2015, will you go Windows 9 or steam OS?

[Lil Frier]

Gabe wants to get away from Windows because it is competition for his digital distribution software. If the Windows App Store offers developers / publishers a better deal than Steam, why wouldn't they go with it? Steam has the users now and can afford to move off Windows, and away from the competition, but if you actually think this is FOR GAMERS, you're not particularly smart.

This much is clear: Valve (or, specifically, Gabe) doesn't like Windows 8. You almost wonder if his complaints about it were half-justified statements to talk people out of wanting it, rather than true, fundamental flaws in it. If he can sully the name of Windows, he can talk up his stuff as an alternative.

But while Steam has the users to create an OS, I don't think you can go so far as to say it has enough users to compete with Windows. For starters, Valve isn't Microsoft, so it's not going to be able to throw as much money around to draw developers--at least, not like Microsoft did with Gears of War or Titanfall.

The only way that "enough users" theory could be tested is if Valve took Steam away from Windows. As long as Steam is on Windows, they don't have enough users to support SteamOS. You can get more out of Steam on Windows than SteamOS, because of the sheer volume of games that aren't on SteamOS. They'll have to get something like 90% of games on SteamOS, then pull the rug out from under Windows to get people interested. That, and they have to pull it off without letting Microsoft get a competing alternative out there.

Windows is familiar. It is versatile. It is proven. SteamOS is basically a game console OS, in terms of its market. I don't see how you're going to talk people out of PCs for that. If Valve ever DID take Steam out of Windows, you might be able to talk people into SteamOS-based machines to supplement a PC and replace a gaming console, but I don't see SteamOS as something that is targeted at, or capable of competing with, Windows.

 

[zinfamous]

I'm on the every-other-version of Windows train.

Unless Win 9 is the suck, I will be upgrading to Microsoft's latest.

 

[Nintendesert]

The same OS on the living room console and your home computer. Sounds like a good selling point to me.

So the XBONE right? MS is in a position to leverage their OS as being the same across Desktops/Laptops/Phones/Tablets and Consoles with actual console excluvies and all the benefits of having the biggest game choice in the PC.

I'm not sure how you can claim SteamOS has an advantage here.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I'm on Windows 8.1 and will stick with windows for a few reasons.

- Most of my game library won't work on SteamOS and probably never will. I have games that run outside of STeam too.

- I Still need to use Photoshop, Illustrator etc and I have full versions of them that I am not ready to drop use of for some other alternative if there is even one.

- I am totally familiar with Windows and how it works. I also firmly believe that Windows will get the latest driver updates first.

 

[cmdrdredd]

This much is clear: Valve (or, specifically, Gabe) doesn't like Windows 8. You almost wonder if his complaints about it were half-justified statements to talk people out of wanting it, rather than true, fundamental flaws in it. If he can sully the name of Windows, he can talk up his stuff as an alternative.

But while Steam has the users to create an OS, I don't think you can go so far as to say it has enough users to compete with Windows. For starters, Valve isn't Microsoft, so it's not going to be able to throw as much money around to draw developers--at least, not like Microsoft did with Gears of War or Titanfall.

The only way that "enough users" theory could be tested is if Valve took Steam away from Windows. As long as Steam is on Windows, they don't have enough users to support SteamOS. You can get more out of Steam on Windows than SteamOS, because of the sheer volume of games that aren't on SteamOS. They'll have to get something like 90% of games on SteamOS, then pull the rug out from under Windows to get people interested. That, and they have to pull it off without letting Microsoft get a competing alternative out there.

Windows is familiar. It is versatile. It is proven. SteamOS is basically a game console OS, in terms of its market. I don't see how you're going to talk people out of PCs for that. If Valve ever DID take Steam out of Windows, you might be able to talk people into SteamOS-based machines to supplement a PC and replace a gaming console, but I don't see SteamOS as something that is targeted at, or capable of competing with, Windows.

If Valve removes steam from Windows Developers would release their games through other means but still on windows because there are millions and millions of users on windows. It would simply allow MS to adopt an Xbox Game Store on your PC that is just like your Xbox One experience. All your core apps and games right there with the latest videos and releases presented to you at the home screen.

 

[Imaginer]

People who are tired of windows 8 and the people who do not like windows 9.

The statement sounds like a fashion statement, reasons why people went Apple.

But in computing, I firmly believe function comes before fashion. How can I be tired of it, when I am interfacing most of the time with a third party browser, Modern IE on my Surface Pro, and other programs? Seldom, I would need to go directly to my files in a folder to open and organize, and pretty much everything is working well enough (with little end effort mind you) for all of my programs (including games).

When I am tired of using the computer, it is when I am tired of the content I am seeing and want to do something else away from the screen. Not because I am sick of ogling at how an OS looks.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Seven/64 works fine for me. Might jump to Win 9, depending on features, but not for a few yrs.

