Engadget

Custom-made Aperture Science gas mask will make sure you're still alive, won't open portals

Jon Fingas — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:17:00 EST

Valve's Portal series has been used as the pretext for many achievements outside of puzzle gaming, including getting hitched. Keeping you from shuffling off this mortal coil, however, is still new. Two Horns United has given a gas mask a decidedly nerdy visual upgrade that resembles the game's iconic Aperture Science Portable Quantum Tunneling Device, right down to the light-up energy chambers. Best of all, unlike some homebrew projects, you'll have a (probably limited) chance at buying one yourself after June. Coworkers might look at you oddly as you strap a portal gun to your face during a safety drill, but you'll have the quiet satisfaction of knowing you're truly ready for a neurotoxin attack, not to mention taking the title of a Jonathan Coulton song very literally.

Custom-made Aperture Science gas mask will make sure you're still alive, won't open portals originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 05:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam remote downloads exit beta, make impatience an option for everyone

Jon Fingas — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:47:00 EST

That was quick. Just two weeks after Valve posted a new Steam beta that allows remote game downloads, it now has a truly polished release for everyone. Both Mac and Windows gamers can now queue up demos and full games, whether it's from a browser at work or from the Steam mobile app. Appropriately, Valve will let you reinstall games as well as start downloading a purchase as soon as the credit card clears. Either way, it'll guaranteed that your new copy of Bastion or that attempt to relive your Quake nostalgia will be ready when you get home.

Steam remote downloads exit beta, make impatience an option for everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 05:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam's latest beta client enables remote installation of games, with emphasis on 'beta'

Sharif Sakr — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:19:00 EST

Considering it's supposed to be a democratic free-for-all, Steam has been running a tight ship lately. We've already seen a video of a forthcoming native client for Linux, and now there's a new beta client for Windows and Mac that also brings something different: remote game management. This can save you time by letting you trigger the download and installation of a title to your home computer while you're still in the office or on the move, via any web browser. That said, this type of thing was already possible using remote desktop apps, and so far the community response to the buggy beta has been decidedly mixed -- so make sure you read up on Valve's forum (at the source link) before you expect to find your slippers, Pinot Grigio and Sniper Elite V2 all lined-up and waiting when you get home.

[Productive workplace photo via Shutterstock]

Steam's latest beta client enables remote installation of games, with emphasis on 'beta' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam for Linux captured on video, one step closer to reality

Sarah Silbert — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:42:00 EST

Yesterday, Phoronix had encouraging news about the prospect of Steam for Linux: photo evidence of Left 4 Dead running on Ubuntu 11.10 with AMD Catalysts drivers. Today, the site followed up with video footage of that same scenario, posting a hastily shot clip to show that Valve is indeed making progress -- slow as it may be -- on porting the game engine to Linux. Got 14 seconds? Check out the video demo below the break.

Continue reading Steam for Linux captured on video, one step closer to reality

Steam for Linux captured on video, one step closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam for Linux is coming, and after waiting epochs what's a few more months?

Sharif Sakr — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:19:00 EST

It's been a long-running saga as to when Linux users will finally see some native gaming action on Steam, but according to Phoronix that happy day will likely arrive within "months." Valve has been busily hiring Linux OpenGL boffins, including people recommended by Phoronix's founder, Michael Larabel, who certainly seems to be on the inside track. His photo above offers some proof of progress: it shows Left 4 Dead 2 running natively on Ubuntu 11.10 with AMD Catalysts drivers. Why has it taken so long since news of a Linux client was first floated (and officially denied) back in 2010? Larabel attributes it to Valve's "flat management structure" that allows its developers to work on what they want. (And you still question the importance of hierarchy?)

