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Forums - Gaming Discussion - What does Valve need to do to make SteamOS work?

Ultrashroomz on 26 May 2015

I'm not sure what they could do to be honest.

The fact that not too many users use Linux, and the fact that Windows is pretty much THE operating system does make it hard for Valve to make their OS the optimal choice.



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Zkuq on 26 May 2015

First and foremost, games. And then SteamOS needs a lot more work still, as far as I know it's not a very mature system yet.

Valve actually has the game part surprisingly good. Maybe I'm just imagining, but Linux and Mac support has almost exploded since Valve started supporting them. Not for big titles that appear on consoles too, though.



vivster on 26 May 2015
Zappykins said:
vivster said:
The question is moot. Valve does not care for wide adoption. It's just another option.
SteamOS is really only good for Steam machines that are dedicated gaming machines. Having SteamOS as main OS is just not viable for the vast majority of PC users.

But you will have the option of dual booting.  Which works, but some people find it annoying.

So just boot to SteamOS to play Half Life 3 whenever that comes out?  They really want other developers making games for it - do you think they can, or is it already too late?

So why even bother?  They could put that time, effort and talent towards making new games instead.  Should they just be an Gaming company and not try to be an OS/Hardware company?

Developers only care about install base. Valve thought they had enough brand power to shove this onto people but they shoved it right past actual user's desires. It's just an experiment at this point.

Valve doesn't care about anything anymore. They have Steam, which nets them enough money to do what they want. Why do you think they don't make games anymore? Because they don't have to. All they need are more options for consumers to buy stuff in their shop.

Compare it to Amazon's Fire devices. They don't expect to become market leader for mobile devices. They just want consumers to spend more money on their shop.



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biglittlesps on 26 May 2015
Bokal said:
JRPGfan said:
The problem they face:

1) they cannot compete on price.
2) PS4 has a pretty good software ecosystem.


issues:

1)You cant build a pc currently thats faster than a PS4, but costs less than a PS4.

2)Since steampc's vary in components, you ll never reach the same level of optimisation as the PS4 (you need a stronger machine to do the same thing the PS4 is doing).

3) with a Consol, you put in the game, and play. You dont have to tinker with game settings to find what works.


The way I see it those are the main issues.... and their kinda big.

They need to appeal to the upper end of the gamer market instead.
Make crazy expensive SteamOS pc's (in terms of hardware) that can do what no other machines can do.

1) Steam games are much cheaper than PS4 games, so overall, I think it's much cheaper to play on SteamOS in the long run.

2) Steam (not SteamOS yet) is a much bigger ecosystem than PS4's. + no problem of backwards compatibility, you can change your hardware and still play your games.

1) You can't build a pc currently that's faster than PS4 for the same price YET. But you will, and you can already build a much more powerful PC than a PS4.

2) Valid point, but you're already able to build a much more powerful PC, so...

3) That's what Steam Machines / SteamOS are about.

You can sell your PS4 games disc after playing which will make the game even cheaper than steam beacause you cant sell your steam digital version after using. 



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its a Feeling/Experience about a VIRTUAL WORLD we can never be in real, and realizing some of our dreams (also creating new ones).

So, Feel Emotions, Experience Adventure/Action, Challenge Game, Solve puzzles and Have fun.

PlayStation is about all-round "New experiences" using new IP's to provide great diversity for everyone.

Xbox is always about Online and Shooting.

Nintendo is always about Fun games and milking IP's.

Zappykins on 26 May 2015
Ultrashroomz said:
I'm not sure what they could do to be honest.

The fact that not too many users use Linux, and the fact that Windows is pretty much THE operating system does make it hard for Valve to make their OS the optimal choice.

World Wide Desktop usage of Linux is much higher at 1.52% about the same that use Mac 10.9.   And it's a little less than have the desktops that use Mac.  So they have a small, but more solid foundation.  Linux really shines at some PC aplications.

