70°

SteamOS: What does this mean to an average gamer

This past few weeks Valve, the creators of the world’s most popular digital software and gaming distribution service, Steam, announced that next year they plan on releasing SteamOS, their own operating system designed to run on compatible machines and bring everyone's favorite Steam content right to the living room. Now the most important question here is; what does this mean to the average gamer?

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ifritAlkhemyst3889d ago

It means nothing. It is a completely pointless endeavor by Valve that we can toss on to their growing pile of wtf'ery.

hellvaguy3889d ago

I couldnt disagree more. Steam OS will focus primarily on gaming. Unlike win8, plus alot of people dislike the win8 interface and tiles. At the very least, Steam cud light a fire under ms to give us a better os in windows 9.

ifritAlkhemyst3889d ago

They're nothing at all alike. You're comparing apples to moon rocks in terms of functionality here.

And apart from Win8 interface problems, the OS is the best for gaming yet. All MS has to do is create a profile option for gaming, which minimizes many of the unnecessary background processes, for them to win back the hearts of gamers.

PotatoClock3889d ago

"All MS has to do is create a profile option for gaming"

But they're not going to because they haven't focused win8 on gaming. You just proved the point, that you disagreed with, of what SteamOS is trying to achieve.

Somebody3889d ago

@ifirtAlkhemyst

"All MS has to do is create a profile option for gaming, which minimizes many of the unnecessary background processes, for them to win back the hearts of gamers. "

That's the problem! Microsoft have been in the PC business longer than Valve and yet with every iteration of Windows they getting farther and farther away from PC gaming. You praised Windows 8 for being a better gaming OS and yet you wished that MS to release a gaming profile. They could've, should've, done that since Windows 97 and XP during the hey day of PC gaming but instead...they released X-Box.

Valve on the other hand is offering to make PC gaming a viable platform on its own, something that MS apparently neglected. Where was MS during the ugly days of "PC is Dead" era which was ironically perpetuated by the it's own 360 and PS3's rivalry? MS was nowhere to be seen while PC gaming floundered with major game devs jumping to the other side(let's not forget MS disbanded numerous PC studios like the guys who made Halo Wars so they could be reshuffled into the console department) and exclusive titles being consolized.

Valve was there to make PC gaming relevant again and now it's starting all over again. Windows 8 is good gaming OS but it's true purpose is not for PC gaming. It was designed to be an extension of the X Box experience. An enclosed console system that encompassed multiple devices under one architecture.

I have long believed that MS deliberately made GFWL awful so that it can push the XBOX LIVE system into Windows 8. Other companies, especially Valve, would do anything to improve their product after harsh criticism and yet MS did nothing to fix GFWL because it was a big fat red herring destined to die on arrival. MS just let it rot while everyone, journalists and gamers alike, kept pummeling into dust. Once the dust settled, MS conveniently replaced it with a similar but already perfected XBox Live for Windows 8 and some new MS hardware.

UltimateMaster3888d ago (Edited 3888d ago )

@hellvaguy & Somebody

Exactly what you said. 100% agree.

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SnakeCQC3889d ago

I think its linked to the mantle api thing. Ms's dx 11 isnt that great and doesnt give devs that much control of the end users hardware. Ms's os has been quite lacking and theres a predictable pattern of good one and then a bad one is released so the next one looks good. All of this holds back gaming in general.

ifritAlkhemyst3889d ago

Hmm... that does look sexy.

Jovanian 3889d ago

I'm not going to make any conclusions until they actually start to give more details about the OS and I actually get to try it hands on. I don't think it would be a completely pointless endeavor if it does the things they promise it will do

jeffgoldwin3889d ago (Edited 3889d ago )

@ifrit

"They're nothing at all alike. You're comparing apples to moon rocks in terms of functionality here."

You have a horrible grasp of comparisons. The comparison is of 2 PC operating systems. They are as close of a comparison as you can possibly get. I don't feel you even understand what an OS even means if you think the difference is not apples to apples.

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The_KELRaTH3889d ago (Edited 3889d ago )

I'd like to know how they will be supporting directx games.
One of the biggest single issues with using Linux on PC's has been the lack of directx compatibility.

If it weren't for MS having directx locked down tight the PC industry would likely be enjoying a wide selection of OS's

hellvaguy3889d ago (Edited 3889d ago )

Amd on the ps4 isnt using directx. Think it will be fine. You really didnt think a billion dollar plus company like Steam didnt think of this already?