Steam for Linux is coming, and after waiting epochs what's a few more months? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve employee spills the hardware beans: wearable computers, ahoy

Sean Buckley — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:44:00 EST

When Michael Abrash started working for Valve, he expected the higher-ups to hand him a pile of work and tell him to hop to it. They didn't. Instead, he was told to figure out the most valuable thing he could do for the company, and then do it. So, Abrash wound up kicking off an in-house R&D project for wearable computers, and according to a recent blog post, is looking to expand his research team. More than me-too mice and gamepads, indeed. Abrash is quick to put a lid on rumors of "Steam glasses," however, and warns readers not to expect any big reveals at E3 -- this is just an "initial investigation into a very interesting and promising space," he says, and is more "research than development." Rearing to give Google's Project Glass a run for its money? Or maybe you're just itching for a detailed narrative of employee and employer? Either way, you'll find what you're looking at the source link below.

Valve employee spills the hardware beans: wearable computers, ahoy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve job posting reveals plans for homegrown hardware, promises it won't suck

Sean Buckley — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:54:00 EST

Rumors fluttering about Valve's entry into the hardware market just got a little less salty. According to the outfit's own jobs page, it's prepping to offer consumers "whole new gaming experiences." A call for an experienced electronics engineer says it all, "For years Valve has been all about writing software that provides great gameplay experiences. Now we're developing hardware to enhance those experiences." The ideal candidate ought to have a hefty load of prototyping experience, a knack for working with embedded systems and microcontrollers, a proficiency in thermal management, high speed serial interfaces, ARM / x86 system design, and more. We're not about to hazard a guess at what this adds up to, but Valve promises it's more compelling than "me-too mice and gamepads." Hit the source link below to apply, get hired, and let us know what's up.

[Thanks, Alexis]

Valve job posting reveals plans for homegrown hardware, promises it won't suck originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam mobile beta now open to all, still of questionable utility

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:35:00 EST

If you were dismayed to find yourself waiting in the queue for a beta invite after downloading the mobile Steam client the other day, fret no more -- the trial is now open to all who desire entry. Of course, it's still really just a companion to the desktop shop and not a must-have mobile gaming market. We're sure some of you have more friends on Steam than you do in meatspace, though, so being able to chat with fellow gaming addicts or purchase the latest DLC pack for Arkham City while on the go might be the greatest thing to ever happen to you.

Steam mobile beta now open to all, still of questionable utility originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam beta journeys to Android and iOS, for select invitees

Zachary Lutz — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:02:00 EST

Our friends at Joystiq are members of a privileged club of which we are not. We've both downloaded and installed the mobile version of Steam -- now available as a free beta download for Android and iOS -- but where they found Mac and PC games for sale, along with the ability to chat with friends, browse profiles and read gaming news, we were greeted with red text that states our accounts are not part of the beta. Damn our luck! For those interested to give Valve's handiwork a spin, it seems that downloading and installing the app puts you in the queue for a future invite. Won't you join us in the line?

Steam beta journeys to Android and iOS, for select invitees originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam Trading steams out of beta in a cloud of, er, water vapor

Daniel Cooper — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:23:00 EST

Steam Trading's emerged from the hot wet clouds of beta after more than a million in-game items were swapped in the first month of testing. Purchased in-game objects can now be bartered between all players of Team Fortress 2, Portal 2 or Spiral Knights and more games will be supported soon. The bigger news is that you can also exchange Steam gifts and extra copies of games you've got -- such as that spare edition of Half-Life 2 that you downloaded with the Orange Box bundle -- as long as they're unplayed. Hey, cash it in and go buy your avatar something nice.

Steam Trading steams out of beta in a cloud of, er, water vapor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Proposing with portals: how really romantic gamers pop the question

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:01:00 EST

Unless you proposed from orbit, chances are your marriage request was not nearly as elaborate as Gary Hudston's. And, perhaps outside of 2008's homebrew Bejeweled proposal, no where near as geeky either. Hudston hired a skilled developer to create series of custom levels for Portal 2 that his potential betrothed would have to play through. When it heard about his apparently not so secret project, Valve even helped him secure Ellen McLain, the voice of GLaDOS, to record original audio. You can check out the hilarious and heartwarming video after the break or just play through the levels yourself by downloading them at the source link. Sadly, unless you happen to be the future Mrs. Hudston, you'll be no closer to marrying yourself off after solving its puzzles.

