Video Games 11 things we learned from Valve’s latest Steam Machine PR push

Mr. Laz · 11-04-2013, 12:53 PM

11 things we learned from Valve’s latest Steam Machine PR push

From case design to haptics, new details emerge about Valve's prototype hardware.

by Kyle Orland - Nov 4 2013, 12:30pm CST

2

Yup... it sure is a black box, all right.
The Verge

Recently, Valve invited a few select news outlets to its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington to get some hands-on time with the recently announced prototype Steam Machine and the companion controller. While Ars wasn't among the outlets included, that doesn't mean we can't scour the reports for new information about Valve's upcoming hardware plans. Here are the most important tidbits we've discovered.
What the prototype box looks like

We already knew Valve's prototype box was going to be 12" × 12.4" × 2.9", making it roughly the same size as the upcoming Xbox One. We didn't know the box itself would look so much like Microsoft's upcoming consoles: a black rectangle that has heat-dissipating grating covering about one half of the case. The front sports a large circular power button and two USB ports, and the back features an array of ports like you'd see on any gaming PC, from USB, headset, and Ethernet ports to monitor and HDMI outputs.
Cooling is a priority

All the reports highlight just how much Valve is working to keep all the internal components air-cooled despite being packed into a console form factor. Components are kept in "thermally isolated zones" with their own thermal intakes and outtakes, Wired says. They're separated by what The Verge calls a 3D-printed "plastic shroud." And The Seattle Times describes "a series of baffles to better handle cooling and airflow in its Steam Machine PCs."
Valve went through many controller prototypes

The dual touchpad design of Valve's current Steam Controller was not the first design the company tested. The team built multiple prototypes using what The Seattle Times says were "tools scavenged from co-founder Gabe Newell’s garage" (controller production has since moved to a factory space in nearby Overlake). Controller prototypes include one with "a sort of hi-hat thumbstick" (Engadget), many with trackballs whose mass provided "built-in haptics" (Wired), and one that resembled a break-apart, modular Xbox 360 controller (The Verge). There was even one design with a trackball sticking way up out of the controller "to expose the back of the ball as well," according to The Verge. Crazy.
The controller haptics are pretty cool

When it announced its Steam Controller, Valve said it was creating "a new generation of super-precise haptic feedback" with "a wide range of force and vibration, allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement." Hands-on testers came away feeling positive about this feature. Wired noticed a "system of electromagnets under the pad whirr[ing] into action" when the touchpads were swiped with noticeable timed clicks: "If I didn’t know better I’d have thought I was actually rolling a trackball." The Verge described "tiny solenoid actuators" that made it feel "pretty weird to have my thumbs pulsate with haptic feedback as they moved around."
SteamOS is pretty familiar

We consumers haven't seen SteamOS yet, but we kind of have. Engadget says the operating system is "very similar" to the existing Big Picture mode on the Steam app, which isn't really that shocking. Big Picture mode has always been tailored to living room use. The Seattle Timescompared the OS running on top of Linux to Amazon's specialized Kindle Fire OS running on top of Android. The Times also confirms that you can load a local copy of Windows onto a Steam Machine box. That's to be expected since the guts are just generalized computer parts, but it's still nice to get total confirmation on that point.

**Bowser** · 11-04-2013, 04:43 PM

Interesting.

If this is what it takes to get me my future Half Life games, then I'm all for it.

**hometeam** · 11-05-2013, 05:10 PM

Now THIS is next gen console thinking.

Instead of locking out PC gamers, embracing them while providing a virtualized console solution for the peasants~

I see some nasty custom steamboxes in the future.

**Rausch** · 11-05-2013, 07:06 PM

Being mostly Console/Mac based my gaming options are limited.

I already have a Roku so I'll use that to Netflix/stream media from my Mac.

Are there any specs out yet?...

**hometeam** · 11-06-2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

Being mostly Console/Mac based my gaming options are limited.

I already have a Roku so I'll use that to Netflix/stream media from my Mac.

Are there any specs out yet?...

Steam boxes are going to be crafted by multiple manufacturers with multiple configurations.