 

[Lil Frier]

If Valve removes steam from Windows Developers would release their games through other means but still on windows because there are millions and millions of users on windows. It would simply allow MS to adopt an Xbox Game Store on your PC that is just like your Xbox One experience. All your core apps and games right there with the latest videos and releases presented to you at the home screen.

This is obviously true. The draw would be if you lost Steam on Windows, but going to SteamOS kept your hundred-game library intact. I'm not convinced we won't see an Xbox Game Store on PC within the next couple of years anyway, as a real means to combat Steam (since Microsoft might see a LITTLE to fear in SteamOS).

If Microsoft wanted to cut Valve's throat, they have the potential. If they could get publishers to accept a deal that allowed users to migrate licenses from Steam to an Xbox Game Store, then offer a comparable/superior system within Windows 9/10, it would be a damned-entertaining thing to watch.

Personally, I'd jump ship from Steam if I could have all of my game built into my copy of Windows, and use it through my Xbox LIVE profile. That, or just getting the big publishers on-board for an Xbox Game Store, and get a multi-platform license, where you can play CoD on your PC and Xbox One for $75 (like how they gave you the Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions for $70), that could be a big deal.

The big question: How much does Microsoft care about the gaming market on PC?

 

[Nintendesert]

The big question: How much does Microsoft care about the gaming market on PC?

With Balmer's departure, that will be an interesting question for the next person.

 

[Texashiker]

I'm not sure how you can claim SteamOS has an advantage here.

I never claimed steam os had the advantage.

I did however say it had certain selling points.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I never claimed steam os had the advantage.

I did however say it had certain selling points.

What are these selling points? Your example was someone who is fed up with switching between MS operating systems (because learning new operating systems is difficult) voluntarily switching to a Linux-based OS because, meh, Steam? That sounds like an incredibly small population of people. What other selling points do you have? For example:

Cheaper than Windows
Good for dedicated gaming boxes / HTPCs as gaming-centric machines

Anything else? Because it has a pretty big list of downsides

Less game support than Windows
Less program support than Windows
More difficult to configure than traditional console
More expensive hardware than traditional console

What selling points outweigh those negatives?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Windows 7 most likely, possibly windows 9.

 

[Nintendesert]

I never claimed steam os had the advantage.

I did however say it had certain selling points.

I see, I just always thought selling points were played up because one had an advantage there over a competitor not something one is inferior at.

 

[Doppel]

With Balmer's departure, that will be an interesting question for the next person.

Yes it will. It hadn't occurred to me until now, but Xbox doesn't have to be a console brand. The notion of having a grand xbox gaming brand across the PC and perhaps their tablet (or others) could be a plausible future. If play station now works out well I doubt ms wants to sit on its ass.

In fact now I think about it, is there a chance that Microsoft creates an xbox environment within its Windows OS? Unlike steam machines, which have no strict standard, a PC with minimum specs could have an insulated xbox environment working within it. And it would always offer guaranteed, standard performance just as a console does. This could invite a ton of new users into the xbox landscape. Of course there are challenges and maybe strategic reasons not to...

 

[ImpulsE69]

One argument I keep seeing people say is "well the games won't work or be supported on it".

I would disagree on this point. Without game support there is zero reason or leverage to move people to it. Then again, these same people buy consoles for one game. While it may take a bit of time, I imagine the games WILL be made to work on the SteamOS platform. It makes no sense for them to push a game OS that doesn't have the support of the 100's (maybe 1000's) of games out there. Just like GoG makes old games work on newer versions of Windows, I believe Steam will do something similar for their OS.

Windows 8 is "ok" it is not great. I stop shy of saying it's horrible because once you get past what MS thinks they want it to be, it's not that bad, but unfortunately with the ideas MS had for Xbone, and Win8 will only be carried further into the next iterations, I can't see Windows being a primary gaming OS for much longer..in fact the only way they would be is if they are the only OS which is quickly becoming the opposite.

 

[Bateluer]

Not sure myself. Windows 8 has pretty much cratered. 8.1 just seemed to piss me off more, what the forced MS account logins. My pessimistic sense tells me that Microsoft will make the worse parts of W8 worse in W9 while burying the good parts deeper and making it harder for community apps to fix.

 

[cmdrdredd]

This is obviously true. The draw would be if you lost Steam on Windows, but going to SteamOS kept your hundred-game library intact.

Going to Linux(SteamOS is Linux) renders every DX only game unusable right now.

 

[Imaginer]

Not sure myself. Windows 8 has pretty much cratered. 8.1 just seemed to piss me off more, what the forced MS account logins. My pessimistic sense tells me that Microsoft will make the worse parts of W8 worse in W9 while burying the good parts deeper and making it harder for community apps to fix.

