Valve Announces Steam V2.0
Could it replace Xbox Live as premier online gaming venue?
Valve has confirmed a new raft of features that will push its digital PC games platform, Steam, in a more community oriented direction.
Valve reports:
According to Gabe Newell, Valve's co-founder and president, the move has its roots in Steam's existing community. "Our community has given us great direction on the ways they want to see Steam evolve," he said. "Adding these new community features to make it easier to connect with other gamers is something we've wanted to see on Steam for a long time and this latest update is just the start. We've got a long list of items that we're working on to make it easier for gamers to connect and play games on Steam."
To SPOnG it smells suspiciously like Xbox Live. Frankly, though, SPOnG thinks Valve is right to follow Microsoft's example. In fact, if the new features take off, Valve's service could surpass Xbox Live as the premier venue for online gaming. Steam recently crashed over the 13 million active users mark, giving it more than double the 6 million users Microsoft claimed for Xbox Live in March.
Valve also tells that, “Free of charge, the new community features will be accessible via the Steam desktop client and via the web.”
Valve reports:
“Beginning in July, Steam users can set up their own personal Steam pages and profiles, create and join groups, schedule games with friends, review who they've played with, see how well everyone played, chat with groups, chat via voice, and more. These new community services and features can be used with all Steam games, which include new releases and classic titles from leading publishers and independent developers.”
According to Gabe Newell, Valve's co-founder and president, the move has its roots in Steam's existing community. "Our community has given us great direction on the ways they want to see Steam evolve," he said. "Adding these new community features to make it easier to connect with other gamers is something we've wanted to see on Steam for a long time and this latest update is just the start. We've got a long list of items that we're working on to make it easier for gamers to connect and play games on Steam."
To SPOnG it smells suspiciously like Xbox Live. Frankly, though, SPOnG thinks Valve is right to follow Microsoft's example. In fact, if the new features take off, Valve's service could surpass Xbox Live as the premier venue for online gaming. Steam recently crashed over the 13 million active users mark, giving it more than double the 6 million users Microsoft claimed for Xbox Live in March.
Valve also tells that, “Free of charge, the new community features will be accessible via the Steam desktop client and via the web.”
Companies:
Valve
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Comments
zoot 21 Jun 2007 10:59
1/2
steam2.0!
it's like valve has got caught up in web2.0 instead of working on getting hl2ep2 finished
it's like valve has got caught up in web2.0 instead of working on getting hl2ep2 finished
Joji 21 Jun 2007 16:23
2/2
That's cool but you can't access Steam on consoles, only PC. Both serve as good posters for online play and downloadable content though.
Rockstar, look this way if you wanna shift Manhunt 2.
Rockstar, look this way if you wanna shift Manhunt 2.