Zotac developers with great interest the initiative Steam Machine, which was offered by the company Valve. And their vision of “console” for fans of interactive entertainment.

Is a device rather unattractive – Zotac SN970. However, under such a low-key “name” is hiding an incredibly powerful device.

Based on the new chip, Intel Core, taken along the 14 nm technology. That’s great – authors of the project abandoned Broadwell. Instead, it uses a more advanced platform 6 generations. Namely – Skylake.

For quality work with graphics, accelerator meets the NVIDIA GTX 970M. Solution is very productive: the adapter is equipped with 3 GB of video memory GDDR5.

Also “on board” has 8 GB of RAM, 2.5-inch hard drive 1 TB SSD 64 GB, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0. Plus a full array of ports: two USB 2.0, four USB 3.0, two Gigabit Ethernet, one regular and four HDMI 2.0.

The kit included a gamepad Steam Controller. Operating system running SteamOS.

Issue price – from 999 USD. The release is expected later this year.

Source: Nextpowerup

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In December last year, Valve introduced its analogue Twitch – Steam Broadcasting. Month the service is in beta stage, and with the latest update Steam opportunity to broadcast the game became available to all users.

Steam Broadcasting function is available in the main client program and the three browsers: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 11, and Apple Safari. So far, the function only works on Windows 7 and Winsows 8, but in the future also promise to support Windows Vista, Mac OS and Linux.

Steam Broadcasting main difference from the same and other Twitch strimingovyh platforms is that there is no need to make any extra options that are not even necessary to run independently broadcast. To view just need to select the appropriate item in the player profile, stream starts automatically when someone starts to follow, as you play.

In the settings you can set who can view your broadcast. By default, the player who is broadcast, must confirm the request. But you can allow you to view all comers, then your stream will appear in the game center.

So far, the only access broadcast live, save the video for further distribution is impossible. The quality of Stream can not exceed 1080p. The developers emphasize that not only can broadcast the game window, and a work desk. This presents some limitations. A player can not show live third-party material protected by copyright, pornographic or pirated content. You also can not discuss methods of hacking the game and the use of cheat codes. User noticed something “illegal” in the streamers can send a complaint to the Valve on a particular player.

Read the answers to frequently asked questions about Steam Broadcasting can be on this page.

With the latest update to the Steam client also appeared embedded counter FPS, intended to replace the Fraps, and were made to improve the work of the Big Picture and SteamOS. For a complete list of changes can be found on the corresponding page on Steam.

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If you believe the company Valve, but rather the results of its numerous studies, virtual reality, described in the most popular science fiction novels, is about to come down from their pages and become an ordinary thing for most users.

On this and many other things during the conference Steam Developer Days told Valve engineer Michael Abrash. In order not to repeat all, is to provide the most interesting abstracts. So, according to Mr. Abrash available to most virtual reality devices to hit the market within the next two years. He admitted that at present there are still many problems that hinder the rapid commercialization of ongoing projects to develop virtual reality devices. He mentioned not high enough resolution («1080p has been achieved, but this is not enough”), the need to make virtual reality wireless devices, as well as the fact that a system for tracking the head position in space still not good enough. Moreover, the current prototypes require users to manually adjust, and it’s too hard.

“I’m sure many have heard about the glasses Oculus Rift DK1 and I guess most people think at this stage it’s just one of the interesting projects. At the moment it is quite deliberate decision, and we believe that many should be paid to Oculus Rift much more attention, so the device will have a dramatic effect much sooner than you think “- said Michael Abrash.

It is worth noting that the company Valve itself develops virtual reality device (image above). However, they do not focus on the competition with the company Oculus, which, according to Abrash, is an obvious candidate. Conversely, Valve derives from Oculus invaluable experience.

Finally it is worth mentioning that the best platform for the creation and development of prototype virtual reality devices Abrash said PC instead of game consoles.

