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When I upgraded from Win7 to 8.1, I found a lot of older games in Steam wouldn't run until I pulled up the properties for that game in Steam, then went to game files and selected the option to verify the game files integrity.
A few months after launching a public beta of a new tool that allows you to run Windows PC games on Linux, it looks like thousands of games are supported. Valve’s Steam game client is available.
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Running Windows games on a Mac Boot Camp. Boot Camp is a familiar friend for veteran Mac users, a feature made possible by Apple’s switch from Power PC processors to Intel a decade ago. Any method that will let you play Windows games on a Mac is going to be WINE-based, the only difference is how well the game plays (possibly tweaked through configuration) and how easy it is to set up for the end user. You can check out running games through WINE yourself at the official WINE site.
Valve, the gaming company behind the hit series Half-Life, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, and Portal, is looking to change the industry once again. With more than 75 million users and a market share estimated at around 75 percent, the company's Steam digital distribution platform has already changed the way computer owners purchase and play games.
Unsatisfied with the way the game console market has shifted in recent years, Valve in 2013 announced a new strategy for invading the living room. The company created SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system designed for playing video games.
SteamOS computers, also known as Steam Machines, from manufacturers like Alienware, Falcon Northwest, and Origin PC, among many others, are slated to launch later this year, but you don't have to wait to get your hands on Valve's new operating system.
Here's how you can transform your current computer into a Steam Machine:
Hardware requirements
Most mid- to high-end computers should be able to run SteamOS with no problem. You will need either a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor, a minimum of 4GB of RAM, and a hard drive with at least 500GB of storage. While Valve recommends an Nvidia graphics card (they are optimized to work better with SteamOS), the latest beta added support for both AMD and Intel graphics. Additionally, your system must include Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) boot support, which most modern (past three or four years) motherboards do.
In addition to a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, you will also need a flash drive with at least 4GB of space, an Ethernet connection, and a USB game controller -- I'm using a wired Xbox 360 controller.
For information about building your own computer, including an in-depth description of the parts you will need and a step-by-step build process, be sure to check out CNET's three-part do-it-yourself computer guide.
Installation
SteamOS is still in beta and parts of the operating system are not 100 percent functional. Please be aware that the operating system has some bugs that still must be worked out. Installing SteamOS will also erase your entire hard drive, so it is imperative that you back up any important data to external drive.
There are two methods for installing SteamOS; this guide will cover them both.
Default installation The default installation process is the easiest way to install SteamOS. The process is pretty straightforward and shouldn't be too much of a hassle for the average user. Note that this method requires at least a 1TB hard drive. To install SteamOS using the default method, follow these steps:
1. Download the official SteamOS file from Valve's Web site.
2. Connect your USB drive to your computer and format it. To do this on Windows, right-click the drive, select format, and choose FAT32. For OS X, enter the Utilities folder in your Applications list, click on Disk Utility, select Erase, and choose MS-DOS (FAT). Rename the USB drive to 'SYSRESTORE.'
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3. After the download has finished, unzip and extract all of the files to the USB drive. Make sure they are on the root of the drive, meaning that they aren't stored in a folder.
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4. Power down your computer and boot to the USB drive. This can be done from the BIOS boot menu, which can be accessed by holding either the DEL, F8, F10, F11, or F12 keys as the computer is powering on (depending on your system). The selection you are looking for will read something along the lines of 'UEFI: USB Brand Name PMAP.'
5. Next, select the 'Restore Entire Disk' option from the boot menu.
6. Once installation is complete, press Enter to shut down the machine.
7. Remove the USB drive and power on your computer. You should now be running SteamOS.
Custom installation While the default method is the easiest way to install SteamOS, some people have reported running into problems. If that's the case, you should try the custom installation method. The process is slightly more complicated than the first, but it also gives advanced users the power to tweak certain settings. Follow these steps to install SteamOS using the custom installation method:
1. Download the official custom-install SteamOS file from Valve's Web site.
2. Connect your USB drive to your computer and format it. On Windows, right-click the drive, select format, and choose FAT32. On OS X, enter the Utilities folder in your Applications list, click on Disk Utility, select Erase, and choose MS-DOS (FAT).
3. Unzip the file and extract its content to the root of your flash drive.
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4. Power down your computer and boot to the USB drive. This can be done from the BIOS boot menu, which can be accessed by tapping either the DEL, F8, F10, F11, or F12 keys once the computer is powering on (depending on your system). The selection you are looking for will read, 'UEFI: USB Brand Name PMAP.'
5. Select the 'Automated install' option from the menu, but remember this will erase your entire hard drive. The installer will automatically partition the drive and install the new operating system.
6. After installation is complete, remove the USB drive, hit the 'Continue' button, and your system will reboot. If you are having trouble booting into SteamOS, enter the BIOS settings and make sure the computer is booting from the hard drive that has the operating system installed.
7. Once the system reboots, select the option that reads, 'SteamOS GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.10-3-amd64.'
8. Change the pull-down to the 'GNOME' option and enter 'steam' for the username and password.
9. Click on the Activities button in the top left corner of the screen, select the Applications tab, open the Terminal application, type in 'steam,' hit Enter, and accept the the terms of use agreement.
10. Click on the Steam button in the top right corner of the screen and log out of your session. Log back into the GNOME desktop, but this time with the username and password 'desktop.'
11. Type '~/post_logon.sh' in the Terminal window, hit Enter, and enter the password when prompted to do so -- don't panic if the numbers don't appear when you type them out. Just type 'desktop' and hit Enter.
