Gabe Newell says Linux is the future of gaming, new hardware to come out

DPI said:
If you think Valve's Steambox plans are about trying to make Linux "the future of OS" you are confused.

All these straw man arguments against - if not just outright misinterpretations of - the basic idea that Valve would like to make Steam available on multiple OS platforms are a little baffling. Its not a wild concept.
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I wasnt even thinking in steambox, but on his quotation alone.
 
BladeVenom said:
Linux is the present. It already dominates in smartphones, tablets, super computers, embedded devices, and servers.

MS is failing in every new field, and are only getting by because of Windows and Office lock-in on the desktop.
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Yes but none of those (maybe the mobile) are realy where Windows is competitive.
There is one market Linux has try and never made a good expression, the normal non high level user home computer.

Linux still dont touch even close to Windows on that.

Also, to be honest Ubuntu has many of the issues Windows has and only some advantages (and windows has others).
Im still to see a Linux that is a WIndows killer for a market of people who grow with windows and dont want to learn a new os.
 
jwcalla said:
For the "majority of desktop users" it is already more than competent and usable. Hell, even Chrome OS is more than usable for them... and you really can't do anything on Chrome OS other than check e-mail and run webapps.
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I actualy was open for linux for a long time.
I tryed Ubuntu, Kurumin, Fedora, Mint, i have an Android phone...
Im sorry but Android may be the best (maybe) smartphone/tablet OS but that thing is buggy as hell. Crash, isnt stable...
For my opinion Chrome OS still dont offer what Windows does, it is a realy basic OS in fact. As for Ubuntu (the main desktop Linux) i still find it more limited then Windows. Only thing i can think i dont have to deal as much is virus (and im not the ones who think there are no Linux virus, specialy on the android era, i know there are).

But exept if im a dev or programer every linux i tryed never did more or better what Windows does... Not that they are bad... but i dont find then superior at all. I just find then a diferent choice.
 
rudy said:
Because it increases exposure to PC gaming at a delicate time in our history when we really need it. During a major console refresh, at a time when desktop and modifiable PCs are in sharp decline. The point is simple. Valve Steambox has to be a good experience for its first intro to the world. If its not it will be tainted with a bad reputation it may never fix. The first time tons of reviewers and people experience all the games they are missing they will talk about that point.

You don't have to look any further than Linux netbooks to see what a massive disaster that was. Pretty much put the nail in the Linux coffin for the next 10 years.

Valves first jump into device territory needs to be done well with a clear advantage. Valve only has a very few clear advantages over huge players like MS and SONY who have massive resources to pour into hardware, software and advertising and even sustaining billions in losses if needed. Those advantages are a hand full of games that they might release with the balls to keep as steambox exclusives. L4D, and HL3 are pretty much it. CS is to fragmented now. And the big one is a simply the massive windows based PC gaming library. Being able to hit the ground running with over 2000 damn games would be a huge advantage. They could advertise the hell out of that. Simply match specs on the PS4/Xbone sell for $5-600 and let people know all the games that are available. If they go Linux they botch that whole thing now they can say oh cool we have about 200 games most is just indie, and bad graphics or old junk, and if they go Linux and make HL3 a Linux exclusive they are going to piss off 90% of their users.

I don't know it seems to me like a pretty clear decision. Way to much risk now to bet the farm on a Linux steam box. If they go windows they can make a name for themselves in the console market for average consumers and the tech dumb. Then they can make a second iteration later after they have established familiarity with the brand and product that is a Linux device and push the windows devices off on to OEM partners. You need real power in order to forge the game industry. I only see Linux zealots in here losing a grip on reality hoping once again like with the netbook craze they will have their day, but they aren't thinking about the flip side of the coin, this could back fire and that could teach everyone a big lesson just like netbooks did.
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I think you're misreading some of Valve's intentions here. I don't think they really want to compete with Sony and MS in the console space. If that's the measure of judgment then they might as well just shut down the idea now before they even release hardware and forgo the embarrassment, because there is no way -- zero, nada, zilch, nothing -- they could ever compete with a Sony or MS in that space. Even if Jesus Christ himself came down from the heavens and announced live on CNN from Times Square that the new 11th Commandment is that everyone must buy a Steambox, they still wouldn't have a chance. So right off the bat you're setting them up with a standard that's doomed for failure.

