Just over a month ago, Valve announced its grand plans of a new, Linux-powered gaming ecosystem. Starting with the announcement of SteamOS, the company also announced its first gaming console, the Steam Machine, as well as the Steam Controller. However, actual units of the Steam Machine were not actually revealed (possibly due to its highly modular state), and we were only treated to a four-minute demo of the Steam Controller.
Finally, the first units of the Steam Machine have been unveiled for the first time. The Verge had a look at one of the 300 prototype units of the Steam Machine (which are part of its beta trial programme), as well as trying out the new Steam Controller. While the specs of the console does not blow the mind, the hardware arrangement on the Steam Machine is actually pretty ingenious: none of the key parts (CPU, GPU and PSU) share the same airflow, allowing it to stay cooler for longer, and each part are separated by a plastic shroud.
As for the Steam Controller, Valve actually wanted its first controller to feature a trackball, before settling for its final two-trackpad design with haptic feedback. In addition, the company also revealed that the Steam Controller actually sports a gyroscope, allowing it to support motion gesture controls.
Perhaps most interesting of all is the fact that the final build of its Steam Machines will be showcased at CES 2014 this coming January, as well as those from Valve’s hardware partners. The first SteamOS games will also be revealed there, too, ensuring that CES 2014 will be a pretty massive event for Valve and the gaming industry as a whole.
(Source: The Verge)
