Valve announces SteamOS

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I like the idea, but I don't really have a use for it as my primary PC doubles as my home theater PC. I don't see myself replacing Windows anytime soon.

I might mess around with it, though, as a secondary or something.
 
MrNyarlathotep said:
I'm going to assume all of the people in this thread posting variants on "Here is what the market currently looks like, why would anyone bother doing anything different to that because the current status quo will never ever change for any reason" don't invest in the stock market and aren't senior enough at whatever jobs they do to have to be aware of SWOT analyses.

Let me break it down for you;

- Right now Windows has a kung-fu death grip monopoly on the PC gaming industry. If anything happens to dethrone MS, or if MS make any changes themselves to adversely affect gaming (and why would they? It's not like they have some gaming specific hardware they want to push), and company whose primary source of operations is PC gaming is fucked.

- Right now there is reluctance from embedded customers to switch platforms, due to their amassed libraries and reluctance to give that all away (for more of this, watch this holiday seasons NPDs)

- Right now Linux in particular and Open Source in general find it hard to appeal to content producers to put their software onto, as the market is perceived as 'niche', 'fragmented' and 'freeloaders'. A lot of marketing money has been spent to help foster this perception ("Get the facts!").

Here's what SteamOS brings to the table;

- A mature and well respected digital store front with a loyal customer base (why would Amazon sell their own apps on their own store? There's already a Google store on Android!). Why is this important? Because it provides a service that allows people who want to buy content a trusted way to buy that content.
This is good for both consumers and producers; consumers know if their machine can run SteamOS, it can run the 'app' they buy from the SteamOS 'appstore'.
Producers know products they sell on the 'SteamOS appstore' are piracy free, and can also see how many users the SteamOS appstore has to estimate potential sales in advance. Or indeed the value of porting costs of a product already available elsewhere.

- A method of accessing prior content; this is obviously a stop-gap solution, but it solves the whole "why would I buy a steambox if I already have a Pc and loads of games" question, until software and hardware solutions which don't yet exist do.

- Independence from Windows at a company level; the biggest factor by far. With this, Valve are no longer entirely entwined in the fate of MS and whatever it is they're choosing to do with regards to Pc gaming this month.
This independence is also there for others who might not be as super-peachy-keen on Windows as some of you are to join in on.
Click to expand...

This.
 
Ferrio said:
Thinking people need to treat this less like a new OS to install on their computer and more like an AppleTV/Roku.

Maybe once the thing gets legs it'll be something you wanna run on your PC.
Click to expand...

Stacking the input lag of a TV with the input lag of streaming.

>:(
 
jj984jj said:
Wow. I wonder if this really has a chance, an open future.
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Surely the opposite of open, this thing will be less open than Windows. Unless you expect there to be other 'app' stores running on there.

Also a hint of hypocrisy if Gabe doesn't allow Microsoft to put up a marketplace on there :)
 
MrNyarlathotep said:
This is good for both consumers and producers; consumers know if their machine can run SteamOS, it can run the 'app' they buy from the SteamOS 'appstore'.
Click to expand...

Just because my machine can run SteamOS it does NOT mean it can run any games.
You still need the expensive hardware. You still need to upgrade. You can still buy a game and then have it run at 10fps because your hardware is outdated or because it just hates your PC for no reason.

This does NOTHING to help make PC gmaing easier or "more like consoles".
 
Lynn616 said:
The post I responded to was saying just that. Plus you could stream all your Windows Steam games to the SteamBox.
Click to expand...

The Nexus 7 isn't as powerful as either console. Also thinking more about it, I actually take back my earlier comment. It still probably won't take off unless console gamers flock to it as PC gamers still have their desktops.
 
Dunlop said:
What percentage of the PC market do you seriously believe is dedicated just to gaming where they would dump the entire OS and game developers would do the same?
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Probably all those whose work pcs and gaming pcs are not one and the same. So, yeah, just about everyone.
 
NotSelf said:
freely licensable operating system for manufacturers.

Is Microsoft shiting themselves right now.
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They just showed a new Surface tablet that made clear they don't give a fuck about anything these days. Surface, Win8, Windows Phone, Xbox One...they should just change their mission statement to "Yes, we're that company that makes Office" and call it a day.
 
When I think about it, this is actually crazy awesome. I have my gaming desktop in my room and it would be damn awesome to stream games to my school laptop and play them on my TV or on my laptop or something.
 
Jtwo said:
Eh, there is steam on ps3 and the touchpad in the dualshock4.
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Well if we're going to just start using loose associations like that, Nintendo has an even better touch pad and just added Web Frame Development.

I'm not at all suggesting Nintendo is going to be partnering with Valve, mind you. It just seems like people are operating on very flimsy evidence, and I'm pretty sure I could string at least a couple points together for virtually anyone.

The stronger candidates, again, seem to be the companies like Samsung or Google or LG or someone who isn't in direct competition with Valve on this front.
 
I like the streaming idea.

I also like that in the future I could buy a gaming box from XYZ company pre-installed with SteamOS

or if i built a gaming computer I could load steam on it and give a fuck you to windows.

honestly I use my ipad for everything and the only time I sit down to use my desktop is to game so why pay for windows on that machine in the future?
 
