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Official launch of Software titles on September 5

Valve is a major video game company and has very impressive titles to its name, including Half Life. Valve also has a popular digital distribution platform called Steam that has been used to distribute digital versions of retail video games.
 
Valve has now announced that the first set of non-gaming software titles are heading to Steam. Software titles would be things other than video games. According to Valve, the software titles that will be landing on Steam will range from creativity to productivity.
 
"The 40 million gamers frequenting Steam are interested in more than playing games," said Mark Richardson at Valve. "They have told us they would like to have more of their software on Steam, so this expansion is in response to those customer requests."
 
The new software will be able to use some interesting features Steamworks offers such as easy installation, automatic updates, and the ability to save work to a Steam Cloud space so that files are available wherever you go. Steam will add more software titles as time goes by. The company also says developers can submit software titles via Steam Greenlight.
 
The official launch of software titles on Steam will be September 5.
 
Valve President Gabe Newell recently focused his wrath on Windows 8. Newell noted last month that Windows 8 would be a "catastrophe" for the PC space. He also predicted that some PC makers might leave the PC industry. Microsoft certainly made some of its biggest partners very uncomfortable when it entered the hardware business with the Surface tablets. 

Source: Valve


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By 91TTZ on 8/9/2012 12:10:23 PM , Rating: 4
With the Windows Store being built into Windows 8, Valve's Steam is going to be competing against a built-in feature of the OS.

It's going to be Netscape vs. Microsoft all over again. Microsoft pretty much cornered that market before it even began.




By tayb on 8/9/2012 12:34:31 PM , Rating: 2
I think that will really depend on how much Steam is charging to distribute these apps. Microsoft will be charging 30% for the first $25,000 in revenue and then dropping the fee to 20% thereafter. I'm sure Steam can undercut that but I don't really know. The Windows Store is also the only "approved" source of Metro apps but given that this is Windows I am sure there will be easy ways to load Metro apps however you choose. Whether or not Steam decides to sell these "unapproved" Metro apps is unknown but I don't think it would matter anyway.

I think the biggest problem Steam will have is that the Windows Store will be baked into Windows 8 and the Steam store will be completely unknown outside of gamers. How are they going to penetrate this market?


By JasonMick (blog) on 8/9/2012 1:08:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I wouldn't be too sure about that. Microsoft is turning into a "Me too, Apple" more and more every day.
How so? Microsoft was selling smartphones and tablets, with its OEM partners, long before the iPad or iPhone were a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye.
quote:
Because by all indications Windows 8 for the PC is shaping up to be a massive flop. There's still opportunity for Steam here for sure.
Wow, you're really on to something there.

That must be why BUILD 2012 sold out in an hour due to wild developer demand for Win8 apps and product.

That MUST BE why OEMs were stumbling over themselves to show off all sorts of slick Windows 8 devices at Computex.

And SURELY that is why the Windows 8 Release Preview reached 1 million downloads in under 24-hours...
http://www.redmondpie.com/download-windows-8-relea...

I mean don't those landmarks just scream "massive flop"?? I'm so glad you shared your kind wisdom with us.


By Reclaimer77 on 8/9/2012 1:19:07 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
How so? Microsoft was selling smartphones and tablets, with its OEM partners, long before the iPad or iPhone were a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye.


That's not what I mean and you know it :) I'm talking about Microsoft blatantly looking to mimic Apples vertically integrated platform of tightly controlled "app stores" and in-house services bundled into the OS. And bringing this to the desktop.

quote:
Wow, you're really on to something there. That must be why BUILD 2012 sold out in an hour due to wild developer demand for Win8 apps and product. That MUST BE why OEMs were stumbling over themselves to show off all sorts of slick Windows 8 devices at Computex. And SURELY that is why the Windows 8 Release Preview reached 1 million downloads in under 24-hours... http://www.redmondpie.com/download-windows-8-relea... I mean don't those landmarks just scream "massive flop"??


Is this really Jason Mick? Just...wow. I think I just got trolled from a blogger on his own article. That tone coming from you is..unusual.

This evidence is thin and pretty obvious. Of course developers are going to download it! Of course it's going to be displayed by OEM's!

But for you to deny the extremely vocal majority who's clearly NOT enthused about Metro as a desktop UI? Come on man.

quote:
I'm so glad you shared your kind wisdom with us.


Wow, condescend much?

We're YOU the one who wrote the piece about a well respected Microsoft analyst calling Windows 8 "The new Windows Millennium"? I guess he was just being a "hater" too..


