Valve Reveals SteamOS

[9thRequiem]

Valve says "SteamOS machines" will offer a number of new features that have a focus on living room-based gaming. The biggest is probably the ability to stream Windows and Mac games from your standard PC to your SteamOS device

I was excited until I read this. You will still need Windows or Mac to run the games. Was I wrong in hoping it would be an entirely new OS?

Well, this box will be able to natively run any game that can run on Linux. And by "any", I mean both of them.

Interesting idea, but basically flawed. If enough things could run on Linux, then maybe. But after the results of my previous attempt to use Linux went badly, and the fact that I need my PC for things other than games, I still wouldn't go for it.
I just think that there's too much impetus behind Windows for developers to want to switch. On top of that, the streaming functionality doesn't need the hardware it has.

 

[Kingbingo]

Right now I trust Value and Steam, so I will buy a steambox with a GladOS and see what experience they deliver.

 

[Ishigami]

My PC is directly connected to my TV via HDMI. Why would I need your stuff valve?
Ah right I don't...

 

[Colt47]

Given the progression their company is taking with building more gaming friendly options for people to make use of, I definitely see this potentially becoming an Operating system for console like PCs and getting a good sized audience. With windows becoming a closed garden bit by bit, I don't doubt that we will need something like this.

 

[xdiesp]

The less we are dependent on Microsoft's monopoly, the better.

 

[Pinguin]

Nice work Valve!

As a Linux gamer, I've been appreciating the growing Steam library in recent months*, and this can only further the cause.

*To the 'hardly-any-games-run-on-Linux' sayers: of my modest library of 123 games, 60 now run under Linux. And these were purchased mostly before Steam for Linux came out, previously run either under WINE or on windows. I think I've only bought two knowing they worked on Linux)

 

[SinisterGehe]

I think the steam box should give all notifications as Glados.... Like when you boot to desktop "Oh it is you... again..."


I think I need to dual boot my Gaming laptop also. I said to myself- nei! I promised that I will never go linux until I need to (Because my expensive applications for work aren't supported or support any form of linux).
Also the idea of using command line to find things took my taste away. (I know they have desktops but all the linux freaks say that the command line is better)
But if this turns out well and 80% of steam games work on it then I will go for it properly on gaming laptop and just get myself a better and newer workhorse.

Just to inform you regarding the command line issue. To say you don't like it because of command line and because "it's better" as an excuse means you should stop using windows because using it's command line (cmd) is better too. That is to say, they like to just type commands weather its Linux or Windows. As far as using it with GUI like normal windows Linux can do it just as well as OSX and Windows, if not better.

Dude... I worked with 10 linux nerds - and when I mean nerds - imagine those people who dress in linux gear and have it on their tablets and phones.
They tried to convert me and said the best way to use it is with the command line... But being dyslexic I prefer visual interface. And yes they said visual interfaces are available as an "addon" (Note I know there are fuck ton of different linuxs OS with variety to rival coral reefs)

I just don't like the idea of launching programs, findings files and doing other task that can be done with a click of an mouse - by typing a line of code to a small console at the bottom of the screen.

I know there are better linuxes for certain use. Like my rendering computer runs on linux because then I can allocate 99% of the computer to rendering cutting hours.

Also saying Linux does GUI better than MAC or W is stupid... Because I hate W8 and am totally fucking lost when using MACs. I prefer WXP interface even to 7.
It is like saying that you like the blue drawers with silver handles and I the black ones with gold plated ones.

 

[EstrogenicMuscle]

No matter who Valve is competing with, this is huge. They're clearly doing something that cause major change in the industry.

I had reservations that Valve would actually go this far. But now that this is announced, they clearly have.
Anyone who isn't a GNU purist should at least rejoice that Linux is getting better.

There's... way too much software for Windows that I can't abandon. But I can't be against Valve for going into such territory. From the look of things, they're competing against both consoles and Windows. And no one has yet been able to defeat Windows.

I just don't what Valve are going to do to be able to get significant support for their platform without DirectX. I know there is streaming, but SteamOS won't take off with just streaming alone. And just how many Steam games work on Linux as of right now and aren't developed specifically for DirectX?

 

[Tanakh]

My PC is directly connected to my TV via HDMI. Why would I need your stuff valve?
Ah right I don't...

I thought it was very clear: "Valve claims its new OS offers "significant performance increases in graphics processing," and says it is also working on improving audio performance and input latency."

If this is true, you don't need it, but games will perform better on it, the same with any incremental upgrade ever. I for one am very curious to see how it performs on the wild.