Needed if you want to purchase from the store, not necessarily getting updates. There is an option to switch to a local account (during install, or after the fact in Change PC Settings). It is by no means forced.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Not sure myself. Windows 8 has pretty much cratered. 8.1 just seemed to piss me off more, what the forced MS account logins. My pessimistic sense tells me that Microsoft will make the worse parts of W8 worse in W9 while burying the good parts deeper and making it harder for community apps to fix.

Forced? You can easily change to a local user account. That's not even a valid reason to hate Windows 8 at all. It's like getting mad that you have to create a profile when you use an Xbox or Playstation. Or Nintendo makes you create a Mii

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/wi...-tip-change-to-a-local-account-in-windows-81/

 

[Lil Frier]

Going to Linux(SteamOS is Linux) renders every DX only game unusable right now.

RIGHT NOW.

As I said, this is something Valve would do in the future, once it has solid Linux support.

 

[Lil Frier]

Yes it will. It hadn't occurred to me until now, but Xbox doesn't have to be a console brand. The notion of having a grand xbox gaming brand across the PC and perhaps their tablet (or others) could be a plausible future. If play station now works out well I doubt ms wants to sit on its ass.

In fact now I think about it, is there a chance that Microsoft creates an xbox environment within its Windows OS? Unlike steam machines, which have no strict standard, a PC with minimum specs could have an insulated xbox environment working within it. And it would always offer guaranteed, standard performance just as a console does. This could invite a ton of new users into the xbox landscape. Of course there are challenges and maybe strategic reasons not to...

There's already a Games Hub in Windows Phone and Windows 8/RT. The only thing right now is that it holds the Windows/Windows Phone Store software. You don't get the x86 games that you find on Steam, but the Xbox branding left the console-only scope a few years back.

 

[Skel]

Yes it will. It hadn't occurred to me until now, but Xbox doesn't have to be a console brand. The notion of having a grand xbox gaming brand across the PC and perhaps their tablet (or others) could be a plausible future. If play station now works out well I doubt ms wants to sit on its ass.

In fact now I think about it, is there a chance that Microsoft creates an xbox environment within its Windows OS? Unlike steam machines, which have no strict standard, a PC with minimum specs could have an insulated xbox environment working within it. And it would always offer guaranteed, standard performance just as a console does. This could invite a ton of new users into the xbox landscape. Of course there are challenges and maybe strategic reasons not to...

The Xbox brand is already moving past the console itself, with Xbox Music and videos. I don't think you'll see a Xbox environment on the PC as it would undercut the consoles they're attempting to sell. You'll most likely see what you already do, MS having a indifference towards PC gaming allowing companies to do their own things. You may see some games sold via the marketplace but I don't expect to see that really pick up steam.. uh.. momentum for another windows generation.

 

[Lil Frier]

http://www.shacknews.com/article/81897/microsoft-promises-more-core-games-coming-to-pc-than-past

At least on paper, Microsoft sounds like it is doing the opposite. They're saying, in that article, that they want to look into getting your Xbox self onto all of your devices--Xbox, Smartphone, PC. They want to look at getting their headlining titles (Halo? Age of Empires return? Forza?) onto the PC.

I think that Microsoft understands that the alleged "post-PC" era could turn into a "post-console" era as well. If you could get a tablet/hybrid strong enough (and the Surface Pro is kind-of the start of that), you could launch a game on it (maybe from your phone?), grab a wireless controller, and stream the game to your TV, or play it in the car.

They're probably exploring every avenue to stay relevant long-term, and that includes giving up some of the stranglehold the money-losing Xbox has on its first-party games. If they could release a Windows Box to combat the Steam Machine AND the PlayStation, it'd be a great thing. Make it run Windows, and have a Games Hub that runs an Xbox OS inside of it. Microsoft is in the rare position of having a foothold in basically every consumer tech market, large (Windows) or small (Windows Phone). They really could do some crazy, impressive things, if they put the effort in, and it sounds like they just might.

 

[Lonbjerg]

9. I use my computer for a lot more than games.

This.
Linux is no where near ready to be my main OS.
I like to be productive, not fiddle with my OS.

 

[DigDog]

should i look up steamOS?

Steam, the company which keeps your games in the cloud, and which will occasionally lose your passwords, your settings, and/or ban you from playing games which you own ?

Oh wait, not "own", but "rent". Ok then.


OTOH, Windows 9, sure, why not. I've finally grown out of the XP mentality (which, you will excuse me, was perfectly reasonable back in the 90s, as most operating systems were s**t), and i'm ready to adopt if there are improvements.

I'm on 7 x64. I haven't adopted 8 or 8.1 because the reviews simply state "no real improvement". I doubt the UI would give me any troubles, but why bother when it's identical to 7, but less familiar - that would be changing for change's sake.

But if 9 gives me a trimmer OS, better performance, anything measurable, really, i'll take it.