Steam - The Definitive Gaming Platform1154579
Gaming has redefined itself constantly over the years, pushing boundaries never believed possible - Not just technically, but socially, economically and even spiritually.
Computer gaming has usually been at the forefront of such advancement, though recently our beloved platform of option has been often overlooked in favour of a more casual gaming audience - That of the typical Console owner. Don't get me incorrect, consoles are fantastic in what they can accomplish and also have their fair share of enthusiast titles. The underlining issue is that the core gaming market is made mainly of casual gamers or the media's perception of what defines a core gamer. Nintendo's wii is a testament to how well-liked casual gaming has turn out to be.
Blizzard have been able to capitalise on the Computer as the premier MMORPG platform for its WOW franchise. Making full use of a PC's ability to establish multiple social networking services to compliment a game has definitely helped make WOW a massive success. Real Time Technique and to some extent, First Individual Shooters are still both premier Pc gaming examples, though the advantage the Pc Gamer has in these locations is slowly evaporating.
Taking MMORPG's out of the image, the state of Pc gaming is at a bit of a crossroads. Console Port following port, Infinite versions of The Sims, Poor retail sales for big Computer Franchises, It all seems rather ominous. Or does it?
Valve on numerous occasions have publicly embraced the Computer as their platform of option. Pushing the boundaries of modern gaming and gaining acceptance in the enthusiast community has not always been an simple task.* Early implementations of Steam were met with fierce opposition. Individuals by their very nature do not like change, I am just glad Valve had been persistent, pushing past the various bugs, poor press and competition, creating the Steam platform as it is these days.
First we need to establish what Steam is in the first location. Valve defines Steam as the Nexus of Pc Gaming, and they are probably right. Absolutely nothing comes close in terms of functionality, appeal and usefulness to Pc gamers.
Simply put, Steam is an advanced digital distribution platform which allows gamers to download games, play online, produce and participate in multiple distinctive gaming communities all with the ability to auto update itself and any Steam supported game you have.
The seminal update capability and the way it has been implemented by Valve is probably the most distinctive and evolutionary aspect of the Steam platform. The Source engine has been in a position to continually evolve, powering games such as Team Fortress 2: A ideal example of how a game can be influenced by the gaming neighborhood and continue to grow beyond the original implementation. This is all thanks to the Steam idea and the hardware it runs on.
