As a life-long PC gamer, the concept of a Steam Machine to me seems unessential. But in talking to someone who’s been a traditional console gamer, the appeal becomes a little more clear. It's a gateway that breaks down a traditional high barrier of entry. It provides a simple solution to access a library of thousands of PC titles with minimal knowledge of hardware and software.  A Steam Machine can be manufactured by anyone, in fact, you could technically build your own. Today we’re going to look at an offering from Alienware.

Valve have announced 13 hardware partners for creating and selling Steam Machines, the computers that will power Steam OS. Steam OS is an open source operating system based on the Linux Debian Kernel that will run a version of Steam designed for living room computers. It'll have a custom controller design to make gaming easier without a mouse and keyboard. You won't necessarily have to buy a Steam Machine to see it in action; when Steam OS launches later this year, you'll be able to build your own computer.