Steam box - what is it?

Behind the name "Steam Machine" (formerly "Steam Box") there is a new type of game console, which the manufacturer "Valve" completely equips with PC technology. We inform you about the competitors of "X Box" and "Play Station".

The manufacturer: Known for innovations

• The "Steam Machine" is manufactured by the creative minds of the "Valve Corporation". Whether with the first-person shooter milestone "Half Life" or the platform "Steam" - the developers were always ahead of their time.
• Now they are trying to establish themselves alongside "Microsoft" and "Sony" on the console market, or even to overtake them.
• Since "Valve" has already proven in its almost 20-year history that they not only bring out good products, but also know how to market them successfully, this could actually succeed.

The hardware: no uniform configuration

In terms of hardware, the "Steam Machine" already differs significantly from conventional game consoles. Because "Valve" does not rely on a uniform setup that differs only in small details such as the size of the hard disk, but mostly allows individual configurations.

• On the one hand there will be official "Steam Machines" from numerous manufacturers such as "AlienWare". Comparable to Android smartphones from different companies that are based on the same operating system but run with different hardware.
• On the other hand, users are free to put together their own "Steam Machine". Thanks to the "SteamOS" operating system, which is available free of charge, every PC is transformed into a "Steam Machine". It should only be noted that the hardware requirements of "SteamOS" are met.

The operating system: Special Linux distribution "SteamOS"

• "Debian Linux" is the basis of the "SteamOS" operating system specially developed for the "Steam Machine". Roughly described, the version is an expanded "Steam" client optimized for the living room.
• One advantage is that "SteamOS" is developed entirely as open source software. Therefore, diligent users can extend the operating system by hand and help "Valve" as well as the users. Furthermore, you can easily adapt "SteamOS" to your own wishes regarding the software.
• According to "Valve", "SteamOS" is clearly superior to other operating systems in the graphics calculation. The games run much faster on "SteamOS" with identical equipment.
• So that enough games run on "SteamOS", "Valve" will support the game developers. Well-known developer studios such as "DICE" ("Battlefield") and "The Creative Assembly" ("Total War") have already announced that they will also release their titles for "SteamOS".

The controller: replaces mouse and keyboard

Strategy games but also first-person shooters have so far been only partially fun on consoles. The reason: with the controller, the precise maneuvers only go smoothly after long training. But even then it doesn't really feel comfortable. Manufacturer "Valve" addresses this problem with the "Steam Controller":

• Instead of the analog sticks, the "Steam Controller" uses two trackpads. These are known from notebooks or Apple's "Magic Trackpad". Due to integrated technologies, the trackpads give the user feedback on game events, which makes control similar to that of a trackball.
• In addition, there is a touchscreen in the middle of the "Steam Controller", which paves the way for further actions that would not be possible on other controllers.
• If "Steam" is installed on your PC, you can use the "Steam Controller" without "SteamOS".

More pictures and information, among other things about the hardware specifications, of the "Steam Machine" can be found here.