But it’s on the inside that counts
[Update: The Verge has some sexy box and controller shots as well as a hands-on for you to read over. Engadget also sticks their face inside the machine.]
Look at these new pictures of Valve’s Steam Machine prototypes. The Seattle Timeshas a look inside the Bellevue offices of Valve, where a few boxes and controllers are shown. They report that the controllers were all built from scratch using tools scavenged from Gabe Newell’s garage.
And those prototype Steam boxes! We think they look like DVRs or cable boxes. Both the black and white versions show look to have some sort of big, round button, which makes me think of the Xbox 360.
But what’s on the inside that counts, right? The Seattle Times reports that 40 of Valve’s 330 employees are playing with hardware for this project.
The team are making these prototypes with 3D printers and laser-cutting machines, though they’re not quite up to full-blown factory level in their Bellevue offices. For now, a shop in Overlake are working on the controllers that Valve will provide to testers. If all goes well, Valve will look to contract mass manufacturing.
The Seattle Times says that it’s likely that a variety of Steam Machines will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. We will be there with all the heavy breathing you’d expect.