I don't even think that they have any desire (or realistic expectation) to pull over a chunk of the console gamers to PC gaming. Those people already know about PC gaming and they're either into it or not. I think the point of this thing is to make it easier for PC gamers to be in the living room. I suspect this first round is just an initial step, with modest expectations, and then try to push the concept into other areas. Perhaps mobile integration, streaming, cloud gaming, whatever.

The other thing is that Valve has clearly said that one of the reasons behind their promotion of Linux is a hedging strategy against any potential Windows app store shenanigans. So they need this Steambox to be Linux to help promote the platform and try to get some sort of foundation laid down. What kind of signal would it send to the industry and their partners if their own system doesn't even run Linux?

And finally I'm not sure how anyone outside of MS could consider selling something like a console with Windows on it. You're looking at $100 - $200 per machine just for a license, on hardware that sells on slim or more likely negative margins. They would have to reduce the hardware capability to make up for just the cost of a license. And what would be even more hilarious is if MS eventually did force installs through an app store and people wouldn't even be able to purchase games on Steam from their Steambox.



The whole netbook thing is kind of a meh argument. The hardware was awful back then and they were crap and it's not like Windows netbooks sell well either.
 
jwcalla said:
And finally I'm not sure how anyone outside of MS could consider selling something like a console with Windows on it.
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Valve has no intention of selling a prefab Steambox running on Windows. Anyone assuming that might be hallucinating on mushrooms. All that Newell meant when he said "Steambox can run on Windows too" was that they're not attempting to dictate platform. They are after all in the business of selling games, not OS platforms. Presumably they'll also enable people to roll their own MacOSX based Steambox.

And so despite the current vogue among big tech companies like MS toward at least attempting to become increasingly vertical - leaving longtime OEMs and partners that contributed to their success out in the cold - Valve is going to give the people interested in rolling their own Steambox a *choice* - a commodity that is, again, becoming increasingly rare these days. But since MacOSX and Windows are both platforms controlled by other companies with their own interests, a longterm migration toward a linux based variant for its distribution platform makes sense for Valve, not to mention the cost benefits to end users.

All Valve is setting out to do for now is plant a seed, not blow into town this November to show MS and Sony how its done. Later for that.
 
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DPI said:
Valve has no intention of selling a prefab Steambox running on Windows. Anyone assuming that might be hallucinating on mushrooms. All that Newell meant when he said "Steambox can run on Windows too" was that they're not attempting to dictate platform. They are after all in the business of selling games, not OS platforms. Presumably they'll also enable people to roll their own MacOSX based Steambox.

And so despite the current vogue among big tech companies like MS toward at least attempting to become increasingly vertical - leaving longtime OEMs and partners that contributed to their success out in the cold - Valve is going to give the people interested in rolling their own Steambox a *choice* - a commodity that is, again, becoming increasingly rare these days. But since MacOSX and Windows are both platforms controlled by other companies with their own interests, a longterm migration toward a linux based variant for its distribution platform makes sense for Valve, not to mention the cost benefits to end users.

All Valve is setting out to do for now is plant a seed, not blow into town this November to show MS and Sony how its done. Later for that.
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Wonder how the price will be.
If its too high maybe will be better to jsut build a media pc for the tv
 
Just as a reminder, whatever veil Valve has covering...whatever will be lifted in around 40 minutes.
 
http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamOS/

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.
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DPI said:
And people will either be able to buy a prefab steambox, or roll their own by following a hardware compatibility list. To my mind, Valve should just go straight for their own SteamOS distro to power the thing.
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Heh. SteamOS, just like I was saying last week. This is great news because it will allow third parties a more standardized and specific development baseline rather than leaving it to the ambiguous and fragmented wilds of infinite distro's. Best thing that could have happened.

The key differentiator here between Valve and say MS's recent attempts at growing outside their core area of dominance is Valve actually got some builtup brand goodwill left to leverage.
 
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I would welcome abandoning microsoft windows for my gaming needs... Hell i'll go full on Linux at some point in the future, gaming is the only thing keeping me using Microsoft products.
 
