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  • SteamOS and other announcments

    The Steam Universe is Expanding in 2014

    Announcement #1

    SteamOS

    Thousands of games, millions of users. Everything you love about Steam.
    Available soon as a free operating system designed for the TV and the living room.

    Steam is coming to a new operating system

    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.


    Living room & Steam

    Finally, you don’t have to give up your favorite games, your online friends, and all the Steam features you love just to play on the big screen. SteamOS, running on any living room machine, will provide access to the best games and user-generated content available.

    Fast forward

    In SteamOS, we have achieved significant performance increases in graphics processing, and we’re now targeting audio performance and reductions in input latency at the operating system level. Game developers are already taking advantage of these gains as they target SteamOS for their new releases.

    Cooperating system

    Steam is not a one-way content broadcast channel, it’s a collaborative many-to-many entertainment platform, in which each participant is a multiplier of the experience for everyone else. With SteamOS, “openness” means that the hardware industry can iterate in the living room at a much faster pace than they’ve been able to. Content creators can connect directly to their customers. Users can alter or replace any part of the software or hardware they want. Gamers are empowered to join in the creation of the games they love. SteamOS will continue to evolve, but will remain an environment designed to foster these kinds of innovation.


    Four new Steam features focused on the living room.

    Available soon in both SteamOS and the Steam client.

    In-home Streaming

    You 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!

    Music, TV, Movies

    We’re working with many of the media services you know and love. Soon we will begin bringing them online, allowing you to access your favorite music and video with Steam and SteamOS.

    Family Sharing

    In the past, sharing Steam games with your family members was hard. Now you can share the games you love with the people you love. Family Sharing allows you to take turns playing one another’s games while earning your own Steam achievements and saving your individual game progress to the Steam cloud.

    Family Options

    The living-room is family territory. That’s great, but you don’t want to see your parents’ games in your library. Soon, families will have more control over what titles get seen by whom, and more features to allow everyone in the house to get the most out of their Steam libraries.
    And any care I had for "next gen" consoles is dead. It wasn't much, but that did it.

    There might not even need to be a "Steam Box" with this in play - just a cheap streaming box - but I do sort of expect a basic living room PC that's easy to upgrade anyway. I don't think Half Life 3 is in cards for the third announcement given all this stuff pertains to their living room initiative.
    Last edited by Omgwtfbbqkitten; 09-24-2013, 02:42 PM.

  • #2
    Re: SteamOS and other announcments

    SteamOS is an awesome idea. Windows 8 is a pile of fail for gamers, and the current varieties of Linux just aren't ready for prime time.

    I hope Valve does well with this, because Microsoft has completely lost the script and desperately need a kick in the pants to get better.

    What Valve needs is a Roku/VitaTV-like box that's just powerful enough to stream content to your TV wirelessly with minimal lag, and they're probably set. What they shouldn't do is try to enter the console market. Bad, bad idea.


    Icemage

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    • #3
      Re: SteamOS and other announcments

      What Valve needs is a Roku/VitaTV-like box that's just powerful enough to stream content to your TV wirelessly with minimal lag, and they're probably set. What they shouldn't do is try to enter the console market. Bad, bad idea.
      I don't think they are doing a console, but this is only going to reinforce how redundant MS and Sony really are right now. Why buy those third party games - especially western ones - when they'll usually come to Steam on sale anyway?

      At most, they'll probably create a basic living room PC you can upgrade with ease. Maybe not even that.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: SteamOS and other announcments

        Originally posted by Omgwtfbbqkitten View Post
        I don't think they are doing a console, but this is only going to reinforce how redundant MS and Sony really are right now. Why buy those third party games - especially western ones - when they'll usually come to Steam on sale anyway?
        Because not everyone has a PC rig that can run those games competently, and a lot of those games aren't playable on a Linux platform (yet)?

        I very much want to see Valve succeed with this, but they've got some hurdles to cross for sure.

        At most, they'll probably create a basic living room PC you can upgrade with ease. Maybe not even that.
        Yeah I don't see a hardware option being either particularly necessary or a money-maker for them.

        If they're reaaaally smart they'll talk to Sony about using the PS4 (and maybe Nintendo with the Wii U) as a Steambox streaming device (I assume that Microsoft will not support it on principle).