Continue reading Proposing with portals: how really romantic gamers pop the question

Proposing with portals: how really romantic gamers pop the question originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer totes Hydra sticks and 6400dpi dual-sensor mice to E3 2011, we go hands-on

Sean Hollister — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:44:00 EST

Razer's Sixense electromagnetic orb threw around plenty of intradimensional portals at CES, but sadly the company wouldn't let us play. Today at E3 2011, however, we were finally handed the reins. Those twin sticks are impressively responsive and accurate in the specially-made Sixense levels for Portal 2, and it's a heck of a lot of fun to physically stretch out blocks, reposition portals with a twist of the wrist and physically throw objects through the air. However, we got the impression that outside of games particularly designed to work with the sticks, it might be a different story. Waving the right stick around works pretty adequately for controlling the mouse cursor, but when we exited out to Windows, the sticks didn't work -- apparently, controls have to be mapped separately in a desktop client to work with the OS and other games or programs. We don't think many PC gamers will mind the six-foot range and wired tether here, but it does restrict those hoping to kick back with a game on the big screen.

Gallery: Razer Mamba Dual-Sensor and Hydra at E3 2011

We also got to try Razer's new "4G" dual-sensor technology, which will be rolling out to new Mamba and Imperator gaming mice right away -- it pairs a laser sensor and an optical sensor for more precision when lifting mice off a surface for advanced first-person shooter mousing techniques, not to mention 6400dpi tracking. We took it for a spin with a handy Razer Mamba, and we immediately fell in love -- whether we flung the mouse around haphazardly, furiously swiped it across the mousepad or simply tried for a quick headshot, it kept up with us. The cursor does creep if you lift and drop very rapidly, though, and without an original Mamba to compare with, it's hard to say just how much better it was. Thankfully, that won't be much of a factor in your purchasing decision: you'll pay the exact same $130 for the Mamba or $80 for the Imperator when they hit shelves this month. PR after the break.

Update: Razer points out that you can in fact use the controller in Windows, enabling mouse movement and toggling the cursor with button 4, and left and right clicking with the right trigger and button 1.

Continue reading Razer totes Hydra sticks and 6400dpi dual-sensor mice to E3 2011, we go hands-on

Razer totes Hydra sticks and 6400dpi dual-sensor mice to E3 2011, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust

Vlad Savov — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:22:00 EST

You might not remember Ryan Palser by name, but you'll surely recall the good gent's homemade Fallout 3 plasma rifle. He has since stepped his game up to bigger and badder video game weapon replicas, and has just completed the construction of the first of his forthcoming army of Portal laser turrets. Thankfully, Ryan has been sporting enough to build the older version of these human eviscerators (not the upgraded Portal 2 turrets, phew!), giving us at least a small chance of survival -- provided we have the right gear, of course. See the laser-equipped, GLaDOS-approved, 38-inch tall turret next to its maker after the break, or hit up the source link for some gorgeous photos of its construction.

Continue reading Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust

Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Mario gets a Portal gun, you monster (video)

Richard Lai — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:28:00 EST

Before Portal 2 there was Portal, and before Portal there was Super Mario Bros. Bring these together and you get a mushroom-chomping Italian plumber ruling the 2D world -- outside the cold confines of Aperture Science -- with the infamous Portal gun. The next logical step? Turn this into a first-person game. Go on, Reggie, make it happen.

Super Mario gets a Portal gun, you monster (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve's Gabe Newell hints at possible Steam port to iOS / Android, may be blowing hot air

Darren Murph — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:44:00 EST

We'd recommend taking this all with a healthy grain of salt for now, but according to a fortunate Steam Powered forum member who scored a trip by Valve's headquarters, the company's considering an iOS / Android port of Steam. Yeah, Steam -- you know, that wildly popular game distribution service that's doing its darnedest to kill off boxed video game sales. As the story goes, Political Gamer was able to sit down with Valve's own Gabe Newell for a tick, and while the topics of conversation were obviously varied, one point in particular piqued our interest. Purportedly, Gabe confirmed that the company is "looking into the iOS / Android platform for possible expansions with Steam," which makes absolute sense given just how well-received the iPod touch and iPhone have been by gamers. To boot, Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play is just around the bend, and if Amazon's able to launch its own app store, why not push out a game-centric one from a name that people already know and trust? Of course, pondering the possibility is far different than investing resources into a new product, so until we hear that the latter is definitely happening, we'll be doing our best to suppress our expectations. Call it self-preservation.

