Gabe Newell: Valve will release its own console-like PC

[DieH@rd]

New info from german tech conference where Ben Krasnow [Valve electronics engineer] talked about Valve hardware plans:
- Valve's console will launch in 2013
- It will use Linux, not Windows
- Valve's hardware labs will reveal other stuff in 2013 (possibly controllers? VR?)
- Krasnow has been working on Valve hardware with Jeri Ellsworth since 2011
- Possible reveal at GDC or E3
More @ http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=506899


So... dedicated hardware will run only Linux, secret peripherals could be driving force for achieving popularity. One thing is certain, E3 will be insane with 3 new console reveals.

 

[Helmore]

What are the expected specs of the Steambox? Any confirmed details? Except that it runs on Linux that is....

BTW, can we really consider the Steambox to be one of the next gen consoles? Can we consider it to be a console in other words?

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

Would it be unreasonable to expect something like this as a next gen console

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472732

The x51 basically is a console with off the shelf parts. If devs had something like that x51 the 180w 2.5TF, couldn't they do some pretty neat stuff especially on a static closed environment?

 

[LXFBN]

Will the steam box be using directly off the shelf parts like the alienware x51, or will it be using a GPU, CPU and RAM like you would find in a console (Directly on the motherboard)?

 

[XpiderMX]

Would it be unreasonable to expect something like this as a next gen console

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472732

The x51 basically is a console with off the shelf parts. If devs had something like that x51 the 180w 2.5TF, couldn't they do some pretty neat stuff especially on a static closed environment?

X51 is not a console, it is a PC.

 

[Inuhanyou]

I'll add onto Spider's post by saying

What are the expected specs of the Steambox? Any confirmed details? Except that it runs on Linux that is....

BTW, can we really consider the Steambox to be one of the next gen consoles? Can we consider it to be a console in other words?

Likewise, Steambox is not a console, its a PC. You upgrade it just like a PC among other things. Only difference is its in a console sized box like X51 and its basically a steam launcher.

Unfortunately for Valve, eating into the console market is a lot tougher than simply making a small console box and putting your software onto it, and more importantly, there are many other things to becoming attractive as a console then that.

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

X51 is not a console, it is a PC.

I know that, I meant in its form factor.

Simply was asking if it is unreasonable that consoles have similar specs. I mean weren't the 360/ps3 in the 200w range when they first launched?

 

[Inuhanyou]

More than that if we count the power brick's draw for 360. It would be feasible to fit powerful components into that sort of space.

 

[Albofighter]

X51 is not a console, it is a PC.

I think the point is if a guy can make a powerful console like that at home by himself, then a multi-billionaie corporation with experienced engineers should be expected to provide something better.

For Sony, which will go for more off the shelf parts with minor customization, the same applies. Making it a closed system means better performance too.

That's why these rumours saying "hardcore" will be really disappointed at specs is alarming.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

That was interesting although it shows a disconcerting disconnect from reality. Like the following...

In summer 2012 Valve's higher ups crticised a frustrating lack of innovation in the area of computer hardware - in a job offer. In that they also wrote: "... we want to change this."

There used to be a ton of innovation in computer hardware through the late 90's into the mid 2000's. That all faded away due to lack of consumer demand and adoption, not due to anything the industry did or didn't do.

Heck, even through the late 2000's there was still some interesting things going on with computer hardware innovation (head tracking, 3D, alternative controls, hand held PC gaming systems, linux gaming systems, etc.) but again, just as before, lack of consumer demand and adoption saw most of that fall by the wayside.

While I think Valve has a chance with the console if done right. Long shot with Linux but possible. I don't think they are going to fare any better on the hardware front than any of the other dozens of companies that have tried in the past 2 decades.

