Valve Confirms SteamBox

Hmm all I got out of it is that it's a Valve branded gaming PC that's been modified a bit

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/09/valve-confirms-steam-box-a-very-controlled-pc-for-the-living-room/?mtc=comment-333995#comment-333995

Gabe Newell appears to have confirmed rumours that Valve are working on a Steam Box a hardware package designed to bring the PC right to the living room. Talking to Kotaku on the red carpet at the VGAs, Newell said that the response to Big Picture mode was stronger than expected and that this, combined with the ongoing push into Linux, gave Valve a lot of flexibility when it came to designing their own living room-friendly hardware.

As for a time-frame, Newell said that hed expect these sorts of packages to go on sale next year though it isnt entirely clear if he was talking about Valves own efforts or those of other companies looking to do similar things. Well do it but we also think other people will as well, he said.

From the sounds of things, however, Valves plans for the living room dont entail recreating as open and malleable a system as the PC experience currently is.

Well certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment, he said, calling Valves offering a turnkey solution. If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC.

Which begs the question: will the Steam Box be a PC in any meaningful way if it is to be so very controlled?

Look down.

I believe Valve Confrimed this when they announced Big Picture Mode.

Why else would they have made that feature?

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

Mr_BillGates

PC gaming is dying. lol

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

Mr_BillGates

Imagine the promos Valve can make for TF2 with this :o

old GamingVengeance

Hmm all I got out of it is that it's a Valve branded gaming PC that's been modified a bit

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/09/valve-confirms-steam-box-a-very-controlled-pc-for-the-living-room/?mtc=comment-333995#comment-333995

Gabe Newell appears to have confirmed rumours that Valve are working on a Steam Box a hardware package designed to bring the PC right to the living room. Talking to Kotaku on the red carpet at the VGAs, Newell said that the response to Big Picture mode was stronger than expected and that this, combined with the ongoing push into Linux, gave Valve a lot of flexibility when it came to designing their own living room-friendly hardware.

As for a time-frame, Newell said that hed expect these sorts of packages to go on sale next year though it isnt entirely clear if he was talking about Valves own efforts or those of other companies looking to do similar things. Well do it but we also think other people will as well, he said.

From the sounds of things, however, Valves plans for the living room dont entail recreating as open and malleable a system as the PC experience currently is.

Well certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment, he said, calling Valves offering a turnkey solution. If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC.

Which begs the question: will the Steam Box be a PC in any meaningful way if it is to be so very controlled?

[QUOTE="GamingVengeance"]old ChelGirl86

Hmm all I got out of it is that it's a Valve branded gaming PC that's been modified a bit

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/09/valve-confirms-steam-box-a-very-controlled-pc-for-the-living-room/?mtc=comment-333995#comment-333995

Gabe Newell appears to have confirmed rumours that Valve are working on a Steam Box a hardware package designed to bring the PC right to the living room. Talking to Kotaku on the red carpet at the VGAs, Newell said that the response to Big Picture mode was stronger than expected and that this, combined with the ongoing push into Linux, gave Valve a lot of flexibility when it came to designing their own living room-friendly hardware.

As for a time-frame, Newell said that hed expect these sorts of packages to go on sale next year though it isnt entirely clear if he was talking about Valves own efforts or those of other companies looking to do similar things. Well do it but we also think other people will as well, he said.

From the sounds of things, however, Valves plans for the living room dont entail recreating as open and malleable a system as the PC experience currently is.

Well certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment, he said, calling Valves offering a turnkey solution. If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC.

Which begs the question: will the Steam Box be a PC in any meaningful way if it is to be so very controlled?

A year or two ago I probably would have said shut up and take my money. But now I'll rather just build a $1000 dollar PC so I can sell my irrelevant abandoned Xbox 360. But, I still like the idea.

"Valve Confirms Half-Life 3"

Now that's a topic I would care about.

"Valve Confirms Half-Life 3"

Now that's a topic I would care about.

Blazerdt47

[QUOTE="Blazerdt47"]

"Valve Confirms Half-Life 3"

Now that's a topic I would care about.

MaskedPlayer

I'm expecting to see that in 2013, could be I'm just optimistic.

But they released DOTA and CSGO so they're bound to announce their next game sometime:P

Hopefully it'll actually look like a box too. I rather liked gamecubes design:

My bet is:

PC hardware (quite powerful) in a box, custom linux based OS, custom gamepad, custom interface, no physical media, games will be download only, it will be a closed platform (you cant upgrade it, you cant install whatever software you want), the interface wont ever let you glimpse behind it (you wont be able to see the file tree or mess with config files, etc.).