Valve's Gabe Newell hints at possible Steam port to iOS / Android, may be blowing hot air originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel waves around Razer's Sixense motion-sensing sticks, plays Portal 2 on the big screen (video)

Sean Hollister — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:14:00 EST

For any new peripheral to succeed in the market, it needs a killer app. Seems like Razer found one -- at Intel's press conference at CES 2011, it got to demo Portal 2 with its Sixense motion controller. We were on hand to see it in action, and it looks like the game's tailor-made to take advantage of your precision arm-waving; moving the right stick controls a tractor beam that emanates from the Portal Gun, such that your protagonist can reach though those game-twisting wormholes without sticking her neck out. But don't take our word for it -- see for yourself after the break!

Continue reading Intel waves around Razer's Sixense motion-sensing sticks, plays Portal 2 on the big screen (video)

Intel waves around Razer's Sixense motion-sensing sticks, plays Portal 2 on the big screen (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video)

Sean Hollister — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST

Weta Workshop is filled with engineers, and that means they solve problems. Practical problems. For instance, how Valve Software is going to keep its throng of Team Fortress 2 players in awe. The answer? Use a gun. Like this heavy-caliber, tripod-mounted, fastidiously crafted life-size reproduction of The Engineer's level 1 Sentry Gun, which features a bona fide motion sensor for tracking whosoever is fool enough to venture into Valve's geektastic lobby in Bellevue, Washington and touch the darn thing. We're ready to volunteer. Video after the break.

Continue reading Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video)

Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portal gun to be auctioned off for Child's Play charity

Darren Murph — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:49:00 EST

The Portal gun. If you've been alive over the past year and change, you know exactly what we're talking about. We can safely say our lives were changed after spending a few good minutes with Harrison Krix's handmade replica in 2009, and soon you'll have the golden opportunity to know exactly what we mean. Krix has constructed a new Portal gun, one that's arguably more bodacious than ever, and there's only one way to get it: outbid the Bro Montana next to you on December 7th. A Child's Play Charity event auction will be held on that fateful day in Seattle, and it'll be the one and only opportunity to have the pink slip transferred to you. Of course, monies received from the auction will benefit Child's Play (a gaming industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in a network of over 60 hospitals worldwide), and the bragging rights afforded to the winner will be fairly epic in scope. Head on past the break for a video of what's up for grabs.

Continue reading Portal gun to be auctioned off for Child's Play charity

Portal gun to be auctioned off for Child's Play charity originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve denies having a Linux version of Steam in the works

Paul Miller — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:09:00 EST

It was a beautiful dream, and someone even went to the trouble of pushing some decent proof, but for now at least Valve is denying any Linux version of Steam in the works. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, when asked about the Linux Steam rumors, Valve marketing VP Doug Lombardi dropped the word: "There's no Linux version that we're working on right now." Of course, things can change, or Valve could be lying to our face in the interest of a good surprise, but for now we're going assume the worst for our freedom-loving brethren. What, are those penguin tears we see? Don't cry, Tux. Don't cry.

Valve denies having a Linux version of Steam in the works originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve says Apple, NVIDIA and ATI are working to improve Mac gaming performance

Donald Melanson — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:40:00 EST

We've already seen some evidence that Macs running Steam are generally more powerful than PCs running Steam, and it looks like Apple is busily working to make sure that all potential performance is put to good use. As Valve's Rob Barris has confirmed on the company's forums, Apple, ATI and NVIDIA are all "involved" in improving Mac gaming performance, and that "performance is going to improve as drivers are updated." Barris further went on to say that he expects "modest improvements in short term and larger ones in longer term," but wouldn't offer any specific dates as to when some of those updates might roll out.