Regards,
SB

 

[Blazkowicz]

New info from german tech conference where Ben Krasnow [Valve electronics engineer] talked about Valve hardware plans:
- Valve's console will launch in 2013
- It will use Linux, not Windows
- Valve's hardware labs will reveal other stuff in 2013 (possibly controllers? VR?)
- Krasnow has been working on Valve hardware with Jeri Ellsworth since 2011
- Possible reveal at GDC or E3
More @ http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=506899


So... dedicated hardware will run only Linux, secret peripherals could be driving force for achieving popularity. One thing is certain, E3 will be insane with 3 new console reveals.

Interesting. What about a gamepad that has a trackball, in effect gaining a pointing device.
I don't VR can quite take off. VR suffers from "add-on hell", as an expensive and rare peripheral. It can become a more widespread curiosity, if it can be fed video through Wifi 60GHz and be both cheap and effective. I wonder what controls you use with it too : regular gamepad, "puck", gloves, and if you need an omnidirectional treadmill, that later part will cost more than all the rest combined.

 

[DieH@rd]

I think they will create some new way of controlling games [most likely gamepad or some motion control thingy], but also they will adopt Oculus Rift as official VR helmet [optional purchase, or bundled in some more expensive SKU].

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

It's not a question about wether it can be done or not. It's about what you can build for what will probabaly be ~400 dollars.

edit: Forget my comment. Wrong topic. For some reason I thought this was the next gen console thread.

 

[DieH@rd]

It's not a question about wether it can be done or not. It's about what you can build for what will probabaly be ~400 dollars.

If they are not aiming at hardcore gamers, small HTPC box with only one powerful late 2013 AMD APU will provide enough performance. And it will be cheap. Add in user accessible PCI-E port and everybody will be happy.

 

[AlphaWolf]

If they are selling something over $1000, they might as well not bother. Hardcore, softcore, whatever. This project is about stopping erosion of their sales base to windows 8 and origin. A bunch of expensive niche products (read, 3d vr etc)won't accomplish much towards that goal.

 

[Laa-Yosh]

Valve and VR is actually quite well documented in the blog of Michael Abrash.

http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/abrash/

 

[zed]

Likewise, Steambox is not a console, its a PC. You upgrade it just like a PC among other things.

Where is this said. Im thinking its not gonna be like a pc (upgradable i.e. cant stick in a new CPU/GPU etc) but more like a console, u can add bigger HD, peripherals .. but the core machine stays the same

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Where is this said. Im thinking its not gonna be like a pc (upgradable i.e. cant stick in a new CPU/GPU etc) but more like a console, u can add bigger HD, peripherals .. but the core machine stays the same

And considering it now appears that it's quite likely going to be a Linux box that just means that the hardware will definitely be locked down.

Getting robust and well supported drivers is going to difficult enough. Hence hardware validation is going to be key. Letting users swap out a piece of hardware for something without a robust driver is going to lead to certain failure of the console as a whole. Therefore, it'll be in Valve's best interest to not allow user upgradeable hardware. Storage subsystem maybe, but anything else? Unlikely.

Regards,
SB

 

[Inuhanyou]

Really? I had heard that was the case. So its not true? Then its basically a fixed function box. but then why would any console owner buy this if they are not getting the benefit of a PC with upgradable hardware?

PC gamers will stick to PC for their steam needs and console gamers will stick to console. If your plan is to get more people using steam, your point of entree is going to be a hard sell using off the shelf components.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Really? I had heard that was the case. So its not true? Then its basically a fixed function box. but then why would any console owner buy this if they are not getting the benefit of a PC with upgradable hardware?

For Joe Consumer who doesn't want the scary complexity of a PC, and who never upgrades his PC which is probably a laptop anyhow.

PC gamers will stick to PC for their steam needs and console gamers will stick to console. If your plan is to get more people using steam, your point of entree is going to be a hard sell using off the shelf components.

Tell that to Sony and MS using AMD x86 CPU and GPU. The 'off-the-shelf' components are extremely well designed and capable. If Valve can optimise the underlying architecture of the system, they'll have a very economical and capable machine.