Valve Recruiting Electronics Engineer for Developing Homegrown Hardware

btarunr · Apr 13, 2012

It's no news that Valve is working on its own gaming hardware platform so far referred to as Steambox, but its talk has been mostly based on rumors and anecdotal information. The Steambox theory, and the theory that Valve is working on hardware, got cemented by a new job vacancy posted by Valve, which calls for experienced electronics engineers. The posting reads "For years Valve has been all about writing software that provides great gameplay experiences. Now we're developing hardware to enhance those experiences."

The skillset asked for in the posting fills a lot of holes in the Steambox theory. It requires engineers to be proficient with prototyping, system-level design, embedded systems, high-speed serial interfaces, circuit simulation, etc., with a much more juicy "recommended" skillset requirement covering areas such as board layout, ARM/x86 system design, power/thermal management, RF and antennas, etc., basically everything a company out to design a game console would seek in its new engineers. Find the posting here, under "Electronics Engineer."

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Volkszorn88 · Apr 13, 2012

Oh Valve

RejZoR · Apr 13, 2012

Actually they are quite clever. It's a gap between strict consoles and strict PC's. A part no one really controls.

punani · Apr 13, 2012

btarunr said:
It's no news that Valve is working on its own gaming hardware platform so far referred to as Steambox

Valve marketing director Doug Lombardi somewhat denied those rumors. But he said it in a sneaky way

.

hardcore_gamer · Apr 13, 2012

I always wanted to work on a gaming console. But I'm not planning to leave mixed signal silicon design for now.

FordGT90Concept · Apr 13, 2012

ARM!?! That is very, very curious for many, many reasons.

SoF · Apr 13, 2012

They don't need a "Steambox" they need something portable like a "Steambook"!
I would be darn interested in such project but I have to hang around the internet instead

Not sure if a "classical" console part would be "new" enough to gather enough attention...
And the most advanced feature of Steam is its PORTALbility - you own your "console-titles" on PC at the same time...that would rock...

THE_EGG · Apr 13, 2012

mwahaha currently doing a degree for electronic and computer engineering

dorsetknob · Apr 13, 2012

some of the reasons being ?
windows on ARM Devices
mobile phones run on ARM chips
Android Tablets run on ARM chips
all of the above are / will be gameing platforms
Looks like Steam want to make their "new System" cross (multi) platform Compatable probably as a way of future proofing the hardware and to ensure they capture as big a share of the gameing market as possable after release

Bring this sort of consol to the market along with ipad/iphone app (dont sue me for useing the Iwords please apple) and release a android app and basicly you have full market coverage!

I wonder if any ARM design they come up with will have socketed cpu rather than a embedded cpu that would be great for Console hardware upgrades + make the graphics upgradeable as well

RejZoR · Apr 13, 2012

I just hope all the steam won't turn into vapor(ware)...

Depth · Apr 13, 2012

SoF said:
They don't need a "Steambox" they need something portable like a "Steambook"!
I would be darn interested in such project but I have to hang around the internet instead

Not sure if a "classical" console part would be "new" enough to gather enough attention...
And the most advanced feature of Steam is its PORTALbility - you own your "console-titles" on PC at the same time...that would rock...

Why not make it slim? An Ultrasteambook.

Easy Rhino · Apr 13, 2012

you don't need to be an electronics engineer to put together a pc! :roll:

hardcore_gamer · Apr 13, 2012

Easy Rhino said:
you don't need to be an electronics engineer to put together a pc!

But you need to be one for designing a console. Assembling and system design are different.

Easy Rhino · Apr 13, 2012

hardcore_gamer said:
But you need to be one for designing a console. Assembling and system design are different.

you missed my joke.

xBruce88x · Apr 13, 2012

^ lol

this is interesting news indeed.

NC37 · Apr 13, 2012

RejZoR said:
I just hope all the steam won't turn into vapor(ware)...

HL3

xenocide · Apr 13, 2012

dorsetknob said:
I wonder if any ARM design they come up with will have socketed cpu rather than a embedded cpu that would be great for Console hardware upgrades + make the graphics upgradeable as well

I was under the impression that most ARM solutions were SOC, so I doubt upgradeable GPU's are going to happen.

stupido · Apr 13, 2012

hardcore_gamer said:
I always wanted to work on a gaming console. But I'm not planning to leave mixed signal silicon design for now.

and I always wanted to do the (embedded) software part, so let's team-up... :toast:

techtard · Apr 13, 2012

Hmmm... would their launch title b HL3? If so, :respect:

OneCool · Apr 13, 2012

resume sent.

who knows...I could work for Steam. :nutkick:

illli · Apr 13, 2012

i would imagine it would be very similar to what onlive does. onlive hardware does not have to be very powerful since it basically streams the game info to the home.

Mussels · Apr 14, 2012

i admit i'm curious how this turns out.

DarkOCean · Apr 14, 2012

OneCool said:
resume sent.

who knows...I could work for Steam.

You mean Valve.

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Valve Recruiting Electronics Engineer for Developing Homegrown Hardware

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