Valve to release console?

cunning-stunt · 05-Mar-2012, 17:06

Don't know if this has been posted elsewhere?

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming...oming--1068665

Chef_uk · 07-Mar-2012, 20:43

If this had come out on April 1st you would have sworn it was an april fools joke.

As it isn't even April yet, we can assume they are looking in to the possibility of emulating a sort of onlive experience. I like the sound of that

Being able to play your Steam games in the living room does have a certain appeal especially as most games now are console ports.

Minty · 07-Mar-2012, 22:13

Would make sense. If they do dip into cloud gaming, maybe they will retroactively allow cloud gaming on purchases. That would simply make the Steam platform unbeatable.

*Edit* could potentially deal a big blow to game piracy too. The convenience of being able to play your games on your work laptop or tablet PC would be a big draw for a lot of consumers.

GroovYF · 07-Mar-2012, 22:23

I think the Steam catalogue available and accessible in something like the onlive hardware would go down a treat.

FuzzyLogic · 07-Mar-2012, 22:29

The ultimate gimmick would possibly be to make the case resemble a companion cube. Heh.

Belgarath · 08-Mar-2012, 01:22

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog...7632/?p1=blogs

Looking at the specs they're touting (Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GPU), looks like a cross between a PC and console, or a standard PC configuration. Not sure what they'd do regarding Windows though, you'd think they'd want to bypass it, but that would impose limitations.

MaNiC^ · 08-Mar-2012, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuzzyLogic

The ultimate gimmick would possibly be to make the case resemble a companion cube. Heh.

http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20120305

mr_o · 08-Mar-2012, 15:30

They would get bored of it after 6 months and instead try to sell you hats for the games you have bought.

mr_o · 08-Mar-2012, 15:34

And after looking at that link I see I'm not far off what others think.

naib · 25-Apr-2012, 21:55

According to this site, Valve has confirmed that they plan to release Linux versions of Steam and Source:

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...pfnudeln&num=1

When you think of how few Linux machines there are, you would expect there to be little demand for it. However if the console rumours are true then it makes sense as it would allow them to avoid the cost of a windows license.

Inertiaman · 25-Apr-2012, 22:15

Games library would be a bit light though wouldn't it.

mr_o · 25-Apr-2012, 23:18

Isn't there some way to wrap the games in a container like they do for Macs? Or have I missed something?

Minty · 25-Apr-2012, 23:29

Sure, if Valve are prepared to program their own Windows emulation software as I assume that licensing existing software may be costly.

PsYcHoKiLLa · 26-Apr-2012, 02:14

Surely it wouldn't be any more difficult than the Mac versions, after all the Mac OS is based on FreeBSD, a linux derivative.

Bleh · 26-Apr-2012, 03:00

If they make it work with mouse and keyboard out of the box then they're onto a winner

Bleh · 26-Apr-2012, 03:01

Wtf repost plz del

Bleh · 26-Apr-2012, 03:01

Wtf repost plz del

T3CH^ · 26-Apr-2012, 03:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleh

If they make it work with mouse and keyboard out of the box then they're onto a winner

Be more of a winner if you did

BBW · 26-Apr-2012, 08:12

It's got fail written all over it though. The pain that Microsoft went through to get to this stage with Xbox is more than most companies would be able to endure. Sony had the market alto itself back in the PS1 days so it couldn't really fail. If Sony had entered the console marketplace with the PS3 everyone would have just lol'd and it would have bombed.

Stick to what you know.

naib · 26-Apr-2012, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inertiaman

Games library would be a bit light though wouldn't it.

If they ported all the Valve games to it, then you already have more decent game than the Wii has

I'm guessing that Valve would not produce the console themselves, but instead they would release a minimum spec using standard PC hardware. That should keep the cost down, and allow anyone to build the console. If they didn't have an upfront licensing cost that could help entice game developers, especially indie games.

[RaG]Ethel · 26-Apr-2012, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBW

Stick to what you know.

yeah, Steam was a disaster.

No, wait

Orange · 26-Apr-2012, 11:52

Isn't all this stuff about Steam's Big Picture mode?

Spazwankle · 26-Apr-2012, 13:14

I think it's a next logical step for Valve in moving forward with their Steam platform.

