It has been a day over three years since Steam was initially put into a limited beta for Linux, and since then things have never quite been the same for Linux gaming thanks to SteamOS as well.
When it launched for Linux initially we had well under 100 games available on Steam, and look at the difference with a bit of influence from Valve. Checking on Steam there's now 1607 games available for Linux, but as I've said it before it's just a number. We need to keep up the push, and gain some more high quality games to bring people over to our platform.
We still have developers making snide remarks about the platform only having "17 users" and silly things like that, so hopefully childish remarks can be put to rest if we have a slow and steady SteamOS push. I feel like I'm repeating myself from previous articles when I say this, but it won't be an overnight success. The main thing here is that Valve have put Linux in developers minds when it would never have been there before, and we should be thankful for that. They have also poured resources into SDL 2, Vulkan and lots of other projects that benefits us all.
It's only fitting to take a look back, as we look to the future next week for the official Steam Machine and SteamOS launch. I have a feeling it's going to be a busy week for me here. I have finally made sure a Steam Controller is secured for myself next week, so expect my initial thoughts on it Tuesday evening with a larger look at it much later.
I am also going to be wiping Ubuntu off of my TV PC and replacing it with SteamOS to keep up to date with it all for you too. I'm going to attempt this tonight actually (I certainly know how to spend a Saturday night right?).
Getting ready for next week... #SteamOS pic.twitter.com/hVIVaNG97A
— LiamD (@sirliamofgol) November 7, 2015
I imagine on Tuesday we will see a massive SteamOS supported game sale, and quite possibly 1-2 surprise ports. I'm doubting the surprise port part myself, but I remain hopeful for some surprises.
How have the last three years been for you? How are you handling the excitement for next week? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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BlackBloodRum Nov 8, 2015
I don't think existing Steam users are necessarily Valves target here with SteamOS and Linux support. After all existing users were already buying their games.
I think the goal is people who do not (or did not) use Steam prior to SteamOS or Linux support. For example, me. Prior to their Linux support I never even had a Steam account nor ever used it. However by supporting Linux they gained a new customer, had they not done so I doubt I'd have ever used it. I think this is their goal, to get even more people using Steam.
This is why SteamOS is done in a console style as it's to do two things:
1) Attract console gamers who may be interested in games PC has to offer or a better experience
2) Attract PC gamers who don't want to give up their PC games for a console
SteamOS can achieve both of these goals once it gets more games.
Thus, I think these are their goals. After all they are a business at the end of the day and must make more money.
Anyhows, Bring on Saints Row for Linux! Release it please deep silver!
I think the goal is people who do not (or did not) use Steam prior to SteamOS or Linux support. For example, me. Prior to their Linux support I never even had a Steam account nor ever used it. However by supporting Linux they gained a new customer, had they not done so I doubt I'd have ever used it. I think this is their goal, to get even more people using Steam.
This is why SteamOS is done in a console style as it's to do two things:
1) Attract console gamers who may be interested in games PC has to offer or a better experience
2) Attract PC gamers who don't want to give up their PC games for a console
SteamOS can achieve both of these goals once it gets more games.
Thus, I think these are their goals. After all they are a business at the end of the day and must make more money.
Anyhows, Bring on Saints Row for Linux! Release it please deep silver!
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Quoting: liamdaweI am also going to be wiping Ubuntu off of my TV PC and replacing it with SteamOS to keep up to date with it allI'm pretty sure you'd get a lot of page views if your were to post a noob friendly guide on installing Kodi. As many people expect to use their console as a media centre nowadays.
Quoting: JSVRamirezWhat do you use for TV on the prospective SteamOS box?I'd go with Kodi and your preferred PVR backend.
Quoting: SuperTuxA couple of surprise ports would be nice, perhaps TW: Rome II and Attila?It would hardly be a surprise to see Rome II.
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Quoting: N30NHeartily agreed! I used to boot Kodi (then XBMC) then realised I got more functionality booting into Xubuntu and running Kodi as an app - it's a great app! I got the added bonus of a proper web browser (Firefox/Chrome), and file browser and VLC.Quoting: liamdaweI am also going to be wiping Ubuntu off of my TV PC and replacing it with SteamOS to keep up to date with it allI'm pretty sure you'd get a lot of page views if your were to post a noob friendly guide on installing Kodi. As many people expect to use their console as a media centre nowadays.
Apart from Kodi, I'd also really like to see what file browser, web browsers and media players (incl image viewers) are on SteamOS!
One question though @liamdawe , why not dual boot and default to booting SteamOS in GRUB, instead of wiping your Ubuntu? Is it not possible? Or you just wanted a cleaner fully dedicated SteamOS box?
Quoting: N30N... Rome II.Re: Rome II - even though I heard it was a step down gameplay-wise from TW:Rome which I absolutely loved, I've got it, though according to that announcement they seem to be more than 1 year behind schedule ...
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lucifertdark Nov 8, 2015
Over the last 3 years my Steam library has gone from 50-60 Windows games to almost 1100 with 450 of those supporting Linux, I can't remember the last time I played a game in Windows. Humble Bundle has a lot to answer for with that huge jump in my library.
Last edited by lucifertdark on 8 November 2015 at 8:21 am UTC
Last edited by lucifertdark on 8 November 2015 at 8:21 am UTC
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I decided to just go for a dedicated SteamOS box rather than dual boot for less hassle, and to be honest the only thing I will be really using that Steam Machine for is gaming anyway.
I might look into Kodi, I can't imagine it being all that hard to setup.
I might look into Kodi, I can't imagine it being all that hard to setup.
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It seems that the marketing of Steam Machines has been pretty much non-existing on general media. If I were Valve, I would overhaul the entire Steam Store front page with videos and pictures about the Steam Machines during this launch week, so people understand what it is, what's its purpose and where people can buy it. It's not going to sell if nobody knows its existence.
They have 1600+ games available on launch day. No other console in the history of gaming had even 10% of that on launch. Valve has to use this as a huge advantage to sell more Steam Machines.
I hope it's a success, because I'm quite tired of the limitations of consoles, that try to be a PC, but will never be. I have Nintendo consoles, but man, if their games weren't amazing, I would just stick with PC (Linux) for the win.
They have 1600+ games available on launch day. No other console in the history of gaming had even 10% of that on launch. Valve has to use this as a huge advantage to sell more Steam Machines.
I hope it's a success, because I'm quite tired of the limitations of consoles, that try to be a PC, but will never be. I have Nintendo consoles, but man, if their games weren't amazing, I would just stick with PC (Linux) for the win.
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And we're still at around 1% of steam users, so there's absolutely no reason for anyone to target Linux unless they have personal reasons to do so.
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lucifertdark Nov 8, 2015
Quoting: tmtvlAnd we're still at around 1% of steam users, so there's absolutely no reason for anyone to target Linux unless they have personal reasons to do so.You do realise the 1% figure is now 3 years old? AND more importantly that figure comes from a flawed & very limited survey that only a handful of Linux users have even seen much less taken part in, I've had the survey twice in 3 years on Linux & they run it every month. To say the 1% is inaccurate is being kind, I'd say it's complete garbage & will stay that way till Valve do a full count of every single user on Steam.
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JSVRamirez Nov 8, 2015
Quoting: N30NQuoting: JSVRamirezWhat do you use for TV on the prospective SteamOS box?I'd go with Kodi and your preferred PVR backend.
Does Kodi still lack live TV playback? The reason I've stuck with MythTV for so long was because of the easy access to terrestrial live TV.
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