Valve Hiring Hardware Developers 94
New submitter Canazza writes
"According to Develop, 'PC games giant Valve wants to "invent whole new gaming experiences" and is looking for people to help create new hardware, the Washington studio has confirmed. Off the back of a wave of speculation that the studio is building its own games console – a rumour which Valve has not specifically denied – the company now appears to be increasing capacity of its hardware development division.' Is Valve designing a new console? Or is this an expansion of its biometric controls research? Either way, something big is going down at Valve."
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I suspect that whatever you're smoking hasn't been approved for human consumption...
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And still everything I said is true.
You have a very interesting definition of "everything". ONE thing you said is true; that he worked for Microsoft. The rest of your drivel is as logical, likely, and believable as the theories the crazy-haired guy on Ancient Aliens comes up with. Actually, I take that back. His theories make more sense than yours.
Re:Gabe Newell is ex-microsoft employee (Score:4, Funny)
Shh dont tell him about the mac or ps3 versions...
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And still everything I said is true.
Lets see
"Newell is ex-Microsoft employee" -- your link seems to support that claim
"who was "put off" to destroy free software movement" -- you have not provided anything that supports this claim
"by only releasing Steam for Windows". -- They have now released steam for the mac If they are really working for MS then would they do that? and why would they allow steam to work under wine?
"There is no Linux version! And you know why?" -- I don't know for sure but I suspect what keeps most commercial game devs awa
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Even if someone is "used to stuff being free", it does not necessarily follow that they are therefore not willing to pay for quality work.
The (albeit anecdotal) number of Macbook-weilding Linux users around, and the consistently higher prices paid (voluntarily!) by Linux "Humble Bundle" purchasers, attests to the fact that not every Penguin is a Freedom zealot.
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oh I think it's approved.
It's all very approved, mon.
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You may well be right, but what's that got to do with him?
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You realize there's a Mac version? Not to mention heavy rumours and emerging evidence of a Linux version in the works? Plus Valves track record with OpenGL?
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To be fair, the Linux rumors thus far are just an ad revenue scheme by that douche bag Michael Larabel.
Re:Gabe Newell is ex-microsoft employee (Score:5, Insightful)
There is no Linux version! And you know why?
Yes, yes I do. Because in order for a linux version to be worth the time to code, you'd need a decent library of games that actually run on linux.
Not to mention there's several different operating systems that fall under the brand of "linux".
It's a coding nightmare, and most companies don't want to take such a massive amount of time for a minority.
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To be fair, there are a fair number of completely cross-platform games on Steam now (Humble Bundle has been giving out Steam keys for each bundle since I think HB2). The GP is obviously batshit, but it could probably be done at this point. It's just probably not worth it to Valve.
If you want something for linux (Score:1)
Try Desura.
Yes, it's not quite as nice as steam. But it is coming along.
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lolno
If Windows games were coded in OpenGL, porting to Linux would be trivial.
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Uh, no. There is more to a game than just the graphics rendering API. There's also sound, input, networking, etc. that could be using platform specific APIs or libraries. And using OpenGL doesn't mean the game doesn't use Win32 as well.
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That could easily solved by valve just stating they're only going to support 1 distro (e.g Ubuntu). Then if you can get it to run on other distros more power to you but you (yourself) and the community will be your only support.
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Tying it to the linux flavor of the month is bad.
Ubuntu might have been the shit last year, but since the introduction of the Unity interface it is shit.
Perhaps something more general like Debian?
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Ubuntu has been the distro of choice of the greater part of the last decade. Personally I like Unity. Debian would be a great choice too though.
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But if Valve committed to Linux it would no longer be the minority. Every home Windows user with half a brain would be using Linux by the Windows release.That is how influential Valve is in the PC gaming world.
Perhaps the problem is that Valve likes externalizing part of its development costs over to Microsoft's DirectX team, and could care less that users have to pay an extra $150 for a Windows license.
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You need to understand that neither Valve or Gabe Newell care about your petty OS war. Also, Steam being released for Linux won't change the fact that the cast amount of games won't work or will ever be ported. Also, PC gamers are a pretty tiny minority of all PC users so you well overestimate the impact this would have.