The idea is to have a unified concept/OS on any number of hardware configs

Swanman · 11-06-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometeam

Steam boxes are going to be crafted by multiple manufacturers with multiple configurations.

The idea is to have a unified concept/OS on any number of hardware configs

That is extremely wise. If you just made one hardware config (like a normal gaming console), you will have a lot of unhappy customers. You would either have an underpowered machine that more people can afford to buy or an overpowered machine that not many can afford. The real key here is to be able to have a pc experience hooked to your tv.

11-04-2013, 12:53 PM	Topic Starter
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	11 things we learned from Valve’s latest Steam Machine PR push 11 things we learned from Valve’s latest Steam Machine PR push From case design to haptics, new details emerge about Valve's prototype hardware. by Kyle Orland - Nov 4 2013, 12:30pm CST CONSOLE GAMING PC GAMING 2 Yup... it sure is a black box, all right. The Verge Recently, Valve invited a few select news outlets to its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington to get some hands-on time with the recently announced prototype Steam Machine and the companion controller. While Ars wasn't among the outlets included, that doesn't mean we can't scour the reports for new information about Valve's upcoming hardware plans. Here are the most important tidbits we've discovered. What the prototype box looks like We already knew Valve's prototype box was going to be 12" × 12.4" × 2.9", making it roughly the same size as the upcoming Xbox One. We didn't know the box itself would look so much like Microsoft's upcoming consoles: a black rectangle that has heat-dissipating grating covering about one half of the case. The front sports a large circular power button and two USB ports, and the back features an array of ports like you'd see on any gaming PC, from USB, headset, and Ethernet ports to monitor and HDMI outputs. Cooling is a priority All the reports highlight just how much Valve is working to keep all the internal components air-cooled despite being packed into a console form factor. Components are kept in "thermally isolated zones" with their own thermal intakes and outtakes, Wired says. They're separated by what The Verge calls a 3D-printed "plastic shroud." And The Seattle Times describes "a series of baffles to better handle cooling and airflow in its Steam Machine PCs." Valve went through many controller prototypes The dual touchpad design of Valve's current Steam Controller was not the first design the company tested. The team built multiple prototypes using what The Seattle Times says were "tools scavenged from co-founder Gabe Newell’s garage" (controller production has since moved to a factory space in nearby Overlake). Controller prototypes include one with "a sort of hi-hat thumbstick" (Engadget), many with trackballs whose mass provided "built-in haptics" (Wired), and one that resembled a break-apart, modular Xbox 360 controller (The Verge). There was even one design with a trackball sticking way up out of the controller "to expose the back of the ball as well," according to The Verge. Crazy. The controller haptics are pretty cool When it announced its Steam Controller, Valve said it was creating "a new generation of super-precise haptic feedback" with "a wide range of force and vibration, allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement." Hands-on testers came away feeling positive about this feature. Wired noticed a "system of electromagnets under the pad whirr[ing] into action" when the touchpads were swiped with noticeable timed clicks: "If I didn’t know better I’d have thought I was actually rolling a trackball." The Verge described "tiny solenoid actuators" that made it feel "pretty weird to have my thumbs pulsate with haptic feedback as they moved around." SteamOS is pretty familiar We consumers haven't seen SteamOS yet, but we kind of have. Engadget says the operating system is "very similar" to the existing Big Picture mode on the Steam app, which isn't really that shocking. Big Picture mode has always been tailored to living room use. The Seattle Timescompared the OS running on top of Linux to Amazon's specialized Kindle Fire OS running on top of Android. The Times also confirms that you can load a local copy of Windows onto a Steam Machine box. That's to be expected since the guts are just generalized computer parts, but it's still nice to get total confirmation on that point.
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11-04-2013, 04:43 PM	#2
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $-98384	Interesting. If this is what it takes to get me my future Half Life games, then I'm all for it.
Posts: 106,692

11-05-2013, 05:10 PM	#3
hometeam Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Casino cash: $1561956	Now THIS is next gen console thinking. Instead of locking out PC gamers, embracing them while providing a virtualized console solution for the peasants~ I see some nasty custom steamboxes in the future.
Posts: 10,764