Valve reportedly getting into the PC hardware business

Reports are coming out today that confirm long-held rumors that Valve has been looking at some way to enter the PC hardware business. While this doesn't point toward the much-desired "Steam Box" that was rumored a few months back, it's an exciting development nonetheless.

According to The Verge, Valve has confirmed rumors that a job posting for an industrial designer indicates that they are planning to enter the hardware business. However, they did not specify what sort of hardware they're planning to make, only offering the following quote as a sort of clue, "We're frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space though, so we're jumping in. Even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven't really changed in any meaningful way over the years. There's a real void in the marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked."

It's not clear whether that quote indicates Valve will be leaning toward making PC accessories such as mouse/keyboard alternatives, or if they have ambitions that go beyond that. And of course, there's always the possibility that Valve is planning to start small with little projects like a gaming peripheral, then work its way up the chain to bigger productions.

We will of course be following this story with great interest, and will report back if any new developments arise.

Source : gamesradar[dot]com

Facebook Making Its Employees Use Substandard Android App

Facebook's new and improved iOS app is live, but employees at the social network aren't reaping the benefits. According to a report from Business Insider, the company's worker-bees have been encouraged and in some cases outright ordered to switch to Android phones, precisely because Facebook's Android app is so bad.

Apparently not uncommon at tech companies, "dogfooding" (as in "eat your own dog food") is a clever way to incentivize product improvements.

And it totally works by the way: I worked at a summer camp once driving this pontoon boat that broke down every single day, forcing me to row grumpy kids back to shore against the wind. One day the owner of the camp came out on the lake with me: I killed the motor on purpose and offered him the oars. Boat was fixed that week.

So rejoice Android users! Facebook's design team feels your pain, because their bosses are making them. A platform-native update similar to the one iOS users got yesterday should be on its way soon.

Stoked? Let us know in the comments.

Jon Fox is a Seattle hipster who loves polar bears and climbing trees. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Nintendo reportedly controls 70% of the Japanese gaming market

For the past couple years many people have been chanting the mantra that Nintendo needs to give up the hardware business and transition into a software-only business releasing games on other consoles as well as the iPhone.

However, new numbers shine a bit of a light onto why Nintendo might be a little reluctant to leave their position as a hardware manufacturer. In short: the Japanse games market may be slowly flagging, but Nintendo's killing it. In the latest sales charts from Japan, games on their consoles represented 70% of the Japanese gaming industry. Though it's unclear if those numbers included mobile and PC games.

Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the 3DS is leading the charge with nearly 150,000 sales during the past week, aided in no small way by the success of the 3DS which Wired notes has been at the top of the Japanese charts for quite a while now.

Nintendo's success in the West may be more up for debate, however it hardly seems like it's time for Nintendo to abandon ship and layoff their entire hardware department. They've clearly got a lot more gas left in the tank. That said, the stakes get higher and higher every time Nintendo launches a console, and the whole industry will be watching when they launch the Wii U later this year. 

Source : gamesradar[dot]com

More GTA V Screens: Taking Care of Business

Another day, more Grand Theft Auto V screenshots. This time, Rockstar has released four screens with the theme of 'Business' on its Newswire.

On the run from the police? A car transporter is probably not the most inconspicuous form of escape.

A biplane: when a regular plane just isn't enough.

The Infernus makes a return.

Police sniper lines up a shot from a helicopter.

This is the third album released by Rockstar this week. On Monday we got a glimpse at the vehicles available in San Andreas, and on Wednesday we gazed at the leisure activities on offer in the game.

Today's post ends with the statement: "Hope you enjoyed this week’s 10 screenshot special from Grand Theft Auto V".

Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer. You can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter.

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