While this might be a good replacement for console controllers, I seriously doubt that it will be successful in replacing keyboard and mouse for FPSes, RTSes, point-and-click adventures and other genres that currently make PC game market interesting. Which makes me sad. Valve is effectively turning its back on the games (and gamers) that allowed it succeed despite competition from consoles.
Personally, I am keenly interested in a better, more standardized and streamlined gaming PC, but I'm not at all interested in yet another game console with limited controls, centralized publisher model and locked down OS. (And please, don't insult your intelligence by saying something along the lines of "but you can always plug keyboard in". It's not a matter of what you plug into the system, it's a matter of what UI design the system encourages.)
> Valve is effectively turning its back on the games (and gamers) that allowed it succeed despite competition from consoles.
I don't see how they are turning their backs on anyone just because they're venturing into a new market segment.
The current system, where people have both gaming PCs and separate gaming consoles, doesn't make a modicum of sense practically. It's just a vestige of old monopolies and corporate competitions which led to this state. Ideally, one could just have a gaming machine with less of a distinction between whether it's a "PC" or a "console".
> I'm not at all interested in yet another game console with limited controls, centralized publisher model and locked down OS.
I thought one of the points of the Steam machines is that they're not locked down at all.
> Will it run games not distributed through Steam?
Given that SteamOS is supposedly an open, Linux-based platform, I don't see why it wouldn't? It's pretty much just a standard Linux system that boots into a full-screen entertainment interface (an extension of Big Picture mode) by default.
Switch into the desktop interface (there'll be a key combo), download and install whatever you want, and add it into Steam as a non-Steam game so you can launch it from Big Picture mode.
Also, you could install another OS on it and dual-boot quite easily if you wanted. It's a PC.
I don't see why not - Valve has stated that the source code for Steam OS will be available. I presume that it's only Steam (and perhaps some drivers) that will remain proprietary.
That PC market is literally the entire point of this device. It's meant to get you mouse-like interactions on a handheld controller.
If you want to sit down on the sofa and play a PC-style game? It's this brand new gamepad concept or nothing else. There is nothing like this thing (well, except maybe that crazy alpha-grip thingy, but that's freaking weird).
That PC market is literally the entire point of this device.
This controller will not help you play Dwarf Fortress or ArmA, and you won't be able to use it to comfortably play any complicated RTSes either (because those need keyboard shortcuts to be bearable).
So does TF2. So does DOTA2. Valve is going to be targeting that group, obviously. And unlike TF2, RTS games don't need the left touchpad to be a movement-stick - you could cram an assload of gesture-based stuff in there.
Personally, I am keenly interested in a better, more standardized and streamlined gaming PC, but I'm not at all interested in yet another game console with limited controls, centralized publisher model and locked down OS. (And please, don't insult your intelligence by saying something along the lines of "but you can always plug keyboard in". It's not a matter of what you plug into the system, it's a matter of what UI design the system encourages.)