Valve says Apple, NVIDIA and ATI are working to improve Mac gaming performance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macs running Steam are more powerful than PCs, on average

Sean Hollister — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:31:00 EST

No matter which three-legged sentry turret you pick, Steam games run fine if it houses a decent graphics card. That said, stick this in your breech and shoot it -- the latest edition of Valve's hardware survey shows the glossy white Apple models outgun Windows counterparts in a number of areas. Whereas the majority of Windows PCs have 2GB or 3GB of memory, 53 percent of Macs sport 4GB of RAM -- though that's likely attributable to the popularity of 32-bit OS. While 17 percent of Windows users are also stuck with a single CPU, over 90 percent of Macs running Steam have a dual-core... and internet connectivity's biased towards Mac gamers too, with 65 percent reporting download speeds over 2Mbit compared to under half of PCs. Of course, where it truly counts for games, Macs still sorely lag behind; the top six Windows GPUs reported are all capable performers, but only 32.5 percent of Macs surveyed had anything but a bottom-barrel graphics card. Get with the times, Apple -- even your mobile guys know gaming's not a niche anymore.

[Thanks, Ryan B.]

Macs running Steam are more powerful than PCs, on average originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve celebrates Half-Life 2 for OS X with a nod to Apple's '1984'

Ross Miller — Wed, 26 May 2010 08:57:00 EST

Apple's "1984" commercial has become the stuff of legend -- a symbol of breaking free from what was then an IBM-dominated market. But in a stroke of irony, Valve has released its own parody of the ad to celebrate the launch of Half-Life 2 on OS X (praise be to Steam), about five and a half years after the highly acclaimed game originally debuted on PC. Better late than never, we suppose, and like always, Valve's marketing hits just the right pitch. Video after the break, along with Apple's original and another parody near and dear to our hearts.

Continue reading Valve celebrates Half-Life 2 for OS X with a nod to Apple's '1984'

Valve celebrates Half-Life 2 for OS X with a nod to Apple's '1984' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam arrives for the Mac with 57 games in tow, all your PC using friends are really happy for you

Paul Miller — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:47:00 EST

Thanks to Valve, Mac users can finally claim to own a "gaming rig" without resorting to Boot Camp or causing PC gamers to burst into laughter. Sure, you're still going to be better off cost-for-pixel-crunching with a mid-range PC desktop than anything Apple offers, but for a MacBook Pro user looking to get in a few frags during lunch, the arrival of Steam for Mac is probably the best news they've heard this year -- and luckily that Source engine isn't too hard on older hardware. Mostly the same crop of games that were available to beta testers are available in the final product, with Portal and ~~Team Fortress 2~~ standing atop the heap (Portal's even free for a limited time!), while Half-Life and Left 4 Dead remain notably absent. Check out Joystiq if you want a full breakdown of the games, including a few of the highlights, we have... um, some stuff to do. You know, boring work stuff. You probably wouldn't be interested. Hit that source link for the download.

Update: We're not seeing Team Fortress 2, and we're not getting an option for picking up the Mac version of Civ IV, even though it's a "Steam Play" title. The free Portal download isn't working either, but at least we're relatively certain that it will at some point.

Steam arrives for the Mac with 57 games in tow, all your PC using friends are really happy for you originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 May 2010 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam on Mac preview roundup: all but identical to PC

Sean Hollister — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:59:00 EST

With that hotly-anticipated May 12th release date just around the corner, you might be wondering how Steam on Mac will perform. You're in luck, because some of our favorite Mac news sites have just finished testing the software's closed beta. The verdict? It's practically the exact same as the Windows version, except there's almost nothing to buy. Save for the Growl-like notifications at the top of the screen, the UI is all but indistinguishable, and as promised,data and purchases (if playable) automatically carry over in their entirety from your Windows Steam account. Team Fortress 2 even has cross-platform capability, allowing Mac users to play online with their Windows counterparts, though several journalists noted you might want to invest in a two-button wheel mouse if you don't want to be found out. Source Engine performance on Mac wasn't quite as good as on Windows in tests using the exact same hardware (thanks, Boot Camp), but admirably comes close nonetheless; Electronista was able to maintain a similar framerate in Portal just by disabling two levels of anti-aliasing. Not all Mac users will be able to partake in these games, however; though a MacBook Pro with a discrete 512MB GeForce 8600M card could run them well and a GeForce 9400M laptop managed on low settings, those with only integrated Intel graphics chips might find themselves in for a painful surprise.

