This would be Great for the future of gaming, and force the hand of the new Gen Consoles to be re designed. as NONE of them are close to this spec on paper. not even close lol

If PC gaming could somehow become as easy and standardized as console gaming, yet still retain it’s open nature, it could be a huge game changer. Instead of battling between hardware platforms, companies would battle with software platforms. Without a $300 barrier to entry, consumers would have more choice.

I sure hope that’s the way it goes!

Not THE future but A future.

If they do create a “box” to create a standard baseline for game developers, I’d think that it couldn’t be very open to upgrades (upgrading the hardware and thus, the drivers, would utterly invalidate the established baseline). Either that or they could create a box that could accommodate several different standards.

Any thoughts from anyone?

Well, it seems that the standards they’re talking about are normal PC components. If any of this is true, you a “Steam Standard” PC might be a quad-core CPU of X Ghz, Y Gb of Ram, and a GPU matching Z specs. If this is what it is, it means that anyone could conceivably build a Steam Box.

What really interests me is if Steam might subsidize the hardware and actually compete more directly with MS and Sony. However, because there doesn’t seem to be any plans for licensing the software, which is how the other guys pay for the sub’d hardware. However, they do get a cut of every Steam sale, but “the entire PC market” is much more open than, say, the Xbox.

At this point, I’m not even sure any of this is real, but the idea itself is just so fascinating.

No, this can’t be good.. API’s have solved a lot of these problems already. There’s still dozens of numb nuts out there that don’t know a thing about the computer and gaming, and the console remains for these people..

The more I think about this the more I like the the idea.. a Steam platform would really demand some better value from todays competition.
Xbox and PS3 both “had” strengths and weaknesses. The notion of a superior hardware platform with an already MASSIVE software install base really threatens Micro$oft and $ony in the console market. If it acutally happened.. “they” would acutally have to do better. And its about Freaking time.

I miss days of the C64, Amiga and Atari ST

I can see the appeal of this, but Valve has already refuted it. They just build test boxes for development..which, unless I’m missing something, seems kind of stupid. Why wouldn’t they want to proof their stuff on real PCs that people will actually be using? Console games are all written on PCs and tested on developer cards because that’s the platform they’ll be on. Shouldn’t the PC versions be the same way, with each new build being tested on gaming-oriented Dells and the like – both desktops and laptops – and an AMD and Intel custom gaming rig? That having been said..would I love it to see the PC “Mac-ified”, with a single standard and a couple “premium” options for the power users and design pros? Sure I would. Will it ever happen? Not a chance. All those component vendors like Gigabyte, Asus, EVGA, etc would fight like their survival depended on it, because it would! The government might even agree that it was a monopoly in the making because Steam-distributed titles would undoubtedly have to meet “Steambox” standards. It would be the Microsoft IE trials all over again. Ironically, Microsoft would probably fight against this harder than anyone, because a de facto standard for PC hardware would mean that any OS could gain traction very quickly. Take away the need for a dizzying array of drivers and suddenly its anyone’s ballgame – including Apple’s if they took that leap. Heh heh…can you imagine Ballmer’s reaction if it leaked out that Valve was working on a PC-based console with Apple’s help?

They need desperatelly an alternative hardware and software OS because the microsoft abandonment of the PC platform. Do you think Windows 8 is not bad?. The next Windows 9 there will be no more Mouse and no more Keyboard!!!.