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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.
Tags: Editorial, Steam
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stss Nov 22, 2014
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.
pd12 Nov 22, 2014
^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
lucifertdark Nov 22, 2014
I already have my own steam box but I definitely want at least one of those controllers.
frostwork Nov 22, 2014
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.
sigz Nov 22, 2014
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..
crabel Nov 22, 2014
Quoting: GuestBtw 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.
ElectricPrism Nov 22, 2014
Page 3 degrades and the Foreign Tolling beings, Techie Drama +1
mhenriquecd Nov 23, 2014
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
mhenriquecd Nov 23, 2014
Quoting: GuestMaking 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
STiAT Nov 23, 2014
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).
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