Steam for Linux Beta

[TechSY730]

Although the Linux/GNU core libraries and the Linux community do so many things far, far better than Windows and most of the average Windows libraries, sadly binary compatibility is not one of them. And unfortunately, that is a pretty big issue. Even with open source, recompiling against a new version of a library with binary compatibility breaks can be a headache.

That is what I am concerned about for Valve; how will they deal with this?

[TechSY730]

Just in case you didn't see the news, but the Steam for Linux is now official in public beta!


http://steamforlinux.com/?q=en/node/141

[madcow]

I almost wonder if valve's plan is to use linux on their planned console/hardware/steam-in-a-box. Gabe Newell has been a pretty outspoken critic of Windows 8, and it wouldn't surprise me if they went that route if there was enough software to support it.

Edit: Their hardware is a long way off, and I imagine if Valve really pushed for it, they could get enough to adopt for it to be a decent line up. Especially with unity and source engine supporting Linux.

[TechSY730]

At the risk of derailing the thread. I tried Windows 8 in the store. It didn't actually seem so bad. The whole start "panel"/screen thing didn't feel too bad. Basically, it was as if the start menu grew again, this time filling the whole screen. That, and some of those "active desktop" ideas got put into those new "active panel"/"active menu slot" stuff, which is cool.

However, then I read somewhere that the shell treats programs (visually and organizationally at least) using their new UI toolkit/API are treated very differently from how it treats programs using the "conventional" toolkit of Windows' past. Is this true? If so, that seems like a major issue to me. 


That, and I really don't have any desire to move back to Windows anytime soon. 

[madcow]

I didn't mean to start a windows 8 is bad line. I was more saying that Valve's president doesn't like it.

They're adding in linux support. And have future plans for a steam-in-a-box hardware for the console space. And correct me if I'm wrong, but linux is a free open-sourced OS. So if they had the game line-up, they could stuff it on their hardware at no cost. Doesn't mean that's what they'll do, but it is a possibility that would certainly be an interesting twist.

[keith.lamothe]

I'd be very interested to see Valve enter the console market.  They could do some serious damage

Also interested to see what steam support for linux does for the percent of folks using it over the next couple years.  A solid alternative to Windows (that isn't owned by Apple) could become fairly important if MS sticks to its guns on the Windows Store thing.  Windows 8 as an OS doesn't bother me (may or may not like innovation X, Y, or Z, but that doesn't bother me), but the policy of "all metro apps have to be distributed through us" is a major dealbreaker.  Not today or even next year since the restriction doesn't apply to "desktop" (non-metro) apps but if they stick with it then the only sane distribution methods for the OS will be stuck on a to-be-deprecated platform.  Not wanting to see that happen.

[Hearteater]

I'm getting really tired of companies forcing stores on people.  It has a real mobster feel to it.

[keith.lamothe]

I'm getting really tired of companies forcing stores on people.  It has a real mobster feel to it.

Yea.  There are some advantages to having everything "curated" but in reality the loss of choice is much worse than the gains could offset.

Thankfully none of the genuinely coercion-based organizations are really in on it yet.  Turning one's back on Microsoft completely to avoid the only-through-the-windows-store thing would be a difficult choice for many of us but it would still be a legal choice (and MS would probably not break any of our kneecaps for making it).  And we're not to that point yet either way, thankfully.

[madcow]

A bit of a necro, but it seems valve has indeed confirmed their steam box console is going to be linux based.

[LaughingThesaurus]

Madcow speaks the truth.
Frankly, I'm glad. It's either Windows 7 or Linux for me. I'm not touching Windows 8 again. The only thing that'd convince me otherwise is if the start menu's tidied up into something that works (which would basically be back to windows 7's variant), but by then, I'd be paying for something virtually identical to what I have. No, Microsoft, I'm not turning my PC into a tablet.

[chemical_art]

A bit of a necro, but it seems valve has indeed confirmed their steam box console is going to be linux based.