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Street Valve Corporation holiday again – the number of simultaneously present in the Steam network users 1 December exceeded 7,000,000, which once again highlights the growing popularity of the service.

It should be noted that the previous record for the number of simultaneously present in the Steam users was equal to 6.6 million at the time of fixing a new record of the most popular game on Steam was Dota 2 – more than 540 thousand users. Second place deservedly won Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with a modest number of users – about 94 thousand. Among other popular games that helped jump bar at 7 million users, it is worth noting The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Sid Meier’s Civilization V and Football Manager 2013. Many believe that the establishment of a new record contributed to the decline in prices of some popular games.

It is expected that over the next few months interest in the products and service Steam Valve increase from hitherto unseen force, and this will contribute to the recently announced Steam OS, Steam Controller and Steam Machine from companies partners. We recall not so long ago it became known that Valve iBuyPower and in 2014 released Steam Machine for $ 500 .

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Earlier it was reported that the first version of Steam Machine from partner companies Valve, which will be available in mid-2014, will be shown during the CES 2014. iBuyPower has decided not to wait until January 2014, and show a prototype of such a system now.

According to Engadget, iBuyPower is preparing to release two versions of Steam Machine, under code names and Gordon Freeman. Unfortunately, the characteristics of new products is kept secret. However, we know that both models in tandem with any game on Steam can give stable 60 frames per second at a resolution of 1080p.

Recall, Valve still in early October revealed Steam Machine prototype specification and announced its intention to send 300 prototypes of its new gaming system Steam users for beta testing.

Resource The Verge notes that one of the models in the performance Steam Machine iBuyPower (at the moment it is not known what kind) will go on sale next year, priced at $ 499. At its core production configuration includes AMD, Radeon R9 270 video card and hard drive capacity of 500 GB. We also know that it comes complete with a game controller Steam Controller.

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Recently, Valve has invited representatives of news sources in its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, to share with them some of the features of the game system Steam Machine, Steam Controller game controller and OS SteamOS.

Recall that the company Valve has opened in early October, Steam Machine specifications of the prototype , but the appearance of the body left for a snack, stating that the final design has not been approved. Currently, she decided to fill this gap. Distinctive features of the black housing rectangular steel grate for withdrawal of heated air, which covers half of the body, as well as a large circular power button. On the front cover removed two ports USB 3.0, while the rear panel boasts an extensive list of interfaces, including audio jack for headphones, ports, USB, RJ-45 connector and the video output HDMI.

It is also noted that the design of the housing, Valve has paid a significant portion of their time and attention to the ventilation holes to allow minor dimensions of the case does not reduce the efficiency of the cooling system. Resource Wired reports that Valve has resorted to some tricks and careful design of the housing. Steam Machine components accommodated in the housing separately from each other in a “thermally isolated areas”. Journalists resource The Verge called partitions “plastic casings, printed out with the help of 3D-printer.” As they do not call, they have one purpose – to regulate the air flow to improve the cooling efficiency.

It is reported that the design of the controller with two round trackpads, was not immediately approved. Prior to that, the development team has created several prototypes using, according to The Seattle Times, tools from the garage of Gabe Newell. Early prototypes differed integrated joystick and trackball unusual shape. The photos below tell it better than words.

During the announcement of the controller Valve announced that Steam Controller is a “new generation of devices that provide super-precise tactile feedback” that better conveys a sense of control. After testing the controller journalists Resource The Verge noted that the built-in “tiny electromagnetic drives” can you move your fingers to feel every inch.

“If I did not know for sure, that could easily be confused with a trackball trackpads,” – said the representative of The Verge.

According to the resource Engadget, operating system SteamOS has a lot to do with the Big Picture mode in Steam, which has always been focused on the use of the living room.

It was learned that the version of the Steam Machine from partner companies, which will be available in mid-2014, will be shown during the CES 2014. At the moment, Valve does not plan to release their own gaming systems Steam Machine, but in the future may change your mind.

