Valve to release PC "console"

[quote=Searz]Valve has talked about making their own hardware. A low cost PC for gaming to compete with consoles. It will take after consoles in most regards; hardware will be very closed and it will be designed to fit a living room. While the hardware is said to be very closed they don't say anything about closed software. And as is the case with anything Linux-based; it's probably gonna be very modifiable. It could turn out to be a great HTPC if nothing else. What I personally find the most interesting is that [u]Valve will probably be running [b]Linux[/b] on this hardware[/u]. There are many good reasons for doing so. Most importantly it allows them to control the software themselves and not have to worry about any tricks from Microsoft. Then there's also the benefit of pushing down the price a considerable amount by not having to buy a Windows license. This would be INCREDIBLE for Linux gaming. In 10 years we'll probably see more gamers on Linux than Windows IF Valve does it right, and with Valve's track record I have no reason to be scared. Source: http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/8/3744314/gabe-newell-valve-console-living-room-steam-box[/quote]

[quote=Darcurse]Soooooooo...... Valve is going to create a comp that's only good for gaming but SHOULD be cheap..? a) Why not simply go for a console? b) Didn't sound like it, but does Valve intend to release their "steam box" as hardware only meant to run steam + games? If yes: Dafuq. c) Many comp games aren't meant for gamepads etc. what reason is there to have a console version of a comp if you still have a need for mouse + keyboard? d) And seriously: If you want your pc in the living room, with access to the tv: You can just place your pc in the living room and connect it to the tv... Dunno why you get all excited about someone selling a comp "especially" for that purpose...?[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=Darcurse] Dunno why you get all excited about someone selling a comp "especially" for that purpose...?[/quote] Are you kidding me?... You're waay off the point. [quote]Why not simply go for a console?[/quote] Valve has a history of being positive towards options and openness. As such I doubt the software of the console will be as locked down as ALL the other consoles are. And that in turn would make it possible to do things not normally possible on a console. [quote]Many comp games aren't meant for gamepads etc. what reason is there to have a console version of a comp if you still have a need for mouse + keyboard?[/quote] You're obviously not keeping up on the Steam news. Take a look at Big Picture mode (top right corner) and full controller support in the store. Full controller support means that the entire game will run and work 100% with a controller. [quote]d) And seriously: If you want your pc in the living room, with access to the tv: You can just place your pc in the living room and connect it to the tv...[/quote] Clearly missing the point. Most people don't want a normal PC in their living room. The biggest problem is probably the size of it when considering the space required for keyboard+mouse and the PC. Consoles are compact and as such are much more welcome in the living room. "Steambox" is gonna take all the good things about consoles and add the openness of the PC platform. Or at least that's what it sounds like, and anything else would be pretty illogical. I'm extra excited because this might actually be the first console without an optical media drive (actually, that might OUYA). I.E: all games will be acquired through the internet. It would be a perfect HTPC machine.[/quote]

[quote=Canoas]@Durcurse a) It is going to be a console. That's like telling bill gates "xbox? why not just use a PS3?". b) Why the fuck are you so surprised that the purpose of the console will be to play games? That's what any console is for, it's general knowledge. c) FPS aren't meant for consoles either. Want to guess what the most popular console games are? Also, when you port a game to a console you usually optimize it to be played ON A CONSOLE. d) Again, do you have any idea what consoles are? Wii, Xbox, PS? Does it ring a bell? They're boxes that you connect to your TV to play video games. You should look into it, consoles are rather popular. Seriously, your comment made absolutely no fucking sense. It's like you've never seen or heard of a video game console before.[/quote]

[quote=caucheka]i wouldn't say it would run on linux, but run on its own os, most likely based on a linux system though.[/quote]

[quote=Darcurse]Canoas: Not understanding a thing I said (who'd have thought). Searz: Same but with only around 50% of what Canoas failed. So ignoring the "I can't read"-guy. @searz Ignoring easy-to-handle-with-3-buttons FPS games: You tell me because Steam implements controller support in any game does mean that any game has now a functioning and easy to use controller support? Kidding me, right? You do realize that Valve mostly has ("simple") games that can run with a controller? Or you want to tell me that you play stuff like strategy games controller-only? And for everything else, you are super excited to get a pc you can place in your living room, aka a pc with a nice console design... Woopie. I just put my normal Linux pc inside my living room and fit it into the environment, how I already did (except that it runs on Windows out of laziness) and do all the stuff you are excited to do after Valve releases their "special" design of a living room pc... But I guess for ppl like you "pcs" are high towers glowing in every mind-blowing neon color possible only, contaminating too much of an area if you place them outisde an isolated room. And seriously: If I tell Bill Gates "Xbox?", I congratulate him for ripping off ppls money on multiple ways.[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=Canoas] It is going to be a console.[/quote] Yea, a console with "benefits" so to speak. You answered his questions better than I did, though possibly a little unnecessarily rudely :P [quote=caucheka] i wouldn't say it would run on linux, but run on its own os, most likely based on a linux system though.[/quote] ...why? If it's running Linux as a kernel it's running goddamn Linux >.> It's also very probable that they're gonna base their distro off Ubuntu or Debian to have good cross-compatability for their "Steam for Linux".[/quote]

[quote=Toshabi]Lame.[/quote]

[quote=Canoas][quote=Darcurse]Ignoring easy-to-handle-with-3-buttons FPS games: You tell me because Steam implements controller support in any game does mean that any game has now a functioning and easy to use controller support? Kidding me, right?[/quote] Please show us valve's controller and explain why it's unfit to play certain games. Oh wait, you can't? You have no clue what valve's controller is? So you're just speaking out of your ass then? Oh, how surprising. Some time ago Gabe Newell was looking into all kinds of peripherals. I even remember something about a tongue controller. No one can say what kind of controller valve will use. Also, it seems you still don't understand what a console is. I seriously urge you to go check it out.[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=Darcurse] Ignoring easy-to-handle-with-3-buttons FPS games: You tell me because Steam implements controller support in any game does mean that any game has now a functioning and easy to use controller support? Kidding me, right?[/quote] ... Oh cmon... Just think for a moment.. With the release of any new console you'll get new games developed for the platform and probably a few ports. Just look at how the release of Wii U worked. It got a few new games and a few ports. It's gonna be that way for any new console nowadays. Any and all games developed/ported for the platform will work on it, with the control scheme it has. It's simple logic. [quote]And for everything else, you are super excited to get a pc you can place in your living room, aka a pc with a nice console design... Woopie.[/quote] Yes, yes I am. Do you not understand the incredible difference this "console" could make? This "console" could kill off optical media as we know it. (NO MORE SLOW CDs/DVDs THAT SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE!) This "console" could shift the primary PC gaming platform from Windows to Linux. This "console" could significantly increase the quality of console ports, which any PC gamer today know are pretty awful for the most part. (why? Because the game will be running on Linux both on the PC and on the "console", it does not need any real porting) When Valve moves the entire gaming world moves. This is no small thing if they can pull it off. The things I mention above are revolutionary for the gaming world. [quote]But I guess for ppl like you "pcs" are high towers glowing in every mind-blowing neon color possible only, contaminating too much of an area if you place them outisde an isolated room.[/quote] You're making kind of dumb assumptions. Can a normal PC fit on the shelf under your TV? I'm pretty sure somewhere around 95% of PCs capable of gaming cannot. Consoles can. That makes them infinitely more welcome in a family living room.[/quote]