Steam Box Catch-All

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So there's a rumor out there now that Valve wants to produce their own console; a standard-specification PC called the "Steam Box".

Valve Steam Box gaming console

Didn't someone try to come up with a "PC Gaming Hardware Standard" a while back and it not go anywhere? Is Valve/Steam big enough to create a standard now?

The thing I like about the rumour is that it's an platform still. It's not Valve as a gatekeeper on non-standard hardware, it's just a certain spec of PC with windows and steam on it.

I don't get what the advantage over a normal pc is.
Unless they have their own OS, that optimizes game play. I love Steam and won't buy from other stores if it
cannot be activated on Steam. But won't go for a box that I can build cheaper myself.

Sparhawk wrote:

Unless they have their own OS, that optimizes game play.

I was thinking about OS last night when this came out. It nearly has to be a Windows box, as most PC games are using some version of DirectX at this point. This isn't the days where id and others made a lot of OpenGL stuff that would work on a linux distro.

Yes, more games are being ported to Mac lately, so that might help. But you greatly limit your potential games if you don't have DirectX.

I'm interested, but not excited yet.

I think it's more like the Alienware x51 box that will have Windows 8 so it's more TV friendly. This isn't a Nintendo, Xbox, or Plsystation competitor.

This is interesting, mostly because I've been wondering lately if MS would decide to drop manufacturing the XBox themselves and instead offer up a spec for hardware manufacturers to target. They already do that with Windows Phone and Windows Home Server devices, and it would mean they wouldn't have to take the blame for another mass RROD style problem. Also, if you look at they way Apple handles their Mac lines, they only ship new models once a year or two and every system runs the exact same hardware. It's a level of homogeneity that the PC ecosystem doesn't have by default which would make the platform a lot more attractive to the average consumer. Especially if you can properly brand these systems and say "If you have a Foo from 20XX, this game will run on it", and if you can create an API that auto-configures the game's default settings properly based on the age of your Foo then that's another fiddly step you've simplified.

MannishBoy wrote:

Yes, more games are being ported to Mac lately, so that might help. But you greatly limit your potential games if you don't have DirectX.

Aren't most of those using Cider?

EDIT: And as I said in the other thread, this would certainly explain why Big Picture mode was announced last year, fell into Valve Time and only recently came back up in discussion by Valve.

Sounds like The Phantom! Reminds me of a shot I grabbed at E3 2004. Pretty much sums it up.

IMAGE(http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6207/img0030tor.jpg)

Difference being that Valve is run by Gabe Newell, not some hack running an investment fraud scheme. Releasing a "PC" with fixed specs is an interesting idea. Valve would have to setup an Android-style app store so users could easily install Origin and other competing services. At that point, are they running on a Windows base or something else? How do you make a safe, easy interface that uses a controller that also gives you that "runs everything" PC experience?

Questions questions...

Agree with all of the above, so Steam was allowed to heavily tweak windows or whatever the xbox is running on (although I assume that the xbox is already tweaked by ms), then it could be interesting.
I wonder if Steam can move companies over to another box or not, if they would have their own OS. Steam is now on Windows, Mac and PS3. So it seems they are able to have games ported to different systems already.

I think people are getting too bogged down on it being the same thing as an Xbox or PS3. It's not going to be (in my opinion) just that, it can be that, but it's going to be much more like the Alien Ware X51 that released. The perfect TV box or put it on your desk and treat it like a traditional PC. The Steam library is too large to forgo the keyboard and mouse interface and so much of the content is built on Windows that I'm sure it will run Windows 8, Microsoft will be a partner and companies like Dell, HP and whomever can create their own "steambox" as long as they meet minimums. The most analogous situation I can think of is Windows Phone. Anyone can release a Windows Phone as long as the minimum specs, as designed by Valve are met.

The Phantom? I haven't heard that name in a long time. I guess they were too far ahead of their time (aside from being a fraud) given Steam launched around 2004 and OnLive started pushing their micro-console last year.

