SteamOS announced - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Hemi-Cuda · 09-23-2013, 11:32 AM

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamOS/

Open source (built upon Linux), freely licensable, can be installed on "existing living room hardware". But this is what gets me really excited

Quote:

You can play all your Windows and Mac games on your SteamOS machine, too. Just turn on your existing computer and run Steam as you always have - then your SteamOS machine can stream those games over your home network straight to your TV!

I've been debating on whether to build a gaming rig for my living room, as I'm getting more and more games through Steam that I'd prefer to play on the couch. This solves that issue, letting me use the power I already have from my current PC. Can't wait until we see more

Hemi-Cuda · 09-23-2013, 11:35 AM

Oh and this is the first of 3 announcements from Valve over the next few days. It's heavily speculated that one of the other 2 will be the actual Steam box that's been rumored for awhile, to pair with SteamOS

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/

PsYcNeT · 09-23-2013, 11:37 AM

Friggin brilliant. Was waiting for some kind of streaming OS for my Media Centre.

So I'm guessing I'll have to dual boot. No prob!

Man I'm stoked, what a money saver.

Raekwon · 09-23-2013, 11:45 AM

Just showed you my OS face

I wonder what the specs for the SteamOS box will need to be. Also how will it work for non-steam games like Blizzard games? very interesting

Hemi-Cuda · 09-23-2013, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Friggin brilliant. Was waiting for some kind of streaming OS for my Media Centre.

So I'm guessing I'll have to dual boot. No prob!

Man I'm stoked, what a money saver.

Ya the only reason I was even considering an Xbox One was for it's multimedia capabilities. Now though I don't think I'll ever pick one up. Just think of one box that can stream all of your PC games plus have something like Plex installed for your movies and TV shows. Ultimate home theater in a box

PsYcNeT · 09-23-2013, 11:50 AM

Hmmm... wonder if both PCs will have to be running SteamOS?

Wonder how Linux handles SLI.

Hemi-Cuda · 09-23-2013, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Hmmm... wonder if both PCs will have to be running SteamOS?

Wonder how Linux handles SLI.

They say straight in the announcement that you can play your existing Windows games, I don't think they make that kind of blanket statement if you needed to install a different OS on your main PC. And Linux doesn't do SLI, but it won't need to since all of the work will be done by your PC. The Steam box will just be a streaming device, just like the recently announced PS+ box is for the PS4

PsYcNeT · 09-23-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

They say straight in the announcement that you can play your existing Windows games, I don't think they make that kind of blanket statement if you needed to install a different OS on your main PC. And Linux doesn't do SLI, but it won't need to since all of the work will be done by your PC. The Steam box will just be a streaming device, just like the recently announced PS+ box is for the PS4

That's what I was hoping it would be.

Should be nice and easy to dual boot my media PC then. Score.

Rathji · 09-23-2013, 12:42 PM

This is very nice. I can't seem to find any link with real details though.

Anyone know what they mean by 'living room machine'? A game console? PC?

PsYcNeT · 09-23-2013, 12:45 PM

I doubt the OS will be compatible with a PS4/XBone (who knows though), so any device you can successfully install Linux on I assume.

Rathji · 09-23-2013, 12:50 PM

ok, that makes sense. For some reason I didn't clue in that the SteamOS needs to be running on the device.

No idea how I didn't make that connection...

I assume the hardware on the box is going to determine the performance, so in reality how does this differ from just installing windows on a PC and connecting it to the TV? Just don't need to do the install, so you could get away with a tiny SSD, is that about it?

PsYcNeT · 09-23-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

ok, that makes sense. For some reason I didn't clue in that the SteamOS needs to be running on the device.

No idea how I didn't make that connection...

I assume the hardware on the box is going to determine the performance, so in reality how does this differ from just installing windows on a PC and connecting it to the TV? Just don't need to do the install, so you could get away with a tiny SSD, is that about it?

Basically the device works like the new nVidia Shield works, in that it goes:

a) your primary gaming PC handles all the processing power

b) send info through your network (I assume it has to be on a LAN, as WAN speeds may not work)

c) the media PC (or whatever device you have SteamOS on) receives the signal, does fairly minimal processing, and basically "tunnels" the audio and video from you gaming PC to the media device, essentially allowing you to use a way less powerful gaming PC in your living room, while still enjoying the power of your gaming PC.