This is huge. This may impact the game industry like how Android OS impacted the phone industry. If only they can easily convert/port DirectX games.
 
Aww. Always saddening to see big Valve announcements that don't fall in line with my personal needs at all, specially so when it could hurt the support in the future for the things I want that are great games and features for my windows gaming PC. Oh well c'est la vie.
 
So why would someone get a steam powered console over a ps4/xboxone this is my question. Because this announcement seems huge to pc gamers but not significant for console owners. I'm not even sure if console owners are a target audience with this announcement
 
shadowstar said:
Plug in a controller to play an online fps with your friends and proceed to get pounded by all the M/KB players running at a shitty fps because you're playing in an HTPC or lagging because you're streaming? Yeah, still don't see the appeal. The only stuff I see playable are the multiplatform action adventure titles like Fez or whatever. I personally don't see the appeal of paying more money to build an HTPC and play games I can already play on my 360/PS3.

I'm probably biased because I already run an HDMI cable to my TV for media. I've never personally had a desire to play games on my TV over my monitor with it's better resolution. Heck I play Xbox on my monitor too (no lag).
Click to expand...

HTPC don't suck in terms of power. No high end demanding fps is the most played certainly not for MP. You don't need a lot of power to play quake live, cod, counter strike or TF2.

Considering that 360/Ps3 are on their way out I'm not interested in staying on a dying platform. This platform would actually have a real future.
 
Wait a second, I'm a little confused by this. At first, I thought this was the OS for the Steam Box, and that it could also stream games from Windows (let's say your PC is next to your Steam Box under the TV). But now I'm hearing that it's an actual OS that you'd put on your computer to replace Windows/dual boot? Is that what's going on?
 
MrNyarlathotep said:
I'm going to assume all of the people in this thread posting variants on "Here is what the market currently looks like, why would anyone bother doing anything different to that because the current status quo will never ever change for any reason" don't invest in the stock market and aren't senior enough at whatever jobs they do to have to be aware of SWOT analyses.

Let me break it down for you;

- Right now Windows has a kung-fu death grip monopoly on the PC gaming industry. If anything happens to dethrone MS, or if MS make any changes themselves to adversely affect gaming (and why would they? It's not like they have some gaming specific hardware they want to push), and company whose primary source of operations is PC gaming is fucked.

- Right now there is reluctance from embedded customers to switch platforms, due to their amassed libraries and reluctance to give that all away (for more of this, watch this holiday seasons NPDs)

- Right now Linux in particular and Open Source in general find it hard to appeal to content producers to put their software onto, as the market is perceived as 'niche', 'fragmented' and 'freeloaders'. A lot of marketing money has been spent to help foster this perception ("Get the facts!").

Here's what SteamOS brings to the table;

- A mature and well respected digital store front with a loyal customer base (why would Amazon sell their own apps on their own store? There's already a Google store on Android!). Why is this important? Because it provides a service that allows people who want to buy content a trusted way to buy that content.
This is good for both consumers and producers; consumers know if their machine can run SteamOS, it can run the 'app' they buy from the SteamOS 'appstore'.
Producers know products they sell on the 'SteamOS appstore' are piracy free, and can also see how many users the SteamOS appstore has to estimate potential sales in advance. Or indeed the value of porting costs of a product already available elsewhere.

- A method of accessing prior content; this is obviously a stop-gap solution, but it solves the whole "why would I buy a steambox if I already have a Pc and loads of games" question, until software and hardware solutions which don't yet exist do.

- Independence from Windows at a company level; the biggest factor by far. With this, Valve are no longer entirely entwined in the fate of MS and whatever it is they're choosing to do with regards to Pc gaming this month.
This independence is also there for others who might not be as super-peachy-keen on Windows as some of you are to join in on.
Click to expand...

This is a great post that illustrates why valve is releasing the Steambox. However, it doesn't address the value add for your average consumers vs buying a console. The steambox wont be cheaper than a console if it wants to run similar games natively(not streaming) and people who have high end gaming pcs are a much smaller and niche market.
 
Give me an environment that boots quickly straight to a rock solid fast and efficient steam client without Windows running in the background stealing CPU cycles that can be completely controlled with a gamepad and I'm in.

Where do I sign up?
 
People are getting a bit overhyped for this. It'll be nice for some people, like me, who already have an HTPC and only use it for Netflix/twitch/gaming or for people who ONLY game on their pc's, but the majority of people still use their pc for other things and I don't think Steam is even targeting them.

It seems like the OS is definitely designed for a TV experience, and if that's the case then it's not really gonna be great while sitting at your desk. Look at how Windows 8 was rejected because it looked too much like a "tablet OS".

Also, there's a lot of high selling PC games that don't come to Steam. Things like World of Warcraft, Diablo, The Sims, Battlefield, Titanfall will all be on Windows only, how many PC gamers are going to give up these games (and others) just to use SteamOS? A small percentage I'd say.