EDIT: I imagine they would probably partner with Logitech, Razer and other peripheral makers for this initiative too, at least for gamepads.

Valve wants to take Apple and its forthcoming new Apple TV products head-on.

Could it be that Valve is also looking at expanding its entertainment base as Sony and Microsoft have done with their consoles over the last few years?

jonfentyler wrote:
Valve wants to take Apple and its forthcoming new Apple TV products head-on.

Could it be that Valve is also looking at expanding its entertainment base as Sony and Microsoft have done with their consoles over the last few years?

Not possible! Everything is Apple! AppleTV will not be competing with Steam. Open V Closed is in competition but playing cut the rope on my TV isn't going to really compete with playing Sins.

Ulairi wrote:
jonfentyler wrote:
Valve wants to take Apple and its forthcoming new Apple TV products head-on.

Could it be that Valve is also looking at expanding its entertainment base as Sony and Microsoft have done with their consoles over the last few years?

Not possible! Everything is Apple! AppleTV will not be competing with Steam. Open V Closed is in competition but playing cut the rope on my TV isn't going to really compete with playing Sins.

Fair enough. I see it as a business move to expand Valve's customer base, which don't get me wrong, I would love to see more of an expansion of the pc gaming arena (developers/publishers taking notice of a wider market), however, I wonder how well a dedicated gaming pc in the living room will do on the retail floor against consoles (and Apple TV) of the current generation, mostly at the price point comparison. I do understand the want for open source software, similar to Android, I fail to see its appeal to an audience not already captured by Valve. I would bet that most Android users would give you a blank stare if you asked them if Gingerbread, Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich is installed on their device.

If Valve's concept is similar in design to Dell's X51, with easily upgradeable parts, I can see it with a broader consumer audience, although still small in comparison to the console market.

Sure it's a move to expand their customer base, but it's not just Valve, it's pretty much everything a PC of reasonable performance can do, without lock in/out. As the article says, you could just as easily install Origin on there, and I wouldn't be surprised if EA jumps at the chance to get it bundled by some OEMs.

It fits Valve's MO, to allow others to build off their work (SDK, licensing source, steamworks, etc) so both parties are stronger.

jonfentyler wrote:

If Valve's concept is similar in design to Dell's X51, with easily upgradeable parts, I can see it with a broader consumer audience, although still small in comparison to the console market.

I don't think the point here would be to have upgrades, as much at generational hardware for devs to target as baselines.

I didn't hit the button twice. I promise!

Leaked photo of alpha case design:

IMAGE(http://www.ihatebryanboy.com/bryanboy/images4/bowler_derby_hat_black.jpg)

Steam Box sounds naughty. Count me in.

It's possible that there is partial truth in that Valve will let certain companies use some sort of "Steam" branding when making a gaming PC meant to be played on the television. But Valve jumping in headfirst into the console manufacturing business, during one of the most tumultuous and uncertain console cycles to ever exist? I highly doubt that.

Yeah. They're simply not a hardware company.

Interesting idea. But I suspect it will suffer a long tortuous death in limbo. If the Alienware product is any indication, it's going to be way too expensive, while the glorious master race will find it too limiting.

Jayhawker wrote:

Interesting idea. But I suspect it will suffer a long tortuous death in limbo. If the Alienware product is any indication, it's going to be way too expensive, while the glorious master race will find it too limiting.

Hmmm, it depends. First of all as I see it, it's 'just a PC', so for starters it's not going to replace a PC, and if they're wise they won't lock out normal PC games from being installed on it and won't make steambox exclusive games. Also it's more than a normal console, you can do anything with it, any way you want.

Maybe the best approach is this: here is our OS or eco system. Put it on your own system, or buy a highly tweaked box from us. With all kind of benefits to it.
Alienware...too expensive I think. They can hire someone for a new design. Something more Valve like, but still fitting the living room.