PC gaming market as it is now, is getting smaller and it's only going to keep getting smaller over the next 5 or so years. The more that happens, the less relevant Steam will be, so it needs to evolve into something else.

Like other have said, I'd see it being closer to something like OnLive, but having the already massive userbase when moving from the desktop to TV or portable device etc.

EvilGrin · 26-Apr-2012, 13:24

PC sales are up, and so are PC gaming sales despite this recession business.

Inertiaman · 26-Apr-2012, 13:30

Cheaper than the pub!

Spookie · 26-Apr-2012, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spazwankle

PC gaming market as it is now, is getting smaller and it's only going to keep getting smaller over the next 5 or so years.

I thought it was growing due to the extended console cycle and the lower entry price for acceptable IQ at 720p.

Pulse · 26-Apr-2012, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inertiaman

Games library would be a bit light though wouldn't it.

Possibly they'd attempt to market it as a platform as a whole for developers to target just as they would XBox or Playstation.

Who knows, Valve may even develop something like their own version of DirectX to do the cross platform layer for the developers (maybe not do a ground up graphics library but a middleware between DX and OGL? + other associated input/output libraries) - perhaps they have gained that experience now that they ship their own Valve games on Windows, Mac, Xbox and PS3.

Inertiaman · 26-Apr-2012, 13:54

It's a good point - one assumes given all the grief they'll go through with manufacturing they'd be looking for line of least resistance and maximum choice at the software (windows) but then they've got form for ambition.

Spazwankle · 26-Apr-2012, 14:01

Just did a quick Google for PC sales figures. Maybe looks like slightly rising/slightly falling?

Links ahoy!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15536488
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...arket-analysis
http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1893523

To me, that looks like it's stable for now, but with tablets, mobiles, next generation consoles being some sort of megahub, where would that leave the PC in 5-ish years time? Or 10 years? The way people use their computers has started to move away from ye olde days of desk/chair/monitor/tower and I can only see it getting further away over time. Which means Steam needs to change along with it.

This is coming from someone who is on the lookout for a new PC to replace his 10 year old desktop (work machine only)

T3CH^ · 26-Apr-2012, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spazwankle

The way people use their computers has started to move away from ye olde days of desk/chair/monitor/tower and I can only see it getting further away over time.

Already there mate, mine is in the living room hooked up to the TV. (although my second systems in a 'proper' setup)

05-Mar-2012, 17:06	#1
cunning-stunt postaholic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,199	Valve to release console? Don't know if this has been posted elsewhere? http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming...oming--1068665

07-Mar-2012, 20:43	#2
Chef_uk attention seeker Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: U.K Posts: 6,221	If this had come out on April 1st you would have sworn it was an april fools joke. As it isn't even April yet, we can assume they are looking in to the possibility of emulating a sort of onlive experience. I like the sound of that Being able to play your Steam games in the living room does have a certain appeal especially as most games now are console ports. __________________ My Veg Growing Blog \| Clan PTG

07-Mar-2012, 22:13	#3
Minty Stick 'im wiv a blayde! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Preston Posts: 10,960	Would make sense. If they do dip into cloud gaming, maybe they will retroactively allow cloud gaming on purchases. That would simply make the Steam platform unbeatable. Edit could potentially deal a big blow to game piracy too. The convenience of being able to play your games on your work laptop or tablet PC would be a big draw for a lot of consumers. __________________ "The French like to do a poo in the shower then poke it down the hole with their toe." Last edited by Minty; 07-Mar-2012 at 22:27.

07-Mar-2012, 22:23	#4
GroovYF Octave Doctor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Halifax Posts: 22,278	I think the Steam catalogue available and accessible in something like the onlive hardware would go down a treat. __________________ photoblog

07-Mar-2012, 22:29	#5
FuzzyLogic troll Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 220	The ultimate gimmick would possibly be to make the case resemble a companion cube. Heh. __________________ <Insert witty comment here>

08-Mar-2012, 01:22	#6
Belgarath poster of the month Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,506	http://www.technologyreview.com/blog...7632/?p1=blogs Looking at the specs they're touting (Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GPU), looks like a cross between a PC and console, or a standard PC configuration. Not sure what they'd do regarding Windows though, you'd think they'd want to bypass it, but that would impose limitations.

