Dear all,

I may be a little late to the party, but I've recently updated my knowledge on the latest and greatest ideas in PC gaming. The most exciting of which I think may be SteamOS:

Official Site: http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamOS/

Wikipedia Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamOS

I personally find it exciting that a non-Windows operating system may be emerging to support gamers, and what's more, it's open-source and free! Even better, it's actually being noticed by some big players; I quote from the Wikipedia page: "Other developers such as DICE, creators of the Battlefield series, and The Creative Assembly, developers of the Total War series, have stated that they plan to support their games on Linux and SteamOS".

If this proves true then it means EA is on board (being owners of DICE). Whether this means a return of their games onto Steam, or an Origin client built for the new OS is yet to be seen, but either way it makes it possible than most future games will be playable on this new system.

It's been stated by Valve that we will be free to edit the software any way we choose, therefore the only restrictions will be what is available for Linux. Personally, for what I use my PC for, I think SteamOS will cover most bases. I'll maybe need to use a Windows emulator, or even keep a copy of Windows as a dual boot, for my older games, but it's a small matter.

The other question of course is modding, and what I mean by this is that it's a safe bet to say TESVI/Fallout 4 will probably be on Steam (based on how Skyrim is). That also means these games will be available for Linux. Is it possible that we may see modding utilities such as TESEdit, WryeBash, and Nexus Mod Manager for this new OS?

What's your opinions? Would you like to move away from Windows if possible? What concerns would you have? Does open-source excite you (it's the reason I go for Android phones)? Could this pave the way for 64bit gaming?

EA has Origin, which is a competing platform. DICE might support SteamOS, but EA at large is under no obligation just because of that.

True, however, I really hope that they see the potential of this new system. Just because they're a competing platform, doesn't mean they'll ignore SteamOS. SteamOS will be free, therefore they'll only get more sales by supporting it. I'd agree with you if SteamOS were a premium product, but it's not.

I personally doubt that it will be as great as Valve seems to make it out to be.

I do agree in part. It won't create an instant revolution in itself, but the idea that Linux may become more prominent in the industry (let's be honest, Steam is on most gamers computers) could lead to step away from Windows and towards open-source systems becoming the norm, especially if you tie in the overall dissatisfaction the community has had with Windows 8.

Steam is not on my computer, and never will be. I'm in favor of more Linux support for gaming, but opposed to SteamOS.

It's by Valve and has "Steam" in the name... I don't trust it. I'm sticking to the awesomeness of Windows 7 Ultimate.

The only company I can name that has used dirtier leveraged marketing than Microsoft is Valve. If you are thinking 'it's open source, it's free, Valve is helping gamers' you will get a rude awakening somewhere along the line.

If I can skip a Windows purchase for my next system, more power to Valve.

Valve has to start somewhere, but eventually they get there. Btw, I really doubt EA and Valve start to be friends. They're like MS and Sony.

Anybody know why quote or copy/paste doesnt work?

That's a really bad comparison there. MS and Sony have no gripes. A single, relatively small in the grand scheme of things (so small http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/8/5080192/microsoft-ceo-candidate-stephen-elop-bing-xbox-rumors) division of one company has a competing product with a single product produced by another subdivision of another company that, while slightly larger (but still quite small and http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57589800-92/sony-under-pressure-to-spin-off-entertainment-unit/, though that was vetoed by the board) doesn't still count for much and the larger divisions of Sony are quite cozy with Microsoft.

What most people don't seem to know or realise when they talk about Steam Machines is what is the reason for Valve doing this,and what is the upmost goal of it.

I often see people considering that Steam Machines are supposed to compete with consoles,but that is not true,with the Steam Machines initiative Valve is preparing the ground to compete with Microsoft on a non-console level.

Let me feed you in the details: Microsoft is heading the Apple way with its app store. They are moving in this direction so the Windows Store that will come pre-installed with every copy of Windows from 8 and on will become the one and only standard app store for Windows OSs,so everything passes from Microsoft. While Windows will remain an OS that you can install on machines you built yourself,what is running on it is destined to be limited to what is sold through Microsoft's own app store. And of course Microsoft will demand pricy licenses and server fees from anyone that wants to sell their stuff through their app store,and that is basically Microsoft forcing publishing fees for their Windows PCs as they do with their Xboxes. It also means that Steam won't be available to run on future Windows PCs as it can now.

Valve is preparing the ground from now,so when Microsoft says "only apps bought from Windows Store can run on Windows" it has a place to exist ready. That's why they give the OS free and they let others make hardware configurations for them. They don't expect to get money from hardware or OS sales. They hand these out without getting money,because they just want to have an installed user base where Steam can exist. Valve is making way more money by Steam than by selling their own games now.Probably if Windows 8 hadn't come out as it is,there would be no Steam Machines.

I think its easy to understand that Microsoft's plans for its Windows platform not only affect Valve and Steam,but also EA and Origin. When the only way to buy apps for Windows will be through Microsoft's own store,there will be no Origin. That means that if EA wants to keep making games for Computers,it will have to choose between the following options:

a) Release on Microsoft's App Store.

Release on Steam / Steam OS.

c) Release on both Microsoft's App Store and Steam / Steam OS.

d) Make its own OS.

For some reason I think and I hope that EA won't do its own OS too. That means that since they can't have their own store,they will be forced to sell through another Store,and that can be Microsoft's,Valve's or both.

So yeah,it doesn't really seem so weird to see EA releasing games for Steam OS / Steam after all in the end.

