Bioware's "Steam"

[Ames]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/10/26/news_6111408.html?part=rss&tag=gs_pc&subj=6111408

Looks like the Steam site...

http://store.bioware.com/

 

[azz0r]

Not suprising really - I expect all the major companies will have there own Steam-like stations sooner or later.

 

[oldagerocker]

The problem is we're going to have 5+ programs like steam running at the same time, i dont see Steam as a sort of program i can only open when i want to play because of updates etc, so i leave it open. it'll be the same with this lot and il get confused and cry ;(

 

[dart321]

Exactly. I'd be nice if there was some universal program that you could get all games on, no matter who makes them.

 

[Dedalus]

Exactly. I'd be nice if there was some universal program that you could get all games on, no matter who makes them.

that'd be a long way off i reckon.

content delivery like Steam is a new thing, and companies will want to exploit it and milk it as much as possible before they think about an industry standard. long way off i think.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Someone needs to make a universal program that developers can latch onto, like Gamespy except with all the options Steam has... and without the sucking.

 

[ManHacks]

Ya, Valve was talking about how they were setting the future for game selling by doing it online. Its a good diea in my opinion, but i dont know how safe it will be. I feel safe enough with steam becuase ive bought so many things from them, but at first i was kinda iffy about trying it.

 

[destrukt]

I don't think it's a full blown program, just a fancy online store. Not exactly a "steam."

It doesn't look anything like hte steam site ... unless having a menu @ the top and content is a 'steam look alike'

the only similarity is 'direct-to-consumer digital distribution'

 

[blahblahblah]

Not suprising really - I expect all the major companies will have there own Steam-like stations sooner or later.

Very few game developers can afford to maintain a steam platform. A company like ID software who only puts out a title every couple of years would not benefit from steam. A company like Valve who is anticipating multiple product releases within the next several years may consider steam a good idea.

The downside to steam is the costs of establishing an internet distribution method. Most developers don't even own their IP, much less have the money to set up a Steam-like application. I expect that game publishers will start selling games online instead.

 

[smwScott]

Overall this is a big step in the right direction. When more money goes to the developers and less to the production companies then you're likely to see games with higher budgets. The downside is that developers might adopt a "well it kinda works, lets just release it now and get it fixed over the next couple months" mentality.

Oh yeah, and having multiple file-sharing programs (which is basically what Steam is) open at the same time kills your bandwidth and your CPU. While it's not a big deal normally, it's pretty stupid for games because they're the only applications which require the extra power.

 

[Orgonomist]

Someone needs to make a universal program that developers can latch onto, like Gamespy except with all the options Steam has... and without the sucking.

Oh god, I can just see Gamespy getting into this business. Vomit.