SteamOS

Well. Looks like Gaben wasnt bluffing about how much he felt windows 8 was a dead end for gamers.

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamOS/

Ooh, native AAA support expected. That could actually get customers on board.

I'd totally be considering this way harder if I didn't already have Linux installed.

edited 23rd Sep '13 10:42:41 AM by Balmung

I admit I'm totally on board withg seeing where this goes. Steam's done a lot for showing it prioritizes gamers

I'm not sure if this will do me any good. I have to buy ANOTHER computer to run Steam OS and have it plugged into a TV and stream?

I already have my computer hooked to an HDMI cable to my TV.

Pardon my ignorance, I'm brand new to the computer gaming scene, but what does this all mean exactly?

I just hope the OS isn't as much of a memory hog as the actual client.

I'm still figuring this out but it looks like its going to be a Free Operating System that uses Linux and Steam in order to Stream your games from one computer to the next?

Oh, it's bigger than that. If you read the full announcement, they are also planning to set Steam, as well as the new SteamOS, up to stream films and TV series (competing with Netflix and other such services) and music (competing with iTunes and such).

Basically, Valve is shooting to be the juggernaut in terms of streaming media content. The question is, can they pull it off?

@Thorn: you don't have to, but you can. I think what it's supposed to let you do is stream content from a Windows computer to your Linux (Steam OS) computer and play it there, but I'm not entirely sure.

@Thorn

thats one of its features.

You can stream windows/mac games to your TV via the OS. Its also planning starting with indie games and then with AAA games in 2014 to run things natively in steamOS, and apparently is emphasizing getting as much horsepower for gaming out of your hardware as possible.

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:16:46 AM by midgetsnowman

&

And whats stopping me from using my regular computer to do all that, which it does.

Besides, most T Vs can already stream netflix.

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:17:31 AM by Thorn14

I imagine the point is this is Gabe's broadside across the bow of Windows 8 via giving manufacturers a huge incentive in the form of STEA Ms backing, to develop better drivers and hardware for native linux platforms

In short, this is basically Valve deciding that they can make a better gaming platform for the PC than anyone else, and doing so.

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:18:29 AM by midgetsnowman

Nothing's stopping you from doing that...with three or four different programs. The whole point is making a single program able to handle everything, which will appeal to a lot of people (as most convenience tends to do).

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:19:27 AM by TotemicHero

So let me know if I understand this correctly:

It's an operating system that you can install on your computer as an alternative to Windows/Mac OS/etc., and it's designed to run games more efficiently?

that,k and if they can make good on claims that theyre working to optimize AAA pc games to run best on steam OS, then Windows is finally facing a serious competitor in the pc gaming market.

Yep. It can also stream games off your PC and MAC pcs to your TV if you want to do so, as well as run movies and music. All on a Linux back end

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:21:06 AM by midgetsnowman

OS, not program. It sounds like its just to buy a new computer in order to stream into the living room?

I need to hear more because that sounds...nice, but not huge.

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:23:15 AM by Thorn14

...You're ignoring half of what we type is all you're reading is "stream stuffz!"

the big part is that Valve plans to run AAA titles and Indie titles NATIVELY on Steam OS. and apparently a;lready has a bunch of AAA games lined up for 2014.

thje streaming is mainlyu for backwards compatibility. The big thing is Valve is aiming to completely tear the videogame market away from windows.

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:23:19 AM by midgetsnowman

Again, that sounds nice, but I don't know if I want to dual boot in order to run games on the OS without it having some serious incentives. Gaming on windows does just fine for me. And I can't help but feel i'm not alone here.

Who is this aimed toward?

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:24:27 AM by Thorn14

I doubt they're going to port any games themselves, that they didn't make. It doesn't sound like they're trying to make the OS able to play Windows games either, just "streaming". So eh.

people who dont want the gaming industry on pc to become nothing but apps sold in the microsoft app store?

cuz frankly? fuck windows 8, and anyone who uses windows 8.

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:25:47 AM by midgetsnowman

And with any luck, that native support will trickle over into other Linuxes. Based on what they already support for Steam, I would guess that SteamOS is based on Ubuntu, and from there, I would assume that AAA support for SteamOS would equal AAA support for Ubuntu and derivatives unless SteamOS is bringing some new libraries and shit, but even then, odds are that other users could get their hands on them.

Trying to play Windows games on something that isn't Windows is a bitch and a half and usually unreliable. I can understand why they don't want to mess with that.

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:33:17 AM by Balmung

Hey my laptop came with it and I had no choice!

But none of my games ever run on Microsoft Apps and I don't see it being required?

I do. Its the logical end progression of windows 8. Microsoft wants you in a walled garden where everything you buy is what they choose for you to buy, similar to itunes and the ipad. And freemium app games make more money then AAA gaming titles in such a setup.

Well none of the games I care about are Cut The Rope casual crap so... Call me when any game is REQUIRED to be used on the Windows 8 Marketplace.

https://twitter.com/JustinMcElroy/st...91152536895488

"Through the power of #Steam OS you'll soon be able to buy a bad computer to stream games from your good computer "

edited 23rd Sep '13 11:45:02 AM by Thorn14

I hope this doesn't mean I have to buy another piece of machinery for Steam's future. I'm pretty close to my PC (Windows 7), and I'm hoping Gabe's relation with Windows gets better (I understand the criticisms of Windows 8, and I hope the future Windows platforms remedy those concerns).