ValveTime

Introducing ValveTime TalkTime, a brand new podcast themed discussion series focused on the latest talking points regarding Valve Software's products and events. Each episode you can expect off-script discussion from the ValveTime.net staff on a wide variety of topics.

In this first episode, we'll introduce the faces behind the ValveTime YouTube channel as we discuss the much talked about SteamBox concept following a number of stories straight from CES 2013. Be sure to let us know what you think of this new series! If you would like to see more, let us know! If not, tell us! Our series can only improve with your help.

This week saw the arrival of CES 2013, and Valve were there in force as the first SteamBox was revealed by Xi3. We also received a lot of other news this week, such as the arrival of Medusa in a Dota 2 update, the retiring of the nine original Team Fortress 2 hats and a version of the Half-Life alpha was leaked onto the internet. Oh, and we found some Half-Life 2: Episode Four screenshots, which we think you might be interested in.

What is Project Shield you may ask? In a nutshell it's Nvidia's new android based handheld gaming device based on their newly announced Tegra 4 architecture. The device is essentially a 360-esque looking controller with a flip up screen, supporting up to 720p.

The really exciting features lie with the device's ability to connect to televisions. Games running on the device can be displayed on TVs via a simple HDMI connection. However Project Shield is able to pick up a local network connection from a PC and stream the video to the portable screen or the HDMI connected TV.

Synergy with Valve's Steam Big Picture Mode are immediately obvious and at the device's reveal, Steam's Big Picture Mode made an appearance. Nvidia say that latency over such connections is "practically unnoticeable". So who needs a Steam box after all!?


Image & Source - Arstechnica

Valve Time has struck the Weekly News Round-Up again! Better late than never I suppose. There was quite a lot of news this past week including Half-Life 2 being made Game of the Decade, Big Picture Mode finally getting a release and Dota 2 receiving an update which introduced a Winter themed map. Oh, and we just hit 8'000 subscribers, so don't forget to Subscribe for more videos in the near future.

Kotaku's Jason Schreier is reporting that he had a few words with Gabe Newell at the VGAs where Gabe was very open about Valve's plans for the future of Big Picture Mode.

Although Mr Newell's exact words are not given Jason says that Gabe confirmed that Valve are planning on releasing "PC packages for living rooms" sometime next year and that they will be competing with the big console manufacturers. He also said that getting Steam on Linux working with Big Picture Mode was the next step for Valve.

Gabe also yet again confirmed the development of Source 2 and that it will run on next-generation consoles. Read the full article at Kotaku.