It's Official: Valve Releasing Steam, Source Engine For Linux!

[Dragonlord]

Most large software project starts with a poc (proof of concept). We can safely assume valve would do a serie of pocs before starting something most of us are hoping for.

And even a simple poc or mockup as you call it, cost time and money. In my book thats an investment.

That's true that something like that requires a few mockups or prototypes to lead before the actual client starts off. It is though incorrect that it always has to cost money. Ever done some fiddling with some code in your spare time because it interest you? That's how mockups and prototypes tend to start their lives. These are though not necessarily ordered to by the business suits which leads to the next question.

But its 'not' a no-brainer to pull the plug on a project no money went into. This depends on the expected results. For example if someone start a project where no money went into and the benefits are huge... than it shouldn't be a no-brainer to pull te plug. This should be at least a hard decision.

It actually is if you think once from the position of a business suit. What risk would it pose to you if you launch steam on Linux and due to people hacking the binary (as they have proven to do without second thoughts) piracy goes rampage? If that's not a reason to pull the plug to not endanger your already good running windows steam world then you are a bad business suit.

[fenixkane]

.What risk would it pose to you if you launch steam on Linux and due to people hacking the binary (as they have proven to do without second thoughts) piracy goes rampage? If that's not a reason to pull the plug to not endanger your already good running windows steam world then you are a bad business suit.

...
Uhh...
What does piracy have to do with any of this...
Are you just protesting Steam coming to Linux because you don't like DRM?
Well to break it down for you Steams DRM just is a randomized code that is unique to your install of the game. Thats it. I don't like DRM but as far as DRM goes thats probably the least intrusive way to do it and wont mess with anything on your computer.
Also, theres no point in arguing about whether Steam is or isn't coming anyway. Once there is an official statement regarding this matter (all evidence shown thus-far is in-admissible seeing as there was a statement saying that valves games were not coming to PS3 and yet, come E3 there was Valve at Sony's press conference talking about how all there new games are coming to PS3 AKA: businesses will never have plans to support X until the big unveiling) positive or negative there is nothing really to talk about other than the possible hints for it (seeing as hinting toward something is something that Valve is notorious for, they are not notorious for hinting against something).
Seeing as Valve is trying to corner the Computer gaming market, it would make sense to secure Linux whether or not they see profit in it as of this moment.
These are my speculations as of this point.
Well I feel I've rambled enough for one post.

[Dragonlord]

I don't read or quote unthoughtful crap like that. Please read my posts before jolting out a crap like that. You wanted to know why somebody would want to pull the plug in such a situation or how he could loose money and one solution is piracy concern. Fact is as soon as the binary had been discovered Linux people had been all over it and "binary modified it". This is (in game security view) the first step on piracy of your product. Steam is a money-bag for Valve. If they allow this platform to be compromised from release time on they endanger their revenue stream. Would you put your game on steam if every Linux guy can pirate it for free? You might say now "who cares about the Linux guys, they have Windows copies to sell!". Unfortunately this is not true. Let's say you can get the Windows or Linux copy of the same game through steam. Let's assume the Linux version is cracked. Would people buy the Windows version if they can get the cracked Linux version for free? As you can see a compromised Linux steam client due to binary hacking is serious danger. This is nothing a good business suit takes lightly, especially not a successful one.

Hopefully you read this time before writing half-asses crap like that. The Games-World doesn't turn they way many here think it does.

[fenixkane]

I don't read or quote unthoughtful crap like that. Please read my posts before jolting out a crap like that. You wanted to know why somebody would want to pull the plug in such a situation or how he could loose money and one solution is piracy concern. Fact is as soon as the binary had been discovered Linux people had been all over it and "binary modified it". This is (in game security view) the first step on piracy of your product. Steam is a money-bag for Valve. If they allow this platform to be compromised from release time on they endanger their revenue stream. Would you put your game on steam if every Linux guy can pirate it for free? You might say now "who cares about the Linux guys, they have Windows copies to sell!". Unfortunately this is not true. Let's say you can get the Windows or Linux copy of the same game through steam. Let's assume the Linux version is cracked. Would people buy the Windows version if they can get the cracked Linux version for free? As you can see a compromised Linux steam client due to binary hacking is serious danger. This is nothing a good business suit takes lightly, especially not a successful one.

