As we’ve been working on bringing Steam to the living room, we’ve come to the conclusion that the
environment best suited to delivering value to customers is an operating system built around Steam itself.
SteamOS combines the rock-solid architecture of Linux with a gaming experience built for the big screen.
It will be available soon as a free stand-alone operating system for living room machines.
This is very interesting a true gaming orientated version of Linux for the living room, the OS is completely free and freely licensable for manufacturers enabling anyone to make a SteamBox (they already said they would do that previously).
What is interesting is that it notes it can stream games from your PC to your SteamOS box:
Note Linux isn't listed, the question is does Linux need this option? I don't think so since anything that works directly on the SteamOS should I hope work on desktop Linux.
The problem is though, this still doesn't give an incentive for bigger developers to publish for Linux/SteamOS since they will now say, "just stream it to a SteamBox", it just lines up another reason not to do a Linux version. Unless they really care about SteamOS+SteamBox itself, if it's popular and people start using it as an actual console, then they will need to start porting, so it remains to be seen how it will pan out for us all!
The next announcements will probably be:
I think for a SteamBox direct from them it would need to be partnered up with a big manufacturer to ensure it meets demand.
The big question for us is how well will they support the stand-alone Linux client after all this? They have put in a lot of work so far, will it continue? I really hope so they have done some great work so far, they do have different teams working on different things after-all so I hope it continues.
The next announcement is scheduled for two days time, so stay tuned on Wednesday to see if we're right on what they next two will be!
What are your thoughts? Could this be dangerous for the desktop Linux client?
UPDATE: So games targetting SteamOS will work on desktop Linux, looks like my fears for now can be laid to rest, AAA games here we come!
Source Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
environment best suited to delivering value to customers is an operating system built around Steam itself.
SteamOS combines the rock-solid architecture of Linux with a gaming experience built for the big screen.
It will be available soon as a free stand-alone operating system for living room machines.
This is very interesting a true gaming orientated version of Linux for the living room, the OS is completely free and freely licensable for manufacturers enabling anyone to make a SteamBox (they already said they would do that previously).
What is interesting is that it notes it can stream games from your PC to your SteamOS box:
QuoteYou can play all your Windows and Mac games on your SteamOS machine, too. Just turn on your existing computer and run Steam as you always have - then your SteamOS machine can stream those games over your home network straight to your TV!
Note Linux isn't listed, the question is does Linux need this option? I don't think so since anything that works directly on the SteamOS should I hope work on desktop Linux.
The problem is though, this still doesn't give an incentive for bigger developers to publish for Linux/SteamOS since they will now say, "just stream it to a SteamBox", it just lines up another reason not to do a Linux version. Unless they really care about SteamOS+SteamBox itself, if it's popular and people start using it as an actual console, then they will need to start porting, so it remains to be seen how it will pan out for us all!
The next announcements will probably be:
- 2) The first SteamBox from them directly
- 3) A controller for SteamOS, possibly even with dedicated buttons for things like friends lists
I think for a SteamBox direct from them it would need to be partnered up with a big manufacturer to ensure it meets demand.
The big question for us is how well will they support the stand-alone Linux client after all this? They have put in a lot of work so far, will it continue? I really hope so they have done some great work so far, they do have different teams working on different things after-all so I hope it continues.
The next announcement is scheduled for two days time, so stay tuned on Wednesday to see if we're right on what they next two will be!
What are your thoughts? Could this be dangerous for the desktop Linux client?
UPDATE: So games targetting SteamOS will work on desktop Linux, looks like my fears for now can be laid to rest, AAA games here we come!
QuoteGot a response from Valve about games and the normal Linux distros:
My question:
I was wondering about the SteamOS and if games that work on it will also work on normal Linux distros (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, etc)?
And the response:
Yes.
Source Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: NoYzE...I thought about it and I disagree.
First off it's not the consoles fault that people develop shitty ports. Primarily it's the devs fault. Then it's because the PC is a niche market for AAA games and devs either dont have the resources, experience or time to care for a proper PC port. Yes, this might be sad but it's not the problem of consoles. It's the problem of the PCs small market share. The one with the smallest will always get shafted. That's the (admittedly sad) history of games development. Hell, if I see what Call of Duty sells on consoles compared to PC of course I develop the game for consoles. Everything else would be nuts for a game with such huge development costs!