Read - Electronista
Read - MacRumors
Read - MacWorld
Read - AppleInsider

Steam on Mac preview roundup: all but identical to PC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshots emerge of Steam Linux client, BeOS wonders if it's next

Darren Murph — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:04:00 EST

There's some old adage referring to smoke and fire meant to explain this phenomenon, but frankly, we're too focused on the promise of the future to go and look it up. Merely weeks after the Steam for Mac beta proved that Linux support may be in the works, along comes this: two glorious screenshots proving as much. 'Course, nothing much about this situation has changed, but having pictorial evidence that a Steam client exists in some stage for Linux is a boon for hopefuls. A Phoronix reader managed to snag a capture of the client working its magic early on, and while it's pretty obvious that it's not ready for primetime, we're just stoked to see that there's legitimate reason to believe such an app is on the way. Hang tight, Penguin Nation -- your Steam should be just about the bend.

Screenshots emerge of Steam Linux client, BeOS wonders if it's next originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam for Mac opens a portal to May 12, steps through

Sean Hollister — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:20:00 EST

Valve promised that Steam on Mac would arrive in April. As you're no doubt aware, April is nearly over. Does that make Steam... vaporware? Not quite. Put away the Caruso sunglasses for two more weeks, because our friends at Joystiq just received a one-line email reading: "Valve today announced the public release of Steam for the Mac is May 12. Please stay tuned for more information." Oh well -- at least you're not waiting for Steam on Linux, and you can always stock up on Razer peripherals while you endure the delay.

Steam for Mac opens a portal to May 12, steps through originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam for Mac beta reveals possible Linux compatibility in the pipeline, penguins rejoice

Richard Lai — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:03:00 EST

Gaming on Linux? That's not something we hear every day just yet, but it looks like the good folks at Valve might be considering a penguin revolution. In one of the latest beta releases of Steam for Mac, Phoronix spotted a mention of the open-source platform in the launcher script, and we were also able to verify this code ourselves. Furthermore, the eagle-eyed Linux blog has previously seen a handful of evidence hinting Linux compatibility for Valve's Source gaming engine. We're probably still a ways off from any announcement (if ever) so for now, let's just leave the guys alone -- we don't want to distract them from bringing the Portal goodness to our Macs now, do we?

Steam for Mac beta reveals possible Linux compatibility in the pipeline, penguins rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:55:00 EST

Surely you remember those Sixense motion controls that we caught lounging around at Razer's CES booth, right? Yeah. Today at the Game Developers Conference, both outfits have teamed up in order to distribute the Ultra-Precise Motion Controller SDK and FPS utility library via Steam, which should give devs the ability to create new games and port existing titles for use with the aforementioned sticks. We're told that these new tools will require "require virtually no knowledge of the inner workings of the controller," enabling coders to craft titles that take full advantage of the six degrees of freedom. Will this turn the PC into the next Wii? We kind of doubt it, but at least someone's looking out for non-console gamers who have a secret obsession with Nintendo's Wiimote.

Continue reading Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam

Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve confirms Steam for Mac, debuts in April

Donald Melanson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:44:00 EST

Eager gamers have no doubt already seen the teasers, but Valve has now finally confirmed that its Steam game distribution service and Source engine will at long last be headed to the Mac. According to Valve, the company's current line-up of games (including the Half-Life and Left 4 Dead series) will be available to Mac users in April, while Portal 2 will represent the company's first simultaneous release for PC and Mac later this year. Better still, Steamworks for Mac also boasts a new feature called "Steam Play," which will let you buy a game once and, for instance, start playing it on a PC at work and then pick up where you left off on your Mac at home (we'll give you a moment to let that sink in). Game publishers will have to enable that feature themselves, but Valve says it expects most to take advantage of it.

