SteamOS

[Taters]

Discuss the Gaben-y goodness.

EDIT: Direct link to Steam.

[Linkuya]

I heard about this. I'll try it out, though it doesn't terribly excite me.

[MARS]

If this turns out to be a fully capable desktop OS I'm getting it. Goodbye, Windows (maybe).

[Taters]

If this turns out to be a fully capable desktop OS I'm getting it. Goodbye, Windows (maybe).

This.

[Linkuya]

How long until Gaben integrates Steam into our very souls? That's what I'm looking forward to.

In all seriousness though, I wonder how this will pan out, and I wonder if it'll give the other OSs a run for it's money.

[Jeelius-Tei]

One reason why Windows is so popular, is because of gamers. If this SteamOS takes off, Windows may lose some sales.

[AKB]

If this turns out to be a fully capable desktop OS I'm getting it. Goodbye, Windows (maybe).

As far as I understand, that's not what this is. It's not even running games from your PC or Mac, just streaming them. This is a clear implication that a lot of games and programs just aren't going to be compatible with SteamOS. If this really takes off, that might be in the works, but for now SteamOS is still Linux underneath it all. If it won't run on Linux, I wouldn't expect it to run on SteamOS for now. I personally don't doubt this is Gabe's intention, as far as I understand, he really hates Microsoft and does not want to rely on their software for their games anymore. However, it will all probably depend on the success of the Steam Box and the software. If anyone can do this, it'd be Valve, but such a big move is always a risky venture.

[Musicman247]

One reason why Windows is so popular, is because of gamers. If this SteamOS takes off, Windows may lose some sales.

You're not serious...right?

Windows is popular because of businesses. Corporations buy Windows licenses by the hundreds and thousands. Why? Because Office.

If every PC gamer went to Linux (which is what SteamOS is, just a custom build of Linux) it still wouldn't make that big of a dent in Windows sales for MS to care.

What this might affect is console sales, especially if they can get the same AAA titles for SteamOS that are coming out for Xbox One and PS4.

And AKB is correct. Most games you will play on SteamOS will be streamed from your PCs until they can build up a library of new games for the OS. Even then you'll still need a PC or Mac to play games that came out before 2014 (you know, the ones that go on sale).

[Kerr]

I don't really like Steam that much due to not owning any of your games and just owning a license to play the games. I don't like that one bit. Only real reason I would buy something off them is if it exclusive to Steam. So I can see myself getting Shadowrun Returns off Steam at some point because that it the only place to get it. Really hope we don't end up in a future where we don't own any games and just own licenses to play them.

[Br3admax]

I was born a Microsoft man, and I'll die a Microsoft man.

Also, Kerr, that's really how it is with everyone, you know. Your PS3 games belong to Sony.

[Frost Mage]

Come on Valve, please release an official Steam console. Powerful hardware that matches or excels the specs of the PS4 and Xbox One, standardized hardware (which would be the main selling point for a Steam console to me, since while PCs have room for unlimited customization, having a preset for how to run on a standardized machine with the same specs across the board *could* make for even better performance), as well as Steam's obsession with sales, could be huge when compared to Microsoft and Sony who very rarely offer deals anywhere close to what Steam does, still not sure why, but Valve seems to know that one purchase of $50 < 2 purchases of $30. People will spend so much more money when they feel like they're getting a good deal, which they often are, and prices are something that Steam has over consoles at the moment. They could access a whole new territory of gamers who are looking into the current next-gen consoles.

[Musicman247]

Frosty, what do you think the current consoles are? Standardized hardware meant for people who don't want to mess with customizing a PC.

Steam's sales are only ever on older games. New games still cost the same whether you buy on Steam or for a console. Also, the consoles have had a lot of good sales recently, like Borderlands 2 for $10 on Xbox, so it's not like they don't put things on sale. People just don't pay attention to them when they do.

I don't see a Console Killing Steam Box coming out anytime soon. Or ever, to be honest with you. They've been talking about making one for years and so far nothing has materialized (these are the same people who are working on Half Life 3, you know).

[Frost Mage]

Yes, but the difference would be that it's run by this new SteamOS, and people have a way of flocking to whatever Steam does, and mostly for good reason. You're right, Xbox does have sales, but a good example of how they don't advertise it well enough is the fact that I didn't even know Borderlands 2 was on sale for $10 until you just told me. The sales they do have are few and far between, as well as not easily accessible, whereas on steam they're always on the Store tab.

[Br3admax]

1. Sony shoves sales down its customers throats. I imagine that Xbox does the same.
2. Steam becoming just another console hardly makes it better than a console, and right now, it doesn't seem that different really then just playing on the PS4 or Xbox One.

[Taters]

Firstly, this is a discussion of SteamOS, not the Steam Box.

Secondly, to be flipppant, but true, the idea of the Steam Box is so popular because it allows the PC master race to have a serious contender in the console wars.

Now, back to the OS.

EDIT: When the next two announcements here are made, the scope of this thread might be expanded.

[Musicman247]

The OS is a custom build of Linux. Other than that we won't have much to talk about until we can actually see it in action. Linux hasn't ever been the developer platform of choice, so migrating from Windows, Mac or Console development to Linux could be a while for a lot of developers, especially if the tools available for the OS aren't as good as those for the other OSes.

Edit: The fact that they say the OS may come built in some TVs doesn't give me a lot of hope for hardware comparable to upcoming consoles.

[Taters]

I would assume that in making a Linux based OS, Valve would also jury-rig a system for playing non-Linux optimized games on it.

[Musicman247]

I would assume that in making a Linux based OS, Valve would also jury-rig a system for playing non-Linux optimized games on it.

There are already materials out there saying that they will stream games from a PC or Mac, but nothing about porting existing games.

Edit: I stand corrected. "Hundreds" of games have already been made able to play natively on the Linux-based OS.

Hidden:

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 nearly 3000 games and desktop software titles via in-home streaming.

From the promotional material it seems like the vision here is to have an always connected box with everything saved to the cloud, much like MS announced originally for the Xbox One. We all know how that turned out.

[MARS]

Except now Gaben is doing it so everyone loves it. Funny.

[AKB]

The PC and console communities are two different beasts. PC users are used to not having a physical disc. Digital download has been king on PC for ages. That's not true for consoles at the moment.

[Avron the S'wit]

Sure wish it was, though. The biggest thing that keeps me playing on the PC, graphics aside, is the ability for digital downloads. Once I realized there were hardly any worthwhile digital downloads on the 360, I pretty much just stuck to the PC except for a few things here and there.

[Frost Mage]

I think for the most part, physical copies of games are becoming more popular as the slight backlash against Steam's digital downloads (which prevents you from playing without Steam, as well as not being able to play at all if Steam isn't working) becomes more prevalent with the new consoles releasing later this year. But it's either a love it or hate it situation.

[Musicman247]

Which is it for you, Frosty? Just a few posts ago you were begging Gaben for good hardware and now you're saying physical discs are better?

Also, both PS4 and X1 will have day and date digital releases along with physical copies of all games released.

[Br3admax]

I used to not like digital downloads, but now I find them much more convenient, then I did before; I'm still on the fence. It's all apples or oranges at this point.

[Super Mario 16-bit]

It's gonna be balls. Too much of a gimmick, the Google+ of OS'.
At least VALVe is making it but still. Unless the cursor is the gravity gun and it allows you to drag the icons around with it in gravity gun style, I won't even look in its direction.