Steam - The Definitive Gaming Platform4883852
Gaming has redefined itself continuously more than the years, pushing boundaries never 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 option has been often overlooked in favour of a more casual gaming audience - That of the typical Console owner. Do not get me incorrect, consoles are fantastic in what they can accomplish and also have their fair share of enthusiast titles. The underlining problem 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 popular casual gaming has become.
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 numerous social networking services to compliment a game has definitely helped make WOW a massive success. Real Time Technique and to some extent, First Person Shooters are still each premier Pc gaming examples, though the benefit the Computer Gamer has in these locations is slowly evaporating.
Taking MMORPG's out of the image, the state of Computer gaming is at a bit of a crossroads. Console Port following port, Infinite versions of The Sims, Poor retail sales for big Pc Franchises, It all seems rather ominous. Or does it?
Valve on many occasions have publicly embraced the Computer as their platform of choice. Pushing the boundaries of modern gaming and gaining acceptance in the enthusiast community has not usually been an easy task.* Early implementations of Steam were met with fierce opposition. Individuals by their extremely nature do not like alter, I am just glad Valve were persistent, pushing previous the various bugs, poor press and competitors, making the Steam platform as it is today.
First we require to establish what Steam is in the first place. Valve defines Steam as the Nexus of Pc Gaming, and they are most likely correct. Absolutely nothing comes close in terms of functionality, appeal and usefulness to Computer gamers.
Simply place, Steam is an advanced digital distribution platform which allows gamers to download games, play on-line, produce and participate in multiple distinctive gaming communities all with the capability 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 able 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 develop beyond the original implementation. This is all thanks to the Steam idea and the hardware it runs on.
