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Valve Hiring Hardware Developers
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."
I suspect that whatever you're smoking hasn't been approved for human consumption...
Why do you think they've been waiting for so long to release HL3? Obviously so you can play the game using your own off-the-shelf gravity gun. Is it really that hard to guess?
Maybe one of them will know what "episodic" was supposed to mean and enlighten Gabe.
With this much brainpower behind the project, I can't wait to see how cool this crow-bar that they are manufacturing is!!!!
Koalas. They're telepathic. Plus, they control the weather. -Margaret
Umm... Then why did they put out a Mac version?
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?
Two minutes before I saw this article, I saw the one about Tim Cook being spotted visiting Valve headquarters...
Anti-Mass Spectrometer operational...
no one would try better OS like Linux.
Subjective statement is subjective.
oh I think it's approved.
It's all very approved, mon.
Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
A Valve console would make sense. It would be an extension to Steam. However, hardware is always a enormous financial risk. I know Valves has cash on hands, but to this point?
The only point I'm not quite sure is, what OS would a Valve console run? Maybe this would explain what Valve is doing in recruiting Linux staff.
To be fair, the Linux rumors thus far are just an ad revenue scheme by that douche bag Michael Larabel.
Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
You mean faulty rumors perpetuated by Moronix and Michael Larabel? Oh and some vague statement about OpenGL drawing on Linux do not translate into Steam for Linux no matter how much Michael wants it to be in order to vindicate his years of failed rumor mongering.
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.
What do I know, I'm just an idiot, right?
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.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
"Either way, something big is going down at Valve." 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. a far off possibility of another console full of 90% shovelware to get a few good games a year that are cross platform releases anyways. maybe you'll make a new half life then.
Shh dont tell him about the mac or ps3 versions...
Dammit, all I ever wanted them to invent was more half life!
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.
It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
- E. Debs
The hardware developers will be working on pipe wrenches.
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
Try Desura.
Yes, it's not quite as nice as steam. But it is coming along.
And they hired Jeri Ellsworth a few months ago, who worked at Newtek(Video Toaster/Tricaster), was behind the C64 in a Box, has lots of consulting experience with FPGA/graphics hardware, recently tweeted "HDMI phy today. The DHCP encryption stuff is annoying", and has admitted that Valve is working on nextgen hardware(but didn't specify whose).
I'd rather pretend they are going the raspberry pi route and putting a kickass video chip with a super cheap SoC in a console-shaped box and are going to destroy the low/mid end PC gaming market.
lolno
If Windows games were coded in OpenGL, porting to Linux would be trivial.
Valve has already done with with the Razer Hydra. This is likely an expansion on that idea.
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.
For those who seek perfection there can be no rest on this side of the grave.
Alternatively, we can ask microsoft to port directx to linux.
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.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
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.
Portal gun. That's all.
I eat only the real part of complex carbohydrates.
Maybe they're building life size robots? I'd love to kick an Atlas or P-body around the house. :)
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.
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.
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.
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?
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
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.
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!
I hate to be "that guy", but seriously, where's the story here? This story is only over a month old and it seems to have about the same amount of info (which is to say essentially none). If it were some kind of announcement maybe...
Sex. Drugs, and Unix.
Don't spoil the premise of HL3, you dolt!
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 away from native linux development is a combination of platform fragmentation, small userbase and a userbase who are used to stuff being free (unlike apple users who are generally pretty rich, apple hardware is generally pretty expensive*)
"Because Valve works with Microsoft to increase and keep Windows market share and so that no one would try better OS like Linux." -- if you want to convince people of this claim you will have to provide something more substantial than him being an ex MS employee.
*I don't deny that apple hardware is pretty nice and that finding exact equivalents in the PC world is often equally expensive. But I DO believe if you start from a set of requirements and find both a mac and a PC to fill them then the mac will generally be far more expensive.
**Which you are presenting as fact but I suspect is just a crackpot theory of yours
note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
If you read any Quake engine source code (I have I'm a c++ game dev) you'll find that almost all the Linux stuff came from TTimo. His comments are all over the place.
That's the guy that just left ID software recently. He was like the only dude rooting for us and constantly updating the code to be linux compatible.
Holy cow. Successful troll is VERY Successful!
and believable as the theories the crazy-haired guy on Ancient Aliens comes up with.
Oh god. A number of my family members buy into that crap. Some of them take it a step further: they believe that aliens are actually gods who created us and put us on this planet. All while claiming to be Christians.
Ben Krasnow (Youtube videos) has done some insanely cool DIY projects, like an electron microscope, LED-in-contact-lens, and aerogel. No idea what he's working on at valve, but it's got to be interesting...
-chris
So the guy who brought us Half Life, a bunch of other really awesome games, and a game delivery system which is dramatically lowering prices on games IS A BAD GUY?!?
Please, tell me more!
Sound is basically the same (unless your using a advanced processing system, like OpenAL), input should be trivial in a proper PC game do to the need to allow for players to have their bindings (this could be a problem for console ports), and networking is all basically the same due to the internet.