Alot more OS is a bad thing. U want as few as possible to avoid fractioning and having a nightmare slew of glitches and bugs.

The_KELRaTH3889d ago

And the PS4 can't run any old PC games - you need directx API for that (for the most part).

If it weren't for directx locked to Windows I'd be using the latest Apple OS X with my existing PC games list. It's only the 3D API that is required for existing PC game compatibility not the whole of Windows.

SnakeCQC3889d ago

Look up mantle api. Its going to change things in a big way and dx will be history in a few years imo

The_KELRaTH3889d ago

Yup it's a very interesting API but it will have to end up a standard that all GPU manufacturers can use otherwise it's going to be another Glide.

SnakeCQC3889d ago

amd are allowing nvidia to use it too and i really think over the next few years it should become very widely used given the obvious benefits

hellvaguy3889d ago

Xbox uses directx and cant play old pc games that werent licensed for it either. So I dont see the point your making.

The_KELRaTH3889d ago

The Xbox uses the API but it's not a PC and is designed not to play PC games.

What I'm saying is the Steambox is meant to be a compact PC that will play PC games. If you look at the current games content most of those games use the Directx API as Steam currently is just a nice frontend menuing system on Windows but the final Steambox is said to be using Linux instead which doesn't have the Directx API

So my question is how will it play those existing PC games?

AceBlazer133889d ago

to the average gamer it won't mean squat. don't let pc gamers fool you, they are a dying breed.

Jovanian 3889d ago

It is clear why you only have one bubble

Xristo3889d ago

You are a cancer. Please delete your account. People hate N4G because of so-called "Gamers" (regardless of platform) like you.

Xristo3889d ago

I should not resort to name calling. My apologies, AceBlazer13.

_LarZen_3889d ago

It means more options, and in the end better looking games.

The_Truth_24_73889d ago

Absolutely nothing. Even to hard-core pc gamers.

160°

Why is Steam Blocked in Vietnam? Government Shares Reason

Finally, the Vietnamese government has officially responded to Steam being blocked in the country.

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blacktiger3d ago

AMAZING! Thank You Gabe, stand for freedom of speech!!!!

PRIMORDUS3d ago

VPN to buy games, fuck that if it's allowed or not, or just use a VPN and torrent what you can.

seanpitt232d ago

I just cannot believe we haven't had a game from them this generation nearly 4 years in.. crazy!

Knightofelemia2d ago

If the game is crap then yes there will always be negative feedback it comes with the territory. It's called word of mouth or welcome to the internet. Where the truth about a game comes out really fast whether the game is good or crap. If you can't handle the criticism because of a game then why publish the game. Why should people who never criticized or even played the game be punished? Vietnam has some really screwed up laws block Steam because they don't answer us rule. And going on a witch hunt with Steam please. Where's the proof, where's the evidence of this witch hunt. Somebody is butt hurt and has a Vietnamese Karen leading the witch hunt.

130°

What Happens to Your Steam Account When You Die?

The Outerhaven writes: While Steam has come out recently, stating that Steam accounts can't be transferred, we need to think about it since we all will eventually kick the bucket. But if Valve is denying transferring accounts, what can be done? Plenty, actually.

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thorstein7d ago

It goes to my kids because I gave them the passwords.

To Steam: Missio has a song that conveys my feelings about you stealing my purchase after I die. It's called "Middle Fingers"

shinoff21836d ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear216d ago

Yeah worrying about digital ownership when you’re on the other side of the grass seems a little strange, but also on brand for these millennial journalists to worry about.

qalpha5d ago

I'm sure Keith will be happy to hear he's a millennial journalist.

Goodguy016d ago

I suppose if I have kids, I'd just give em my account details by retirement age. If I die young then...idk lol.

CrimsonWing696d ago

Yea, I mean just give someone the password to your account. Is that difficult to do or something? Like, I’m legit asking because I don’t know.

anast6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

It's not difficult but It's against the policy. If they find out, they will lock the account permanently.

CrimsonWing696d ago

Ah ok, I had a feeling there was something like that. It seems kind of weird that you can’t just hand your account over to a family member or friend and let them take over the account.

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230°

Steam Account Transfer Via Will on Death is Not Permitted, Valve Confirms

In case you were curious, a Steam account transfer via will is not permitted according to an official response from Valve.

anast9d ago

The games are theirs. People just pay to ride the ride.