But those are not gaming PC's.  More people using Steam us Windows for Gaming by percetanage than they do for overall desktop stupport.  Valve is facing a huge uphill battle.

Plus, it seems like they might make Microsoft mad at them, which could cause them to make running Steam more tedious. 

It seems like they are poking the dragon with a short stick and I'm wondering why.



 

Really not sure I see any point of Consol over PC's since Kinect, Wii and other alternative ways to play have been abandoned. 

Top 50 'most fun' game list coming soon!

 

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pbroy on 26 May 2015

If Valve makes a Steam portal app for Xbone, it could be a game changer. It could easily be done with Windows 10. The question is, who would gain the most? Will one weaken the other? Or would they both benefit? If all else fails, M$ can just buy Valve and win no matter what.







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walsufnir on 26 May 2015
biglittlesps said:
Bokal said:
JRPGfan said:
The problem they face:

1) they cannot compete on price.
2) PS4 has a pretty good software ecosystem.


issues:

1)You cant build a pc currently thats faster than a PS4, but costs less than a PS4.

2)Since steampc's vary in components, you ll never reach the same level of optimisation as the PS4 (you need a stronger machine to do the same thing the PS4 is doing).

3) with a Consol, you put in the game, and play. You dont have to tinker with game settings to find what works.


The way I see it those are the main issues.... and their kinda big.

They need to appeal to the upper end of the gamer market instead.
Make crazy expensive SteamOS pc's (in terms of hardware) that can do what no other machines can do.

1) Steam games are much cheaper than PS4 games, so overall, I think it's much cheaper to play on SteamOS in the long run.

2) Steam (not SteamOS yet) is a much bigger ecosystem than PS4's. + no problem of backwards compatibility, you can change your hardware and still play your games.

1) You can't build a pc currently that's faster than PS4 for the same price YET. But you will, and you can already build a much more powerful PC than a PS4.

2) Valid point, but you're already able to build a much more powerful PC, so...

3) That's what Steam Machines / SteamOS are about.

You can sell your PS4 games disc after playing which will make the game even cheaper than steam beacause you cant sell your steam digital version after using. 


Depends on the game and when you bought the game so generally this is not always true. Not to say that you, if you do this, after several years, you don't have any library to claim yours, only the games you didn't already sell. This is not what people do usually.



Bokal on 26 May 2015
walsufnir said:
The biggest problem, in my opinion, is a technical one: linux. Valve has to fix the mess that Linux is in terms of gaming. Different renderers, different window systems, different gl-versions, driver status with performance penalty... just to name a few.
If you want "serious" gaming besides 2d-games and basic 3d games like tuxracer, you have to mitigate a lot of existing problems.


Valve has already helped fixing a lot of this mess and drivers improved a lot lately. I play on Steam Linux (no Windows) and everything is going fine for me.

The game library is not half as good as the windows one yet, but it's much better since Valve has invested in SteamOS, and getting better every day.



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SubiyaCryolite on 26 May 2015

Vulkan and game engines need to work flawlessly on linux, till then the whole thing will be a dud.



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walsufnir on 27 May 2015
Bokal said:
walsufnir said:
The biggest problem, in my opinion, is a technical one: linux. Valve has to fix the mess that Linux is in terms of gaming. Different renderers, different window systems, different gl-versions, driver status with performance penalty... just to name a few.
If you want "serious" gaming besides 2d-games and basic 3d games like tuxracer, you have to mitigate a lot of existing problems.


Valve has already helped fixing a lot of this mess and drivers improved a lot lately. I play on Steam Linux (no Windows) and everything is going fine for me.

The game library is not half as good as the windows one yet, but it's much better since Valve has invested in SteamOS, and getting better every day.


I don't doubt it gets better but as long as you can't run DirectX programs on Linux, I don't see it going anywhere. And I doubt there will ever be a good wrapper, not to mention it "costs" you a lot to wrap api calls.

Of course you can play games on Linux but not all and not the important ones (while "important" may be totally subjective, of course).