Valve confirms Steam for Mac, debuts in April originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video)

Darren Murph — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:51:00 EST

Razer's already solidified its presence here at CES, but it obviously left the best for last. The peripheral outfit has hooked up with Sixense to bring motion sensing controls to PC gaming, and it utilized a wild demo of Left 4 Dead 2 to showcase the device. We hate to link everything to the Wiimote, but if you're desperate for a quick n' dirty explanation of this, it's sort of like a Wiimote / Natal mashup, but just for PCs. Users will find one-to-one tracking, and while further details were few and far between, we're told that devices based around the tech would be launched later in the year. Enough chit chat -- hop on past the break for an unashamedly gory clip of this thing in action.

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Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Portal gun replica hands-on

Ross Miller — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:13:00 EST

You didn't think we'd let this one go without a followup, did you? Portal gun replica creator Harrison Krix was gracious enough to invite us to his workshop and get some hands-on time with it. Let's get the two most common inquiries out of the way first: no, it's not photoshopped and no, it doesn't actually "work" (as in, it doesn't create portals). The armament weighs between five or ten pounds, and all color shifting is done via a switch inside the back end. The middle tube, interestingly enough, is an acrylic plunger handle with a clear matte. The 26-year old graphic designer and graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design estimates he spent 150 hours and $350 in parts, although later models should take much less time. He's had offers to create more iterations from employees at Bungie and Infinity Ward, and he's thinking of making one to give to the Penny Arcade crew for their Child's Play charity. For a look at it both in action and disassembled, check out the video after the break. Next up? A BioShock Big Daddy costume, with arm extensions and a working drill, just in time for next August's Dragon Con in Atlanta.

Galleries

Hands-on with the Portal gun replica

Portal gun replica (work in progress)

Portal gun replica build images and wiring

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Filed under: Gaming

Video: Portal gun replica hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Replica Portal gun is an absolute triumph

Ross Miller — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:55:00 EST

We've seen some Portal-inspired gadgets before, but this one takes the cake, as it were. The Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device is made from florist foam, and wonderflex, among other parts, and uses a 9V battery to power blue and orange LEDs around the nozzle. On the back of the gun is a bit of splattered blood -- y'know, since we're not all quick enough to avoid the turrets. Hit up the read link for more pictures. Can somebody please throw in some Wiimote circuitry so we can use this thing to play the actual game?

[Thanks, everyone!]

Read - Notes from the creator
Read - Hi-res Flickr gallery

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Replica Portal gun is an absolute triumph originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Case modder crams PC into homegrown Team Fortress 2 sentry

Darren Murph — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:57:00 EST

We find it impossible to think that anyone in attendance of a local LAN party wouldn't be awestruck when this rig waltzed in, and truthfully, we'd be a little distracted by its boyish good looks all the while. TiTON -- the same mastermind that brought us the Team Fortress 2 Dispenser -- has recreated a TF2 sentry that (unfortunately) fires no real shells at enemies. On the upside, it does pack enough hardware to enable gamers to light up rebel forces within a digital realm, but just like your 16th birthday cake, this one may be too pretty to indulge in. Tap the read link for lots more images and a breakdown of the build.

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

Case modder crams PC into homegrown Team Fortress 2 sentry originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Fortress 2 Dispenser case mod completes Orange Box trifecta

Paul Miller — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:42:00 EST

Well, we suppose the first two Orange Box mods we saw were Portal-related, but a love for Half-Life 2 is really implied in anything Valve-related, and this here Team Fortress 2 case mod feels like the end to a beautiful, Orange story -- or perhaps the beginning of another. We'll confess, we got our ass handed to us enough times in TF2 to make it a rare incident when we'd even make it to a Dispenser, but there's love for this glorious blue box all the same, and TiTON has certainly done his homework in building the thing. Props all around. Now can someone swap to medic and give us a little backup over here?

Filed under: Desktops

Team Fortress 2 Dispenser case mod completes Orange Box trifecta originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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