        Icemage

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        • #5
          Re: SteamOS and other announcments

          Between Sony sticking it to XB1 and now potentially Valve to Windows, this is a great time.


          Time for MS to put up or shut up.
          sigpic


          "BLAH BLAH BLAH TIDAL WAVE!!!"

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          • #6
            Re: SteamOS and other announcments

            Originally posted by Omgwtfbbqkitten View Post
            At most, they'll probably create a basic living room PC you can upgrade with ease. Maybe not even that.
            That's basically what consoles are, minus the upgrading. We've reached the singularity where the differences between all the platforms basically boil down to the software running on them.

            I don't see people ever flocking to Linux, even for Valve. Microsoft would basically have to collapse for it to even become a remote possibility.
            Server: Midgardsormr -> Quetzalcoatl -> Valefor
            Occupation: Reckless Red Mage
            Name: Drjones
            Blog: Mediocre Mage

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            • #7
              Re: SteamOS and other announcments

              MS has nothing to worry about on their standard business model. People will buy new computers and just use whatever comes with it.

              Hardcore PC gamers, however, probably would. Steam's worldwide userbase, while 20 million short of what 360 and PS4 acoomplished this gen, is nothing to sneeze at and that install base only grows while consoles have to start from zero.

              Additionally, to my knowledge the PS4 OS is also Linux-based,

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              • #8
                Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                Originally posted by Omgwtfbbqkitten View Post
                Hardcore PC gamers, however, probably would. Steam's worldwide userbase, while 20 million short of what 360 and PS4 acoomplished this gen, is nothing to sneeze at. Additionally, to my knowledge the PS4 OS is also Linux-based,
                You're crazy if believe this. Have you ever tried to use Linux as your sole OS? That shit is confusing for people who've been using computers since they could read. There's no way Joe Gamer is going to be able to make that jump.

                If we're talking about just a dedicated OS for running games then all you've done is make yet another console, but to what end?
                Server: Midgardsormr -> Quetzalcoatl -> Valefor
                Occupation: Reckless Red Mage
                Name: Drjones
                Blog: Mediocre Mage

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                • #9
                  Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                  Originally posted by Omgwtfbbqkitten View Post
                  Additionally, to my knowledge the PS4 OS is also Linux-based,
                  Nope. PS4 runs a BSD offshoot, not Linux. They're close, but not the same/


                  Icemage

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                  • #10
                    Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                    Originally posted by cidbahamut View Post
                    You're crazy if believe this. Have you ever tried to use Linux as your sole OS? That shit is confusing for people who've been using computers since they could read. There's no way Joe Gamer is going to be able to make that jump.

                    If we're talking about just a dedicated OS for running games then all you've done is make yet another console, but to what end?
                    Given how easy Steam makes dealing with PC games to start with, I seriously doubt they'd make an OS that was unscalable to their core audience.

                    Also, in today's fracturing market, there's room for an OS focused only on running PC games and video streams - particularly given how many things we used to only do on PC and laptops can now be done on phones and tablets as well. Have you even been to Best Buy lately? We have laptops that are really just tablets with detachable keyboards now and HD monitors with touch screens and keyboards. Computing has become more about someone's individual needs than this one-size-fits all approach that we used to have with desktop PCs.

                    I probably would build a PC with the intent of only running SteamOS on it and then do the rest of my stuff on a tablet. Unless the nature of my work changes its an entirely valid approach.

                    Building a PC for SteamOS may as well be a console, but its going to be a console with Steam sales on it. PSN and XBL don't have Steam sales.

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                    • #11
                      Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                      How much time have you spent with Linux BBQ?
                      Server: Midgardsormr -> Quetzalcoatl -> Valefor
                      Occupation: Reckless Red Mage
                      Name: Drjones
                      Blog: Mediocre Mage

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                      • #12
                        Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                        Originally posted by Omgwtfbbqkitten View Post
                        PSN and XBL don't have Steam sales.
                        They don't, but PSN occasionally gets Steam-like sales, particularly if you're a PlayStation+ subscriber.