By JasonMick (blog) on 8/9/2012 1:40:14 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
But for you to deny the extremely vocal majority who's clearly NOT enthused about Metro as a desktop UI? Come on man.
"But for you to deny the extremely vocal minority who's clearly NOT enthused about Metro as a desktop UI? Come on man."

...there fixed that for you.

Sure Windows 8 and its Metro UI will not be pleasing to a majority of PC enthusiasts. They oft prefer barren interfaces, graphically minimalist interfaces, and the ability to fully customize everything themselves. However, these preferences run counter to the majority of users, and the enthusiast community is quite small compared to the overall base of phone, tablet, and computer users.

Hence the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, but the few like to cry foul that they're not getting their way.

Yes, I've reported on the criticism -- guilty as charged.

I won't deny they're entertaining. They're entertaining to me. They're clearly entertaining to my readers (inc. yourself) as you're reading and commenting on these posts.

But for the record as an analyst I think it's overstated and largely the result of misunderstanding and lack of experience with Windows 8. Similar criticism has been leveled against many past successful Windows OSes....

"Chicago Sun-Times : Want Windows 95? Skip the 1st Version?"
Author: Don Crabb
Date: July 9, 1995

"Windows 98 was not Worth the Wait"
Aug. 1998: Chicago Tribune: Jimmy Gutterman

"Yawns greet Windows XP debut"
Cape Cod Online - Nov. 2001
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...

"Windows XP: Readers: It's not worth the trouble"
CNET - 2001
http://news.cnet.com/2009-1001-274436.html

...nay sayers have been bemoaning Microsoft's constant improvements to Windows and predicting its demise for almost two decades now.

And what has happened?


By Reclaimer77 on 8/9/2012 1:52:16 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Sure Windows 8 and its Metro UI will not be pleasing to a majority of PC enthusiasts. They oft prefer barren interfaces, graphically minimalist interfaces, and the ability to fully customize everything themselves. However, these preferences run counter to the majority of users, and the enthusiast community is quite small compared to the overall base of phone, tablet, and computer users.


Since when did MS catered to those people though? Look if you want something pretty and flashing and easy enough for a 4 year old to use, Apple is down the hall.

quote:
Hence the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, but the few like to cry foul that they're not getting their way.


It's more than that and you know it.

This is unlike any Windows OS before it, because Metro is there, and the desktop is still there. And we're expected to work within this Jeckll and Hyde mess of an OS with two conflicting UI designs that do NOT mesh well together. The experience is jarring, disjointed, and not intuitive. With apps working on one, programs working on another? Come on, admit it, that's a goddamn mess!!!

You want Metro? Fine. You should buy a touch device to get it. I represent the desktop users (who number in the millions) who want a better desktop experience and MORE features added to the Windows desktop. NOT to have Metro forced on us and actually LOSE things like the Start menu in exchange.


By JasonMick (blog) on 8/9/2012 2:03:11 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Since when did MS catered to those people though? Look if you want something pretty and flashing and easy enough for a 4 year old to use, Apple is down the hall.
Microsoft has always catered to them. Remember, when the Windows GUI was slocked on top of MS-DOS many power users felt it was a huge step backwards and emulation of Apple's 1984 MS-DOS.

Similar arguments were made back then -- Microsoft was turning its back on its true fans, while trying to copy Apple's mass market appeal.

In reality both companies are simply selling to the biggest market -- the masses, though Microsoft has tried to preserve a degree of customizability. I guarantee you, no matter how much you villainize Windows 8, it will be more flexible/customizable than the rigid confines of OS X.

quote:
It's more than that and you know it.

This is unlike any Windows OS before it, because Metro is there, and the desktop is still there.
But that's what critics like yourself aren't understanding.

Metro UI as it's applied in Windows 8 is just a graphical unwrapping of the Start Menu + widgets , both of which were present in Windows 7.

The graphical theme is revised, but this is not new content, for the most part. No functionality is gained or lost, either, for the most part on the desktop front, though the new UI due to its large tiles is more friendly for touch devices.

The desktop and Metro UI both serve their purposes, just as the desktop and the Start Menu served their purposes in Windows 7. I would argue that Metro UI is in fact a big upgrade of the start menu, both graphically and in terms of functionality.

And even if it's not your favorite, it's hard to fault Windows 8 for besting Windows 7 in memory usage, # of running processes, and processor consumption, while offering improved file exploration on the desktop, improved file transfers, and a host of other upgrades.