The question is:

Is this a PC or a console :question:

What do you think, system wars?

My bet is:

PC hardware (quite powerful) in a box, custom linux based OS, custom gamepad, custom interface, no physical media, games will be download only, it will be a closed platform (you cant upgrade it, you cant install whatever software you want), the interface wont ever let you glimpse behind it (you wont be able to see the file tree or mess with config files, etc.).

The question is:

Is this a PC or a console :question:

What do you think, system wars?

BlbecekBobecek

Sounds like a bad idea.

Hmm all I got out of it is that it's a Valve branded gaming PC that's been modified a bit

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/09/valve-confirms-steam-box-a-very-controlled-pc-for-the-living-room/?mtc=comment-333995#comment-333995

Gabe Newell appears to have confirmed rumours that Valve are working on a Steam Box a hardware package designed to bring the PC right to the living room. Talking to Kotaku on the red carpet at the VGAs, Newell said that the response to Big Picture mode was stronger than expected and that this, combined with the ongoing push into Linux, gave Valve a lot of flexibility when it came to designing their own living room-friendly hardware.

As for a time-frame, Newell said that hed expect these sorts of packages to go on sale next year though it isnt entirely clear if he was talking about Valves own efforts or those of other companies looking to do similar things. Well do it but we also think other people will as well, he said.

From the sounds of things, however, Valves plans for the living room dont entail recreating as open and malleable a system as the PC experience currently is.

Well certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment, he said, calling Valves offering a turnkey solution. If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC.

Which begs the question: will the Steam Box be a PC in any meaningful way if it is to be so very controlled?

Good for console gamers who are looking for the opportunity to play on PC, especially those who have no idea how to use a computer.

It isn't for me really. I prefer to have a "general purpose" PC.

I don't know, it'll most likely allow a highly convinent and simplified PC gaming experience for an affordable price, making the PC more popular, which is always good...

But at the same time, it could prove to be a threat to the open-nature of the PC platform, by taking steps towards a closed enviroment. I'll remain skeptical about it, and I definitely don't have any interest in it, as for me, building my own rig is a very important part of the overall PC gaming experience...

Excellent. We're getting closer. All I want is Steam on a console. Steam deals on a console. If this is priced reasonably and is exactly what it sounds like, I may get it.

[QUOTE="ronvalencia"][QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

Hmm all I got out of it is that it's a Valve branded gaming PC that's been modified a bit

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/09/valve-confirms-steam-box-a-very-controlled-pc-for-the-living-room/?mtc=comment-333995#comment-333995

Gabe Newell appears to have confirmed rumours that Valve are working on a Steam Box a hardware package designed to bring the PC right to the living room. Talking to Kotaku on the red carpet at the VGAs, Newell said that the response to Big Picture mode was stronger than expected and that this, combined with the ongoing push into Linux, gave Valve a lot of flexibility when it came to designing their own living room-friendly hardware.

As for a time-frame, Newell said that hed expect these sorts of packages to go on sale next year though it isnt entirely clear if he was talking about Valves own efforts or those of other companies looking to do similar things. Well do it but we also think other people will as well, he said.

From the sounds of things, however, Valves plans for the living room dont entail recreating as open and malleable a system as the PC experience currently is.

Well certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment, he said, calling Valves offering a turnkey solution. If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC.

Which begs the question: will the Steam Box be a PC in any meaningful way if it is to be so very controlled?

funsohng

looks like gabe could have played as harry potter when he was younger

I remember writing a post a few months back saying that eventually, HTPCs would compete directly with consoles and possibly even replace them. This is the next step towards that-- a PC that has streamlined functionality and a low-cost point. Since the vanilla Steam box will be linux-based, that means there will be no Windows license fee and they will be able to keep the cost low (in addition to likely having a very streamlined manufacturing process with everything soldered directly to the motherboard).

It sounds like Gabe Newell's vision is bigger than just that, though-- he wants to see more expensive, elaborate rigs from other companies that use Windows 8 and bring the full PC gaming experience to the living room, running Windows 8 and Steam. Such rigs already exist to a degree, however they are currently rare, since they either have to be built by the user or they are extremely expensive. If the Steam Box is able to expand that market though, there will be a lot more options available, and prices will go down with the Steam Box likely being the cheapest of the available rigs.

