Steam Boxes announced!

[Damikiller37]

Last year, we shipped a software feature called Big Picture, a user-interface tailored for televisions and gamepads.

This year we’ve been working on even more ways to connect the dots for customers who want Steam in the living-room.

Soon, we’ll be adding you to our design process, so that you can help us shape the future of Steam.

Today at 6pm (GMT) the second countdown came to an end and as the result, Valve announced the Steam Machines.

This is the 2nd announcement out of the 3 as teased earlier (Thread about the teaser: LINK).

The 3rd announcement will take place in 2 days yet again.

The only thing I can think of now is one of the sequels being revealed.

Just like we all expected Valve is bringing us the Steam Box however the official name isn't revealed yet but

they are referred to it as Steam Machines.

These new machines will be available for purchase in the beginning of 2014 and there will be a variety to chose

from and they will be made by various manufactures. All of the prototypes for the lucky 300 beta users will be

shipped for free this year! Valve also mentions that the machines will be hackable so that you will be able to put

your own OS on it if you wish to do so. Even though the machine will be more oriented for the

living room/TV experience you are still welcome to use your beloved mouse and keyboard. Valve said that during

the beta program all of the users will be allowed to post pictures of the systems and all of the content they wish to.

The idea behind the beta program will be to assist Valve with their decisions for both the OS and the

machines themselves so that they can tweak and adjust anything that will come out unsatisfactory during

the beta test.

Just like Valve explains in the Question section of the page "A small number of users (30 or less) will be

chosen based on their past community contributions and beta participation." which seems like a fair

thing to do so that they are assured to receive a valid feedback from people that have already helped

them in the past.

You can apply to get one before October 25th. Also Valve answered some of the questions you guys may

have so do visit the site to read up on them. For more information and on how to apply for one of

these systems visit the "Source" link below!

What I think of this:
Despite the fact that we aren't faced with any specifications and images of the "Steam Machines" just like 2 days ago with the reveal of Steam OS, we can sleep tight since 'Steam Box' is a thing and it's coming sooner that, at least I, anticipated. In my opinion Valve has takem a lot of good steps with both of the reveals making them as open to public as possible which effectively will bring more attention onto the subject as well as help to build up the hearts of the fans before the initial release of the machines and the operating system. The fact that they mention that hacking the machines is a thing and they don't mind it isn't all that surprising considering the fact that either way there would be someone that would find a way around any restrictions that Valve would make. The one thing that caught my eye but to some may not be too surprising is that fact that the system will be upgradable and openable meaning that Valve is trying to reduce such restrictions that we find on the consoles and still keep the core idea of it being a computer, however still providing a ready-to-go solution for the less geeky or console guys that will consider purchasing the beast Personally I only have my computer in the room and no TV but if Valves idea blooms with vibrant colours I may consider getting a TV and a Steam machine so that I can enjoy the controller experience from my bed

1st announcement from Valve: LINK
Valve's Countdown Page: LINK
Source: LINK

[Samdb]

So today Valve announced the Steam Boxes and is set to revolutionise the living room with access to many PC games whilst being able to relax on your couch. Last year Valve released big picture which aimed to merge the living room and your gaming rig together, with varying amount of success; this new device however sets to change that. It is most likely going to run Valve's SteamOS announced on Monday which is set to launch in Q1 2014 with various launch titles to accompany it. Windows based games will be able to be played through streaming, however this may introduce latency and other users may not even be able to stream games to their Steam box. This might not be holding the Steam Boxes back as Gabe Newell released a statement saying that "Linux is the future of gaming". As for the release date for the Steam Boxes itself, it should be available before the end on 2014.

 

 

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/

[Kuzma]

Looks like Steam will be releasing multiple Steam OS machines, Steam Box finally confirmed

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/

[Samuroot1987]

ERMURGURSH

[TheSLSAMG]

You did a good job sir. You included info, unlike anyone else.

[Kuzma]

V_V yeah

[Wulfgar]

Lulz, fast as fuck you are, sir.

[Damikiller37]

OMG am I first again?

if so I will do my best to make this a nice post again  If not mods don't hesitate to delete.

[Coombzy]

OMG am I first again?

first technically yes there is another thread but its just got steam announces...

[JORDANonPC]

repost

It's not is it 

[KaareKanin]

Partially BS topic. The announcement was more along the lines that you can become a beta tester. Actually, I highly doubt that OP has read the announcement at all

[Missioncode]

yes nice job

[Ramzez]

There are like 10 other topics, all created almost the same time.

[Kuzma]

Loads of people posted simulationeously , meh

[TheSLSAMG]

It's not is it 

Yes it is

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/59756-second-steam-announcement/ This is the first, but it is a terrible news post.

 

The second, https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/59757-steam-boxes-announced/, is much better.

[helping]

repost

Start setting your macros now because this is probably going to be like the year of the modular phone.

 

[Humbug]

 

Can I hack this box? Run another OS? Change the hardware? Install my own software? Use it to build a robot?

Sure.

 

 

[kuddlesworth9419]

At the bottom there seems to be some plans to have SteamOS as a desktop OS to. The announcement mentions later news on inputs. It would be really nice if we could get the SteamOS as an optimized desktop OS to. Eg. smaller buttons and a more desktop like experience. 

[carolkarine]

I is excited.

[Humbug]

Just read the page on their website. They are making it clear that they are not very interested in selling hardware.

 

Their prototype design just serves as a reference design, for beta testing. And they expect other PC manufacturers to jump in and handle the hardware part provided it's gaming grade.

[carolkarine]

I'll be building my own steam box with my 7870 and 6300, once I pick up my R-290x

[Nicktrance]

OMG am I first again?

 

No idea several articles were posted at 7:00.

[TechFan@ic]

No hardware specs were announced, that's disappointing...

[Nicktrance]

Yeah, 4 people posted at the same time. Would have liked to see and actual article with some discussion rather than just a link for the sake of trying to post first.

[allthatremains94]

I wonder who's making the 300 beta machines, and hopefully the actual machines are unlike your average prebuilt when they come out, I don't want to see a poo poo mobo in them.

 

No hardware specs were announced, that's disappointing...

 

Well they'll announce the hardware of it within the year, and the retail ones should be better. Think of a Gigabyte Brix 2 as what it could be like.