Skuletor8d ago

Would be nice if the article's writer looked into and reported whether other digital game libraries could be transferred over via will (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo, EGS, EA app, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar Launcher etc) instead of this half-baked piece but it's probably the same for all of them anyway

Kornholic8d ago

This seems like a way bigger issue than mandatory PSN account linking for PlayStation games.

So where is the outcry?

Skuletor8d ago

It's not like PlayStation is doing any different.

"You may not sell, buy, trade, or transfer your Online ID, Account or any personal access to PSN Services through any means or method, including by use of web sites."
https://www.playstation.com...

Kornholic7d ago

So you are that saying Steam is being very anti consumer with its policies. That's why I'm so baffled by the lack of outcry from the PC audience.

NotoriousWhiz8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

It's not like your account just stops working when you die. Include your email, account id, and password in the will (including the password to your email) and your survivors should have no problem using your games.

anast8d ago

PC gamers are a different lot. They don't mind renting their games forever, they don't mind spending money on overpriced equipment, and they don't mind fiddling with settings for hours before they even play the game, but linking a PSN account demands a riot. This is hard to understand, but then again, we all have to draw our lines somewhere.

Skuletor8d ago

You sure talk a lot of nonsense.Go look up the percentage of digital sales compared to physical sales of PS5 games, then tell me again about "renting" games.

mandf8d ago

Overblown funny and 100percent true

anast8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

There is no option at all to buy a physical copy of a PC game... And more people game on consoles for the reasons that make PC gamers a different lot.

VIK21218d ago

it's not so much the linking but the fact that certain countries aren't allowed to access psn...

VIK21218d ago

@anast I have a disc ps5 since launch, initially I bought some disc games, but I can't be bothered to walk to a physical store nowadays... I just buy the titles when they go on special sale or gray market store like CDKeys...

DustMan8d ago

PSN was a different story altogether. It kept people who bought the game from playing in countries that PSN wasn't supported. I never understood the issue anyway.

I don't know if PC stuff is overpriced considering that you can buy a new video card with the same amount of money you'd spend over 5 or 6 years paying to play games online with a console. I'll never pay double to use the same connection. That is what I'll never understand about console gamers. "let me pay an extra hundred & twenty dollars a year to use the same internet I pay for monthly and use on literally every device in my home for free....except for my Playstation"

Extermin8or3_8d ago

@Skuletor about 50-60% of sales are digital for most games. Meaning 40-50% are physical....

anast8d ago

@VIK

You might not but you are not the expectation that creates a universal.

Skuletor8d ago

@Extermin8or3_
Right and where are you getting that information from?
https://www.statista.com/st...

@anast

"Renting games"
In the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023, approximately 77 percent of Sony Corporation's PlayStation gaming sales were generated via digital downloads.

"overpriced equipment"
Some people are willing to pay a premium for better performance, the way you keep talking about the PS5 Pro on N4G proves you're a hypocrite in that regard but whatever, lol

"fiddling with settings for hours before they even play the game"
Most pc games will give the option to scan your system to choose recommended settings or start with moderate settings that will run the game fine but you're free to mess around at your own leisure, to improve performance or quality if you wish to. For those that don't want to, there's free software that can do that for you, such as Nvidia's Geforce or AMD's AMD Catalyst. Geforce Experience even gives you the option of choosing whether to prioritize performance vs image quality with a simple slider for easy optimization, it's not rocket science, like you try make it out to be.

"linking a PSN account demands a riot"
Playstation selling Helldivers 2 in regions without the legal means to create a PSN account by Sony's own standards, then telling people in those regions that already bought the game that they can no longer play the game, isn't a cause for concern? Though you've already heard about that but keep going along with your own narrative because of your weird vendetta against PC on here.

This is hard to understand, but then again, we all have to draw our lines somewhere.

PRIMORDUS7d ago

I don't rent I torrent to keep, if they take them down that's ok I don't care I have them LOL. I do buy PC games but very little as I want full control which is why I torrent to keep them in my collection, and I do not give a fuck what the devs or publishers want. I never did never will.

anast7d ago

@DustMan

Just like you can choose play games on low to barely mid settings for the price of a PS5, you can also choose not to game online on the PS5. So, now you are getting a better gaming experience and not paying extra for online.

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thorstein8d ago

So just give your progeny the passwords.

OtterX8d ago

Keep the password sealed in the Will, only to be opened after death. :)

Aphrodia8d ago

Right? How are they gonna know you are dead?

FinalFantasyFanatic8d ago

The only way they will know is when an account is active for 300 years, lol.

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