By Pirks on 8/9/2012 3:39:18 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
There should be a completely seamless interaction between Metro and the Desktop, across the board
There is one, when you get Win8 RTM and see how windows key works you'll stop trolling and lying.
quote:
I see no reason why Metro and Desktop apps, for the PC version of Windows 8, be incompatible with each other
That's because Metro is new touch friendly usaer interface framework with new visual style and new everything, it's like a new version of windows almost from scratch. And the older desktop apps are not touch friendly legacy mouse/kbd software straight from your beloved era of 1990s :P Of course software from circa 1990 will be incompatible with software written like 20-30 years later. No shit Sherlock!
quote:
throwing the PC and mobile OS together in a big jumbled mess
Nah, you'll learn it and you will stop trolling and lying I'm sure. I was also a bit scared after reading all these oldfag reviews but in real life usage scenarios RTM build is great. It's like seriously sped up (I mean SERIOUSLY) Windows 7 plus real good looking and much more usable full screen start menu plus a big bonus of metro apps that are touch friendly and a joy to use on any decent win8 tablet, like Surface. I mean they should have set higher price than $39.99, honestly. This upgrade is worth much more. Fortunately for them this is just a promotion for early adopters, they'll charge proper (full) price starting January 2013 ;)


By Reclaimer77 on 8/9/2012 4:56:47 PM , Rating: 2
I don't know of, or heard of, anyone who was asking for a "full screen start menu" in Windows. It's an absurd waste of screen real estate.

But that's just my opinion. I also respect yours, although I think it could do without the "oldf@g" monicker.

quote:
And the older desktop apps are not touch friendly legacy mouse/kbd software straight from your beloved era of 1990s :P


Well yes, that's what is most optimal for a desktop OS. Since most of us will not be using multi-touch LCD monitors for some time. If ever.

Again, I have no issue with Metro on touch devices. Forcing this environment onto the Desktop PC is where the problems arise.


By Pirks on 8/9/2012 5:08:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
It's an absurd waste of screen real estate
It's not a waste since it's always hidden when you need desktop. They just made this start menu much much bigger and loaded with useful functionality like live tiles. Otherwise it's all the same, same keyboard and same mouse interactions to bring it up. It feels very consistent with my previous Win7 experience, it's intuitive up to the point that I had nothing to learn to use it, left bottom corner as usual or windows key as usual. I feel at home right away with this new interface, because it uses old desktop paradigm extensively (corner or windows key, to be exact)
quote:
Forcing this environment onto the Desktop PC
I don't feel it forced on me even a little bit since I always can use all my desktop apps and games and such. If start menu turned into beautiful and useful start screen - this is a good change overall. Making it touch friendly to boot adds a nice bonus too, which doesn't matter for non-touch desktop but still is a good decision IMHO.


By JasonMick (blog) on 8/9/2012 1:44:41 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
That's not what I mean and you know it :) I'm talking about Microsoft blatantly looking to mimic Apples vertically integrated platform of tightly controlled "app stores" and in-house services bundled into the OS. And bringing this to the desktop.
P.S. Microsoft isn't exactly mimicking Apple here, alone. Linux, RIM, Verizon, and others had app stores long before Apple's iTunes App Store.

Were they as successful? No, of course not.

But to say "Microsoft is copying Apple" even solely on the basis of its adoption of an app-distribution ecosystem is silly given the amount of predecessors to Apple's App Store. The idea of an App Store is an inherently intuitive one for an internet-connected era. Microsoft is simply making the obvious choice.

And I meant no offense to you personally, sorry if I hurt your feelings -- I appreciate you reading and commenting.

I just feel you're wrong on this one, and I figured I'd point out some of the signs of strong support for Windows 8. You can feel free to post counter-evidence if you have any -- it's a free country.


By 91TTZ on 8/9/2012 3:03:46 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Microsoft isn't exactly mimicking Apple here, alone. Linux, RIM, Verizon, and others had app stores long before Apple's iTunes App Store. Were they as successful? No, of course not. But to say "Microsoft is copying Apple" even solely on the basis of its adoption of an app-distribution ecosystem is silly given the amount of predecessors to Apple's App Store.


I disagree. What separates Apple from its competitors is its execution, not necessarily its ideas. Plenty of companies have come up with innovative ideas and failed to bring the product to market properly, only to have Apple succeed in doing it.

Did Apple have the first mp3 player? Nope. But the iPod was a successful product whereas other companies failed to compete.

Did Apple have the first smartphone? Nope, but the iPhone was also a successful product whereas other companies couldn't really make inroads into the consumer space.

Did Apple have the first tablet device? Nope, but the iPad was a successful product while other tablets never really caught on.

Microsoft has resorted to mimicking Apple's execution and it's obvious.