All told, the only real problems are lazy coding, crappy console ports, and DRM. Yep, there shall never be games ported to Linux... [no sacasm intended]
http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20120305
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
It's something to look forward to. Entertainment (games in particular) is naturally going to evolve, and new hardware is part of that. It must be hard, though, to introduce new hardware. How many people buy joysticks to play a flight sim? Not many. But somehow the Wii (and followers) edged its way into things, so it's not impossible. A recent Slashdot article was about Kinect voice-controlled shouts for Skyrim. So there are lots of possibilities. Although, like others clearly ;), I'm still looking forward to Half-Life 3, I think it's fair for Valve as a game company (and owner of Steam) to be exploring other gaming possibilities.
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
If they make their own system and link it to Steam, it would be awesome if I could buy a game once and have access to it from both the PC and the console. Heck, I would be happy with a small additional fee like $5.00. I never understood why I have to buy a game I already bought at full retail when I want it for another system. I already paid for most of the work that went into making the game. Why should I be charged for the whole thing again when they could simply charge me for the small part they had to change to get it to work on another system?
Don't use Google products, either. Remember that Google is the most popular destination for ex-Microsoft employees!
I wonder how much resell value your console has when all the games become DLC gateways.
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.
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.
You may well be right, but what's that got to do with him?
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Well, actually that's not quite true. Valve have quite clearly stated they're looking for engineers with regards to wearable computing.
http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/abrash/
Whilst it's possible that they're working on a console, or a linux steam client in tandem (one can only hope), the wearable computing angle could be the only thing they're actually working on, a convient cover, or a complete coincidence they've decided to start talking about both. In any event, the blog is kinda interesting, but it states they're not doing anything beyond R&D at this point.
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.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
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
Microsoft tries to buy Valve to squash them before they start competing in the console market? Lets hope not.
Let me know when you start hiring device driver developers for all that lovely hardware, Mr. Newell.
The lowest risk option is to focusing on the controller/biofeedback stuff, provide drivers for Windows, and expect people to buy Windows Media Center with the requisite video cards. Going further with a SteamBox would be a gusty move. It would run either on Linux or bare metal -- not Windows. I wonder if Valve and Google are talking about this and ChromeOS. Valve (as successful as it has been) can't lose the kinda money Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo can on each console, but if they don't play the game that way, there is also no need to lock down the box. It would need to be a market-priced PC box. The DRM is there to protect the software from being duplicated -- not the hardware from being re-purposed. Look for a video card partner or two (ones with existing Linux drivers). Look for a PC vendor partner. Controller/biofeedback stuff is the missing piece. Unlike software, hardware still has to go through the channel. Maybe Valve and Steam are established enough that CostCo/Target carries it, or maybe it is only available for purchase on-line. Returns would be deadly. Spec'ing a platform, providing or guiding the biofeedback elements, and partnering with existing PC vendor would be lower risk. Still, it would be very gusty. Microsoft did the X-Box to forestall someone making a beach head like this. To just make the beach head anyway will not go unnoticed. Still, look at the risks to Valve if they don't do anything. PCs giving way to mobile and in this economy, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo controlling the the power and time frame of their consoles, and unwilling to give Steam a place on the menu.
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.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
we call such people mormons
I really need nothing more than the Source engine to be ported to Linux to meet my gaming needs, thankyouverymuch.
I used to share your opinion about PC vs. console gaming. I experienced PC gaming for the first time in 1996 with the first Quake -- this was coming off a run with the SNES. I was floored. The N64 also came out in '96, and I couldn't understand why anyone wanted to bother with consoles because the PC seemed so much more capable. I played games strictly on PC through my ensuing high school and college years.
It wasn't until I had entered the workforce, pushing 30 at the time, that this shifted. I was tired of fighting with computers. I was no longer interested in spending my free time (which was now greatly reduced) getting a PC to run smoothly. I got tired of hardware upgrades, Windows crashes and driver bugs. I was tired of wondering if the next service pack or driver update would bork my setup. I just wanted the damn thing to work. I got consumed with other things and stopped gaming completely.
Just a year ago, I bought a used console on eBay, and holy crap, the thing just works! You mean all I have to do is put the disc in the slot, pick up the controller and play? And every game released for the platform is guaranteed to run on the hardware? Why on Earth would I want to use a PC again? I've bought about 25 titles for my console, which is far more than I can say for PC. The PC is dead to me; for me, there's no going back.
Your gaming needs, sure.
But you != majority.
Other than the occasional TF2 match, I don't actually use any source games myself.
All STBs and consoles are PCs. They're just in a box near your tv, and they are ALL pathetic pcs.
The PC wins.
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 netflix, play games on steam, play starcraft 2, diablo 3, super street fighter IV, Portal, Portal 2, Team Fortress, etc.
I can also do work on this computer. I can do anything on it. It is a computer... not a limited toy. I dont see Consoles ever replacing that. BTW I also have another computer hooked up to my 50inch lcd for games and movies and ANYTHING else it can do. You have to love it really. Consoles are so limited, and I can do anything with my PC.