Steam Console?

[Carl Foxmarten]

According to Gabe Newell, head of Valve Software, one of their end goals it to come out with a Steam-based console to rival Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo's offerings.
http://kotaku.com/5941793
http://kotaku.com/5966860

They're going to start with getting two things out of Beta testing:
1: Steam Big Picture, a version of the Steam interface that is designed specifically for use with game controllers, primarily game pads.
2: Steam for Linux.

Once that's done, they should be able to put together a list of hardware requirements that will make a very inexpensive console/appliance.

Anybody have any comments on this?

Personally, I think this is cool.
A large games company is putting more games on my favourite platform.
And not just any games, but mainstream games!
And in such a way so that Linux players are NOT limited to playing amongst themselves!
(you know, just like they added support for Mac players a while ago)

[Nibi]

According to Gabe Newell, head of Valve Software, one of their end goals it to come out with a Steam-based console to rival Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo's offerings.
http://kotaku.com/5941793
http://kotaku.com/5966860

They're going to start with getting two things out of Beta testing:
1: Steam Big Picture, a version of the Steam interface that is designed specifically for use with game controllers, primarily game pads.
2: Steam for Linux.

Once that's done, they should be able to put together a list of hardware requirements that will make a very inexpensive console/appliance.

Anybody have any comments on this?

Personally, I think this is cool.
A large games company is putting more games on my favourite platform.
And not just any games, but mainstream games!
And in such a way so that Linux players are NOT limited to playing amongst themselves!
(you know, just like they added support for Mac players a while ago)

Ya'know, this just reminds me even more how much I love Steam. They're pretty awesome for doing things like this.

[Carl Foxmarten]

Ya'know, this just reminds me even more how much I love Steam. They're pretty awesome for doing things like this.

They're even thinking about some sort of split-screen mode, with each section of the screen logged-in under their own Steam account! =^.^=
(I can't even imagine just how massively difficult that would be, though!)

[Carl Foxmarten]

Anybody else play around with Big Picture mode?
It's rather fun navigating around with a gamepad. =^.^=
(I'm using the Linux version, and it's kind of annoying how it doesn't disable the screensaver...)

[Zen]

It's a tiny PC that's preloaded with a linux distrib. It's apparently one of several hardware prototypes. It can be formatted to windows, and the PC itself is modular, so all parts can be updated.

The current X3A rivals any medium level gaming PC of today, and the tiny box is designed for parts to be replaced. The 8 year old Xbox 360 still has some power, but is easily outdone by the X3A and X5A models, but those two are $500+ per unit. Still the Xi3 architecture in general just seems neat, if a bit silly. But you can look up the specs for the X3A unit and check them out now.

http://kotaku.com/5974341/its-official-gabe-newell-shares-details-about-valves-steam-box
http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/8/3852144/gabe-newell-interview-steam-box-future-of-gaming

[Carl Foxmarten]

I am becoming ever more amazed at the attitude portrayed by newcomers to the console market.

First with Ouya (a somewhat open-sourced console based on Android), and now with the Steam Box, I'm frankly quite surprised at just how hackable they're being made today.

[Carl Foxmarten]

We shall see. I won't be holding my breath, but I do think they'll be releasing some 3D games on it too.
Supposedly, they got promises from a couple of big publishing houses to develop Ouya versions of some of their more popular games.
We'll see if those promises go anywhere...

Personally, I'm a little dissatisfied with their controllers.
Current consoles have more buttons on their gamepads than that!