By TakinYourPoints on 8/11/2012 7:21:25 PM , Rating: 2
^^^ Gets it


By Azethoth on 8/10/2012 2:36:07 PM , Rating: 2
Credit for the first functioning App Store like thing goes to Blizzard North who made Diablo and Diablo II. Yes, you could only update Blizzard games but it was automatic and painless over the internets, back in 1996 or so.

It took forever for anyone else to match that.

As for Verizon etc. having App Stores. What a joke. It was not until the iPhone that you could move your data with you to your new phone. Thats right, I am specifically ignoring the third party apps that sometimes did that in the early 2000's if you prayed right and had the right phone model version and serial number because those were goddamned lame and suitable for technically literate people at best.


By GenZ on 8/12/2012 10:33:02 AM , Rating: 2
Blizzard's App updater is different from an App Store. Its elementary, if you can't buy, then its not a store.

quote:
Thats right, I am specifically ignoring the third party apps that sometimes did that in the early 2000's if you prayed right and had the right phone model version and serial number because those were goddamned lame and suitable for technically literate people at best


I can see what happened as you wrote that post, you were about to write just 'right phone model', then you realised that the iPhone only works with other iPhones. So you tried to add the words 'version' and 'serial number' to make yourself right. Don't worry, this is the basis of every 'Apple is better' argument out there.

You always pick the things Apple is good at in order to win an argument, because they are never consistently good at anything... except innovation, which by definition is the rebranding and packaging of other peoples things. In other words, stealing ideas.

You also state you are technically illiterate in the last sentence, as it quite plainly seems from your tone that the constraints mentioned are not suitable to you. Perhaps in the future you should work on your 'literacy' before sharing it with us.


By TakinYourPoints on 8/9/2012 7:22:10 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I'm talking about Microsoft blatantly looking to mimic Apples vertically integrated platform of tightly controlled "app stores" and in-house services bundled into the OS. And bringing this to the desktop.


Microsoft has been doing vertically integrated systems with internal app stores for longer than Apple has, given that the XBox is several years older than the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad.

This is nothing new for them.


By Pirks on 8/9/2012 1:24:59 PM , Rating: 1
Ya I also laughed hard reading this Reclaimer's troll post, especially after using Win8 RTM build on my Vaio. He's just a clueless idiot who has no real experience using Win8. I think the upgrade price of $39.99 is a steal for such a huge upgrade in usability. I dunno man, this is first time ever I see MS seriously going to pwn Apple in usability department. This is huge deal man, but slowpokes like Reclaimer will see it only after many years, as usual.


By Reclaimer77 on 8/9/2012 1:30:29 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
I think the upgrade price of $39.99 is a steal for such a huge upgrade in usability.


Windows 8! So good, we're giving it away.

quote:
I dunno man, this is first time ever I see MS seriously going to pwn Apple in usability department.


Since when was Microsoft competing against Apple in the usability of desktop OS's? They won that battle a decade ago.

Windows 8, specifically Metro, is only more "usable" on a touch screen device.


By Pirks on 8/9/2012 3:48:02 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Since when was Microsoft competing against Apple in the usability of desktop OS's?
Since the moment Apple pwned MS in usability of a touch driven OS


By 91TTZ on 8/9/2012 3:10:50 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Ya I also laughed hard reading this Reclaimer's troll post, especially after using Win8 RTM build on my Vaio. He's just a clueless idiot who has no real experience using Win8. I think the upgrade price of $39.99 is a steal for such a huge upgrade in usability


There isn't a huge upgrade in usability for desktop users and Microsoft knows that. They know that this is suboptimal for desktops and another step towards tablets/phones. That's why they're stilling it for less than half the price of their previous desktop operating systems.

They see mobile as the future so they're basically subsidizing the cost of this in the hopes that it will lead to increased sales of Microsoft's mobile offerings. They're trying to transition their desktop users to a (Microsoft branded) mobile-centric world where they see more profits.


By 91TTZ on 8/9/2012 2:28:00 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
And SURELY that is why the Windows 8 Release Preview reached 1 million downloads in under 24-hours... http://www.redmondpie.com/download-windows-8-relea...


There was a lot of enthusiasm for Windows Vista also. Windows Vista beta was downloaded over 5 million times.

Then...

"In its first year of availability, PC World rated it as the biggest tech disappointment of 2007,[109] and it was rated by InfoWorld as No. 2 of Tech's all-time 25 flops.


