Newsbrief: Valve has further fueled speculation that it is working on its own gaming hardware, thanks to a job listing on its official website that is looking for an "Industrial Designer."
"We're frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space though, so we're jumping in", reads the listing. "Even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven’t really changed in any meaningful way over the years. There's a real void in the marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked."
Valve's Gabe Newell said earlier this year, "If we have to sell hardware we will. We have no reason to believe we're any good at it, it's more we think that we need to continue to have innovation and if the only way to get these kind of projects started is by us going and developing and selling the hardware directly then that's what we'll do."
That'd be my assumption. This way they don't have to license Windows.
It makes sense if you think of them doing small tests to move this direction. OSX was a test to see if they could get games on a UNIX OS and get some OpenGL support. Linux is the next step to see if they can get more developers on board to develop for an open OS. Then they create their own Linux distro.. Followed by invading the console space with a light weight OS that runs on cheap hardware that's dedicated to gaming. Before you know it, Valve finds a way to move faster then light, followed by time travel, then BAM! Gabe goes back in time and creates a one world order were we are all willing slaves to Valve. And you know...I think I'd be okay with that.
I think, they won't release any kind of console, if they are working on hardware, it's something to succeed the antiquated Mouse and Keyboard input devices. PC gamers always hated gamepads (never understood why) and insist on playing games with their keyboard, they played even Tomb Raider, Need For Speed or GTA with their keyboard. This must be frustrating for developers, already way beyond this ancient input method when they design a game.
A new device backed up by Steam could help overcome the bias that fuels PC gamers rage, when it comes to discussions about gaming inputs.
It makes sense if you think of them doing small tests to move this direction. OSX was a test to see if they could get games on a UNIX OS and get some OpenGL support. Linux is the next step to see if they can get more developers on board to develop for an open OS. Then they create their own Linux distro.. Followed by invading the console space with a light weight OS that runs on cheap hardware that's dedicated to gaming. Before you know it, Valve finds a way to move faster then light, followed by time travel, then BAM! Gabe goes back in time and creates a one world order were we are all willing slaves to Valve. And you know...I think I'd be okay with that.
A new device backed up by Steam could help overcome the bias that fuels PC gamers rage, when it comes to discussions about gaming inputs.