Seems more of a power play for market share then for game functionality.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

A bit of a necro, but it seems valve has indeed confirmed their steam box console is going to be linux based.

Seems more of a power play for market share then for game functionality.

Well, Gabe hasn't exactly been quiet about his utter disdain for Windows 8. I myself am not happy that this is the "next gen" windows OS either. Its a major step back by everything I've seen thus far. I just haven't had the chance to try it myself.

[madcow]

A bit of a necro, but it seems valve has indeed confirmed their steam box console is going to be linux based.

Seems more of a power play for market share then for game functionality.

Oh, it definitely is, that's how I saw it when I predicted it, and I still think it is. Don't necessarily think it is a bad thing though. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

[chemical_art]

A bit of a necro, but it seems valve has indeed confirmed their steam box console is going to be linux based.

Seems more of a power play for market share then for game functionality.

Well, Gabe hasn't exactly been quiet about his utter disdain for Windows 8. I myself am not happy that this is the "next gen" windows OS either. Its a major step back by everything I've seen thus far. I just haven't had the chance to try it myself.

I'm not saying it is wrong, if anything, I'm saying now is the exact time to do so from a business standpoint.

Vista was not liked after XP, but not because it tried to copy Apple. It was just...odd. In my opinion, largely due to it being coupled early on with systems woefully underpowered to use it (to explain to my dad why his cheap early vista laptop was slow, I said it would be liked putting a 4 piston engine on a utlity truck, it just doesn't work.)
7 was wonky in its own way, but at least wasn't put on underpowered devices, and is actually fairly lean.
However, 8 committed the most grave sin in Window's lifetime. It wasn't windows. It wasn't wonky, yet is taking steps that can let it be locked down. It's...turning into Apple.
Even I will tell you I use Windows because I like Apple less. So why be like Apple? Ugh. It defeats the purpose.

Now, steam is a gaming platform. It is popular. What's the strongest step to take for an independent system? An own independent device. The best time to be your own platform, to break away, is when your competition is unpopular. 8 is unpopular, so now is the time to be free.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

A bit of a necro, but it seems valve has indeed confirmed their steam box console is going to be linux based.

Seems more of a power play for market share then for game functionality.

Well, Gabe hasn't exactly been quiet about his utter disdain for Windows 8. I myself am not happy that this is the "next gen" windows OS either. Its a major step back by everything I've seen thus far. I just haven't had the chance to try it myself.

I'm not saying it is wrong, if anything, I'm saying now is the exact time to do so from a business standpoint.

Vista was not liked after XP, but not because it tried to copy Apple. It was just...odd. In my opinion, largely due to it being coupled early on with systems woefully underpowered to use it (to explain to my dad why his cheap early vista laptop was slow, I said it would be liked putting a 4 piston engine on a utlity truck, it just doesn't work.)
7 was wonky in its own way, but at least wasn't put on underpowered devices, and is actually fairly lean.
However, 8 committed the most grave sin in Window's lifetime. It wasn't windows. It wasn't wonky, yet is taking steps that can let it be locked down. It's...turning into Apple.
Even I will tell you I use Windows because I like Apple less. So why be like Apple? Ugh. It defeats the purpose.

Now, steam is a gaming platform. It is popular. What's the strongest step to take for an independent system? An own independent device. The best time to be your own platform, to break away, is when your competition is unpopular. 8 is unpopular, so now is the time to be free.

Yeah, I don't like the Apple-inspirations of the OS either. The ease with which Microsoft could lock the system down is...concerning. And then if they did, well, frak, we don't have a ton of options at that point. Microsoft can bluster all it likes about not turning into the next Apple but actions speak louder and the fact that they've come closer to Apple's way of thinking than they ever have in a long time speaks loudly.

But yeah, this looks to be the time that Valve will try and become an independent system all on its own. Big picture mode, Steam box, a completely overhauled Community section, selling software, it all seems to point to them doing just that.