"Steam Box" - Steam gaming console rumour

Nineaxis

Quack Doctor
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May 19, 2008
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http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/2/2840932/exclusive-valve-steam-box-gaming-console

Sounds interesting.
  • Third party hardware system
  • Specs and software set by Valve
  • Rumoured baseline specs include a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GPU
  • Able to run any PC games, and will also allow non-Steam services to be loaded
  • Would establish a clear hardware lifecycle for developers
  • USB peripherals including controller with swappable components
  • Would utilize Steam's Big Picture mode
  • Could possibly compete with Apple TV and similar products, not just gaming consoles
  • Goal is to introduce an open non-PC gaming/media ecosystem
 

Freyja

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Jul 31, 2009
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I'm not so sure I could settle into console gaming, no matter who makes it. I just prefer sitting in front of the screen with a keyboard on a table.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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I can see why they would consider going into the hardware scene, Valve have always provided an excellent service and the services provided by Windows and their xbox 360, and sony and the ps3, have been nothing short of less than what was promised.

I'm not sure what they think they're up to and my concern is that if Valve are doing too many things at once then the companies quality will degrade overall. It has always been a small company and the more a company grows the more it tends to let quality slide.

@Harribo: Gabe didn't want to get into the console business because he would have to convert all his code to openGL. A lot of hours duplicating existing content to tap into an inferior market.

If they just went and made their own system though they wouldn't have to waste man hours converting code and instead immediately throw products out onto the market.

That's what i understand about it so far.
 

Freyja

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Jul 31, 2009
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I was talking about this to a friend.

I can't see us loosing anything with this.

This is basically giving console gamers a new console, which is many times more powerful than what they have at the moment, therefore they'll be happy too. Except it will be running PC programs, which is extra good for them because DLC will be easy, as well as them being able to run many PC-only games.

It's also good for us because if it does indeed manage to rival the PS3 and xbox, and I see no reason it would, it'll bring the "PC console" into the line for console-exclusive games. And we can get them too, because that means they'll be developed for PC simultaneously.

Not only that, but we get to play with them, and you can take your save games cross-platform, as well as your custom maps, models.

I won't buy one, probably, nor will I use one if I get the chance, but It's good for us regardless.
 

Kiddnils

L3: Member
Sep 2, 2011
140
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Maybe interesting: List of Valve Patents

GAME ANIMATIONS WITH MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO GAME DATA Published: 02-02-2012
COMPOSITING MULTIPLE SCENE SHOTS INTO A VIDEO GAME CLIP Published: 02-02-2012
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR MODIFICATION OF ANIMATION DATA USING PRESET ANIMATION SAMPLES
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO GAME WORLD DATA RECORDER Published: 01-26-2012
VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER HAVING USER SWAPPABLE CONTROL COMPONENTS Published: 05-05-2011
PLAYER BIOFEEDBACK FOR DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLING A VIDEO GAME STATE Published: 01-13-2011
List from http://www.faqs.org/patents/assignee/valve-corporation/
 

A Boojum Snark

Toraipoddodezain Mazahabado
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Nov 2, 2007
4,775
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Why should i buy this and a tv when i could get a PC that could do all of that, PLUS your standard PC stuff.
The answer really is that you shouldn't. You aren't the target market. This would be for the tens of thousands of people that prefer lounging on their couch to play video games and only use a computer for facebook, and perhaps cannot even run modern PC games.
 

Sel

Banned
Feb 18, 2009
1,239
2,570
If you're going to trick out a console with parts that aren't garbage, why not just buy a pc and hook it up to your tv instead?
 

A Boojum Snark

Toraipoddodezain Mazahabado
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Nov 2, 2007
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It's still about marketing and the target demographic. "Just buy a PC" still requires people to figure out what they do/don't need and making a standard box with (presumably) a stripped down console-esque UI will appeal to the computer/hardware illiterate.

Of course... this is still all speculation on why a rumored piece of hardware would be made, so... grain of salt and all that.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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PLAYER BIOFEEDBACK FOR DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLING A VIDEO GAME STATE Published: 01-13-2011
List from http://www.faqs.org/patents/assignee/valve-corporation/

That's odd, Windows are already in the realm of creating a similar console controller in a squishy ball with detatchable components that allow disabled people to play video games.

It'd be a shame if Valve start sueing Windows/Xbox because their controller that's primarily for disabled children uses detatchable components.

It's still about marketing and the target demographic. "Just buy a PC" still requires people to figure out what they do/don't need and making a standard box with (presumably) a stripped down console-esque UI will appeal to the computer/hardware illiterate.

Of course... this is still all speculation on why a rumored piece of hardware would be made, so... grain of salt and all that.

I guess the hardest part for Valve then would be to break through all the cruisader like fanboyism that exists between console users. Console players tend to be very loyal customers to their respective brands. Especially when they can't afford to have both the 2 top dogs at once, xbox and the ps3.
 
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YM

LVL100 YM
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Dec 5, 2007
7,135
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Maybe interesting: List of Valve Patents

GAME ANIMATIONS WITH MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO GAME DATA Published: 02-02-2012
COMPOSITING MULTIPLE SCENE SHOTS INTO A VIDEO GAME CLIP Published: 02-02-2012
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR MODIFICATION OF ANIMATION DATA USING PRESET ANIMATION SAMPLES
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO GAME WORLD DATA RECORDER Published: 01-26-2012
VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER HAVING USER SWAPPABLE CONTROL COMPONENTS Published: 05-05-2011
PLAYER BIOFEEDBACK FOR DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLING A VIDEO GAME STATE Published: 01-13-2011
List from http://www.faqs.org/patents/assignee/valve-corporation/

Top four are just source film maker.

Only the modular controller sounds remotely related to this 'steam box'
 

Pocket

Half a Lambert is better than one.
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Nov 14, 2009
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Pffft. Valve can't even be bothered to follow through with their plans to make their shit work on Macs; why do they think this would be any different?