By Pirks on 8/9/2012 1:18:18 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Windows 8 for the PC is shaping up to be a massive flop
Only in the minds of clueless trolls like you. I just tried RTM build on my Sony Vaio, and this thing boots in TEN SECONDS. That is WAY FASTER than a couple of MacBook Airs I see at work regularly (my boss used to carry one around because it was very fashionable back then). I can switch between metro and desktop with a single key - I just hit windows button on keyboard and after 1/4 of a second quick smooth animation I'm in metro or I'm back in desktop. I can use that "missing start button" turned start screen that you clueless oldfags miss so dearly just as easy with mouse as before, same quick movement in the lower left corner and a single click (although hitting windows key is faster for me so I use keyboard all the time for that). The OS itself is wicked fast and smooth, its app store is a pleasure to use, installs stuff really fast and asks no stupid questions, start screen is mega useful, much better than old useless start menu because of live tiles with notifications, weather updates, chat, mail etc etc all on your screen, arranged and colored exactly the way YOU want it. This is so useful and comfortable in my real life usage scenarios that first time in my life I'm dumping older MS OS right away after the release of the new one. Your lovely oldfag shit named Win7 goes bye bye as soon as Win8 upgrade offer for $39.99 is in place. Good luck with your molasses slow (compared to Win8) oldfag shit, ya clueless troll. I speak from my own experience running Win8 on a modern quality hardware and you have no experience and hence your trolling is not working on me or on any other person who's as smart and skeptical (trusting only ones own experience) as me :P


By C'DaleRider on 8/9/2012 1:30:29 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
Pirks you are and always have been, a stupid troll and person in general.


Damn, the pot calling the kettle black. Whoda thunk it?


By Reclaimer77 on 8/9/2012 1:38:26 PM , Rating: 1
No Pirks is the worst, you don't even know.

He trolled for months about the superiority of RIM, and how we were all "haters". Then he dumps his RIM phone for a Windows Phone Lumia.

Then after saying for months WP was the best, and Android was "Crapdroid", guess what? He dumps his WP for an Android phone!!!

Tablets? Same thing. After ranting about some tablet he had being the best, the turns around and said he hated that tablet and endorsed some other one. All with the same borderline retarded passion as all the others.

If that doesn't make him a troll, he's just some kind of mentally deficient person.


By Pirks on 8/9/2012 3:25:56 PM , Rating: 1
Don't believe the lies of this troll, I never said that I hated Playbook or hated my BlackBerry Torch or my HTC Titan or what not. My family still uses them all, with me occasionally switching to Titan from Galaxy Note when I want some nice game like Tentacles (absent on crapdroid, alas :P). I enjoyed all my devices a lot and still enjoy them now. I just keep switching to better devices all the time because I discover good usage scenarios that are worth my money.

First I started to use BES device like Torch 9850 because user interface for email was really great, full screen touch UI was smooth and NOT laggy at all, the screen was bigger than iPhone's (that's always a big plus for me) and our IT really loved manageability of those phones through BES, which is still NOT beaten by ANYONE including even corporate behemoth MS themselves, then I used best 7" tablet on the market, Playbook, because molasses slow crapdroid was totally unusable back then and iPad was too big and bulky for me. ONLY NOW, MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER Playbook's release Google managed to make something as fast and slick UI wise but still with crappy hardware with no camera and shit. It's a wish wash now but I've been using super slick'n'fast Playbook A LONG TIME before crapdroid loving Reclaimer even realized there's that thing called Nexus 7.

Then I went to Titan because a year after the release of Torch 9850 Windows Phone 7 became usable with some decent hardware like Titan and 7.5 update. Before that it was a joke compared to my Torch, now it is not. Then Galaxy Note appeared with ugly and molasses slow crapdroid 2.3 which is unusable for my usage scenarios, so I skipped it over... then a year later Note got an ICS upgrade, I tried it and realized that crapdroid became less crappy and not as painfully slow and laggy as before so I went out and got myself a Note, especially after hearing about Google realizing that crapdroid is always going to be a laughing stock of an industry and trying to stop it at last with Project Butter.

The Note is the best of all the phones I've got now but it still suffers from slowness, lagginess, freezes and crashes once in a while. Since I never saw any of those on my BB or WP7.5 phones I'm closely watching WP8 and BB10 developments 'cause looks like these two (WP8 for sure and BB10 likely) will offer real nice powerful phones with proper hardware and big screens and with NO crapdroid lags/crashes/keyboard freezes/etc.

So I'm likely changing to WP8 or BB10 in the future, and relegating Note to my family or selling it if no one wants to use it at home. Crapdroid is still crappy enough stability and UI quality wise to make me gravitating towards WP and BB platforms that had best UI experience I ever had (Playbook and Titan still solidly pwn crapdroid UI up to and including 4.0, didn't try 4.1 but it's almost non existent marketshare wise anyway so...)

