The Steam Review

Comment and discussion on Valve Software’s digital communications platform.

Archive for the 'Features' Category:

The Secret of AWOMO’s Island

December 7th, 2007 :: Interviews, Other services :: 22 Responses

A World of My Own was billed as the “iTunes of games” during its announcement. It was a ridiculously big claim, an act of hubris perhaps – but I’ve been talking with Rob Donald of Game Domain International about the technology behind the company’s new distribution system, and it’s more accurate a soundbite than we once thought.

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Steam Community Beta impressions

August 19th, 2007 :: Features, Steam Community :: 14 Responses

The Steam Community is on track not only to succeed, but to become the most successful network of its kind. Here’s why.

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The Steam Platform

July 26th, 2007 :: Features :: 47 Responses

Valve has a chance, right now, to take the initiative. If they make the right moves, we could see the rise of Steam as the de facto platform for online gaming.

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Advertisements to become Steam function

May 19th, 2007 :: Features, Steam updates :: 18 Responses

Counter-Strike’s in-game adverts are the pilot for a Steam-wide system Valve intend to offer to independent developers rather than use themselves. How does their new offer fit into the indie culture?

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Community content integrated in Portal

May 17th, 2007 :: Features, General :: 9 Responses

Valve’s forthcoming puzzle game Portal will feature a system for importing and loading fan-made maps, according to Eurogamer’s recent preview.

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The Episodic Experiment

February 15th, 2007 :: Features, Valve :: 23 Responses

The purchase of Ritual Entertainment by casual games developer MumboJumbo, and the subsequent shelving of the SiN Episodes series, comes amid increasingly noticeable industry whispers that Valve’s episodic efforts are returning only lukewarm sales figures. The episodic debate has been very much re-opened as a result, widened further by yet another Half-Life 2: Episode Two delay. What’s gone – and going – wrong?

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