Wonder if Nvidia Shield and this will work well together. Not that I was considering a Nvidia Shield, as the cost of entry was a bit much for me.
 
Majorly looking forward to seeing how well the "In-Home" Streaming works across a VPN...
 
I swear to God. If HL3 isn't an exclusive title for SteamOS i'm going to quit life and live the rest of my days in a hut on the side of a mountain somewhere.
 
cageymaru said:
Wonder if Nvidia Shield and this will work well together. Not that I was considering a Nvidia Shield, as the cost of entry was a bit much for me.
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Count on it because NVIDIA is going all-in with Steam's new initiative. They've been investing for some time including more resources and $ going into driver and OpenGL support since the beginning of the year. If SteamOS is the beginning of a paradigm shift in x86 gaming, you bet NVIDIA wants to beat AMD to the punch and get in on the ground floor, especially with AMD having shored up the componentry for both nextgen consoles.

I wouldn't be surprised if Valve and NVIDIA have been discussing GRID to be supported by SteamOS as well.
 
Hmmm they really emphasize "living room" and "TV". I don't want the living room experience on my desktop PC. I'm sure the performance will be there, I just hope the navigation isn't sit-on-the-couch, controller influenced.
 
Sounds like the vast majority of games are coming as well:

Code: 
Hundreds of great games are already running natively on SteamOS. Watch for announcements in the coming 
weeks about all the AAA titles coming natively to SteamOS in 2014. Access the full Steam catalog of over 
nearly 3000 games and desktop software titles via in-home streaming.
 
JohnRico said:
I swear to God. If HL3 isn't an exclusive title for SteamOS i'm going to quit life and live the rest of my days in a hut on the side of a mountain somewhere.
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That really makes no sense for Valve. There aren't making money off of SteamOS and limiting their flagship title to a single OS isn't even the point of something like SteamOS in the first place unless of course it is and Gabe is simply trying to create a wall garden that he's been so critical of Microsoft doing.
 
This is a console attempt from Valve, which is why they keep using the word "living room." Pretty much useless to 90% of current Steam users, which are desktop users, or specifically Windows gamers.
 
heatlesssun said:
That really makes no sense for Valve. There aren't making money off of SteamOS and limiting their flagship title to a single OS isn't even the point of something like SteamOS in the first place unless of course it is and Gabe is simply trying to create a wall garden that he's been so critical of Microsoft doing.
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Or maybe not release it as an exclusive, but with extra features/content etc only on steamOS. Could increase the initial adaptation of it.
 
Haha, looks like a great start. I just hope they don't slip up any of the "little things", like including Ubuntu style mistakes regarding privacy. Its great they're going to offer this content, but I really hope they remember that openness is paramount and they don't say... allow anyone to data mine their users, include any hooks for advertisers to obtain personally/targeted information etc... While I understand that not everything can be Free and Open Source Software under the GPLv3 etc... on SteamOS, I hope they use as many non-proprietary tools as possible for the majority of the OS. I understand that Steam itself won't go FOSS (yet?) and the games themselves won't, but I'd like to see FOSS tools for everything else possible. I'm a little bit worried about the whole "media" integration thing they have there... I hope it will be something at least native for Linux...maybe SteamOS is finally enough to say.. get Netflix to create a high quality, full featured Linux version! Of course, I don't want to see any of these vendors push for privacy and user unfriendly practices... which I hope Valve can rebuff!

I think it is rather awesome that they are using a Linux distro for SteamOS, and that they're including streaming ability to play Windows games, but I hope they put as much emphasis as possible on running things natively. Furthermore, I hope their "streaming" option turns out to be some sort of open setup a well, so that say... someone could eventually use it (OpenVPN? Libreswan for IPSec?) for streaming even over a WAN instead.