Mostly it's a boon to turbonerds like myself that spend thousands on PC hardware to try and stay cutting edge, but don't want to have to spend that on their home theatre setup. Often, if I want to play a primarily controller heavy game on my home theatre (did this with SRIV recently), I lug my PC downstairs and hook it up. This eliminates that step, since I already have a less-powerful PC hooked up to that TV.

Hack&Lube · 09-23-2013, 01:32 PM

By the time Half-life 3 comes out, we'll have holographic Steam on our living room tables.

Hemi-Cuda · 09-25-2013, 06:42 PM

The Steam Box(es) have been announced

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/

Anduril · 09-25-2013, 06:48 PM

List of things to do in order to put yourself on the list to be a beta user by Oct 25

Quote:

Here’s how to participate
Want to make yourself eligible to participate in the beta? Add yourself to the list of candidates by completing the Eligibility Quest on Steam. Sound hard? It’s not.
THE HARDWARE BETA ELIGIBILITY QUEST:
Before October 25, log in to Steam and then visit your quest page to track your current status towards beta test eligibility
1. Join the Steam Universe community group
2. Agree to the Steam Hardware Beta Terms and Conditions
3. Make 10 Steam friends (if you haven't already)
4. Create a public Steam Community profile (if you haven't already)
5. Play a game using a gamepad in Big Picture mode

cDnStealth · 09-25-2013, 07:30 PM

I signed up immediately. I'd love to test one of these things out.

Hemi-Cuda · 09-25-2013, 07:41 PM

I like what I see about the multiple pricing and performance levels. I'm guessing the base models will be good for casual gaming, Netflix and other tv/movie streaming, and game streaming when hooked up to a powerful PC. And the higher end models will compete against the consoles being able to play the triple-A titles on Steam natively (hopefully with upgradable components)

This could be big news for console gaming, as with Nintendo becoming less and less relevant it's really only a two horse race between Sony and Microsoft. Hopefully the threat of Steam invading their home theater spaces and offering games far cheaper then they currently are will drive more competition

FlamingLonghorn · 09-26-2013, 07:16 AM

I don't get the excitement. I feel like it is solving a problem that doesn't really exist en masse. However, the Steam fans will eat it up initially. Maybe I am missing something here. How are they offering games cheaper? Doesn't it just play PC games?

cDnStealth · 09-26-2013, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

I don't get the excitement. I feel like it is solving a problem that doesn't really exist en masse. However, the Steam fans will eat it up initially. Maybe I am missing something here. How are they offering games cheaper? Doesn't it just play PC games?

It's actually a great move by Valve because it gives them the opportunity to poach console gamers away from MS, Sony and Nintendo. If they can offer an entry level system somewhere around the cost of a PS4 or Xbox One then I think Valve has a good chance of gaining some new customers.

They have a HUGE catalogue of games and forget about the "backwards compatability" issues surrounding consoles because every game is good to go. There is a lot more flexability to using a Steam system than a console. If a player decides to upgrade their box or even buy a PC their library stays with them and can be played on any system.

How are they offering games cheaper? Just look at their sales. They sell more games and make more money during heavily discounted sales then at any other time during the year. Of course it's only PC games but you do realize that most of the third party console games get released on PC too right?

Rathji · 09-26-2013, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

I don't get the excitement. I feel like it is solving a problem that doesn't really exist en masse. However, the Steam fans will eat it up initially. Maybe I am missing something here. How are they offering games cheaper? Doesn't it just play PC games?

This means I never have to purchase another console other than a Steambox, for the rest of my life.

I can get games from Steam for a huge discount and play them on my PC or through my TV. I don't need to buy them twice, I don't need to pay full price unless it is a new release. I am not restricted by the storage space on my console, if I didn't happen to buy the correct version for my needs, instead, I can go buy a new drive for $100 from Memory Express and toss it into my desktop, where I can also use it for my media storage etc.

The only people who wouldn't be excited about this is people who really don't understand how much better Steam is than the traditional model.