Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

SteamOS

store.steampowered.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

411–420 of 532 posts

Re: SteamOS

#411

Post by dkbk »

wonderzombie wrote: post #396
davidhollander wrote: post #361

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are your definitions for "traditional Linux userspace software" and "traditional Linux users"? Do you consider Android to be "Linux"?

"Traditional Linux userspace software" is an informal definition, but let's say something like X. Or your average window manager. Or, say, almost anything from GNOME. "Traditional Linux users" is another informal definition, but if you use a distro, you're probably a traditional Linux user. Contrast this with an Android user. They run the Linux kernel but the software they interface with is an entirely different bree…

The closeness of the SteamOS experience to that of a typical desktop Linux distro is irrelevant. If it runs on the Steam Box, it will run on a Linux desktop of compatible architecture.

Considering there is already Steam for Linux, its probable that Valve will ensure Linux games run on both platforms equally well.

In any case, if there is no need for "all the trimmings", if Valve just wants to make an entertainment pipeline, then that's fine by me. It's the same kernel; this is a huge win for Linux by any measure.

Re: SteamOS

#412

Post by jamie_ca »

rkalla wrote: post #26

This is effectively the software-only equivalent of a console launch. Is anyone else skeptical that they can motivate publishers to spend time/money porting their games to the Linux platform? Valve certainly has a better chance than most at pulling this off (and likely enough user/market data to make this seem like a valid investment) I am still super skeptical that these publishers are going to spend the time portin…

Also, even for games that do have a Windows release, it's hard enough getting a Mac release most days... Linux is an even tougher sell in the current market, but perhaps that'll change if Valve can start showing some serious SteamOS install numbers?

Re: SteamOS

#413

Post by frio »

jimmcslim wrote: post #300
JonSkeptic wrote: post #52

How long till we see the "SteamOS on Raspberry Pi" threads?

Or SteamOS inside a Docker container! ;-)

This actually isn't a terrible idea. It's been a _long_ time since I've gamed on Linux, but I remember playing Tribes 2 in aeons past, and had to patch a decent chunk of the libraries in my distro to get it working. Using something like Docker/LXC to define the runtime environment of a game would probably help to make life a lot easier.

Re: SteamOS

#414

Post by kinnth »

jmomo wrote: post #307

How is "Windows 8" NOT found on this discussion??? It is very unlikely, had Microsoft not decided to go nuts and release a dead-end train wreck of an OS that thew it's passengers/users into the ravine in the name of chasing MacOS and touchscreens that everyone wanted with the same enthusiasm as to 3DTV, that Valve would be so scared of the future on Windows that they would need their own Linux-based platform. Not to…

So long as this box will play hl2 engine games, most notably DOTA2 it's going to be fine. DOTA2 in 2014 is going to skyrocket it's going to be the next WOW and it will secure valves revenue. This box is really just gabe saying fuck you to Microsoft and Sony - let me keep my TV open!

Re: SteamOS

#415

Post by dkbk »

wonderzombie wrote: post #210
aroman wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes but it's virtually the same core software stack as on the desktop. So the linux distros get a huge leg up in that arena.

Are you sure about that? Why wouldn't this be more similar to Android than, say, Linux Mint? Who says they're even using any of the typical userspace bits? I would bet a money (albeit a small amount) that, to a first approximation, they're really only using the Linux kernel.

It will have the kernel and should have the same glibc userspace. It might use Wayland rather than X.

The rest is irrelevant; if a game runs on the SteamOS, it will run on my Linux desktop.

Re: SteamOS

#416

Post by matt_r »

leokun wrote: post #212

Will this be a game only platform or can I do work on it too?

According to The Verge, SteamOS will boot straight into Steam with Big Picture mode, and you wont see linux at all "unless you want to" [1]. So... for whatever that's worth.

[1] http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/6/3958162/valve-steam-box-cak...

Re: SteamOS

#417

Post by matt_r »

jason_slack wrote: post #164

So, this means I could build a PC with SteamOS, hook it to my TV, XBox controllers and play all the same games in our living room. Am I thinking about this right?

If you want to play any non-linux games, you have to have a capable-enough PC to stream the games from, it sounds like. But other than that, yeah.

Re: SteamOS

#418

Post by kbruner »

pekk wrote: post #72
rkalla wrote: post #26

This is effectively the software-only equivalent of a console launch. Is anyone else skeptical that they can motivate publishers to spend time/money porting their games to the Linux platform? Valve certainly has a better chance than most at pulling this off (and likely enough user/market data to make this seem like a valid investment) I am still super skeptical that these publishers are going to spend the time portin…

Any console has its own platform to target. When that platform happens to be Linux-based, this magically becomes an onerous and unlikely requirement. This has nothing to do with Linux and everything to do with who wants to target Steam's pet platform (vs Xbox pet platform, etc.) Comparing this to Windows is nonsensical.

Any developer has an addressable market to target. I don't think we really care what the OS is (Win,Xbox,PS4,iOS,whatever). If there is a market opportunity, we pounce. There simply has not been a Linux market opportunity that has inspired any real business. Will SteamOS change that? Time will tell....

Re: SteamOS

#419

Post by bobbles »

evanmoran wrote: post #395

As someone mentioned this is just the first announcement of three: http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/ Announcement 1, SteamOS: is just a fancy way to say you can create custom Steam consoles by just installing some software. Make the box as good or a cheap as you want and everything will just workPretty awesome, but definitely this will be dwarfed by... Announcement 2, people are guessing is a Valve distribute…

This is going to be great. I can't wait to have a steambox in the lounge room that has access to all my steam games and something like Plex

Re: SteamOS

#420

Post by pippy »

rkalla wrote: post #26

This is effectively the software-only equivalent of a console launch. Is anyone else skeptical that they can motivate publishers to spend time/money porting their games to the Linux platform? Valve certainly has a better chance than most at pulling this off (and likely enough user/market data to make this seem like a valid investment) I am still super skeptical that these publishers are going to spend the time portin…

One thing people haven't mentioned in this thread is the Windows Store. Windows is already following OS X in creating a walled garden with signed software. Microsoft implementing more controls on the Windows software ecosystem could be catastrophic for companies like Valve.

Steam OS will ensure Valve has something to rely on, it will also force Windows to keep tabs on their software ecosystem.

Post reply on HN