Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   The highly anticipated gaming-friendly operating system is scheduled to be available tomorrow, along with 300 prototype Steam Machines that will be shipped to beta testers.
   Don Reisinger
   by Don Reisinger
   December 12, 2013 8:47 AM PST

   SteamOS, the highly anticipated software platform for gamers, will launch on Friday, Valve, the company behind the platform, has confirmed.

   In addition to launching SteamOS, Valve says that it'll make available 300 prototype Steam Machines and controllers to those who signed up for the Steam Machine beta test. The Steam Machine is essentially a PC designed for the living room that will allow gamers to play titles through SteamOS on their televisions.

   SteamOS was announced earlier this year as an ambitious project to bring yet more streaming to the living room. The Linux-based platform comes with Steam's Big Picture mode, allowing users to play titles through Steam with a controller. The service, in other words, attempts to turn standard mouse-and-keyboard PC gaming to controller-based, couch-sitting gaming.

   Beyond gaming, Valve envisions SteamOS being a platform for streaming television and movies, as well as games that are already running on a Windows or Mac box.

   Although Valve is trying to boost its chances of getting SteamOS off the ground with Steam Machines, that might not be the main thrust of its sales pitch to customers. SteamOS is a relatively lightweight platform that can run on just about any machine. So in theory, any computer could be a "Steam Machine" and will provide the same access to Steam OS as Valve's own devices.

   Valve was quick to point out that trying out SteamOS right now might not be the best move, however. The company said that it's only in beta and it might prove to be a stripped-down version as it adds more features.

   "[Steam OS] will be downloadable by individual users and commercial OEMs," Valve wrote on its community site. "(But unless you're an intrepid Linux hacker already, we're going to recommend that you wait until later in 2014 to try it out.) We'll post info soon about that."

   (Via ExtremeTech)

   article

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   Posted 10 years ago #
2. 

   Whiterabbit-uk
   Games Guru

   Only available to US users.

   Posted 10 years ago #
3. 

   BentlyTCow
   Member

   Only available to US users.

   We’ve had to make the difficult decision to limit our beta to the U.S. only, because of regulatory hurdles. This was not our original plan, and it means we can’t collect beta feedback from Steam customers world-wide, which is pretty unfortunate. All things considered, we’re sure it was the right decision, because the alternative was to delay the whole beta beyond the point when we’d be able to incorporate any feedback into the 2014 products. This decision only affects Valve’s 300 prototype units; the commercial versions of Steam Machines that are for sale in 2014 won’t be affected by this. More information on those will be announced at CES on January 6.
   

   I think I'd rather have the beta test be in the States than nowhere. I'm really interested in seeing where this goes though - I'd love to be able to dump Windows. I doubt that will ever actually happen with non-Valve games, they'll probably end up just streaming to the Steam box from a standard gaming PC, but I'd still love to see it.

   Anyone want to bet on Half-Life 3 as a launch title? :)

   Posted 10 years ago #
4. 

   Whiterabbit-uk
   Games Guru

   1:1 - I reckon Left 4 Dead 3 or Half life 3.

   Posted 10 years ago #
5. 

   BentlyTCow
   Member

   I'd be happy with either of those, but I'd be happier with HL3 :)

   How about a giant launch bundle of HL3, LFD3, Team Fortress 3, and what the heck, Portal 3 and DOTA 3 as well.

   And, while we're at it, Portal 3 and Half-Life 3 are crossovers. Gordon finally gets his hands on the Portal Gun and we get Chell with a Gravity Gun. Firing of toilets through portals ensues!

   *Sigh*

   Well, I'm allowed to dream, right? :)

   Posted 10 years ago #
6. 

   Whiterabbit-uk
   Games Guru

   

   Posted 10 years ago #

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