Quoting: EKRboiI know Alienware overall has a pretty bad rap for being overpriced, however I think some people forget who owns them. Dell owns Alienware and is one of, if not the only big name PC maker who offers both desktops AND laptops pre-installed with Linux(Ubuntu) and has done so for a while now.

Yeah, in a list of countries I could count on one hand!

Just ask Dell Australia about Linux-based operating systems, and you'll quickly get the usual "We do not endorse or offer any form of support for Linux-based operating systems; we recommend and support only Microsoft operating systems"... Dell overseas may be enthusiastic about Linux-based operating systems, but locally (i.e. in Australia), they're still very pro-Microsoft.

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Quoting: ElectricPrismSo my brother wanted a Steam Controller for his Steam Linux PC for graduation.

Sony's DUALSHOCK 4 (i.e. the Sony PlayStation 4 controller) is natively supported by Linux-based operating systems... They added the support about a year ago - just pair it with the computer over bluetooth, and you're good to go!

I'm still not sold on the unique Steam Controller... But I might change my mind once I actually try one (at least, that's what everyone else has said once they've actually tried one).

The Microsoft XBox 360 controllers though?

Never liked them, and I could never get used to them... So it's nice to have alternatives that work just as well.

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Quoting: IlyaHe's right though, Alienware is the one where the GPU is fixed on the motherboard (at least according to the steam forums). Not sure if you can add another one yourself.

I find it unlikely users already know that the GPU is fixed to the motherboard, considering that even those pre-ordering won't get their Alienware Steam Machines until October... Unless users in the Steam Forums are referring to the Alienware Alpha, which won't necessarily be the same as this Alienware Steam Machine (particularly given Alienware have made various hardware changes as a result of the "learning experience" that is the Alienware Alpha).

Either way, "Chris" from Alienware implies that the GPU can be upgraded ("fully upgradeable", he claims of this 'Machine in the video), being unable to change the GPU is no different to any laptop (including "gaming" laptops) and if you're really keen, there's no reason one can't remove the GPU from the motherboard... After all, this is almost certainly using a desktop GPU (considering it's using a desktop CPU), so it's not that hard to do a bit of soldering and exchange the GPU (though anyone going to this extent is probably going to building their own Steam Machine, anyway).

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"After Alienware originally shipped out a Windows-based Steam Machine the Alienware Alpha"

A "Steam Machine" is a hardware platform that runs the Linux-based "SteamOS" operating system, not a Microsoft Windows-based operating system... This was a Windows-based gaming computer, nothing more.

There's a pretty big difference, a fact this site should be well aware of.

Call it being picky if you want, but the terminology is important, if Steam Machines and SteamOS are ever going to marketed correctly... Otherwise you'll confuse people, and possibly even discourage people from SteamOS (e.g. someone buys a Windows-based computer with the Steam client - "Look, I have a 'Steam Machine!'"

Just because the majority of the users on this site use Linux-based operating systems, a Windows-based computer user might be reading this article... More likely, a third-party site will pick this article up, and then someone reading that site will mus-interpret what a "Steam Machine" is.

Quoting: maodzedunI hate the fact you can't upgrade it.

Um, did you even watch the video?

Aside from the obvious fact that a "Steam Machine" is quite literally a standard computer running the Linux-based SteamOS in a flashy case (i.e. it's just as upgradable as any other computer), "Chris" from Alienware even specifically states that you can upgrade the components!

I daresay that some Steam Machines will go with a console-like approach and make component upgrades difficult (e.g. with custom cases purpose-designed to be secure and tamper-proof, etc...), but it certainly won't be impossible for any of them and I would imagine that the process would be simple for most Steam Machines...

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Quoting: render

Quoting: abelthorneNot sure if it's the video, the Linux port or the original game but isn't the sound a bit off, with hits being heard slightly too early?

It's just intended as a work-in-progress video so the people who've been patiently waiting for the port can have some sort of update and keep up hope!

Hopefully, when Skullgirls is finally released for Linux-based operating systems, it's not one of those "give and forget" cases... With a little luck, the developers will continue to maintain Skullgirls for Linux-based operating systems alongside the same game for other operating systems.

Though in saying that, it is reassuring to see that the developers have learnt from their mistakes and are seemingly trying their hardest to appease the Linux Community...

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I can't wait for this - I have it on my Sony PlayStation 3, but I never backed it on Kickstarter because it wasn't until the campaign was over that I even knew it was coming to Linux-based operating systems!

Since I've found that out however, this has been sitting on my "wish" list and I have been impatiently waiting for its release...

There's not many games will I insist on paying full-price for, given Steam offers so many discounts, but this is one such game I will (pay full price for).

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Quoting: ssokolowIf the publishers are dragging their feet on authorizing an amendment to the contract to add Linux to the list of allowed distribution platforms or the indie developers aren't willing to let them use a port from a Humble Bundle, there's nothing they can do.

The thing is, there are plenty of games available for Linux-based operating systems in other stores (such as Steam), but those same games are only available for Microsoft Windows-based operating systems on GOG.com...

I've contacted GOG.com at times and I get the same answer every time - "The publishers only allow us to sell this for Microsoft Windows-based computers".

But are GOG.com really trying?

You could argue that Vavle Software have a lot of buying power - but not talking about a handful of games, one or two publishers... We're talking about a lot of games and many different publishers, not to mention the fact that GOG.com is the smallest of stores out there.

I find it pretty unlikely that if GOG.com are really trying, they'd be so far behind with Linux releases... Particularly given that many of these are older titles that aren't going to fund a quarter of the staff christmas party, let alone make a publisher wealthy beyond their widest dreams.

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In an attempt to "grab headlines", GOG.com made such a big song-and-dance about supporting Linux-based operating systems a while back... And yeah, they hit the 100 games they claimed they would offer.

But the trickle of games since has been just that - a trickle.

I had high hope of GOG.com, considering I've been a happy customer since the start... But I take their claims of enthusiasm for Linux-based operating systems with a grain of salt.

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Quoting: jarfilA standard, open and free VR support that should work with any VR headset, no matter if it's the Oculus, the Steam one, or any other.

As I understand it, that is the primary goal of the OSVR project... Though whom utilizes such a concept is yet to be seen (well, we already know that Razer will, but whom else I mean).

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It's (now) a Facebook product, I lost interest in this particular product the moment Mark Zuckerberg got involved...

Quoting: RattleheadAlso we have OSVR.

But there's always this, and I intend to purchase this as soon as I am (financially) able to.

By the way, the OSVR project page (with the development kit, technical data and whatnot) can be found here, for the more technical of you whom might be interested in development and/or contributing to the project.

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