Gabe Newell owner of Valve the company behind Steam did a keynote at LinuxCon 2013 inside is a video and the info.
Video
The video isn't ours, sorry about the quality.
It was great to see Gabe talk about Linux and gaming and gave some nice insight into Valve. Here are just a few points I managed to pick up on:
They haven't been happy about the way closed systems have been heading for several years, most likely pointing towards things like Windows Store, App Store etc where approval can take ages and can cost a lot money.
Gabe gave an example of an update they put out on the apple store that took 6 months to get approved.
They feel like if they can get games out like Left 4 Dead and more that it can remove issues for other big name developers by them doing the work for them (speaking to nvidia, sorting other drivers out etc).
Several Valve developers actually work on SDL itself (it was also started by a current Valve employee) so we should steadily see decent improvements to that project thanks to them.
They are co-developing a Linux debugger in addition to the work they do with LLVM. This should help a lot of developers.
They say the next step for them is to release some work they have done on the hardware side.
Next week they will give more info on bringing Linux into the living room, so it looks like a Steam Box is getting closer to being a reality. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Gabe Newell ValveLinux is the future of gaming
It was great to see Gabe talk about Linux and gaming and gave some nice insight into Valve. Here are just a few points I managed to pick up on:
They haven't been happy about the way closed systems have been heading for several years, most likely pointing towards things like Windows Store, App Store etc where approval can take ages and can cost a lot money.
Gabe gave an example of an update they put out on the apple store that took 6 months to get approved.
They feel like if they can get games out like Left 4 Dead and more that it can remove issues for other big name developers by them doing the work for them (speaking to nvidia, sorting other drivers out etc).
Several Valve developers actually work on SDL itself (it was also started by a current Valve employee) so we should steadily see decent improvements to that project thanks to them.
They are co-developing a Linux debugger in addition to the work they do with LLVM. This should help a lot of developers.
They say the next step for them is to release some work they have done on the hardware side.
Next week they will give more info on bringing Linux into the living room, so it looks like a Steam Box is getting closer to being a reality. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I read a developer stating that it´s much more annoying to publish a game on XBox Live than on Steam (updates have no cost, they aren´t burocratic, this kind of stuff), I like Steam very much and what it has brought to Linux, let´s see what next week has to us!
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I'm not saying Steam / Valve is bad per se. However, just because they're mostly the good guys today doesn't mean they're not going to turn into bad guys tomorrow. They're based on the exact same business model as all the other big closed app stores they're criticizing, so there is nothing that makes them different in the big picture (pun intended :p ). They're simply pushing Linux right now because they're about to get locked out of all the other markets and Linux is their last option to stake out their own little playground where they can dictate the terms.
So while Valve's support it's a good thing for Linux right now, people need to keep in mind that their support is purely a business decision and not something they're doing out of love for Linux.
So while Valve's support it's a good thing for Linux right now, people need to keep in mind that their support is purely a business decision and not something they're doing out of love for Linux.
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Succinctly put. I agree completely - particularly on the irony of bemoaning closed apps stores when you are, in fact, a closed app store. Well, games store. Games and Apps. Ach, you know what I mean.
Still. Loving their work at the moment. Between Valve and Humble, we have some real momentum building.
Still. Loving their work at the moment. Between Valve and Humble, we have some real momentum building.
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Let's say it straight, it's hypocrisy. Valve are hard to criticize because they do the right thing for their customers much more than most other big companies, but they are still far from perfect. No DRM, open-source client, no gatekeeper, all this is done – all or part – by other platforms (GOG, Desura, IndieCity...) so they can do it too.
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These is however a difference between Steam and other App/Game stores they are talking about. Steam doesn't control the base platform.
Microsoft, Apple, and to a lesser extent Google have full control over the market place and the platform. They have ability to lock out competitors on the ground floor. Valve on the other hand has no method to block other markets (Like: GOG, Desura, IndieCity, Etc) from being used on Linux.
Granted I agree that Valve could become evil (any company can) and they might not always be a friend to Linux, but I wouldn't call it hypocrisy as they don't have a problem with competing market place, but one where the owner of a platform and market combination has the ability to handicap or eliminate their competitors on that platform.
Microsoft, Apple, and to a lesser extent Google have full control over the market place and the platform. They have ability to lock out competitors on the ground floor. Valve on the other hand has no method to block other markets (Like: GOG, Desura, IndieCity, Etc) from being used on Linux.
Granted I agree that Valve could become evil (any company can) and they might not always be a friend to Linux, but I wouldn't call it hypocrisy as they don't have a problem with competing market place, but one where the owner of a platform and market combination has the ability to handicap or eliminate their competitors on that platform.
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I disagree. It's not a fact as stated. It would be like saying, "The electric light was invented by a dead man." The electric light was invented by someone who is now dead. That's not the same thing as it being invented by a dead man. If I say that SDL was not started by a Valve employee, that statement is more true (certainly a lot less misleading). To say what you meant, all you have to do is add the word "current" before "Valve" and it becomes perfectly accurate and understandable.Indeed, but what I stated was still a fact, he's a Valve employee and he started it.Several Valve developers actually work on SDL itself (it was also started by a Valve employee)Well, Sam Lantinga now works at Valve, he didn't at the time.
Just to be clear, this is not intended as a general criticism. I love this site, and in general I can only say, Keep up the good work.
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