08-Mar-2012, 15:30	#8
mr_o empty minds post alike Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 9,075	They would get bored of it after 6 months and instead try to sell you hats for the games you have bought. __________________ As the ancient Tibetan philosphy states, 'Don't start none -- won't be none!.'" - Jake Jense

08-Mar-2012, 15:34	#9
mr_o empty minds post alike Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 9,075	And after looking at that link I see I'm not far off what others think. __________________ As the ancient Tibetan philosphy states, 'Don't start none -- won't be none!.'" - Jake Jense

25-Apr-2012, 21:55	#10
naib forum hax Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 463	According to this site, Valve has confirmed that they plan to release Linux versions of Steam and Source: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...pfnudeln&num=1 When you think of how few Linux machines there are, you would expect there to be little demand for it. However if the console rumours are true then it makes sense as it would allow them to avoid the cost of a windows license.

25-Apr-2012, 23:18	#12
mr_o empty minds post alike Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 9,075	Isn't there some way to wrap the games in a container like they do for Macs? Or have I missed something? __________________ As the ancient Tibetan philosphy states, 'Don't start none -- won't be none!.'" - Jake Jense

25-Apr-2012, 23:29	#13
Minty Stick 'im wiv a blayde! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Preston Posts: 10,960	Sure, if Valve are prepared to program their own Windows emulation software as I assume that licensing existing software may be costly. __________________ "The French like to do a poo in the shower then poke it down the hole with their toe."

26-Apr-2012, 02:14	#14
PsYcHoKiLLa spam tbh Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 943	Surely it wouldn't be any more difficult than the Mac versions, after all the Mac OS is based on FreeBSD, a linux derivative.

26-Apr-2012, 03:00	#15
Bleh posts for a living Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 4,202	If they make it work with mouse and keyboard out of the box then they're onto a winner __________________ There's No Place Like 127.0.0.1

26-Apr-2012, 03:01	#16
Bleh posts for a living Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 4,202	Wtf repost plz del __________________ There's No Place Like 127.0.0.1 Last edited by Bleh; 28-Apr-2012 at 04:40.

26-Apr-2012, 08:12	#19
BBW Contains flashing images. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In the woods... Tournaments Won: 1 Posts: 12,401	It's got fail written all over it though. The pain that Microsoft went through to get to this stage with Xbox is more than most companies would be able to endure. Sony had the market alto itself back in the PS1 days so it couldn't really fail. If Sony had entered the console marketplace with the PS3 everyone would have just lol'd and it would have bombed. Stick to what you know. __________________ "There you go... giving a fuck when it ain't your turn to give a fuck." Xbox Live Profile :: Photoblog :: Flickr ::

26-Apr-2012, 11:52	#22
Orange member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,606	Isn't all this stuff about Steam's Big Picture mode?

26-Apr-2012, 13:14	#23
Spazwankle I love lamp Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,748	I think it's a next logical step for Valve in moving forward with their Steam platform. PC gaming market as it is now, is getting smaller and it's only going to keep getting smaller over the next 5 or so years. The more that happens, the less relevant Steam will be, so it needs to evolve into something else. Like other have said, I'd see it being closer to something like OnLive, but having the already massive userbase when moving from the desktop to TV or portable device etc. __________________ "You keep a horse in your basement?" "The quickest way to a girl's bed is through her parents. Have sex with them and you're in."

26-Apr-2012, 13:24	#24
EvilGrin click here to reset post count Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lancs, UK. Posts: 5,578	PC sales are up, and so are PC gaming sales despite this recession business. __________________ Edugeek - Techies in Education!

26-Apr-2012, 14:01	#29
Spazwankle I love lamp Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,748	Just did a quick Google for PC sales figures. Maybe looks like slightly rising/slightly falling? Links ahoy! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15536488 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...arket-analysis http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1893523 To me, that looks like it's stable for now, but with tablets, mobiles, next generation consoles being some sort of megahub, where would that leave the PC in 5-ish years time? Or 10 years? The way people use their computers has started to move away from ye olde days of desk/chair/monitor/tower and I can only see it getting further away over time. Which means Steam needs to change along with it. This is coming from someone who is on the lookout for a new PC to replace his 10 year old desktop (work machine only) __________________ "You keep a horse in your basement?" "The quickest way to a girl's bed is through her parents. Have sex with them and you're in."