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Valve Launches Public Beta Of Steam

Posted by simoniker on from the clever-company-plus-interesting-product dept.

Thanks to several readers for pointing out that Half-Life developers Valve has launched the public Beta of Steam, their "broadband platform for the delivery and management of digital content." It currently includes free downloads of the new Counter-Strike 1.6, as well as the original Half-Life, Team Fortress Classic, Opposing Force, and more. This audacious move to build a truly popular digital delivery content system by Valve, already through an extensive closed Beta stage, also indicates Steam users should "..stay tuned for a blast of HL2 full-motion goodness."

4 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. public beta of steam? by kurosawdust · · Score: 3, Funny

    oh, it's a game! When I first read the title I thought they were using a euphemism for "vaporware"...

  2. PowerPlay? by eht · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is this PowerPlay modified, finished, and rebranded?

    some comments about PowerPlay here( it's the second item listed on the page, about half way down)

  3. Re:Don't Encourage the Naive by Schnapple · · Score: 2, Interesting
    One more time:

    Valve made Half-Life,
    Sierra published Half-Life,
    Vivendi owns Sierra.

    Given that Activision published Valve's "mod in a box" Day of Defeat and that we're probably going to see HL2 available via Steam as well as retail channels, maybe Valve isn't going through Sierra for HL2?

    --

    Schnapple

  4. So what's the point of Steam? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I installed it 2 weeks ago, and I still don't get the point. Sure, it combines some stuff together, but does it make sense?

    Let's see:

    1. Instant Messaging- No, please! Not another! I use already trillian because my friends have split up between all 4 known protocols. No need, no need at all to have another one.

    2. Server Browser- nice, sure, but naturally for HL and mods only. Beginners can use the in-game browser, advanced players a tool like Gamespy or ASE. They cover almost all games and have advanced filtering systems and other toys. No need, no need at all to have another one.

    3. Automatic updates- nice, but it requires to have the steamdemon running all the time, then suddenly starting a 90 MB download like the latest HL-patch without notifying you. If you are a beginner and play alone, and you are happy with your game, why upgrading? Never change a running system! If you are a geek or suddenly can't log in to your favorite game server because he switched to another version, well off you go to d/l the patch. Is there a need to have a tool watching in realtime if there might be an upgrade? No need, no need at all. Sucks bandwidth and processor time for being idle 99.9% of the time.

    4. Access to special Valve stuff, like Movies. So, they reinvented ftp-Servers? One URL: http://www.valve.com/movies. And please, with a screenshot or sth, modern browsers are capapable of that, and some additional information. Do I need a special tool telling me there is a 500 MB movie and if I want to download, I can just click on the name? No need, no need at all.

    5. Game download. Well, I think you can guess what I will write about it, you should by now. 2 words: Website. Credit card.

    Just for the record: HL is for me the greatest game ever so far, and I am sure HL2 will meet my high expectations (and will push id from the throne, finally).
    I am just disappointed of the steam-Hype.