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Valve Announcement Trifecta

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Masterpiece:
I think the reason as to why people don't program for Linux is that it just adds a bunch of development cost and time. If you're using DirectX, you're already targeting two major platforms out there, Xbox and Windows. That's the main reason why Microsoft uses DirectX on the Xbox platform (DirectXbox?).

Linux (and MacOSX too for that matter) uses the OpenGL platform. Up until recently (and still not by a long run), OpenGL just didn't have a large enough market to be profitable. And Windows still outsells Linux in that regard. I've checked the Humble Bundle Downloads by Platform section, and it verifies my claim. (click to show/hide)And DirectX was a more efficient library on Windows PCs so they chose to use DirectX instead. (The efficiency of DirectX is now contested however, according to a Valve engineer)

ankhtahr:
Well, it's a vicious circle, and SteamOS might break it. Gamers/People don't use Linux because the software collection is too small. Developers don't programme for Linux because the userbase is too small. If Steam causes the userbase to go up and the developers (when I say developers in this context I usually mean the big studios, maybe ”the publishers who tell the developers what to do” would be the better term) to see Linux as a valuable market it can be a good way to break the monopoly of Microsoft.

snalin:

--- Quote from: Masterpiece on 29 Sep 2013, 06:35 ---I think the reason as to why people don't program for Linux is that it just adds a bunch of development cost and time. If you're using DirectX, you're already targeting two major platforms out there, Xbox and Windows. That's the main reason why Microsoft uses DirectX on the Xbox platform (DirectXbox?).

--- End quote ---

Interestingly, AMD is trying to one up everyone by making their own API for low level GPU access - mantle. It's designed to compete with DirectX, and it's cross platform. With AMD supplying chips for both the XBone and the PS4, it's pretty likely that we'll be seeing games using it soon, which will considerably lower the costs of porting to Linux-based systems.

Trust me, if you can avoid changing the API for the graphics when you port to a different platform, you avoid it. Putting a DirectX game natively on Linux means either going through all the code that does anything graphics-related, and switching it out with OpenGL code, or putting a layer of simulation in between to mimic DirectX with OpenGL, which will cost performance.

ackblom12:
Jesus Tapdancing Christ, Valve released the hardware specs for the protoypes they are gonna send out for the beta of the Steam Machine.

http://www.destructoid.com/valve-details-its-high-end-steam-machine-prototype-262998.phtml


--- Quote ---
* GPU: some units with Nvidia Titan, some GTX 780, some GTX 760, and some GTX 660
* CPU:   some boxes with Intel : i7-4770, some i5-4570, and some i3
* RAM: 16GB DDR3-1600 (CPU), 3GB DDR5 (GPU)
* Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD
* Power Supply: Internal 450w 80Plus Gold
* Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in high
--- End quote ---

snalin:
That's more powerful than my gaming rig. Do we know the price points on these things? Because if they're able to mass produce them with one exact combination of hardware, they'll probably be able to be a good bit cheaper than comparative computers. Though there's no way in hell they'll be as cheap as say an Xbone or PS4.

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