2013-09-24, 03:03 AM
in a sense, Valves involvement in Linux will bring a few things to the table:
1) Game developer support to Linux(SteamOS is probably going to be an offshoot on Ubuntu). a side effect of this wil be that games will be coded more on OpenGL rather than DirectX libraries, BUT there will still be a handful of games using DirectX, simply due to OpenGL not being developer friendly as DX is.
2) An increased demand for driver support from intel/nvidia/amd. Linux actually has the potential to run games better than Windows can, it uses less resources overall which can help boost performance. If the 3 spent more time with drivers for linux, then there could potentially be a performance boost switching from windows to linux, at least for gamers.
3) OS is free, for the not so people who like to steal software, this cuts a good portion out of building a gaming PC, assuming linux does take off. ~100$ USD can make a build significantly better.
4) Inadvertently increases the number of games playable on OSX as well. which will always exist as people like the user layout for OSX.
the barriers it has now is, a) to get many people to use it and b) get the attention of software giants to optimize their software for the operating system.
as for the steam box, I have many thoughts, but I won't make an official comment on it till actual news on it gets released.(especially hardware specs to price ratio)
1) Game developer support to Linux(SteamOS is probably going to be an offshoot on Ubuntu). a side effect of this wil be that games will be coded more on OpenGL rather than DirectX libraries, BUT there will still be a handful of games using DirectX, simply due to OpenGL not being developer friendly as DX is.
2) An increased demand for driver support from intel/nvidia/amd. Linux actually has the potential to run games better than Windows can, it uses less resources overall which can help boost performance. If the 3 spent more time with drivers for linux, then there could potentially be a performance boost switching from windows to linux, at least for gamers.
3) OS is free, for the not so people who like to steal software, this cuts a good portion out of building a gaming PC, assuming linux does take off. ~100$ USD can make a build significantly better.
4) Inadvertently increases the number of games playable on OSX as well. which will always exist as people like the user layout for OSX.
the barriers it has now is, a) to get many people to use it and b) get the attention of software giants to optimize their software for the operating system.
as for the steam box, I have many thoughts, but I won't make an official comment on it till actual news on it gets released.(especially hardware specs to price ratio)