All in all this means that I try out cool slick devices all the time, I'm not using Apple because of crappy hardware (tiny screens on phone, stupid glass on the phone back, stupid useless battery guzzling retina on huge and heavy/bulky iPad) but otherwise Apple makes some solid shit that many people love 'cause their UI rocks too, maybe not as hard as WP 7.5 but it's very solid and slick and always smooth and responsive, unlike crapdroid. And they have best games selection currently, if I were into mobile gaming as heavily as I'm into PC gaming I would definitely purchase iPad. (btw Crysis 2 with hi-res textures pack in ultra quality DX11 mode absolutely destroys evey other game at the moment imho, my quad GPU crossfired 5970 setup runs it VERY well :P not like dumb Reclaimer troll would ever understand what real high end PC gaming means hehe)

There ya go, this is my very long summary on why Reclaimer is lying about me. I know small Reclaimer's brain will be unable to read and understand it all but smarter people will, I'm sure.


By Reclaimer77 on 8/10/2012 8:28:22 AM , Rating: 2
Pirks in your heart these things are true I'm sure. The problem is how you put them into words when talking to us. Now I'm not going to bother to go and get a bunch of quotes to make my point, I'm not here to attack you. Just know when you do things like attack others for "RIM trolling", for example, then don't put your money where your mouth is, it comes off hypocritical. When you attack others for being pro "Crapdroid", then buy a Galaxy Note, how do you think that makes you look?


By Pirks on 8/10/2012 11:59:58 AM , Rating: 2
I put my money where my mouth is 'cause I buy or at least try products and use them before declaring them shit. This is very different from your or Motoman's or cheesy clown's trolling of Apple, RIM or MS. If you knew squat about those various products I use and enjoy like Titan, Playbook, Windows 8 or Galaxy Note, you would troll and lie much less. And actually trying out some Apple stuff before trolling hard would also make you clowns look less stupid too. I am NOT posting lies about products or companies I haven't dealt with BUT YOU DO. See the difference now?


By Cheesew1z69 on 8/9/2012 7:18:00 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
If that doesn't make him a troll, he's just some kind of mentally deficient person.
This...for sure


By Pirks on 8/9/2012 7:26:29 PM , Rating: 2
Why no dance today, clown? ;)


By tayb on 8/9/2012 1:45:45 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I wouldn't be too sure about that. Microsoft is turning into a "Me too, Apple" more and more every day.


The point was more along the lines of how is Microsoft going to stop users from tampering with Windows and doing whatever they please? Apple and Google certainly can't and... this is Windows we're talking about here. Also, the policies are similar in theory to Apple's App Store but wildly different in practice. The basic premise of the Windows Store is to try and curb malware type apps and give a nice, cheap, distribution platform for small-type developers who otherwise couldn't spend the money to market and distribute an app they have created.

quote:
Because by all indications Windows 8 for the PC is shaping up to be a massive flop. There's still opportunity for Steam here for sure.


That's obviously just your opinion and I'm sure it's shared by plenty but actual indications are that Windows 8 will be a bigger success than Windows 7. Even Vista, with all of the hate it received, sold millions and millions of copies and still has a decent market share. Windows 8 will ship on ultrabooks, notebooks, desktops, servers, and tablets. It will be extremely successful even if "hardcore" type people completely ignore it and convince their friends/family to ignore it too.


By Reclaimer77 on 8/9/2012 1:57:07 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The point was more along the lines of how is Microsoft going to stop users from tampering with Windows and doing whatever they please?


Exactly!!

But why would I, as a Windows user, want Microsoft to do this? What's in it for me if they seek MORE control over how I can use their product? One I paid for.

I think that's what's got me so goddamn pissed off over Metro. I expect that kind of crap from Apple. That's why I've been a loyal Windows user for decades now. I don't want my experience being decided for me by others.

quote:
That's obviously just your opinion and I'm sure it's shared by plenty but actual indications are that Windows 8 will be a bigger success than Windows 7.


Windows 7 was a full priced OS, and it set the sales records on fire. I'm calling it right now, the only way Windows 8 beats that is because they're basically giving away the OS.


By TakinYourPoints on 8/9/2012 8:25:20 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I think that will really depend on how much Steam is charging to distribute these apps.


Steam's cut isn't out there for public knowledge, but according to developer friends it is on a sliding scale. It has ranged anywhere from 50% (seriously) to 20%. These days it is usually 30%, which makes sense given that it has become a normalized rate elsewhere.


By JasonMick (blog) on 8/9/2012 1:01:26 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
With the Windows Store being built into Windows 8, Valve's Steam is going to be competing against a built-in feature of the OS.

