Steam's Big Picture

[Manco]

And my best guess would be that it would run a version of Linux. If they make the API based on OpenGL and X, devs would be easily able to port Ubuntu/other Linux games over. And devs would do that because they'd see it as gaining two new markets for the price of one.

They would also lose any games that rely on DirectX or other proprietary tech. Which makes up a whole heap of the current Steam catalog.

[Havoc]

This seems like Apple TV, pointless and has no reason exist.

At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, Valve rarely did anything with the Steam platform that was pointless. They've come up with some pretty good ideas trough the years that competitors are finally catching up to.

They would also lose any games that rely on DirectX or other proprietary tech. Which makes up a whole heap of the current Steam catalog.

I doubt there is a plan or actual need to release the entire current catalog of Steam games on their hardware platform at first. They will probably start off with a few exclusives (Half-Life 3 being the main exclusive, I can almost guarantee that) and a good development kit. Given Steam's track record I think quite a few AAA devs might be interested.

We'll have to wait for exact details though. I'm pretty sure they thought about this long and hard already, though.

[Nate]

They would also lose any games that rely on DirectX or other proprietary tech. Which makes up a whole heap of the current Steam catalog.

Yes, but Valve would be pushing devs to port their games over. And if the platform sells well enough, devs will make their games cross-platform from the start.

[Manco]

I doubt there is a plan or actual need to release the entire current catalog of Steam games on their hardware platform at first. They will probably start off with a few exclusives (Half-Life 3 being the main exclusive, I can almost guarantee that) and a good development kit. Given Steam's track record I think quite a few AAA devs might be interested.

That kind of tactic might have worked a few years ago, but look at the console market nowadays – we have three separate current-gen consoles, rumors of the next-gen Xbox and Playstation, an upcoming Wii successor, phone games, tablet games, etc. Plus projects like the Ouya jumping on board.

Is a Steam console going to push past all of that with a couple of exclusives? If anything, making HL3 an exclusive to a new console that nobody owns is a quick way to piss off the existing Steam userbase.

Yes, but Valve would be pushing devs to port their games over. And if the platform sells well enough, devs will make their games cross-platform from the start.

I don’t see developers frothing at the mouth to port their back catalog to yet another console.

I think Steam’s back catalog and its pre-existing userbase are its biggest strengths in the current market – they’ve built up a commanding library and have enough customers hooked to eat the costs of any sales tenfold. Building a new platform which doesn’t draw on both of those in some way is a very risky move.

[Havoc]

That kind of tactic might have worked a few years ago, but look at the console market nowadays – we have three separate current-gen consoles, rumors of the next-gen Xbox and Playstation, an upcoming Wii successor, phone games, tablet games, etc. Plus projects like the Ouya jumping on board.

Is a Steam console going to push past all of that with a couple of exclusives? If anything, making HL3 an exclusive to a new console that nobody owns is a quick way to piss off the existing Steam userbase.

I meant exclusive to Steam in general, at least at first. It wouldn't be smart to not release it at all on the other consoles, but I can see it being Steam exclusive for the first month or so.

As a consumer we might not notice the difference much between other consoles (besides the integration of console/PC which hasn't been done before). But for developers Steam is becoming a very important platform since they are making it easier and easier for even low level developers to hop on. It's not that easy anywhere else to get your game out to the public without a lot of financial risk or horrid contracts or demands like on PSN and XBL.