                        PSN Summer Blast: Hot Discounts Starting Tomorrow – PlayStation.Blog (from July)

                        July 2nd – 9th
                        Call Of Duty Black Ops II (PS3) – Regular Price: $59.99 Sale Price: $41.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $37.79
                        The Amazing Spider-Man (PS3) – Regular Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $29.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $20.99
                        Batman Arkham Asylum (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest (PS Vita/PSP) – Regular Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $4.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $2.50
                        Mortal Kombat (PS Vita) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        Mortal Kombat – (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $7.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00
                        Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: the Game (PS3) – Regular Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $3.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $2.00
                        Shadow of the Colossus (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        Ratchet & Clank Collection (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $14.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50
                        July 9th – 16th
                        Fast & Furious Showdown (PS3) – Regular Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $31.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $23.99
                        Star Trek (PS3) – Regular Price: $54.99 Sale Price: $43.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $32.99
                        Men In Black: Alien Crisis (PS3) – Regular Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $29.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $20.99
                        The Simpsons Arcade Game (PS3) – Regular Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $6.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $4.89
                        X-Men (PS3) – Regular Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $6.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $4.89
                        Hitman Trilogy HD – (PS3) – Regular Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $19.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $15.99
                        Lord of the Rings: War in the North (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        Silent Hill: Book of Memories (PS Vita) – Regular Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $14.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50
                        LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS3) – Regular Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $14.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50
                        LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS Vita) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        The Adventures of TinTin: The Game (PS3) – Regular Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $19.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $10.00
                        Star Wars The Force Unleashed II (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00
                        Just Cause 2 (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $7.99
                        Prince of Persia Classics Trilogy (PS3) – Regular Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $15.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $8.00
                        Tron Evolution (PS Vita) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $7.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00
                        Alice: Madness Returns (PS3) – Regular Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $7.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00
                        Fight Night Champion – Full Game (PS3) – Regular Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $11.99 PlayStation Plus Price: $6.00
                        Some of those PS+ prices are what I'd consider Steam-like. I bought Alice: Madness Returns and Lord of the Rings: War in the North out of that sale.

                        Xbox 360 recently has had some pretty good sale pricing too, though not quite as good as what PSN has been putting up in the past year.

                        Anyhow, Steam sales are still awesome, but you still need the hardware to run the games, and that's still a barrier for people, SteamOS or no SteamOS.


                        Icemage

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                        • #13
                          Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                          Originally posted by cidbahamut
                          Have you ever tried to use Linux as your sole OS? That shit is confusing for people who've been using computers since they could read.
                          Linux only has two major hurdles over Windows and Mac in my opinion:
                          1) Each distro has its own way of distributing/installing software
                          2) Drivers can be hit-or-miss.

                          #1 is a non-issue considering Steam is its own software distribution platform. SteamOS would probably boot straight to Steam and offer nothing else.
                          #2 can be a problem, but Valve's blogged previously that they've been working with video card manufacturers while they were developing Steam for Linux.

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                          • #14
                            Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                            Originally posted by Armando View Post
                            Linux only has two major hurdles over Windows and Mac in my opinion:
                            1) Each distro has its own way of distributing/installing software
                            2) Drivers can be hit-or-miss.

                            #1 is a non-issue considering Steam is its own software distribution platform. SteamOS would probably boot straight to Steam and offer nothing else.
                            #2 can be a problem, but Valve's blogged previously that they've been working with video card manufacturers while they were developing Steam for Linux.
                            3) Not many games have a Linux build made for them, because there's not enough market share to make it worthwhile. Granted, if SteamOS takes off, this will be a self-correcting problem, but it's a chicken-and-egg situation for sure. We'll see if Valve can convince developers and publishers to make and test Linux builds of their games moving forward. I'm hoping they will, as Win8 is a complete dead end for gaming IMO.


                            Icemage

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                            • #15
                              Re: SteamOS and other announcments

                              Originally posted by Icemage
                              3) Not many games have a Linux build made for them, because there's not enough market share to make it worthwhile.
                              I was actually trying to address Cid's comment about Linux being confusing, but I edited the post a bit too late.

                              Out of curiosity, what's the problem with Windows 8 for gaming? Never tried it. I know I've heard desktop compositing can't be turned off now, but is there anything else?

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