12. The system will now reboot. When prompted to do so, hit the 'y' key, followed by Enter.
13. Now when you reboot your system you should be running SteamOS. Simply log in to an existing account or create a new one.
Limitations
Why would you want to download SteamOS? Good question. In fact, there is no real reason for you to run the operating system at all. It's severely limited and most Steam games don't even support it, yet.
Out of the 102 games I own on the platform, only 41 currently support SteamOS, a majority of which are either games from Valve -- Portal, Left 4 Dead, Half-Life -- or from smaller, independent developers. To make matters worse, only 16 games out of the 41 I own that support SteamOS have full or partial support for game controllers.
Conclusion
I must admit, it's cool to play some of these games with a controller, although this can also be done via Steam's Big Picture mode. One of the games I tested was Left 4 Dead 2, which included full support for game controllers, and it was relatively smooth. At first, performance on SteamOS appeared to be on par with that of Windows. As I continued to play, however, the game completely froze and I was forced to quit. I also experienced freezing and low frame rates playing Brutal Legend and Dungeon Defenders, two games that aren't necessarily high-end.
Despite the beta tag, I found the actual operating system to be fairly stable. While gameplay performance, which appears to vary by game, has room for improvement, the interface of SteamOS was quite fluid. Due to the limited selection of games, however, there isn't much you can do with it yet. I suspect the only reason people would be interested in running SteamOS is to get a sneak peek at the software on the upcoming Steam Machine; other than that you're better off gaming on Windows or even OS X.
SteamOS, Valve's specialized gaming operating system, is gearing up for a full release, and should be widely available before the end of the year. The developing OS is a curious beast: It's optimized for PC gaming but doesn't run some of the most popular PC games. On the other hand, SteamOS is lightweight and straightforward, and Valve hopes the system will bring PC gaming into the living room just like its console counterparts. If you have questions about SteamOS, Tom's Guide has answers.
Q.: What is SteamOS?
A.: SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system developed by Valve. The software highlights PC gaming but will also have access to streaming video, music and other online services.
Q.: What is Steam?
A.: Steam is a digital download service for PC, Mac and Linux that sells video games and some development software. PC gamers generally like Steam for its huge selection, user-friendly interface, integrated social media features and frequent sales.
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Q.: Why would I want to run SteamOS?
A.: SteamOS will be very lightweight, and is designed specifically with big-screen TVs in mind. It aims to split the difference between customizable PC gaming and comfortable console gaming. Hooking a SteamOS machine up to your TV may be easier than hooking up a Windows PC or Mac. Because many Steam games allow you to use a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard, a SteamOS system can offer you hundreds of the industry's most popular games at lower prices.
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Q.: Why wouldn't I want to run SteamOS?
A.: As SteamOS is a Linux system, most of Steam's 10,000-plus game library is not available at present. Furthermore, it won't offer as many features as a Windows or Mac computer out of the box. However, like many Linux systems, SteamOS allows users to develop their own features, if they're sufficiently skilled programmers.
Q.: What games run on SteamOS?
A.: Any Steam game with Linux support should run on SteamOS, although Valve will pin down this list as the official launch date approaches. There are roughly 2,000 Linux games available through Steam, including major titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and indie darlings like Hotline Miami.
Q.: What games don't run on SteamOS?
A.: Generally speaking, games that are compatible only with Windows and Mac will not run on SteamOS. The list of games that do not run on Linux is extensive: Series such as BioShock, Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty currently have no Linux support on Steam. If you want to check whether a game runs on Linux, simply look it up on Steam and check for the penguin logo.
Q.: Is there any way to run Windows and Mac games via SteamOS?
A.: Yes, but it requires two systems. In addition to acting as a stand-alone OS, SteamOS can stream Steam content from Windows PCs and Macs. This means that if you have a gaming rig elsewhere in your house and Wi-Fi, you can run Steam on your rig and stream the content through the SteamOS machine attached to your TV.
Q.: Where can I get a Steam machine?
A.: Valve does not produce any Steam machines; instead, it has collaborated with a number of partners to offer a full range of gaming PCs, from the budget-minded to the fantastically powerful. CheckValve's Steam Machines page to learn more and see if any of the machines fit your needs. (You can also build your own computer, of course.)
Q.: Will SteamOS run on my computer?
A.: Probably. Check theofficial SteamOS page for system requirements, but any relatively new system should be fine.
Q.: When will SteamOS and Steam Machines be available?
A.: SteamOS is available right now, although it's still in beta. A full release will come in November, which is also when the Steam Machines will hit the market.
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Q.: How much will SteamOS and Steam Machines cost?
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A.: SteamOS is available free of charge. Steam Machines range from $460 to $5,000. You can also find a machine to fit your exact budget by constructing it yourself.
Q.: How do I install SteamOS on my current computer?
A.: Check out the Tom's Guide article onHow to Dual-Boot SteamOS.
Q.: Is there a Steam Controller?
A.: Yes. Valve designed the Steam Controller from the ground up, to get the most out of Steam titles without resorting to a mouse and keyboard. However, the controller is not necessary; gamers can still use a mouse and keyboard, or another type of controller, if they prefer. For full impressions on the Steam Controller, check out our hands-on from GDC 2015.
Marshall Honorof is a senior writer for Tom's Guide. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him @marshallhonorof. Follow us @tomsguide, on Facebook and on Google+.