Gabe Says Steambox Prototypes May be Coming this Summer

By Brian P Rubin | 06 March 2013 | 12 Comments

A post on BBC’s technology blog reports that Valve is preparing to release prototypes of its long-awaited Steambox gaming PC/console-thing this summer. The news comes by way of Valve boss Gabe Newell, who spoke with the BBC before the BAFTA Games Awards. Apparently, speed, heat, and noise are some of the big issues they’re looking to tackle before letting the rest of the world see what they’ve been cooking up:

“We’re working with partners trying to nail down how fast we can make it. We’ll be giving out some prototypes to customers to gauge their reactions, I guess, in the next three to four months.

There are noise issues and heat issues and being able to [deal with] that while still offering a powerful enough gaming experience is the challenge in building it.”

Newell also talked a bit about the way Valve is looking to biometrics in terms of offering new playing experiences to gamers…and it actually sounds pretty awesome:

“If you think of a game like Left 4 Dead—which was trying to put you into a sort of horror movie—if you don’t change the experience of what the player is actually feeling then it stops being a horror game.

So you need to actually be able to directly measure how aroused the player is—what their heart rate is, things like that—in order to offer them a new experience each time they play.”

Pretty cool! I’m excited to hear that Valve is actually saying something relatively concrete about what they might be releasing—it’s a nice change from the usual silent treatment fans get regarding their various projects. I’m interested…what do you think about all this? What are the must-have features and pricing that you think you’d like to see out of the Steambox when it’s eventually unveiled?

Via BBC

12 Comments

Posted by Sunny D on 06 March 13 at 12:20pm

I wish Valve controlled the world… Best gaming company ever.
- Posted by Clature on 06 March 13 at 12:46pm
  
  With Ubisoft as second in command maybe?
  - Posted by johnxfire on 06 March 13 at 4:54pm
    
    But why? Ubisoft is terrible.
    
    Square Enix has been very kind lately. At least to PC gamers. If any, they’d be second in command with Valve right up there.
    - Posted by Mugenite on 06 March 13 at 5:37pm
      
      No, no, no! Capcom should rule the world! They know how to treat gamers and DLC with the proper respect they deserve. :)
      - Posted by Mark on 06 March 13 at 8:57pm
        
        Capcom… Ruling the world…
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8u7px_GzWQ
Posted by Wrath Of Wills on 06 March 13 at 12:47pm

I wish i could work at valve… thats my dream job… they make some pretty awesome games that my pc isnt able to run. so im looking forward to buying the steambox and finally being able to play them :D
Posted by Crypsis on 06 March 13 at 2:20pm

You guys are reckless like… I believed they are really workin’ on hl3 besides… :(
Posted by Andrew on 06 March 13 at 3:30pm

Maybe the steambox’s release game title will be half life 3. Never know but I like to think there’s a good chance
Posted by Matthew on 07 March 13 at 4:00am

considering the HL series is valve’s signature franchise, the assumption of HL3 being boxed with the steambox doesn’t seem too farfetched. cant wait to see the specs on this thing…..kinda regreting building a new rig last week lol
Posted by willthekilla5 on 07 March 13 at 5:31am

Bungie has already put there plans in for world domination! Bungie for Life!
- Posted by Mugenite on 07 March 13 at 10:23am
  
  Boooo! Bungy r nothning. Actovisin 4ever!!
Posted by Malcom on 09 March 13 at 5:25pm

One Feature steambox needs to have is HL3