the description and the apperance of the badge be?

 

[Piercedveil]

I look forward to a GAFfer's impressions on this stuff when he/she receives it.

 

[AllIsOneIsNone]

Looking forward to impressions.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

I'd be happy if they'd just send me a controller

 

[Asgaro]

GET HYPE.

 

[Kocolino67]

Hyped for impressions, are these things under NDA?

I don't think so. That's the trick with this beta.

But even the chances were already very small, this US only thing is really a bit disappointing.

 

[sekrit]

What would the description and the apperance of the badge be?

It's a picture of Gaben pointing at you and the description is "Luckiest motherfucker in the world"

 

[Karl2177]

What would the description and the apperance of the badge be?

Probably something along the lines of "Steam Machine Beta Participant"

 

[bmdubya]

Hyped for impressions, are these things under NDA?

If I remember correctly from the announcement of the beta, there is no NDA. They want people posting their impressions, pictures, etc. publicly. Pretty cool if you ask me.

 

[Dead Prince]

waiting for someone to try to sell the controller on ebay for $10,000

 

[Omega]

please let me be one

 

[Fox318]

There has to be 1 gaffer who gets a box.