General Discussion

I'm a cranky, old bastard and tend to be the first to criticize something. It's my way of remaining skeptical and reserving judgment for later. However, I have so little to criticize about Valve's approach to bringing their console to market.

Valve is throwing pieces out there, little scraps for the wanting to feed on, and waiting for reactions from community and media. Since they don't have an existing console to support nor a legacy to uphold, Valve is doing what they can to ensure the released product has strong support at launch.

Just had a similar conversation about Linux-first exclusives on the SteamLUG community discussions. Sadly, the requirements from Greenlight, which is the method for game submission to Steam, still have a minimum requirement of Windows operability. Also, do not forget the 1% revenue factor. To ignore the large base of Windows users would be to do your own game a disservice.

Open should be about inclusivity not exclusivity. Ideally, games could be released for a multitude of platforms with cross-play being a side effect of having used standard libraries or having developed with cross-compatibility as a firsthand goal.

The issue with a lot of traditional marketing is how blind it is to the idea that there is a lot of room in the ocean of available customers. It's not necessary to corner or own a market any more and I get the impression that Valve knows this. The Steambox just has to sell enough units to justify its continued production, not overwhelm and overtake the PS4 and XBOX One.

@shockwave There is a slim-to-none chance that your entire Steam library (unless you run Linux exclusively) is going to be available at launch...or ever. It is clear that Windows' only interest to Valve is revenue. That market is just too large to ignore. However, Gabe has said several times publicly that Linux holds the future of gaming.

That being said, maybe Travis is onto something: HL3 - Cross-platform at launch, but console exclusive to the Steambox.

@shockwave My understanding of the streaming is that your gaming PC will stream to the Steam Machine then to the TV. I misread your statement as an expectation of your entire library running natively. That is unlikely to happen.

I remember the first Wizardry. That game was so hard I came to regard it as a party-building simulator; I never made it past the first level.

WOW!

I like that Gabe is very open about why Valve has become so vested in the future of Linux. It is the only way that Valve can retain complete control over the end-user experience.

Some wonderful points (still in awe of his honesty) I took from it:

- AAA publishers don't care about Linux because the revenue just isn't there - DEAL WITH IT! 1% isn't going to turn any heads.
- Proprietary systems and hardware only create exclusionary markets which lack the support of a strong community. It's obvious that Gabe values the community and he should because that's where Valve's revenue lies.
- Gabe seems almost humbled by the community support but understands how to cultivate it. "Properly enabled and supported" developers and users will thrive and can add value to any undertaking.
- Valve doesn't just think Linux is the future, they're invested in seeing that future become real. I didn't realize that Valve had such an active role in the development of SDL. SDL is a mature, cross-platform library that would help realize Gabe's stated goal of unification across platforms.

This excites me on two fronts. One, as a long time Linux user, and the other as a returning PC gamer. I have zero interest in the PS4 or the XBOX One as I've had both of their predecessors and they no longer hold any charm for me. However, if I can be promised the same or better experience when playing on my Steambox or my Linux rig, I'll throw more money Valve's way when their console comes out.

I like the idea that Valve will provide support for the device and that in exchange I'm providing support for that business model. Hardware support is a big deal to me. I have a 3 GHz quad-core processor sitting in the closet and I'm not sure if the motherboard or the power supply is bad. If it were a console with a warranty, I'd be running that instead of current system.

Like Jon, and obviously Gaben, I think that open platforms are future. Open platforms provide the freedom to let truly innovative companies continue to innovate. It also provides a framework for the "Grand Unification," where mobile, desktop and console gaming experience their Singularity.

When I saw this series come up as a recommended subscription in YouTube, my first reaction was "What the hell does PBS know about video games?" Watching this episode led me to subscribe.

Turns out that PBS (or at least those involved in Game/Show) know quite a bit and are willing to get gamers talking about the headier topics surrounding our favorite hobby/obsession. This episode helps provide some historical perspective for many people that may believe the issue began with GTA III.

To answer the question posed by the title: Yes. As long as humans continue to create games, they will reflect the culture around them and their own impulses. So these violent tendencies will wend their way into any competitive endeavor.

Jon, I like how you just mentioned the Kindle Lending Library as I was thinking of that as you're talking about Steam. I think that would be a cool thing to do, to be able to share games with people.

I already bought Fez after watching IGTM. So thankful that I don't have to reboot into Windows to play it. And the framerate is better in Linux.

Pleased to get Mark of the Ninja. Klei has some really good titles under their belt. Looking forward to playing more of that one.

Was pleased to see that all of the Steam keys validated and all of the titles were available for Linux within hours of the HiB being posted. I would have to dig a little deeper, but I believe this also the first time that ALL of the titles were available in Steam for Linux so close to release.

@Adym - Do yourself a favor and go snag a Logitech F310. With the exception of Bit.Trip Runner 2, games recognize it as an XBOX controller and I didn't have to configure a thing. Works way better than trying to use any number of methods to convince your computer the PS3 controller belongs there.

Unless you're doing wireless, then you'll want the F710. Sorry. I sit at my computer so I don't mind a wired controller.

It's the cords. As great as the XBOX breakaway design was, it was still annoying when someone would get up and accidentally sever the cord.