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Valve launches SteamOSValve launches SteamOSPosted Sep 24, 2013 1:45 UTC (Tue) by khim (subscriber, #9252)In reply to: Valve launches SteamOS by Cyberax Parent article: Valve launches SteamOS
Since this box is going to be open Who said it'll be open? When? So far all “big” successful consoles were extremely closed systems. Yes, they were cracked (XMBC means Xbox Media Center, remember?), but this process becomes harder and harder with time. If it'll be open it'll be huge departure from the norm, but yes, it'll be awesome.
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Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 3:25 UTC (Tue) by Cyberax (✭ supporter ✭, #52523) [Link]
The link says that this OS is going to be installable on third-party hardware. It's hard to do this without sn open system.
Anyway, PC gaming shows us that it's perfectly possible to use open hardware for games.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 4:33 UTC (Tue) by swetland (subscriber, #63414) [Link]
I'm curious to see the details, but I suspect it's going to be a light linux distribution (possibly based on something already out there) that boots into Steam's "Big Picture" experience. I bet they'll have a way to get a shell, side-load apps & content, etc, without too much hassle.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 4:36 UTC (Tue) by lamawithonel (subscriber, #86149) [Link] It also mentions that users will be able to replace components of software. What that means remains to be seen, though. The only mention of the word *open* is in quotes, where they write,Steam is not a one-way content broadcast channel, it’s a collaborative many-to-many entertainment platform, in which each participant is a multiplier of the experience for everyone else. With SteamOS, “openness” means that the hardware industry can iterate in the living room at a much faster pace than they’ve been able to. Content creators can connect directly to their customers. Users can alter or replace any part of the software or hardware they want. Gamers are empowered to join in the creation of the games they love. SteamOS will continue to evolve, but will remain an environment designed to foster these kinds of innovation.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 6:47 UTC (Tue) by k8to (subscriber, #15413) [Link]
It's certainly not quite the Free Software ideas of freedom and openness, as one of the more significant features of Steam is DRM. Games don't actually have to use the DRM features, but almost all of them do.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 7:18 UTC (Tue) by swetland (subscriber, #63414) [Link]
None of these "features" require OS support as far as I'm aware (Steam on Linux doesn't need any special privileged bits to work, Steam on Windows seems pretty standalone, etc). Their model has not required platform-level DRM and hopefully they're not going to change directions on that. It's a big headache that doesn't actually "solve" piracy, and they haven't needed it so far, so I'd be surprised if they decided they needed it now.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 18:23 UTC (Tue) by k8to (subscriber, #15413) [Link]
Yes, I wasn't implying anything otherwise.
But it makes it clear that there are some limits to the openness.
I rather expect the platform to be pretty much entirely transparent, but we'll see.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 25, 2013 17:12 UTC (Wed) by tjc (subscriber, #137) [Link]
The hardware announcement was made a few minutes ago. I like this bit:
Q. Will I be able to build my own box to run SteamOS?
A. Yes.
http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 4:50 UTC (Tue) by Cyberax (✭ supporter ✭, #52523) [Link]
Also, I think Valve understands pretty well that they lack resources to compete with MS and Sony on the "closed box" market. If they provide a degree of openness, like ability to install third-party software that can interact with Valve services and, perhaps, a lightly-moderated market like Google Play they just might succeed in creating a diverse ecosystem.
It's also pretty clear that "closed box" market is failing in many ways - consoles are still used mostly for gaming only, not as entertainment hubs.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 6:51 UTC (Tue) by k8to (subscriber, #15413) [Link]
Personally, I'm not really convinced. I think to really take the couch-surfing world by storm, you have to really hit the design right square on the head. If I look at the Steam client on windows/linux/mac, or at their iterative approaches to community moderation in Dota 2, they make earnest tries and do steadily try for improvement, but progress is often glacial, and flaws and glitchy feeling systems can go unresolved for many years.
I'd love for an open Linux system with users put first to take over a segment of "consumer computing" but I suspect the polish factor to be a very strong factor. The obvious question is whether the availability of all these games can attract an audience and make a florishing ecosystem despite that.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 7:20 UTC (Tue) by swetland (subscriber, #63414) [Link]
The xbox and ps3 experiences haven't really been all that amazing UI/UX-wise. If things work reliably, some rough edges aren't likely to scare people away if the price is right and the content they want is there.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 18:24 UTC (Tue) by k8to (subscriber, #15413) [Link]
They can beat the consoles on polish. I just don't know about for example Apple.
Valve launches SteamOS Posted Sep 24, 2013 13:20 UTC (Tue) by Wol (guest, #4433) [Link]
How many linux contributors are Steam fans?
If I were at Steam, I'd try to find some, and then just sort out some bounty system for fixing the bugs. Or even just sponsor some of them on the basis that they work on linux with an emphasis on fixing Steam bugs/"features".
Cheers,
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