It should be noted that the production Valve controller includes gyro tracking movements. In addition, Half-Life 3 will not be exclusive to the SteamOS. We also know that at this point 40 of 330 Valve employees are still working on hardware performance Steam Machine.

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Valve has announced a new milestone in the history of their own digital distribution service games Steam – the number of registered users broke the mark of 65 million, which is approximately 30% more than the year before.

By the way, the peak attendance of service at the moment is about 6 million This can be easily verified in the statistics Steam, where daily attendance for a better perception of the curve is shown as a wavy shape. Fluctuations are completely dependent on the time of day.

By far the most popular game on Steam Dota 2 remains. The maximum daily amount of players in Dota 2 is more than 0.5 million official release Dota 2 to the model free-to-play took place this year. After a long period of beta testing, the sequel to the popular mod for Warcraft III – Defense of the Ancients, in the shortest possible time is now available for users of Steam.

Recently, the service Steam was 10, which was for some kind of Valve’s push to expand into new markets. Recall a little earlier, Valve announced the OS Steam OS , reference design game system Steam Machine and game controller Steam Controller .

For comparison, it is worth mentioning that the number of users of the service Microsoft Xbox Live is 48 million, while the users of the Sony PlayStation Network, there are 110 million

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Following its own operating system, OS Steam, specification game consoles Steam Machines and the new game controller Steam Controller Valve has announced its own developers conference games – Steam Dev Days, now finally acquired all the features platformoderzhatelya.

The two-day conference will be held in his native Seattle for the company, on January 15-16, 2014. At the event, you will feel the very Steam OS, Steam Machines and Steam Controllers, learn about design considerations for Linux and Steam OS, to communicate with the team Steam, industry veterans attend lectures and take part in round table discussions. Overall, the program is similar to other such events, but, of course, with a focus on the platform Valve.

The cost of participation in the Steam Dev Days for a single developer is quite humane – $ 95. Press the event is not permitted.

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As reported in the announcement, Valve is going to send 300 prototypes of its new game system, known as Steam Machine, Steam users for beta testing and gathering feedback. And now it became known that the same will be inside the “steam engine”.

As previously reported, Steam Machines will produce different companies, and they will present different configurations, from budget to high-end solutions and gaming systems – so they are likely to be different from the prototype, which is going to test the Valve. According to her, the company wanted to present something special, so the current prototype – this is a productive system assembled from components of the upper price range. In this case, the system can be upgraded to your liking, replacing all the stuffing, leaving the original Steam Machine a unique case. Developer immediately notes that gather Steam Machine and can be yourself (which is not surprising, because in fact this is an ordinary PC), and even promises to publish drawings of the body – so that the user can optionally create their own copy of the Steam Machine, like the original, even externally.

So, the actual configuration of the first 300 prototypes Steam Machine from Valve:

• Video card: NVidia GTX660, GTX760, GTX780, Titan 
• Processor: Intel i3, i5-4570, i7-4770 
• Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1600 memory (RAM), 3 GB GDDR5 (GPU) 
• Storage: Hybrid SSHD 1 TB / 8 GB 
• Power Supply: 450 W 
• Dimensions: approximately 30 x 31 x 7 cm

Skin and body until it shows – according to Valve, its ultimate refinement is not over yet. The exact date of dispatch of the prototype also does not reveal – we only know that it will happen this year.

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During the announcement of a triple OS Steam , Steam Machines and Steam Controller , Valve did not meet the expectation of millions of gamers who had hoped that one of the points of the presentation will be Half-Life 3. However, information was received that the company had applied for registration of the trade mark Half-Life 3 in Europe.

The documents are filled on September 29 law firm Casalonga & Associés and describe trademark Half-Life 3 Valve Corporation owned and covering such areas as “computer game software” and “downloadable via a global computer network or wireless device computer game software.”

However, the registration of the trademark is not talking about the early development of the game. It can be as banal protection cybersquatters and someone’s attempt to register the related brands in the related field, or just trolling from Valve.

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