Re:Gabe Newell is ex-microsoft employee (Score:4, Insightful)
There's no Linux version because linux types are the types to reject DRM, which is what Steam is. I buy games from GOG and I like it. On the other hand, I also have a game console, which has plenty of DRM. However, it has resale value, however small. If the next generation prevents resale somehow then I won't be buying it at all.
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I wonder how much resell value your console has when all the games become DLC gateways.
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I wonder how much resell value your console has when all the games become DLC gateways.
Yes, that has become fairly annoying. All I have to say about it is that the potentially worst DLC gateways, music games, still seem to be willing to load tracks from earlier games and such. And I can still play Halo Reach online although I haven't bought map packs. If the next generation is much worse then that's another reason I won't be buying it.
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Please, tell me more!
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Don't use Google products, either. Remember that Google is the most popular destination for ex-Microsoft employees!
Bring it on, headcrabs!! (Score:1)
Apple? (Score:2)
Two minutes before I saw this article, I saw the one about Tim Cook being spotted visiting Valve headquarters...
Re:Apple? (Score:5, Funny)
Oh dear lord, they're trying to re-animate Jobs.
Re:Apple? (Score:5, Funny)
*suddenly gets a vision of Jobs shambling about with a headcrab attached to his skull*
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So that's who replaces Breen...
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Even worse. With Jobs out of the way, they're planning to re-animate the Pippin [wikipedia.org]!
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Two minutes before I saw this article, I saw the one about Tim Cook being spotted visiting Valve headquarters...
So how long until the joint Apple-Valve console is announced?
I think that would make a lot more sense than Valve going it alone to make a new console, though I'm still not sure it is likely. I suppose Valve would get access to Apple's experience working with Taiwanese/Chinese manufacturers, which would make the hardware part much more reasonable, but I'm not too sure what Apple would get out of it - they already have experience with various other types of online stores, so the only thing they would really g
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That said, I can't quite see how partnering with Valve would help make Apple any money, unless whatever they come up with convinces game developers to start writing for other platforms. (The maybe-good-news is
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Could be Valve is trying to leverage Apple's AppleTV. And maybe why Apple has been slow to roll out apps for AppleTV.
I mean, Apple's got an interesting "console" in the form of iOS devices (we'll call it console-lite in that the requirements for the App Store are way looser than what Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo reqiure for their consoles). Perhaps if Valve could get Steam on there, maybe do the controller design (the AppleTV is ripe for controllers - I believe Bluetooth is on board)...
Heck, maybe it's getting V
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Possibly true. Jobs was well-known for his disdain of computer and video gaming in general, but Jobs isn't around any more. Cook may have a different outlook, and if so, an alliance with Valve might be the obvious place to start (re)building bridges with gamers.
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So how long until the joint Apple-Valve console is announced?
I don't expect that from Apple. I'm thinking about new input hardware, or displays, and support for them day 1.
something big is going down (Score:3, Interesting)
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and survey says its still most likely not Half Life Episode 3 or Half Life 3. thanks gaben, making sure to give gamers what we really want.
What I really wanted in the last few years was more Portal and I got it.
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me to..also I want more hats, and I get that in droves..sadly I got a bunch of crates as well.
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So I guess this is typical Slashdot fare, carry on.
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well, if you want to go by the other 3 major consoles, I think you can safely assume the 90% shovelware estimate is probably pretty accurate.
Unless the console is so unpopular that even the shovelware developers aren't interested in releasing for it.
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As long as they are making money on people who play Left4Dead, Team Fortress, and DOTA for hundreds of hours, why put all their resources into a narrative game like Half Life with 40-50 hours of gameplay?
I see Half Life as Valve's Ace-in-the-Hole which they are saving for either troubled times or to support the launch of a new service/platform. HL2 made Steam a success in the same way that Halo make Xbox a success, both were killer apps. So if Valve really is going to launch a console, it will almost certai
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whine, whine whine.
Valve makes great games. The reason the make great games is because they make games they want to be great. Forcing out another half life that the devs aren't interested in would be a pretty mediocre game.
