It seems Valve have no plans to attend CES next year, but they did confirm they are planning a large presence at GDC. Looks like there will be a lot of Steam Machine news next year!
Here's to hoping they have settled down on a final revision for the Steam Controller which was holding things up, but it doesn't leave them long to really polish-up the SteamOS experience.
Personally, I doubt I will ever use SteamOS, as I have zero need for it, but I can see the attraction to it for others. I just badly want to get my hands on that Steam Controller. I really can't imagine what it's like to play on a game-pad that has touch-pads, it warps my mind.
Alienware seem to have properly jumped ship, and have launched what was going to be their Steam Machine as a Windows box that resembles a console. Although, we did already know they were doing this.
The news comes thanks to Techradar.
What are you hoping to see at GDC next year? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Like you, I personally see no need for SteamOS for myself. I'm quite content with Arch (every single of my computers is running it as primary OS now ;)) What I do hope tho, is that many thinks will benefit all of Linux, at least in the long run.
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The artice says: "The veritable steam behind the Machines weakened as the year wore on". So true. I didn't hear anything about it for quite some time and am happy there's at least some news now...
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I'm not very excited about a few Steam Machines. Future upgrade options aren't so clear, especially with the fragility of their warranties. I do expect a few to be above and beyond this consolification. ASUS ROG G20 won't be one of them until they change their warranty policy, if they ever do. Yay "warranty void if torn our removed" stickers! :(
Source: ROG G20 Compact Gaming Desktop PC Overview: http://youtu.be/rBwapJWWFP0
Source: ROG G20 Compact Gaming Desktop PC Overview: http://youtu.be/rBwapJWWFP0
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Oh, I am excited. Not because I want to buy one, but I think that it will require a "killer feature". I mean, I think there are some important things required for Steam Machines to become a success/compete with Windows:
- Staying with One Design
When first Steam Machines prototypes were shown at CES, all were different. Some cool, some not so much. But I think it is important that you have a branding and know at once that it is a Steam Machine
- "Standard" options: Casual, Medium, Powergamer, Custom: Average people don't want lots of options. They want to decide how much they spend and get a good computer for the price
Of course, the controller is important too, but basically a Steam Machine needs to be "just as good" as PS 4 or Xbone in that regard. I don't think it is that important (of course, it mustn't suck)
But basically, I do not care about these things since I don't plan to buy one.
But I think there is one more requirement:
- "A "killer feature": Valve really needs to push the Steam Machines with some kind of killer feature. Don't know, but something like: Use SteamOS and you get HL 3 for free. Something like that. A real hammer. Something that will move lots of gamers from Windows to SteamOS.
And that makes it an exciting thing.
- Staying with One Design
When first Steam Machines prototypes were shown at CES, all were different. Some cool, some not so much. But I think it is important that you have a branding and know at once that it is a Steam Machine
- "Standard" options: Casual, Medium, Powergamer, Custom: Average people don't want lots of options. They want to decide how much they spend and get a good computer for the price
Of course, the controller is important too, but basically a Steam Machine needs to be "just as good" as PS 4 or Xbone in that regard. I don't think it is that important (of course, it mustn't suck)
But basically, I do not care about these things since I don't plan to buy one.
But I think there is one more requirement:
- "A "killer feature": Valve really needs to push the Steam Machines with some kind of killer feature. Don't know, but something like: Use SteamOS and you get HL 3 for free. Something like that. A real hammer. Something that will move lots of gamers from Windows to SteamOS.
And that makes it an exciting thing.
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I built my own steam machine and have been using it daily.
They have been really improving the UI of late. No long is it covered with windows games you cannot play when you go to the store.
I used to have an xbox but now this is my "console" and has been great when mates come around for some local player coop.
I am looking forwarded to the controller however!
They have been really improving the UI of late. No long is it covered with windows games you cannot play when you go to the store.
I used to have an xbox but now this is my "console" and has been great when mates come around for some local player coop.
I am looking forwarded to the controller however!
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A real hammer. Something that will move lots of gamers from Windows to SteamOS.
And that makes it an exciting thing.
I really don't see them combating windows users front on with this. Its more to give the Xbox and PS users another option that will also be able to share the game library with whatever desktop they use (windows or linux).
SteamOS is not a desktop os its for next to your TV.
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natewardawg 21 Nov 2014
I'm pretty excited about Steam Machines, but not because I'm going to buy one. I'm excited because this is hopefully what a huge number of people will be buying, which will bring more developers and games to Linux.
What I will be buying, unless there are bad reviews overall, is the Steam Controller.
What I will be buying, unless there are bad reviews overall, is the Steam Controller.
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What I will be buying, unless there are bad reviews overall, is the Steam Controller.
I will buy one no matter what, I just have to test it myself and throw it away if it sucks.
But I'll be the one deciding that.
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steams machines and the controller would be cool and all... but what i really want is a new game :D
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Mohandevir 21 Nov 2014
From reading many discussions on the steam forums, It led me to conclude that SteamOS is more OEM oriented for the Steam Machines (consoles) than a full OS for users to install on there own, like we would do.
This is why so many of us still have lots of problems when installing SteamOS on their computers: we don't have the required hardware to make it work perfectly.
Valve probably concentrated their efforts on making SteamOS fully compatible with the offical Steam Machines that are going to be sold. They probably already reached their goal in that aspect and it could explain why SteamOS development is stopped, atm.
For desktop users, like us, Steam prefer to recommand debian based Linux (officialy Ubuntu) with Steam client.
These are just my conclusions and you may disagree.
This is why so many of us still have lots of problems when installing SteamOS on their computers: we don't have the required hardware to make it work perfectly.
Valve probably concentrated their efforts on making SteamOS fully compatible with the offical Steam Machines that are going to be sold. They probably already reached their goal in that aspect and it could explain why SteamOS development is stopped, atm.