The thing is that Win7 is the last OS Microsoft released that was designed specifically for desktop / laptop computers and without a closed App Store system.

Win8 is only the beggining. Microsoft stated that from now and on they will only be making a single Windows version each time that will be for all kind of devices (mobile phones,tablets,laptops,desktops) and their App Store will becoming more closed as time passes. What people dislike about Win8 will only become more prominent in the next Microsoft OSs.

And the question is for how long will you stay with Win7 ? 2015 ? 2020 ? 2030 ?

Sure there are people still using WinXp after 13 years,but at some point support will be dropped.

@DEFRON

Are you kidding me, do you have any clue how much money they have used to create their own consoles? They're pretty much fierces competitors you can find. Theres never peace between Sony and MS. Trust me.

Valve if anybody could take on EA and stop the madness.

This is probably the best point as to why Linux should be the future. I had an iPhone and hated it by the end of the two years, not because of the phone itself (it's an alright phone) but purely based on how Apple handle and control everything to do with it. And as said here, Windows is going the same way. Sure we could all blissfully be led on and take the pill, but I'd really much rather stay in control of my gaming, and more importantly, my computer. Call me a rebel, but I hate being told what to do, what I can and can't play, etc.

That's great news, as i will never spend money on a Windows OS again!

If that is their plan, i certainly hope SteamOS work out.
...Then again, does it really matter which american corporation has all my information and money? Maybe i'll make it a threeway deathmatch by having SteamOS, Windows and Chrome OS on the same computer

LOL...okay rebel, so why are you excited about letting Valve do it?

You want to 'stay in control of your gaming and your computer', but you are excited about an OS from the company that has designed and marketed the most invasive DRM system in the industry. You're upset by Microsoft pushing exclusivity in their app store but think Valve's store which was founded on exclusive distribution to be a great thing. Let me guess, when Valve says 'exclusivity is against our philosophy' you just assume their philosophy has changed, right?

just because 2 corporations have a competing product, does not mean companies are "enemies" in any sense..
the "console wars" are no where near as hostile as "fan-boys" would have you think...

so in that case

yep DEFRON, I agree with you completely

While the 'console wars' may be overblown in many respects...don't forget Sony has been there before, and lost (for those who don't study 'ancient history' look up Beta vs VHS). Small division or not I'm sure the top people at Sony keep that loss in mind in their maneuvering in the game console market...and notice who invented the winner of the more recent 'format war' for HD playback DVDs...Sony's Blue Ray.

Which is why Microsoft is thinking of selling it off: It doesn't fit well in with the rest of their business strategy.

And yet... Sony uses Microsoft technology every day, licenses Microsoft patents, uses their software, even creating Windows Phones when it wasn't even seen as a viable platform.

They are not competitors at all. For both businesses. For Microsoft, the Xbox is just another division that doesn't fit in well with the rest of their business, For Sony, it's a subdivision of a division (though granted, a profitable one).

Businesses don't really have enemies unless they are complete direct competitors. Since the vast majority of Sony products don't compete against the vast majority of Microsoft products... guess what? They get along fine and use each other's technologies ALL THE TIME

I never said anything about them being competitors, as they obviously are.

I for one, resent our up and coming overlords.

I would rather have a new Windows OS than a SteamOS... Knowing Steam and Valve, SteamOS will be a "nightmare" for me.

Whenever MS stops support for Windows 7, doesn't matter... I still will be able to use whatever I have on it no matter what. And honestly, most I think games are starting to go down in quality and I am quite losing interests in most games these days so by the time W7 support stops, I probably would've lost interests in all newer games by then and stayed with only the older ones I absolutely love to play.

That or an actual good OS is created by then.

I'm excited about where it could lead. I'm not overly fond of Steam or Origin, but they're just things I have to accept if I want to enjoy my hobby (it's human nature to be greedy). The SteamOS itself I really don't expect to be a hugely popular, but the fact that it will draw larger portions of game developers into supporting Linux could be hugely beneficial if enough people want to get away from Windows and buy the Linux versions of games (if they're using other Linux builds). If Linux becomes as well supported as Windows is then it leaves us in a situation where we can customise our OS to suit our individual needs, you wouldn't even need to start with SteamOS as a base.

It's that dream that I hope develops from this, and I believe Steam and Valve are large enough to get the ball rolling. In truth, it's a highly poetical idea, and it probably won't be that simple. I don't truthfully expect any system I want to play games on to be be wholly under my control, but the more open-source ideas are used, the better in my opinion.

Sure Steam can be considered some of the worst DRM designed, but it's a lot better than some others I've had to deal with. Limited installs, always online, etc, etc. I hate the concept of DRM in general, but again, humans being humans means that some problems are unavoidable (that or I just crack everything). I may have to go along with some things I dislike, but that doesn't mean everything about my gaming and computer need to do the same. In the end running a Linux system leaves me in exactly the same place as I am trying to game on a Windows system, I'll just have more control over my OS. More control equals a good thing to me.

I'll be happy if it means more games for Linux, but I don't see me ever using SteamOS.

Don't you think Valve is working towards their own version of always on line? They've made a very smooth transition from 'online activation' to 'no removal of the Steam client allowed after activation'...and as long as the Steam client is on the machine it is in contact unless you physically disconnect from the internet or take some other action to stop it. Smooth in that hardly any customers batted an eye and apparently game publishers are backing the play as a DRM improvement.

You don't expect a Linux version of Steam client that verifies you haven't used your 'control over your OS' to do something Valve disapproves of before they let you play your games?