[ALL] Steam Console coming?

[Swarley]

Rumor: Maybe Valve Really Is Making A Console

Respected tech reporter Joshua Topolsky is putting it all out there over at The Verge, reporting that the chatter about Valve Software getting into the hardware business isn't a tease.

He says Valve is making a console and that we're going to be finding out about it real soon, maybe next week at the Game Developers Conference, or maybe in June at E3.

This one's wild.

The Valve console—which seems like more of a hardware standard than say, a Steam 64 or ValveStation—would be a set-top box that can run PC games and use Steam or even competing services such as Origin, according to the report. Unlike, the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, multiple manufacturers could be allowed to make it. Game developers wouldn't have to pay for a licensing fee to Valve for the privilege of making games for this console, bucking the standards of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, which charge game creators to make games on theirs.

The box would support configurable game controllers as well as a bracelet or some other sensor that would incorporate a player's biometric data to affect games (similar to how Nintendo's never-released Vitality Sensor was supposed to read a players bloodflow and stress to tweak the way a game played out in real-time.)

According to Topolsky:

Apparently meetings were held during CES to demo a hand-built version of the device to potential partners. We're told that the basic specs of the Steam Box include a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GPU. ..

Part of the goal of establishing a baseline for hardware, we're told, is that it will give developers a clear lifecycle for their products, with changes possibly coming every three to four years. Additionally, there won't be a required devkit, and there will be no licensing fees to create software for the platform.

Topolsky builds his case by combining the rumors he's heard with recent statements from Valve boss Gabe Newell about a willingness for Valve to make hardware and a wariness about the expanding influence of Apple's closed, tightly-controlled app store.

Valve has earned legions of admirers for their games (Half-Life, Portal) as well as for Steam, the leading PC gaming service for connecting players and selling games online.

So... maybe Valve was saving the next Half-Life to launch on their first console? Couldn't be!

 

[padman59]

I imagine this would be The Big Picture concept that Valve announced last year. I'd be interested in picking one of these up.

 

[Loco]

Steam Box sounds dope, haha.

I'd be interested in getting one.

 

[Derrville]

I like the idea of playing PC games without having to buy a PC to begin with.

 

[jms493]

U can do this now.....

 

[jms493]

This is going to be a hard sell to console gamers. People are already so attached to their Xbox and ps3 and will buy the next one without worry. If this this is going to come out it better drop before the next generation consoles drop. Cost will be the biggest factor.....I would buy one if the cost was low but if this thing is 499..... Meh I will stick to my PC.

 

[IamMedellin]

So I guess it'll be...

Steam Powered

:yeah:

 

[calgaryballer]

I am intrigued as to what the market for this will be. PC Gamers already have a Steam Box. Existing console gamers have pretty strong allegiances to MS/Sony/Nintendo. Wonder where Valve sees it fitting in?

 

[IamMedellin]

Existing console gamers have pretty strong allegiances to MS/Sony/Nintendo. Wonder where Valve sees it fitting in?

Alliegances?!?

LOL, if youre tlking about console fanboys then yes...

but the casual audience that made the wii and kinect best sellers? If you can intelligently market your product, you have a chance...

 

[jms493]

Alliegances?!?

LOL, if youre tlking about console fanboys then yes...

but the casual audience that made the wii and kinect best sellers? If you can intelligently market your product, you have a chance...

yeah...the wii and kinect are Nintendo and microsoft products. People are comfortable buying almost anything from them.

Valve, steam.......how many people know these names? I like the idea but people that play PC exclusives are mostly hardcore. If you are making any mainstream game most kids and casuals are going to play in on a console.

 

[jms493]

Honestly I dont see how it is any different than this thing.

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x51/pd.aspx

 

[Twigg4075]

Valve, steam.......how many people know these names? I like the idea but people that play PC exclusives are mostly hardcore. If you are making any mainstream game most kids and casuals are going to play in on a console.

Great point. Casual gamers and the "dude bros" have no idea what the fuck Valve or Steam is. Hell, I have no idea what that thing is that you posted a picture of. By the logo I would guess it's made by Alienware?

 

[StealthShot]

Um so what happens when you need to upgrade your graphics card or need more ram? You would have to pay for upgrades to your system every 5 years stick with a PC steam.

 

[calgaryballer]

Great point. Casual gamers and the "dude bros" have no idea what the fuck Valve or Steam is. Hell, I have no idea what that thing is that you posted a picture of. By the logo I would guess it's made by Alienware?

Yeah, its a new Alienware PC. Designed to be easy to use and offer HTPC and gaming for use in the living room. Price is a bit expensive, but it's pretty damn slick

 

[calgaryballer]

Alliegances?!?

LOL, if youre tlking about console fanboys then yes...

but the casual audience that made the wii and kinect best sellers? If you can intelligently market your product, you have a chance...

JMS hit it, but that casual audience buys it because EVERYONE knows Nintendo and Microsoft. Valve has a dedicated audience, but if you put this in the same aisle as the existing manufacturers, it's going to be a tough sell

 

[SethMode]

Yeah, normally I say whatever Valve does is bound to succeed, but this seems like a lofty prospect. Steam is one of the best things to come around in...well, the history of gaming, but that doesn't mean it would be a good sell to a soccer mom or some Joe Consumer. And then yeah, I would be very curious how they would market it even to those that love Steam considering how quickly the requirements for PC games can shoot up.

Again, who knows though. Valve guys fucking know what they're doing, so I'll wait and see what they come up with.