Hopefully you read this time before writing half-asses crap like that. The Games-World doesn't turn they way many here think it does.

#1. If people want your game for free they will get your game for free. Torrenting a copy of any game ever created is an extremely simple process so there would be no point in playing with the steam binary, but none of that really matters because...
#2. Cracking the steam binary open wouldn't help piracy at all. Having control of the client wouldn't suddenly let you download all of their games for free because each and every game needs to have a transaction tied to an account. Your account is stored in their servers so controlling the client would be pointless. However this argument doesn't matter because...
#3. You are a f***ing retard. You will defend your point to the death because you cannot comprehend that you could ever be wrong about a subject you clearly only have tertiary knowledge of at best.
The short version is that your argument sucks and you're a tosser.

[numasan]

Well, if Valve decides to pull the plug on a linux-client because of the hacking that's been done by all the "Linux pirates", it's because Phoronix reported this from the beginning, giving all interested links and info on how to get started.

Regardless of how trustworthy Michaels source is, he should never have stirred up this story for a quick buck. Now it's basically a joke, and probably will never come true because Michael can't keep a secret. Thanks a lot.

[yogi_berra]

Fact is as soon as the binary had been discovered Linux people had been all over it and "binary modified it". This is (in game security view) the first step on piracy of your product.

Worse things than Piracy can happen with a cracked Steam client. Things that would leave Valve open to large class-actions if they didn't act against them. Think identity theft, etc.

Steam is a money-bag for Valve.

You are assuming Steam is successful, Valve hasn't released any numbers and until they do, you are just talking out of your backside here. If you don't agree with fenixkane, good for you, but please try to keep your abuse of facts to a minimum.

Hopefully you read this time before writing half-asses crap like that.

Pot -> kettle -> black d-;

[Not_an_S]

There's not much "proof" to say for either side.
Although there is the native Steam running in Linux, there are plenty of things to explain that.
The CEO has had personal opinions about Linux (and PS3 and Apple), and also the support page says there is no plans for a Linux client, probably to keep hype down if the other side is true.

There's not much to do except wait it out and not worry about it, and if it gets released soon, then use it if you want to. Just don't act like the lack of proof on one side proves the other side.

[stevenaaus]

I don't think it's going to happen.
There's absolutely no motive for valve to release a linux steam client, even if they had it working.

1. There's no games for linux.

Who's going to drive a truck around selling nothing.
And why support extra platforms for no gain. Ask idSoftware how their Linux games went ?

2. 3. 4. See above. There. Is. No. Games.

5. Linux community is (sadly) ungrateful.

Ignorant, big-mouthed kids spout shit like "Proprietry crap" to generalise non-free software, talk about DRM as if it's the devil (when even Linus says he has nothing against DRM per-se), and are imho generally less likely to part with money.

Sure... some dev's probably included code for possible linux support, but that's a world away from making it work, clearing it with legal+management, and actually... you know... making games for linux.

[V!NCENT]

1. There's no games for linux.

Riiiight... Both Epic, id and 3D Realms are over there.
Epic has UT. id has everything. 3D Realms have Prey and Duke Nukem 3D for which the source code is out there and people need the files for running it on Linux.

Who's going to drive a truck around selling nothing

Valve, appearantly...

Alien Swarm is a game and Source SDK release from a group of talented designers at Valve who were hired from the Mod community. Available free of charge, the game thrusts players into an epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. With your friends, form a squad of four distinct IAF Marine classes.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/630/

Ignorant, big-mouthed kids

Like you, who have no idea what they're talking about...

[KameZero]

#2. Cracking the steam binary open wouldn't help piracy at all. Having control of the client wouldn't suddenly let you download all of their games for free because each and every game needs to have a transaction tied to an account. Your account is stored in their servers so controlling the client would be pointless. However this argument doesn't matter because....

Actually, you're wrong on this point. There are hacks around for the current Windows Steam Binary that DO let you download and play most of the games available through steam.