But when Valve puts out a SteamBox on which games also have to run on any other PC with Steam installed (there wouldn't be any sense to call it SteamOS if not) I doubt that this will be further harmful to PC development. Why should it? From all we can assume a SteamBox will pretty much be a PC running a stripped down Linux that boots into the Steam clients big picture mode. And I really don't know what people expected. Did they really expect that a SteamBox would be a full fledged out Linux desktop PC with the Steam client preinstalled?
The only issue I see with SteamOS and a Steambox is in regard of games like FPS that might "require" a gamepad to be played on a TV. As well as games like strategy titles that require mouse/keyboard. Hopefully we will get more info on how they are going to handle those. It would suck if you would be locked out of games you already bought and that would technically run on a Steambox. Also they would lock out one of the biggest PC games and their own title Dota2 from the Steambox. That wouldn't make any business sense at all.
Of course this all runs on assumptions but currently we know pretty much nothing about the inner workings of SteamOS and nothing about the Steambox. But if it would be as people make it to be then Gabes talk at LinuxCon would not have made any sense at all. So let's just wait and see before we jump to any doomsday conclusions.
PS: I would not call Skyrims controls unresponsive. Maybe "floaty". But they are not this way because of consoles. This is more likely because of Bethesda failing to try to put weight behind the attacks. Controls and the combat in the Elder Scrolls series has always been the weak part. They never seem to get it right. It just feels the same on consoles so I tend to say it's a mistake on Bethesdas part, not the consoles.
---
A more unrelated small "rant" because I simply have to get this out of my system: If the PC has been one thing, then about peripherals. A few years back it was the norm to have at least a flightstick on the desk. Now people get up in arms if a dev dares to require a gamepad. Yes, PC gaming is about choice and you can also control a flight sim with a mouse. But it won't be optimal. Most of them will be pretty much unplayable. Just the same as other games are best used with a gamepad. Pretty much the only exception here might be FPS. And even there I would argue that there are games that, if done right, work better on gamepad then on mouse and keyboard. If people only want to use mouse and keyboard, that's fine. But they should also realize that using mouse and keyboard is not always the optimal way to play games and you will always have games that are better controlled with different peripherals. And be it only because the developer designed the game in this way. But that's fine because it's his choice. He doesn't have to bow to anyone, especially not on PC as we can use every effing peripheral that is out there. And this is one of the big strengths of PC gaming. I just wish that one day PC gamers would get out of their ivory tower and realize that in the past it was normal for a PC gamer to have a flightstick and a gamepad. It was the norm to own several peripherals and pick the right tool for the job *end rant*
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I don't want to be overly optimistic, but the SteamOS page does say:
Juxtaposed with this afterthought:
Which seems to suggest that actually, popular games will be coming natively to SteamOS/Linux.
So it sounds like Valve will be pushing developers to provide games for their native "SteamOS" client. And after all, isn't that what companies do? they want to pull things into their eco system and get people invested in what they are offering, not just plug into existing systems and bridge the gap between Windows and the TV.
But maybe I'm reading too much into it.
QuoteHundreds of great games are already running natively on SteamOS. Watch for announcements in the coming weeks about all the AAA titles coming natively to SteamOS in 2014.
Juxtaposed with this afterthought:
QuoteAccess the full Steam catalog of nearly 3000 games and desktop software titles via in-home streaming.
Which seems to suggest that actually, popular games will be coming natively to SteamOS/Linux.
So it sounds like Valve will be pushing developers to provide games for their native "SteamOS" client. And after all, isn't that what companies do? they want to pull things into their eco system and get people invested in what they are offering, not just plug into existing systems and bridge the gap between Windows and the TV.
But maybe I'm reading too much into it.
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Article updated to confirm SteamOS games will work on desktop Linux.
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Quoting: liamdaweYou need to look up the meaning of FUD, where have I lied exactly? I am not spreading dubious information at all, I am posting legitimate concerns, if you don't share them that doesn't make them FUD.I'm not acusing you of lying. From Wikipedia: "FUD is generally a strategic attempt to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious or false information."
Comments like this need to stop it's "tireing".
FUD might be a bad choice of words for describing your outlook, but I do feel that you focus to much on Uncertainty and Doubt. You used "Fear" yourself in your update to this post. So, where you spreading your "fears" or your "legitimate concerns"? :) Semantics, right? If the possibly positive outcomes of things like this weighed up the "legitimate concerns", then it would appear less FUDdy. See what I mean?
