Steam working on a new gaming console?

[heybtbm]

What the hell?

http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/2/284...gaming-console

I wonder if this will ever materialize. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen...then again...isn't Steam recent good buddies with Apple? Hmm.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Exclusive: Valve said to be working on 'Steam Box' gaming console with partners, could announce at GDC


I already have one, it's called my PC.

[PapaStu]

OnLive works and has gotten pretty expansive (with the portal apps for iPhone/iPad/Android). Whats to stop Steam from doing it as well?

[NayusDante]

If Valve made hardware, I'd expect it to be standardized PC hardware running a stripped down Windows kernel that just runs a Steam browser and games. You know, kind of like the original Xbox, but with Internet integration and mouse + keyboard as the primary input devices. Prices would be reasonable, and you could probably dual-boot it to a full OS.

They want to make more complex games, but users aren't adopting the hardware fast enough. Selling their own hardware is a possible solution to that problem.

[WCP]

This doesn't make sense.


Valve could certainly do something along these lines, but they would need to partner up with somebody to really make it happen. I just can't see them trying this all by themselves.

[Jaruff]

If Valve made hardware, I'd expect it to be standardized PC hardware running a stripped down Windows kernel that just runs a Steam browser and games. You know, kind of like the original Xbox, but with Internet integration and mouse + keyboard as the primary input devices. Prices would be reasonable, and you could probably dual-boot it to a full OS.

They want to make more complex games, but users aren't adopting the hardware fast enough. Selling their own hardware is a possible solution to that problem.

I can't see Microsoft licensing out Windows for a rival console maker.

[NayusDante]

I can't see Microsoft licensing out Windows for a rival console maker.

Really?



And it wouldn't be a console, it would be a computer. I think Valve just wants the average PC gamer to have something better than an HP baseline desktop with an added midrange GPU.

[substantial_snake]

I actually don't think this is a terrible idea from the consumer point of view. If i could have a consistent experience with PC games that didn't involve all the bs you need to go through just to play I could definitely see it happening for the right price. Valve locking down hardware specs and encouraging the PC gaming industry to to at least release a Steambox Ver. 1.0 whatever version under steam could lower the bar for many to get into PC gaming. It could also be a big boom for Indy devs with the rumor that they wont be charging expensive licensing fees to develop and distribute on this Valve Console.

The problem is that I don't see this working as a business model. The idea of "we'll do the software and license out the hardware" reaks of 3DO failure mostly because console manufactures usually don't make much money from hardware but rather much much more from software and licensing fees. When you cut that in half between two companies its unlikely that hardware costs will ever reduce in price since that's the main revenue stream of the hardware manufactures. You can also run into problems of reliability with different manufactures each making their own versions of the "Steambox" which again just complicates the whole idea in the first place.

I think if it released at a price point of 800 bucks they could probably sell a decent enough amount of units while still being relevant to PC gaming for several years. I don't know that it would overtake the traditional consoles but it could play as the new NeoGeo nich in the console market.

[Jaruff]

Really?



And it wouldn't be a console, it would be a computer. I think Valve just wants the average PC gamer to have something better than an HP baseline desktop with an added midrange GPU.

You have to remember that back then, Microsoft was trying hard to promote the CE product line and they didn't have a console offering of their own. Unless Microsoft believes the license sales will be more profitable than the loss of Xbox revenue, they aren't going to approve it.

I actually don't think this is a terrible idea from the consumer point of view. If i could have a consistent experience with PC games that didn't involve all the bs you need to go through just to play I could definitely see it happening for the right price. Valve locking down hardware specs and encouraging the PC gaming industry to to at least release a Steambox Ver. 1.0 whatever version under steam could lower the bar for many to get into PC gaming. It could also be a big boom for Indy devs with the rumor that they wont be charging expensive licensing fees to develop and distribute on this Valve Console.

The problem is that I don't see this working as a business model. The idea of "we'll do the software and license out the hardware" reaks of 3DO failure mostly because console manufactures usually don't make much money from hardware but rather much much more from software and licensing fees. When you cut that in half between two companies its unlikely that hardware costs will ever reduce in price since that's the main revenue stream of the hardware manufactures. You can also run into problems of reliability with different manufactures each making their own versions of the "Steambox" which again just complicates the whole idea in the first place.

I think if it released at a price point of 800 bucks they could probably sell a decent enough amount of units while still being relevant to PC gaming for several years. I don't know that it would overtake the traditional consoles but it could play as the new NeoGeo nich in the console market.

That came to mind too. When/if it fails and is marked down to $50, I will buy one to sell on eBay 10 years from now.

[heybtbm]

Oh it's gets better...

(now with prototype pics)

http://kotaku.com/5890275/is-this-a-...umored-console

[M.Buster2184]

Well I'm interested. Good or bad I'm always curious to see a new competitor come onto the market, a little rivalry can be good for the industry.

[BHvrd]

OnLive works and has gotten pretty expansive (with the portal apps for iPhone/iPad/Android). Whats to stop Steam from doing it as well?

Yeah been using Onlive with my Xperia Play and gotta admit it's damn impressive. If only it handled 3g better, can only really do it on wi-fi at home which kinda defeats the purpose.

[Griking]

Oh it's gets better...

(now with prototype pics)

http://kotaku.com/5890275/is-this-a-...umored-console

I take anything I read on Kotaku with a grain of salt.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I take anything I read on Kotaku with a grain of salt.

They have less credibility than The National Enquirer and The Sun (UK.) Combined.

Also, so what if the guy built a custom PC. With the amount of money Valve makes, I'm surprised he doesn't build one every week.