The Steam controller is a big part of what makes a Steam Machine a Steam Machine; we were told that running SteamOS and being packaged with the controller were two of the main things that need to be included to use that branding. The controller itself has gone through a number of revisions, but we were able to use what Valve is calling the final version during GDC.
We’ve been using pretty much the same controller setup for a while now, so I’m glad Valve is trying to see if things can be improved. I have no idea if this will be it – a hands-on is required – but I’m open to try.
In addition to the final Steam controller and the announcement that Steam Machines will hit the shelves later this year (sure, Valve, sure), the company also unveiled a new streaming box for gaming.
Valve will release a new product called Steam Link later this year that will “extend your Steam experience to any room in the house,” according to an announcement from the company. Steam Link will work with PCs – including Valve’s Steam Machines and Windows, Mac and Linux computers – to stream content from Steam to the device, as long as they’re on the same home network.
Steam Link will support 1080p resolution at 60 Hz “with low latency,” Valve says. The device will be available this November and will retail for $49.99.
I’m definitely buying the Steam Link, as it seems like a great way to play PC games on my living room TV without having to hook a full PC up to it. Of course, a lot will depend on the latency, and I’m sure using a wired network is preferable (which I do).
The last and final Valve announcement: the Source 2 engine. It’s not yet available, but it will be free for developers. The Source engine powers a number of classic titles – Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead 1 and 2, Counter-Strike: Source, and so on – and it’s hard not to assume that a release of the Source 2 engine also means Hal…
No.
Also big game push for Linux: http://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamos_sale
*Torchlight II
*Shadow of Mordor – ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YDJN7MkZMk&hd=1 )
*The Witcher III
*Batman: Arkham Knight
*Saints Row IV
*Company of Heroes 2
*Magicka 2 – “Fall 2015″
*Total War: Rome 2
*Payday 2
etc
I just took a look. It’s not a big list, but there are some pretty good games there. I own quite a few of those games and some of them I want to own. Steam Machines will have quite a good lineup of games when they launch officially, much better than most consoles had at their launches.
Personally, I’m somewhat surprised Arkman Knight was also on the list as I hadn’t heard anything about it also becoming available on SteamOS. I really liked the first two games in the series. Good stuff, good stuff.
I love that Valve is still out there to make cool products. A streaming box, a game engine, and a partnership with a company for a VR headset aren’t really anything ground-breaking, but I have confidence that if Valve does it, it’ll be done correctly. Sure, Sony has their Playstation TV deal, but it’s been horribly advertised. I just happen to like the Steam platform so much now. It’s more affordable to get games. Workshops and secure payments are also nice. I just hope they can keep their seemingly endless amount of momentum going.
All we need with Source 2 is some sweet demo footage of a certain theoretical physicist and his trusty crowbar.
Valve’s Source 2 engine will be well supported on Linux, I guess, which is good news, specially because it will cost nothing to the developers. Valve will make it’s money back on Steam. Its greatest rival, Unreal 4, is supposed to be well supported on Linux as well. Good times are coming.
Wireless? No deal. I insist on the convenience of battery-less operation.
I’ll stick with my wired XBox 360 controller, PS2-USB bridge, and USB-attached PS3 controller. (I actually bought a spare of each of the first two to ensure I wouldn’t be using cheap replicas for a LONG time)
Mike Matei agrees:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3XITI73UHo#t=220
Edited 2015-03-04 23:31 UTC
Wireless would mean I have to plugin the controller via usb every week…
If that is an inconvenience I hope I will have a lot more inconvenience in my life.
The image appears to show it taking AA batteries. Even if it does turn out to have a built in charging circuit, I’ve never had good luck with those in rechargeable form.
However, if it dodges that bullet, I’ll wait to see if it’s like the PS3 controller.
My issues with wireless devices (which the PS3 controller dodged by allowing USB HID operation):
1. Non-rechargeable batteries drain your wallet.
2. Rechargeable batteries wear out and may be difficult
to find replacements for, depending on the type.
3. I’ve never seen an AA-size rechargeable that liked me.
4. I don’t like mucking about with wireless pairing
5. I hate when things like my MP3 player can’t charge
and play at the same time.
Can’t stand hand held game controllers! I’ll stick with my trusty Competition Pro joystick.
Any news regarding the source engine2 is now related to improving DOTA2,
Im in a miniority as i felt that the halflife series of games are very average, i wasn’t particularly blown away by HL1,2,2.1,2.2 the main draw for me was the mods, being part of CS during the early betas was great, it seemed that every other day a new great mod came along.
However saying that i have played through the games so at the moment i would like closure, i would like the story to end/come full circle and complete as the ending of HL2 Ep2 with no follow up is pretty bad,
It will be interesting to see what people think about this final controller considering there’s nothing new to see here. Microsoft has tested a bunch of different controller designs, some not much different, and the end result was something not much different from what people had been using. I’m sure the same can be said for Sony.
It’s funny because people say they want change, but then when you give it to them, they rush right back to what they were just complaining about.
I rarely play any game (except for chess).
What I really, really want is Autocad running smooth inside Linux. Come on Autodesk it must not be that hard !!
You may try Draftsight. An Auto-CAD clone, though not as advance, good for 2D drafts only. I don’t know the capabilities of the professional edition, since I installed the free edition for our engineering department.
Just as I predicted and was pilloried for. The stick is an improvement over WASD, but it remains to be seen if the pad is a viable mouse replacement. The idea that users will be able to create profiles and upload them (with the ‘best’ floating to the top) says to me that they haven’t really figured it out, and are essentially outsourcing this to us gamers while making us pay for it.
(The pad may work, but moving the hands completely away from the rest of the keyboard is a huge price.)
No thanks Valve. Maybe finish HL3 or something.