I've been using Linux for five and a half years now. It moves forward everyday, and I see little reason for the negative attitude that I feel many have. I wouldn't want you to not voice your legitimate concerns, and you do a great job of checking the facts directly from the source (really, I applaud you for that!). I just want more positive outlooks to match the progress Linux is making! :D
(By the way, OmgUbuntu claimed in their article that SteamOS is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which would fit in nicely with the answer you got, no?)
sobkas:
I base my argument on the information in parenthesis above. You seem to have made up your mind that SteamOS isn't a "generic" Linux. Liam's update to the original post further proves that SteamOS is a "generic" Linux. See what I'm getting at?
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Quoting: FoHThe term FUD is only generally used in regards to businesses spreading untruths about another, it's not usually used when someone has concerns about something.Quoting: Quote from liamdaweYou need to look up the meaning of FUD, where have I lied exactly? I am not spreading dubious information at all, I am posting legitimate concerns, if you don't share them that doesn't make them FUD.I'm not acusing you of lying. From Wikipedia: "FUD is generally a strategic attempt to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious or false information."
Comments like this need to stop it's "tireing".
FUD might be a bad choice of words for describing your outlook, but I do feel that you focus to much on Uncertainty and Doubt. You used "Fear" yourself in your update to this post. So, where you spreading your "fears" or your "legitimate concerns"? :) Semantics, right? If the possibly positive outcomes of things like this weighed up the "legitimate concerns", then it would appear less FUDdy. See what I mean?
I've been using Linux for five and a half years now. It moves forward everyday, and I see little reason for the negative attitude that I feel many have. I wouldn't want you to not voice your legitimate concerns, and you do a great job of checking the facts directly from the source (really, I applaud you for that!). I just want more positive outlooks to match the progress Linux is making! :D
(By the way, OmgUbuntu claimed in their article that SteamOS is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which would fit in nicely with the answer you got, no?)
sobkas:
I base my argument on the information in parenthesis above. You seem to have made up your mind that SteamOS isn't a "generic" Linux. Liam's update to the original post further proves that SteamOS is a "generic" Linux. See what I'm getting at?
I am interested on what part exactly you feel I am being overly negative about? I didn't see my article being really negative about anything.
I said I didn't feel we needed the streaming anyway and that I hoped they continued to work on the traditional desktop client.
So what exactly have I been so negative about in your eyes?
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Quoting: GuestI gotta go now :DsteaRNpowered.com
http://store.stearnpowered.com/app/246720/
...
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It smells like really really fake (4chan!) but just in case:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/112821983391728132338/posts/3PhmTjU8jkX
https://plus.google.com/u/0/112821983391728132338/posts/3PhmTjU8jkX
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liam:
Well, I admit that I probably have a skewed perspective. I've got your editorials in the back of my head ;)
Personally, I regard Valves entry into Linux as something that will have a undoubtedly positive outcome for Linux as a whole. I put my faith to the power of open source; in my mind it's the most powerful way of developing and I'm certain that it will triumph in the end.
I'm thinking that technology that is developed for SteamOS could with some effort be made to work with other Linuxes. I view Wine in the same way, it's a stepping stone to something better and technology like that will only make Linux stronger.
I think it's great that developers experiment with Wine, as Limbo and Dear Esther did. I will strengthen Wine and make it more useful. In the end (however far off it is) it will make Wine run software without the fear of glitches etc.
I'm sorry if I came across to hard. You didn't deserve it :)
Well, I admit that I probably have a skewed perspective. I've got your editorials in the back of my head ;)
Personally, I regard Valves entry into Linux as something that will have a undoubtedly positive outcome for Linux as a whole. I put my faith to the power of open source; in my mind it's the most powerful way of developing and I'm certain that it will triumph in the end.
I'm thinking that technology that is developed for SteamOS could with some effort be made to work with other Linuxes. I view Wine in the same way, it's a stepping stone to something better and technology like that will only make Linux stronger.
I think it's great that developers experiment with Wine, as Limbo and Dear Esther did. I will strengthen Wine and make it more useful. In the end (however far off it is) it will make Wine run software without the fear of glitches etc.
I'm sorry if I came across to hard. You didn't deserve it :)
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