This is a huge boon to Linux adoption and Linux gaming, if everything is done right.
 
seanclayton said:
This is a console attempt from Valve, which is why they keep using the word "living room." Pretty much useless to 90% of current Steam users, which are desktop users, or specifically Windows gamers.
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Yeah, what Windows gamer even has a living room anymore? You only need one of those if other people come over to your house. :rolleyes:
 
The Verge

"According to the company, major game devleopers are already on board with Linux, and will be building triple-A game titles that will run natively on SteamOS in 2014. However, SteamOS boxes will also have a workaround for Windows and Mac OS X games: in-home streaming. Not unlike the Nvidia Shield, it will include a method for streaming games from your existing gaming computer to your TV, which Valve says will also come to the regular Steam client at some point."
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The whole streaming from a windows PC strategy is making more sense now - gap bridging measure to buy time for native SteamOS library to grow. Its like Valve actually understands the concept of moving into the future without prematurely abandoning the past like MS did with Win8/metro.
 
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I hope they can include support for as many TV tuner types as they can - ATSC-QAM-CableCard-DVB-T etc
 
DPI said:
The whole streaming from a windows PC strategy is making more sense now - gap bridging measure to buy time for native SteamOS games to grow. Its like Valve actually understands the concept of moving into the future without prematurely abandoning the past like MS did with Win8/metro.
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But it won't work. Streaming requires a good network. The vast majority of people are still rocking 802.11G networks, and N networks are still going to be shaky when it comes to decent 1080p streaming. I mean, come on, I have enough trouble streaming a DVD rip to my HTPC without compression issues. How the hell is a 1080p video game stream going to do?

Valve: I don't want Linux. I don't want to mess with the command line. i don't want to mess with OGL. I don't want to mess with shitty linux drivers for my system components. I don't want to wait for Nvidia and AMD to give a damn about linux to make decent drivers.
 
TheToE! said:
This x1000.
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I would do this as well but I would NOT want to trade one locked proprietary system for another. At least Windows is open enough at this time to allow 3rd party game publishers/companies to prosper...Apple doesn't give a shit and keeps living off the iphone (which is not bad it just is what it is). Let's see where this goes.
 
Modred189 said:
Valve: I don't want Linux. I don't want to mess with the command line. i don't want to mess with OGL. I don't want to mess with shitty linux drivers for my system components. I don't want to wait for Nvidia and AMD to give a damn about linux to make decent drivers.
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You must live under a rock.
 
if This Turns Out To Be A Local OnLive Network Type Thing I Will Be Happy, As long As They Can keep The Latency Down.
Excuse The Caps My Phone Does Weird Things.
 
Modred189 said:
Valve: I don't want Linux. I don't want to mess with the command line. i don't want to mess with OGL. I don't want to mess with shitty linux drivers for my system components. I don't want to wait for Nvidia and AMD to give a damn about linux to make decent drivers.
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This is exactly what they are attempting to fix.

Also, I have 1gbps wired home network, bring on the streaming!
 
I wonder if you'll be able to install other game son SteamOS and not just steam-games. Like for example, games that aren't on steam.
 
Took the certs late 90's for Winidows,Unix and Solaris. They have been saying things about it since then over 10 years. Hasn't happened yer. Microsoft is to strong of an OS, I know many Apple/Linux users going back to Windows.More drvier support for Windows than Linux.

It is hodge podge support for Linux many versions.
 
JohnRico said:
I wonder if you'll be able to install other game son SteamOS and not just steam-games. Like for example, games that aren't on steam.
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Stream them from another PC they are installed on to the SteamOS box. Just throwing that option out there.
 
Now, I might be crazy (always a possibility!) but I think I mentioned that Valve might do something like this somewhere on this message board in the past. Now that I think about it, I just don't feel like it offers enough benefit for people to bother with it. It won't have any unified hardware specs, and I don't know if people will use it over simply plugging their Windows computers to their TVs. It is the least risky option for Valve, though.
 
JohnRico said:
I wonder if you'll be able to install other game son SteamOS and not just steam-games. Like for example, games that aren't on steam.
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You should be able to install any Linux software you want. SteamOS is a Debian/Ubuntu-based distro.
 
pcjunkie said:
I would do this as well but I would NOT want to trade one locked proprietary system for another. At least Windows is open enough at this time to allow 3rd party game publishers/companies to prosper...
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1. Where are you getting that SteamOS is going to be locked and proprietary?

2. "Windows is open enough at this time" <- key words right there. And game publishers can continue to prosper on Windows. Why not? This is simply another avenue, another choice opening up. More choice, more competition, consumers benefit.
 
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