Steam - The Definitive Gaming Platform8923710
Gaming has redefined itself constantly over the years, pushing boundaries by no means thought feasible - Not just technically, but socially, economically and even spiritually.
Computer gaming has always been at the forefront of such advancement, though recently our beloved platform of choice has been often overlooked in favour of a more casual gaming audience - That of the common Console owner. Do not get me incorrect, consoles are great in what they can achieve and also have their fair share of enthusiast titles. The underlining issue is that the core gaming market is made primarily of casual gamers or the media's perception of what defines a core gamer. Nintendo's wii is a testament to how popular casual gaming has become.
Blizzard have been in a position to capitalise on the Computer as the premier MMORPG platform for its WOW franchise. Making full use of a PC's capability to establish multiple social networking services to compliment a game has certainly helped make WOW a massive success. Real Time Technique and to some extent, First Person Shooters are still each premier Pc gaming examples, although the benefit the Computer Gamer has in these locations is gradually evaporating.
Taking MMORPG's out of the image, the state of Computer gaming is at a bit of a crossroads. Console Port after port, Infinite versions of The Sims, Poor retail sales for big Pc Franchises, It all appears 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 usually been an simple task.* Early implementations of Steam had been 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 competitors, making the Steam platform as it is today.
First we need to establish what Steam is in the first location. Valve defines Steam as the Nexus of Pc Gaming, and they are most likely correct. Nothing comes close in terms of functionality, appeal and usefulness to Computer gamers.
Simply put, Steam is an sophisticated digital distribution platform which enables gamers to download games, play online, produce and participate in numerous unique gaming communities all with the ability to auto update itself and any Steam supported game you have.
The seminal update ability and the way it has been implemented by Valve is most likely the most distinctive and evolutionary aspect of the Steam platform. The Supply engine has been in a position to continually evolve, powering games such as Group Fortress 2: A perfect example of how a game can be influenced by the gaming community and continue to grow beyond the original implementation. This is all thanks to the Steam idea and the hardware it runs on.