For desktop users, like us, Steam prefer to recommand debian based Linux (officialy Ubuntu) with Steam client.
These are just my conclusions and you may disagree.
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I'm excited for the steam controller.
I also think there are 2 things that could make steam machines pretty popular.
An extremely cheap and portable (small) "stream box" that is just designed to stream steam games from your PC to a TV and not actually handle much graphics processing of its own
and possibly a handheld steam machine. I know the announcement about the handheld one a while back was a fake, but it's not a bad idea. I would definitely get one and it would probably encourage me to buy different types of games too, like more platformer style games.
I also think there are 2 things that could make steam machines pretty popular.
An extremely cheap and portable (small) "stream box" that is just designed to stream steam games from your PC to a TV and not actually handle much graphics processing of its own
and possibly a handheld steam machine. I know the announcement about the handheld one a while back was a fake, but it's not a bad idea. I would definitely get one and it would probably encourage me to buy different types of games too, like more platformer style games.
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^They're already doing a "stream box" - at least in the initial Steam Machine announcements (it was like 3 tiers: stream box, mid, hi-end).
I also really just want a Steam Controller. Most PC gamers here have already built their steam machines and put it in the living room. I've got a HTPC/Stream box which I already use to stream games from my desktop but would like a steam controller to see if it's a better experience.
As for Linux converts - sure, if this takes off, which I hope it will (even though Steam Machines are just standardised built PCs and SteamOS for those particular machines - you'd probably get a lot better HTPC functionality with XBMC), there should be more people exposed to Linux and how cool it is =3
I also really just want a Steam Controller. Most PC gamers here have already built their steam machines and put it in the living room. I've got a HTPC/Stream box which I already use to stream games from my desktop but would like a steam controller to see if it's a better experience.
As for Linux converts - sure, if this takes off, which I hope it will (even though Steam Machines are just standardised built PCs and SteamOS for those particular machines - you'd probably get a lot better HTPC functionality with XBMC), there should be more people exposed to Linux and how cool it is =3
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lucifertdark 22 Nov 2014
I already have my own steam box but I definitely want at least one of those controllers.
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I'm sure that a huge pile of aaa game titles for linux, which are tactically kept back until then
will be released when it starts.
that's imho the most important part of the steambox release.
the hardware will rock for sure, but I already have a mighty gentoo htpc,
so I doubt I'll need a steambox.
will be released when it starts.
that's imho the most important part of the steambox release.
the hardware will rock for sure, but I already have a mighty gentoo htpc,
so I doubt I'll need a steambox.
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Making game for steamOS doesn't mean making games for linux. Valve is doing very much modifications on Xorg and the kernel for theis OS..
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Btw lots of options is a good thing not a bad thing. What is good for me may not be good for you. If you want to be restricted then you are totally missing the point.
No, most people don't like to have many options. From a marketing point of view, you want to avoid that, read e.g.:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/your-money/27shortcuts.html
Having lots of possible configurations makes it also more difficult to support them. You need more testing time and you will get more support calls (I have no sound -> Oh, that's bad, we didn't test *that* soundcard)
Why do you think people buy consoles and not PCs? They want it simple. They just want a box to play games and maybe watch movies. It's crappy slow, with bad resolution? Who cares? Consoles are sold in the millions.
Why do you think Apple is so successful? Because most people hate options.
Sure, Android is successful too, but SteamOS/SteamMachines can walk the middle ground somewhat. If you want to simply have a computer/console that works: Buy a Steam Machine and you are golden. If you want options, buy a PC and do whatever you want. Call that one "Steam powered" and you have a nice "second brand".
Steam Workshop, Family Sharing and the other stuff you mentioned make Steam outstanding, but they are already available, nobody will buy a Steam Machine to get them. The controller will be available too without Steam Machine. Maybe they could launch it as a bundle first and sell the controller separately only later, but I doubt that.
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ElectricPrism 22 Nov 2014
Page 3 degrades and the Foreign Tolling beings, Techie Drama +1
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SteamOS will not compete with the windows
SteamOS will be the system that will run the Steam machines, and Steam machines will compete with the PS4 and the XBone
The Steam machines are the way to make relevant a Linux Desktop
And who knows in the future Valve create a Desktop version of SteamOS, would also be good for a version SmartTVs
SteamOS will be the system that will run the Steam machines, and Steam machines will compete with the PS4 and the XBone
The Steam machines are the way to make relevant a Linux Desktop
And who knows in the future Valve create a Desktop version of SteamOS, would also be good for a version SmartTVs
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Making game for steamOS doesn't mean making games for linux. Valve is doing very much modifications on Xorg and the kernel for theis OS..
Games do not need the X.org library (so applications in windows)
Games use directly the kernel starting OpenGL
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I got the problem that I got a quite powerful windows machine in house connected to my TV, playing most of the games using in house streaming (which works very well, I'm surprised) or on the TV directly.
I even went from playing native to in house streaming. In case of TW2, it's even performing better over network than native ;-).
I think buying games on linux (+start them) and still stream them will do the trick. I'd love more proper linux AAA titles, but until then, I'll use this solution.
Last but not least, kudos the developers of in home streaming at valve - whole DA:O and ME2 playthrough without crash or lag (though, it sometimes stated it had lag, but I didn't feel any :D).
I even went from playing native to in house streaming. In case of TW2, it's even performing better over network than native ;-).
I think buying games on linux (+start them) and still stream them will do the trick. I'd love more proper linux AAA titles, but until then, I'll use this solution.
Last but not least, kudos the developers of in home streaming at valve - whole DA:O and ME2 playthrough without crash or lag (though, it sometimes stated it had lag, but I didn't feel any :D).
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