I'm not sure about your shovel ware comment. I have 3 consoles, and none of them are bloated with shovels ware.
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Half Life Episode 3
Christ, are people still bitching about that? Let it go, dude.
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If they are trying to establish a pattern then Half-Life 3 will need a new engine. Maybe you have to wait for Source 2.
Make your own punchline... (Score:2)
The hardware developers will be working on pipe wrenches.
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Not a console (Score:1)
Quote: "across a wide range of platforms. We're not talking about me-too mice and gamepads here - help us invent whole new gaming experiences."
So, this could be anything like that. I doubt a console is in the works.
Just one request (Score:5, Funny)
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I'd be pretty happy with just the boots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd1m5_n9P9w [youtube.com]
Atlas and P-body (Score:1)
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C-64 (Score:1)
Valve recently hired Commodore 64 and FPGA guru Jeri Ellsworth. She wouldn't join a lame project. So I have faith they're up to something terrific!
Umm... OK (Score:1)
Already hired one very intriguing guy (Score:2)
I think this sums it up nicely (Score:5, Funny)
http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20120305 [cad-comic.com]
the future... (Score:1)
Consoles are just lame PCs. PC will replace them. (Score:1)
Valve knows what MS and Sony keep ignoring. Although I suspect MS is well aware based on what they're doing with windows 8.
As we see consoles attempt to be PCs... we will simply see Valve deliver a PC experience to consoles, in a fully upgradable, open platform hardware device known as a PC. The games will be compatible no matter what. They will run on windows8. They will connect to steam and even xbox live if you want.
The future is the PC... consoles are dead. Mark my fucking words bitches
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I think the future is the console, and PCs are dead and being supplanted by STBs (mostly gaming consoles, but some rokus and apple TVs etc) and by portable devices with tablet form factors like tablets and touch-sensitive smartphones.
Consoles are trying NOT to be PCs. There's a crapload of console games which would be better with a mouse, but the only place you can use a mouse is in some drawing games for Nintendo and Sony. Consoles want to be appliances, not PCs.
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All STBs and consoles are PCs. They're just in a box near your tv, and they are ALL pathetic pcs.
The PC wins.
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My best friend, has had 7 xbox 360s die. He finally decided to not buy an 8th because his PC is just fine. I've had 2 Xbox 360s die. The failure rate of xbox360 is ridiculously high. They still have not fixed the problem with their design.
I've had the same quadcore for about 3 years... graanted it was a top of the line intel extreme, and its now overlocked, and i've replaced my video card once. It has been solid, and it plays games far better than any console. I can also write this post from it, view netfli
Buy Once, Get Everywhere? (Score:1)
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They are already doing this to many games.
When they started re-releasing the GTA games on Mac OS X... these versions popped up in my Steam Games library. FREE.
As a Macbook Pro owner... i was pretty pleased with this.
This is the kind of thing that makes me trust Valve and Steam. They dont have to give me a whole new version of a game ported to a different platform, but they did, keep doing so, and even tout it as a selling point. Buy from us & we wont screw you across Mac & PC.
Response to Competition (Score:3)
I think this is a response to the underwhelming hardware Sony and Microsoft are rumored to be planning on releasing. If those companies' greedy executives get their way, we'll end up with a "next-generation" of consoles in 2013 with underpowered 2010 hardware, which they'll sell at a hefty hardware margin. They're probably also unwilling to allow Steam to operate on their consoles, so rather than be locked out Valve is going to go forward on its own.
Penny Arcade Interview (Score:1)
Penny Arcade recently had an interview with Gabe Newell where he talks a bit about Valve's interest in hardware development; worth a read:
http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/valves-gabe-newell-talks-wearable-computers-rewarding-players-and-whether-w [penny-arcade.com]
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That makes it sound like they're going to do something for reality overlay, which would be exciting. I've been waiting to play games in the real world. Augmented Reality with a tablet just ain't good enough.
This is the part where (Score:2)
Let me know when you start hiring device driver developers for all that lovely hardware, Mr. Newell.
Possible cases. (Score:1)