That's the other thing about it, if you want to buy a steambox certified PC you could go that route, or you could go any other route to get a PC that matches the spec (revision 3 or 2014 revision, etc.).

It would be great to see what happens when developers can have a reasonable target on PC as well as on the console side. Perhaps being overly optimistic, but it would be awesome if developers can tune the performance of their games to a better target, so you know you can set it on high at 1080 resolution and get a great framerate, rather than the lucky dip of either totally overpowering a console port, or an inefficient mess.

Jayhawker wrote:

Interesting idea. But I suspect it will suffer a long tortuous death in limbo. If the Alienware product is any indication, it's going to be way too expensive, while the glorious master race will find it too limiting.

What is going to be limiting about it? The Alienware box can be upgraded. It's open. It seems like it's going to get some sort of Steam certification for partners to hit certain specs.

I view this as a real push to get buyable PCs that are comptent game machines. It doesn't matter if someone plays at their desk or on their couch. I could see this being much better at a BestBuy than for the hobbyists.

Ulairi wrote:

I view this as a real push to get buyable PCs that are comptent game machines. It doesn't matter if someone plays at their desk or on their couch. I could see this being much better at a BestBuy than for the hobbyists.

That's something else I like about the idea. Hopefully the push for a box under the TV will make it more lean and mean than the other 'consumer gaming PCs' I've seen at big box stores, which are usually in big obnoxious cases, over priced and a poor choice of spec. One interesting approach would be to sell a laptop as an adaptable device, just plug it into your TV and launch into a different mode.

I'm thinking this sounds like a push for more a more standardized, but still relatively open, hardware spec (Valve has been pushing for that for quite a while). It also seems like a good way to launch their new biometrics input gadgets and open up a PC-like experience to people who don't want to fuss with all the tech-ery that normally comes with it.

I'd certainly be willing to pay a little bit of premium to have a pre-built PC that's already cool and quiet and fits nicely under my TV, especially if it has a lovely, controller friendly UI. Sounds great!

I'd be very surprised if it was an actual console with its own OS and such. That seems counter-productive, since it would mean cutting off pretty much all of the non-Valve steam library.

Also, this has almost gotta mean Half-Life 3, right? I mean, what else are they going to launch this thing with? Counter Strike GO? Hellz naw.

Bottle wrote:

Also, this has almost gotta mean Half-Life 3, right? I mean, what else are they going to launch this thing with? Counter Strike GO? Hellz naw.

Like how CS:GO is going to be on XBLA/PSN?

I love how with every single bit of valve news/rumour everyone immediately starts reading HL3/ep3 from it.

Scratched wrote:
Bottle wrote:

Also, this has almost gotta mean Half-Life 3, right? I mean, what else are they going to launch this thing with? Counter Strike GO? Hellz naw.

Like how CS:GO is going to be on XBLA/PSN?

I love how with every single bit of valve news/rumour everyone immediately starts reading HL3/ep3 from it.

I guess I don't get your point. CS:GO is a tiny XBLA game. It's not even a retail release. Hence, it wouldn't really make sense as a launch title. I don't think saying that they're going to go with a much larger franchise as a launch game is any kind of stretch. At all.

Why does it need a launch title? They've already got well over a thousand.

It depends on how they're planning on releasing it. If they want to attract a bunch of new customers, I'd assume they'd want to have a shiny new game for it. That almost seems like a given.

If it's just aimed at already-existing PC customers who want to PC game in their living room, then it would be a lot less important. But if that's the case, the whole thing almost seems silly. They could just release their big picture mode and call it a day.

If anything it would probably be down to the hardware manufacturers to sort out bundled games, such as you see with graphics cards or CPUs occasionally.

I wonder if Valve are working on a way to to a preinstalled version, similar to how software is preloaded onto PCs before being sold. A version of steam that plays well with imaging and doesn't immediately hit the customer/new steam user with "now enter the serial code of the bundled software, and then download a few dozen gigs of games".

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