It's going to be Netscape vs. Microsoft all over again. Microsoft pretty much cornered that market before it even began.
A couple outspoken folks at Valve are just jumping onboard the Win8 hate train.

In reality, Steam and the built-in Windows Store could easily co-exist. Google's Play and Amazon's Amazon Marketplace have done just fine on Android side-by-side.

Let's not hang Microsoft for crimes it has not yet committed, when the true outcome could very well be something entirely different and positive.


.
By StevoLincolnite on 8/9/2012 11:31:54 AM , Rating: 2
Steam becoms the leader in games digital distribution.

Steam expands platform to include regular apps.

Steam becomes a cloud OS and takes over the world.




RE: .
By Souka on 8/9/2012 11:51:16 AM , Rating: 2
Coming soon.... The Steam phone, running SteamOS of course.

:)


RE: .
By Amiga500 on 8/9/2012 11:55:43 AM , Rating: 2
As long as it isn't a rectangle with rounded corners...

We invented rectangles and we also invented rounded corners.

[/apple lawyer aka w*nker]


RE: .
By Cheesew1z69 on 8/9/2012 12:10:17 PM , Rating: 3
Why would not just type out wanker? Seriously?


RE: .
By C'DaleRider on 8/9/2012 1:12:47 PM , Rating: 2
Damn, guess my dining room table, a rectangular table with rounded corners, is infringing on Apple's patent.

Or maybe not since the table is around 75 years old.


RE: .
By really on 8/9/2012 12:54:29 PM , Rating: 2
A steam powered phone?! I thought we were supposed to be making advances forward. At least it will be green.


RE: .
By MrBlastman on 8/9/2012 12:17:23 PM , Rating: 2
Valve decides making a sequel to Half Life 2 is a waste of time.


RE: .
By geddarkstorm on 8/9/2012 1:10:39 PM , Rating: 2
Nah, they are just renaming it to Half Life 3: Office App Invasion


No thanks
By wolfmyth on 8/9/2012 11:56:22 AM , Rating: 2
What you are doing by "buying" software through steam is actually renting everything. Have any issues and they have the right to take it all away (and exercise this right commonly). Don't agree with their newest ToA/EULA and you loose everything "purchased", no thanks!




RE: No thanks
By Coolmike9000 on 8/9/2012 12:19:28 PM , Rating: 1
I'll take Steam's EULA over MS any day. I've never had an issue with Steam, and how many times have you had to enter a MS license key, only to have the install fail and had to do it again! MS also invalidates your software - much more readily than Steam IMHO.


RE: No thanks
By really on 8/9/2012 1:08:39 PM , Rating: 2
Obviously someone who is using older MS software. Office 2010 you don't validate until after the installation is complete. That kind of removes the whole install failed and had to do it all over again.
As an IT Admin the few times I have had an istall fail usually results in me finding some other issue with computer's hardware like bad memory or some other software(malware) interfering.

As for Win8 I'm not jumping on the bandwagon just yet. I've played around with the Customer Previews and I'm not really a fan of Metro on a desktop PC. Works great for a Tablet and Surface definitely has my attention. I'm feeling another case of Windows ME coming on.

As far as non-gaming software using Steam in a Corporate environment I hope they come up with an offline feature that works. Last time Steam service went down I couldn't play any of my games because I had not previously used offline mode at least once. So I had to wait for Steam to come back up which was actually a few hours and then turn on and off "offline" mode so that I would be ready for the next occurrence. It's really shameful in this day and age that hey require you to turn on "offline mode" for it to work when their service is offline.


RE: No thanks
By TakinYourPoints on 8/9/2012 7:18:49 PM , Rating: 2
Offline mode and allowing you to run applications on multiple machines at once is very important. Microsoft and Apple's app stores manage both of these great. I love Steam but those are two things about it that are still very broken.


RE: No thanks
By StevoLincolnite on 8/9/2012 8:41:11 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Don't agree with their newest ToA/EULA and you loose everything "purchased", no thanks!


ToA/Eula's cannot override the law, regardless if companies think it can or not.

Not sure about the US of A.
But here I am entitled to a refund if a product or service doesn't function to an expected level of quality.

Part of that is the understanding that we are not renting games off Steam, but buying a license that never expires to play it to my hearts content.
If we were renting; it would say "Rent game" not "Buy game" as they would otherwise be liable for false advertising.


Lost focus
By KnightBreed on 8/9/2012 12:13:26 PM , Rating: 3
How about Valve sets its sights on actual games for once to get Half-Life 3 out the damn door.




