Valve Starts Publishing Packages For Its Own Linux Distribution 310
An anonymous reader writes "In preparation for the "Steam Box" game console that will make necessary their own Linux-based software platform, Valve developers have started publishing Debian packages for their platform which looks like their first-generation operating system will be derived from Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS. So far the packages being published include a new "Plymouth" boot splash screen as the operating system loads, a Steam desktop wallpaper, auto-updating system scripts, and experimental NVIDIA Linux graphics drivers."
So this is the Steam Box (Score:1, Interesting)
Standard OS, standard hardware, standard drivers.
I for one welcome our moneyed overlords. If anyone has the clout to push developers to include Linux drivers with their releases it will be Valve.
Grammar suggestion (Score:0, Interesting)
a game console that will make necessary their own Linux-based software platform
Just a FYI, but this sounds like it was written by a non-native English speaker. While the grammar is technically correct, a more understandable choice (for native English speakers) would be "a game concole that will require...".
I would buy a Steam Box if... (Score:5, Interesting)
1) The hardware is open so that you can (if you wish) put a different Linux distribution on it.
2) If the Steam Box software works on any distribution you so install.
3) The games are protected only by Steam's own DRM and not encumbered by anything more onerous.
4) All games use the controller. The keyboard and mouse can be an option, but it should not be the only option.
I know this makes it nothing more than a nice small form factor PC with a standard spec. I'm happy for it to be exactly that.
Re:Year of the Linux Desktop? (Score:5, Interesting)
Maybe not the year of the Linux desktop, but instead the year of the Linux set-top-box.
As long as Valve (and ideally other developers as well) make big-name games availale, then I think a lot of gamers would switch to Linux on their existing computer rather than buy a set-top box.
Plenty of people only use their computers for basic web/email/word processing and games and the only thing that ties them to Windows is games. I'm sure plenty would welcome the opportunity to not have to pay for Windows (or have the hassle of pirating it) so long as the games they want to play are available on Linux.
Unfortunately, right now, the choice is lacking. I see Counter-Strike:Source and Team Fortress 2 being the only big-name games. This is disappointing as they were allegedly beta testing with Left 4 Dead 2 which still isn't available on Linux.
Once the other main Source games become available and new games are written with Linux in mind then I can see adoption of Linux for gaming picking up.
Wish I had a mod point for you. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Year of the Linux Desktop? (Score:5, Interesting)
Valve is heading towards Linux because they see where Microsoft is heading. Microsoft is pulling an Apple style lock - in with the new interface and will slowly remove support for the old one. They don't want to pay the cut of all sales that Microsoft will demand. I'm quite surprised more people haven't realised this ... But perhaps I'm just paranoid.
Re:Year of the Linux Desktop? (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, as far as marketplace lock-in, that's complete rubbish. I've installed all my own applications, haven't had to use a single one from the Windows / Metro thingy, most of the time I don't even realise I'm on a new OS. It's somewhat faster than Win7, though that difference isn't huge.
All that being said, I still prefer Linux, I'm one of those who have specific applications packages for work reasons which have to use Windows. But Win8 isn't the big loss for M$ that you make it out to be.
Re:Wish I had a mod point for you. (Score:5, Interesting)
I've used it. Fairly extensively over the past few months, much to my chagrin
Both of my younger sisters were gifted with Windows 8 laptops last Christmas, and figuring out how to set them up has been harder than learning Linux. And I'm an MCSE. Not that the cert means all that much, but I've always leaned Windows-way for the majority of my computing needs, only delving into *nix for some back end stuff and my HTPC.
Up until now, even the bad versions of windows (ME, Vista, etc) were at least functional and somewhat familiar. I could use them, even if they crapped their pants every hour or two. With windows 8, this is no longer the case. Maybe windows 9 will rectify this, but by then it might be too late.