Valve Looks to Release its First Console Next Year

Rob Williams · 09-19-2012, 06:49 PM

Barely two weeks ago, we finally found some hard evidence that Valve was looking to create a video game console, but who knew that the company already has working prototypes and has been hard at work testing them? In talking to Engadget, that factoid was unveiled, and I must say, I'm impressed. Valve didn't do the best job keeping its console plans totally locked-down, but I would have never guessed the company's progress has been so great.

Read the rest of our post and then discuss it here!

Kayden · 09-19-2012, 07:30 PM

I can't say that I'm surprised because that Big Picture looked consoleish to me. I am just thinking is this going to require a PC or will it work like On Live and stream the game? Bandwidth caps are going to hurt any gamer either way.

madmat · 09-19-2012, 08:04 PM

Anyone remember the Phantom console? It was to be based on PC hardware and have a 100% online gaming library that you downloaded to the machine. Steam looks to be bringing it to pass.

Rob Williams · 09-19-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayden

I can't say that I'm surprised because that Big Picture looked consoleish to me. I am just thinking is this going to require a PC or will it work like On Live and stream the game? Bandwidth caps are going to hurt any gamer either way.

I sure hope not. Caps are just the first issue... not being able to play your games when the net is down is even more major.

Though caps do have to die, that's for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmat

Anyone remember the Phantom console? It was to be based on PC hardware and have a 100% online gaming library that you downloaded to the machine. Steam looks to be bringing it to pass.

Haha, Phantom. Also known as Kyle Bennett's worst headache ever.

The difference here though is Valve has been around a good while and understands the game industry well. The fact the company already has a console in testing tells me it's been doing research and working with hardware partners for a while.

If it's like Steam on the PC, then it -will- download content to the console, but I almost imagine that it'll also have the ability to stream a game that's installed to one of your PCs in the house, so as to not have duplicate game installs everywhere.

madmat · 09-19-2012, 11:06 PM

Right. But my point is this, they're doing what Phantom was attempting to do. I can only imagine that they'll use Steam for content delivery, it makes too much sense. Not to use it when they've got a foolproof and comparatively secure content delivery system already up and running would be foolish. Especially given the new push for Steam on Linux.

My prediction is that it'll be PC based meaning the hardware will be more familiar to PC gamers than that in the current consoles, it will run Linux and will be tied to a Steam account for content delivery. I also agree with the streaming games from PC's over your home network.

09-19-2012, 06:49 PM	#1
Rob Williams Editor-in-Chief Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 13,231	Valve Looks to Release its First Console Next Year Barely two weeks ago, we finally found some hard evidence that Valve was looking to create a video game console, but who knew that the company already has working prototypes and has been hard at work testing them? In talking to Engadget, that factoid was unveiled, and I must say, I'm impressed. Valve didn't do the best job keeping its console plans totally locked-down, but I would have never guessed the company's progress has been so great. Read the rest of our post and then discuss it here! __________________ Intel Core i7-990X EE @ 3.43GHz, GIGABYTE X58A-UD5, Kingston 12GB DDR3-1333, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD, WD VR 1TB, WD 2TB, Seagate 2TB, LG BD-ROM, ASUS DVD-RW, Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H60 Cooler Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.10, 3.7 Kernel) "Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter <Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.

09-19-2012, 07:30 PM	#2
Kayden Techgage Staff Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CA Posts: 709	I can't say that I'm surprised because that Big Picture looked consoleish to me. I am just thinking is this going to require a PC or will it work like On Live and stream the game? Bandwidth caps are going to hurt any gamer either way. __________________ Koolance PC4-1036BK Liquid Cooled Aluminum Full Tower Case (Upgraded to displace 1320watt of heat) - Koolance 360 ver 1.2 CPU Water Block - PrimoChill ICE Non-Conductive Fluid - Asus P6X58D Premium - Intel I7 950 - Evga GTX580 FTW Hydro Copper 2 x2 in SLI - Tt SMART M1200W PSU - Mushkin Enhanced Radioactive 12GB 1600 XMP - Klipsch 5.1 THX Cert Speakers - Sata II OCZ Vertex 4 128GB, Kingston 120GB SV300, WD 2TB, 320GB & 1TB - Cyborg RAT 7 MMO Mouse - Logitech G19 - Logitech G13 Gameboard - 1-over-3 Viewsonic's VA2448M-LED 24-Inch for Nvidia Surround - Ergotech Triple Horizontal LCD Monitor Arm Desk Stand

09-19-2012, 08:04 PM	#3
madmat Soup Nazi Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: No soup for you! Posts: 1,636	Anyone remember the Phantom console? It was to be based on PC hardware and have a 100% online gaming library that you downloaded to the machine. Steam looks to be bringing it to pass. __________________ M4N82 Deluxe Phenom II 940 Black Edition quad core @ 3.5Ghz 2x1 gig OCZ PC26400 Platinum, 2x1gig GSkill PC26400 EVGA GTX260 Buncha drives, Some other stuff, Even more stuff, If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside. --Robert X. Cringely, InfoWorld magazine Sign Me!

09-19-2012, 11:06 PM	#5
madmat Soup Nazi Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: No soup for you! Posts: 1,636	Right. But my point is this, they're doing what Phantom was attempting to do. I can only imagine that they'll use Steam for content delivery, it makes too much sense. Not to use it when they've got a foolproof and comparatively secure content delivery system already up and running would be foolish. Especially given the new push for Steam on Linux. My prediction is that it'll be PC based meaning the hardware will be more familiar to PC gamers than that in the current consoles, it will run Linux and will be tied to a Steam account for content delivery. I also agree with the streaming games from PC's over your home network. __________________ M4N82 Deluxe Phenom II 940 Black Edition quad core @ 3.5Ghz 2x1 gig OCZ PC26400 Platinum, 2x1gig GSkill PC26400 EVGA GTX260 Buncha drives, Some other stuff, Even more stuff, If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside. --Robert X. Cringely, InfoWorld magazine Sign Me!