RE: Lost focus
By Sazabi19 on 8/9/2012 12:48:06 PM , Rating: 2
HL3? We are still waiting on HL2 Ep.3, slow it down there buddy, we don't like to rush things :P" HL3 may be on the new source engine that was used to create CS:GO (new CS, out next week I think.


RE: Lost focus
By MistaP on 8/9/2012 1:32:19 PM , Rating: 2
The 21st I believe and preorders have started. I betaed it since November and it kicks ass!


RE: Lost focus
By TSS on 8/9/2012 6:38:43 PM , Rating: 2
Because steam is making Gabe newell so much money i hear the servers are hosted in a big warehouse on a hill with a big dollar sign on it.

We don't even have HL2 episode 3 yet, let alone half life 3. Just goes to show folks, none of these companies give one rats ass about you. They only care about your money. Even Valve.

How about Valve develops something so i can get my games off steam huh? Meaning they'll run without being connected to steam while retaining 100% functionality. I'm getting pretty concirned about having all my eggs in one basket, i'd like to be able to take them out.

That'll never happen though since then, valve won't be able to lock you in like Apple or Microsoft.

They'll make half life 3 when public opinion of them has become low enough that it nessecitates it, AKA when steam sales are starting to suffer (they've probably stopped growing as fast that's why we're getting counterstrike global offensive). And they'll make it semi-free too, or pull some sort of TF2, since that's the most profitable both money and PR wise.


Discount?
By Apone on 8/9/2012 11:53:21 AM , Rating: 2
It would be super-duper awesome if Steam rolled out with generously-discounted sales for said non-gaming software applications the way they do for their games. Wouldn't mind picking up Adobe CS 6, Office 2013, etc. at a significantly reduced rate...




RE: Discount?
By Coolmike9000 on 8/9/2012 12:17:07 PM , Rating: 2
It's unlikely they will be providing any MS software (I think that's kind of the point). They're more likely to provide an Office alternative - like WordPerfect, but who knows.


By TakinYourPoints on 8/9/2012 5:04:38 PM , Rating: 3
I'm a huge Steam user and fan; I have hundreds of games on my account. That said, some of the restrictions they currently apply for games have need to be tweaked if they're going to be selling applications.

Multiple log-ins: Right now you can only be logged into Steam on one computer at a time. If I can only have an application running on my desktop and not on my laptop at the same time, that's a problem.

Offline mode: Even now it is still kind of sketchy and needs to be perfected. People aren't always going to remember to enable offline mode before logging off Steam. What if I want to run a Steam application at the airport but whoops, I didn't enable offline mode before I left home. Now I'm stuck until I get internet access again.

Both of these are things that the OS X and Windows 8 app store deal great with. I don't need to sign in before enabling an offline mode to verify my purchases, and I can be running applications on the same account on multiple machines at once.

Perhaps Valve can meet halfway and verify a certain number of machines to allow applications (not games) to run on those simultaneously, something like that. I understand that DRM is a major component of Steam, but right now it is restrictive to a fault compared to some of the other app stores out there.




about time!
By kattanna on 8/9/2012 11:44:51 AM , Rating: 2
its about time they finally did this. I have been waiting for it for some time. Steam is an excellent software delivery system. this should also help the smaller devs get their software out there and noticed more.

I just hope the initial new titles arent a joke, but instead will be real values to help spread the word.




By Sh33pster on 8/9/2012 12:47:53 PM , Rating: 2
As an IT Admin I would love to see the option to have a business account. Almost like a ghost image where i install Steam, enter my business account and all the necessary programs download and fully update. I would present that to my directors they day it be available.




Metro UI is ...
By MistaP on 8/9/2012 1:30:34 PM , Rating: 2
Just a typical casual user (majority of the market for these things) of smartphones, tablets, and pcs (big time pcgamer is the only thing that differs me from most peoples Moms using a PC) ... and I honestly feel like the Metro UI is abysmal. It just comes across as a trendy looking UI that overall seems wery awkward. It is trendy but really seems like we are going backwards when it comes to displaying information and allowing navigation efficiently. That's just me and like I said I am just a ignorant user.




Too late
By Pirks on 8/9/2012 12:54:25 PM , Rating: 1
Win8 app store is there, so bye bye Steam, we enjoyed you while you were the only game in town. With Win8 you are not needed anymore.




Note to Steam:
By HoosierEngineer5 on 8/9/2012 1:01:00 PM , Rating: 1
I would like to have NONE of my software on Steam. Keep your blasted fingers out of my computer. Sell me a disk that works. End of Transaction.




"If they're going to pirate somebody, we want it to be us rather than somebody else." -- Microsoft Business Group President Jeff Raikes











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