For all intents and purposes, the Steam Box will be "the fourth console." However, it is also a PC, and when second-party "steam boxes" arrive that are full-fledged Windows 8 PCs running Steam, the consoles are going to start looking pitifufully underpowered by comparison in the eyes of the average consumer-- not just int terms of graphics, but also in terms of usefulness.

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

Mr_BillGates

[QUOTE="Mr_BillGates"]

Good for them. This is Post-PC era afterall. Best thing to do is move away from that dying breed.

SKaREO

[QUOTE="funsohng"][QUOTE="ronvalencia"] Why would a customer buy another desktop PC type device dedicated just for Steam?Farsendor1

looks like gabe could have played as harry potter when he was younger

Does it also mean John Lennon isn't dead? Imagine all the people? Is the world going to explode in less than 2 weeks? Will the Steam box actually kill PC as an open system? Find out when you tune in for the next episode of Soap!

Hmm all I got out of it is that it's a Valve branded gaming PC that's been modified a bit

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/09/valve-confirms-steam-box-a-very-controlled-pc-for-the-living-room/?mtc=comment-333995#comment-333995

Gabe Newell appears to have confirmed rumours that Valve are working on a Steam Box a hardware package designed to bring the PC right to the living room. Talking to Kotaku on the red carpet at the VGAs, Newell said that the response to Big Picture mode was stronger than expected and that this, combined with the ongoing push into Linux, gave Valve a lot of flexibility when it came to designing their own living room-friendly hardware.

As for a time-frame, Newell said that hed expect these sorts of packages to go on sale next year though it isnt entirely clear if he was talking about Valves own efforts or those of other companies looking to do similar things. Well do it but we also think other people will as well, he said.

From the sounds of things, however, Valves plans for the living room dont entail recreating as open and malleable a system as the PC experience currently is.

Well certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment, he said, calling Valves offering a turnkey solution. If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC.

Which begs the question: will the Steam Box be a PC in any meaningful way if it is to be so very controlled?

[QUOTE="funsohng"][QUOTE="ronvalencia"] Why would a customer buy another desktop PC type device dedicated just for Steam?Farsendor1

looks like gabe could have played as harry potter when he was younger

"Valve Confirms Half-Life 3"

Now that's a topic I would care about.

Blazerdt47

[QUOTE="Blazerdt47"]

"Valve Confirms Half-Life 3"

Now that's a topic I would care about.

yellonet

So the Hermit messiah is creating a console?

Ouch.

So the Hermit messiah is creating a console?

Ouch.

Rockman999

PC with a console environment. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Steam overlay for Windows, but full Windows functionality.

Might flop bigger then the vitafueled-system

Might be more popular than the Wii.

will get. No doubt it will be simipler then a

PC but play ulitplats better then a microsoft console. Better multiplats better inidie offerings, and ovbiously the best online experience apart from a full blown PC

Why would anyone buy this? Just build your own will be cheaper.osirisx3

For the reasons Gabe has outlined... They want to address a more "console" experience, and the PC is pretty anti-console experience, for the most part. It can be made to be, but how about a straight-to-market solution?

This could also be a great HTPC solution... Combined with other software...

My HTPC solution:

This software updates all poster and background images for my shows as it reads the shows from a specified folder. It grabs the images from specific websites. Absolutely brilliant, and largely hands-off.

My PC is also set to boot straight into this.

[QUOTE="osirisx3"]Why would anyone buy this? Just build your own will be cheaper.lundy86_4

For the reasons Gabe has outlined... They want to address a more "console" experience, and the PC is pretty anti-console experience, for the most part. It can be made to be, but how about a straight-to-market solution?

This could also be a great HTPC solution... Combined with other software...

My HTPC solution:

Console experience on pc lol wont work sorry they are two different beasts all together. Omg it has a overlay and a controller stop the presses!osirisx3

See:

1. Controller integration
2. Steam "Big Picture" mode.
3. Multiple HTPC solutions... One is shown above.
4. HTPC form factors cloer to that of consoles for smaller cases.

You realize that PC/HTPC/Living room solutions are becoming drastically more popular, right? As noted by the increase in HTPC case production and Steam's push to bring Big Picture mode.

Hell, this is exactly what Gabe is addressing, and he's drastically more educated on market shifts in the PC market.

So the Hermit messiah is creating a console?

Ouch.

Rockman999