Steam Community Beta Kicks Off
Valve goes up against Microsoft's Games For Window Live service
Valve has just announced that it has finally opened its Steam Community features for public beta testing, shifting the focus of its superb online content delivery system towards that Web 2.0 favourite online social networking.
If you already use Steam then head over to the Settings menu and click on "Beta participation" to get involved and obtain a unique ID, a friends list, groups, text and voice chat, event scheduling and in-depth statistics.
You can then access your Steam Community page via either the Steam client or through your web-browser.
Here are the full details straight from the mouth of the mighty Valve!
Initial features include:
If you have yet to install Steam on your PC then SPOnG strongly advises you to do so by heading over to steampowered.com
If you already use Steam then head over to the Settings menu and click on "Beta participation" to get involved and obtain a unique ID, a friends list, groups, text and voice chat, event scheduling and in-depth statistics.
You can then access your Steam Community page via either the Steam client or through your web-browser.
Here are the full details straight from the mouth of the mighty Valve!
Initial features include:
Steam ID: Create a personal profile-complete with a photo or avatar, biographical details, favourites, and more-viewable on the Web and within the Steam client.
Friends: Add peers to a personal Friends List that shows in real-time who's online and available to chat or play a game. Accessible from within the Steam client or while playing a game, the Friends List makes it easy to invite friends to chat, play a game, or join a group.
Groups: Create and join public and private groups comprised of gamers who share a common interest, such as fans of a particular game, map or mod, or competitive teams. The Group Profile page displays information about the group, recent activities, news and announcements, and a schedule of upcoming events. Groups can quickly initiate a text or voice chat; plan a game, tournament, LAN party, or any other event; and track group gameplay statistics.
Statistics: From both a personal Steam ID or Group profile, users can view a range of gameplay statistics, such as most played games or maps and average playing time.
Chat: Initiate a chat with friends and groups using integrated instant messaging, text chat, and voice features.
Events: Schedule matches, tournaments, and in-person gatherings, such as LAN parties. Upcoming events are displayed in both a list and calendar view, and members can receive reminders that help keep everyone on schedule.
Friends: Add peers to a personal Friends List that shows in real-time who's online and available to chat or play a game. Accessible from within the Steam client or while playing a game, the Friends List makes it easy to invite friends to chat, play a game, or join a group.
Groups: Create and join public and private groups comprised of gamers who share a common interest, such as fans of a particular game, map or mod, or competitive teams. The Group Profile page displays information about the group, recent activities, news and announcements, and a schedule of upcoming events. Groups can quickly initiate a text or voice chat; plan a game, tournament, LAN party, or any other event; and track group gameplay statistics.
Statistics: From both a personal Steam ID or Group profile, users can view a range of gameplay statistics, such as most played games or maps and average playing time.
Chat: Initiate a chat with friends and groups using integrated instant messaging, text chat, and voice features.
Events: Schedule matches, tournaments, and in-person gatherings, such as LAN parties. Upcoming events are displayed in both a list and calendar view, and members can receive reminders that help keep everyone on schedule.
If you have yet to install Steam on your PC then SPOnG strongly advises you to do so by heading over to steampowered.com
Companies:
Valve
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