Gabe Newell: Valve Interested in Building Hardware - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 24 April 2012 / 4,216 Views
Gabe Newell has confirmed that Valve is considering to build its own hardware for the living room. This is following the rumor that Vavle is building its own "Steam Box." The hardware would be an open device, which is in contrast of currently console platforms.
"We’re looking hard at both the living-room space and the mobile space to try to see if we can create open hardware platforms that the industry can use so we can get out of proprietary traps that we’re headed in both of those," Newell said.
Newll added that Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Apple "view themselves as more rent guys who are essentially driving their partner margins to zero. They build a shiny sparkling thing that attracts users and then they control people's access to those things." It is "ominous that the world seems to be moving away from open platforms."
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A PC is not truly an Open platform, because 99% of PCs operate on a proprietary operating system. To be a truly open platform both the HW and OS would need to be completely open.
Personally, I support Open platforms as there is maximum freedom for all concerened. If Valve made an open platform, which any electronics manufacturer could produce I would seriously consider makin gthe switch and ditching the closed consoles forever.
If Valve move ahead with this I think Sony would do well to consider its position. Sony doesn't really have the same need to be invested in a closed platform like Ninty and MS. Sony is primarily about selling devices. Ninty is about it's own game house, MS is about keeping it's proprietary software and OS relevant and dominant. Ninty and MS are natural antagonists to an Open platform like a Valvebox, Sony is actually a natural supplier of the HW to support the platform.
What is an "open hardware platform"? Every PC connected to the TV seems to be the "Steam Box" they want to create. If they really go for it, they need some HUGE selling points.
Agreed.
Sweet. I was hoping for something like this. I am intrigued by his mobile comments also, i wonder if he means tablets/laptops or cell phones
Good intentions, idk about the idea. But if this means more games, I'm in.
Hopefully they never carry on with it, three is enough.
Open is the more virtuous way. But some of these companies have our favorite games. At least some people might want it. Also, I'm not sure how this would contrast with onlive and yes this is an honest question.
We don't need anything else to mess up consoles as we know them. Digital downloads are making a big enough mess already.....
