Steam

Scottish_Woad_Raider1

I'm at school right now so I can't go to valve because of BESS that evil evil dog. So what is Steam? Is it kinda like Gamespy or something?

Ramses

I think this was already answered, but it doesn't matter...

Steam is a program that allows the developers to distribute their mod/game to the end-user without compiling installers and such. Steam simply downloads every file of that mod/game direct from a master-server to the player. This leads to the fact that steam is only useful for broadband-users. It is the first step into the future of game-publishment(?) where the developers doesn't longer need an publisher but can sell their games via Internet all around the world. They can (in the future) also make software only works some time, sort of "hiring software".

That is how i understand Steam.

SNAFU

It's kinda good, kinda bad, kinda scary. I'm actually somewhat disappointed that NS will be offered on Steam, since that almost guarantees that broad-band users will get to play 1st, and it really isn't fair IMHO, for modem users to wait a bit longer. I can say that 'cause I have cable, but won't be using Steam.

Back to the good/bad part, Steam will allow you to play NS without waiting to download it. However, it costs money. Not much, but the future could be quite hairy. With Steam-like services becoming feasible, we might be looking at playing all our favorite games sooner, but we may... *shudder* end up paying MONTHLY FEES to play them, just like a MMORPG. <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo-->

That may sound fine, until you factor in your want to play 15 different games, and the bill from your ISP for downloading over certain limits. Then... I'll let you guys figure in the rest.

I hope you guys know what you are doing, releasing NS to be available from Steam.

TychoCelchuuu

Uh, without steam, broadband users would just DL it faster normally, in the normal way. And PHL says that Valve thinks NS is Peachy Keen. Whatevah that means.

Dan_Forever

Personally I don't like Stream. If it's anything like windows update in any way I will ward it off with crosses and holy water.

Also, wvery time you reformat you'll need to download proggy a again. Manuals will be "online" pdfs and docs meaning if you need help ingame you'll need to print it out. Plus theres never the anticipation of opening a new game etc :/

I suppose it's fine for mods, but not for retail games, and the only thing going for it would be cheaper once-only prices (if they do that) and no publishers breathing down their neck limiting creative/original input though fear of not breaking even...

Thats my two pence

SmokeMasta

the only thing good on steam is that all steam games have a master banlist where all the cheaters r on

Trane

the ability to constantly update and dl 5 million times faster arnt good things???  Steam offers a crazy unprecedented ability to distribute and shape games...  While its free I think its great.

QUAD

I tried Steam, didnt like it at all. It downloads a cache for the menu shells all fine and dandy, but when you got to play the game it has to get a whole bucket full 'o resources from the Steam master server. Not fun.