 

[RicoADF]

Dude... I worked with 10 linux nerds - and when I mean nerds - imagine those people who dress in linux gear and have it on their tablets and phones.
They tried to convert me and said the best way to use it is with the command line... But being dyslexic I prefer visual interface. And yes they said visual interfaces are available as an "addon" (Note I know there are fuck ton of different linuxs OS with variety to rival coral reefs)

I just don't like the idea of launching programs, findings files and doing other task that can be done with a click of an mouse - by typing a line of code to a small console at the bottom of the screen.

I know there are better linuxes for certain use. Like my rendering computer runs on linux because then I can allocate 99% of the computer to rendering cutting hours.

Also saying Linux does GUI better than MAC or W is stupid... Because I hate W8 and am totally fucking lost when using MACs. I prefer WXP interface even to 7.
It is like saying that you like the blue drawers with silver handles and I the black ones with gold plated ones.

As I said, you don't need to touch command lines at all, you can install and use 100% via mouse and keyboard like windows and mac. It's been years since Ive typed any command lines, it works 100% in GUI now (on desktop linux distros).
Sounds like you do use linux at times atleast. For desktop might I suggest linux mint, best alternate for windows imo.

EDIT: To clarify does GUI better than Windows comment, I wasn't refering to looks/colour, but rather than its simple to use and you can even get programs with a few clicks. No stuffing around with 3rd party clients or install discs.

 

[SinisterGehe]

Dude... I worked with 10 linux nerds - and when I mean nerds - imagine those people who dress in linux gear and have it on their tablets and phones.
They tried to convert me and said the best way to use it is with the command line... But being dyslexic I prefer visual interface. And yes they said visual interfaces are available as an "addon" (Note I know there are fuck ton of different linuxs OS with variety to rival coral reefs)

I just don't like the idea of launching programs, findings files and doing other task that can be done with a click of an mouse - by typing a line of code to a small console at the bottom of the screen.

I know there are better linuxes for certain use. Like my rendering computer runs on linux because then I can allocate 99% of the computer to rendering cutting hours.

Also saying Linux does GUI better than MAC or W is stupid... Because I hate W8 and am totally fucking lost when using MACs. I prefer WXP interface even to 7.
It is like saying that you like the blue drawers with silver handles and I the black ones with gold plated ones.

As I said, you don't need to touch command lines at all, you can install and use 100% via mouse and keyboard like windows and mac. It's been years since Ive typed any command lines, it works 100% in GUI now (on desktop linux distros).
Sounds like you do use linux at times atleast. For desktop might I suggest linux mint, best alternate for windows imo.

EDIT: To clarify does GUI better than Windows comment, I wasn't refering to looks/colour, but rather than its simple to use and you can even get programs with a few clicks. No stuffing around with 3rd party clients or install discs.

Issue is that the expensive programs I use for work and other tasks. Hobbies music system and hardware are not supported on linux. I am happy with the render's linux, but until the programs get support I can't "afford" to change. But if steam gets majority of my almost 400 games to work on their OS then I will swap the laptop to it.

 

[Aeshi]

So it's basically just a Linux OS with a Steam logo tacked on?

Seems kinda useless when only a fraction of games today can run on Linux anyway.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I thought it was very clear: "Valve claims its new OS offers "significant performance increases in graphics processing," and says it is also working on improving audio performance and input latency."

If this is true, you don't need it, but games will perform better on it, the same with any incremental upgrade ever. I for one am very curious to see how it performs on the wild.

As long as the games don't require Microsoft proprietary components (read: DirectX) then sure.
But that's excluding a LOT of games on the market; pretty much everything ported from the Xbox 360 for sure.

Long term, I'm thinking Gabe Newell's strategy is to pressure the market into moving away from MS dependent kits and handlers like DirectX. But that's a brutal uphill battle given the huge install base DirectX has. (over 15 years now)
That's brutal even for an entity as big as Steam.

 

[baconmaster]

I think this all comes down to how well Valve can market SteamOS computers as open consoles. I can't see PC gamers jumping straight to this OS, but many console gamers (including myself) would love to play PC games in a more console-like setting, without giving up the advantages of the PC. That's what SteamOS and Steam Machines seem to be doing. Then if it catches on we'll get more and more games for the operating system and PC gamers can start to jump ship

I'm just hoping Valve doesn't restrict SteamOS releases to Steam itself. It sounds like they're letting the consumer do whatever they want, but will they let publishers/developers do the same?

 

[K12]

If I've bought the windows version of loads of games am I going to have re-purchase them to run them on the steam OS (or just reconfigure the box as soon as I get it)

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

If I've bought the windows version of loads of games am I going to have re-purchase them to run them on the steam OS (or just reconfigure the box as soon as I get it)

No, Steam has cross-buy. If you buy a game that has Mac and Linux versions, you get all three for one purchase. The SteamOS is Linux-based, so yeah.