That isn't to say that this won't be successful in Valve's eyes. I just think a lot of people in this thread are getting overhyped for something that isn't going to realistically change anything anytime soon. Maybe it could slowly pickup a lot of support and over the long-term (5+ years) it could become a major player, but for now it's a small step. This is Valve targeting people that either already have a setup that would benefit from SteamOS (HTPC users, heavy gamers that already use their TV to play PC games) as well as non-PC gamers (think console gamers).
 
Louis Cyphre said:
Well since Nintendo, Sony and now Microsoft will all offer Internet browsing on their new systems what are the chances all, if any, will allow their console to be a Steam powered device for Steam OS?
Click to expand...
Zero, they're competitors. And SteamOS isn't going to end up in any Sony TVs either. Sony are building their streaming technology in the hope it'll be used in everything eventually, they'd never allow SteamOS on there.

VitaTV is an interesting similar product to what I imagine the low-end SteamBox will be, and in fact, just with a very different long term goal.
 
I only use my Windows PC for gaming so this would actually mean I would never need to buy Windows again.

I don't know a thing about coding but I'm wondering how this will turn out considering DirectX and all.
 
maverick40 said:
Why would Microsoft be shitting themselves at all? Every company on the planet uses Windows and sticks with it because of the ease of use, reliability and most of all customer support. The money companies shell out for Windows is worth it for their customer support alone. Why would Microsoft suddenly be scared when a linux based os from a gaming company that neither casual customer or the majority of businesses even know exists?
Click to expand...

Because it's free for OEMs and OEMs are not in the best of relationships right now with MS.

What if OEMS decides to spend their marketing dollars on their own customed SteamOS machines? Sooner or later it's going to eat into the already declining desktop market share.
 
trixx said:
So why would someone get a steam powered console over a ps4/xboxone this is my question. Because this announcement seems huge to pc gamers but not significant for console owners. I'm not even sure if console owners are a target audience with this announcement
Click to expand...

I'm not sure who is the target audience for this other than selective groups of PC gamers or console gamers who want to do PC gaming.
 
I remember when Steam first launched I wanted no part of it. Why would I want an additional program running just to play my games? Why would I want to sign up to their service? Well, we all know how that went.
 
There is an appeal for it, but I don't see how I would use this in my everyday life. If it's strictly a living room equipment, then it's a "media center" they already have with Big Picture.
 
So is this a home console type of thing? I'm on my phone and can't tell.

if so I'll get one for left4dead and some other games. I've never used steam because my computer sucks. lol
 
Minsc said:
Last we heard when Big Picture Mode was announced, they put the total around 50 million yeah, but wiki has it at a little higher. So if they get 10% of their users to try it out, well slightly less given some amount of entirely new users trying it out, they'd have 5 million. Maybe a stretch, but seems possible.
Click to expand...

That's a highly optimistic number. Only ~1% of Steam users bother to use it on Linux currently and that brought people to fold who didn't even have a Windows machine.
 
Ferrio said:
If it's on your home network lag shouldn't be much an issue. 2ms at worst?
Click to expand...

We'll see. Depends on a lot of factors, like the quality of your home Wi-Fi and how well Valve optimizes. The local network remote play mode on PS3/Vita for example is pretty laggy in my experience. If anyone can do it, it's probably Valve but I won't be completely convinced until we see these working well in real people's homes.
 
Glad to see Valve not just complain about the direction of Win8, but actively work on a proper solution. I'll happily do most of my PC gaming on SteamOS and stream the rest until they hopefully migrate over as well.
 
maverick40 said:
Why would Microsoft be shitting themselves at all? Every company on the planet uses Windows and sticks with it because of the ease of use, reliability and most of all customer support. The money companies shell out for Windows is worth it for their customer support alone. Why would Microsoft suddenly be scared when a linux based os from a gaming company that neither casual customer or the majority of businesses even know exists?
Click to expand...

Because of Android, because of Iphone, because of Google Drive, because SteamOS is just one more cut that is slowly bleeding them to death. I'd argue that pc gamers are the group most beholden to Microsoft, so please, free my people!!

If Microsoft believes their competitive advantage is their ease of use and and customer support, they are doomed. Their main competitive advantage is inertia at this point.
 
lightning2k3 said:
This is a great post that illustrates why valve is releasing the Steambox. However, it doesn't address the value add for your average consumers vs buying a console. The steambox wont be cheaper than a console if it wants to run similar games natively(not streaming) and people who have high end gaming pcs are a much smaller and niche market.
Click to expand...

Depends, you can budget-build some nice PCs these days. And don't forget that Steam games are much cheaper than their console counterparts, money can be saved there.
 
People saying this is useless since it can't play Windows games need to remember that the PS4 and Xbone don't have backwards compatibility, either.
 
NinjaCatfish said:
Thankyou for saying exactly what I couldn't quite put across. This is exactly how I see Valve's plan for the future. A future where Windows is no longer a requirement for desktop gaming.
Click to expand...

Instead, both Windows and Steam OS will be necessary to play my entire PC gaming library. What benefit does this give the dedicated PC gamer?

People saying this is useless since it can't play Windows games need to remember that the PS4 and Xbone don't have backwards compatibility, either.
Click to expand...

Those are consoles. My PC is not a console, and I don't want it to become one.
 
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