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Valve Unveils Steam Cloud

Posted by Soulskill on from the steam-cloud-haha-get-it? dept.

Erik J tips us to news of Valve's announcement that their content distribution system, Steam, will receive an update "in the near future" called Steam Cloud. The new service will allow users to save games and configuration settings online. According to MaximumPC: "This system will be completely transparent to the user. The files cache locally, and will upload when Steam detects an internet connection. There will be no restrictions on users - no save quotas or file management - the system will 'just work.' Any Steamwork game will be able to support these features, and it'll be free for customers and developers."

9 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. A great adea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Finally, it's about time. I've loved the fact that I can access my Steam games anywhere (like from work ;), but hated that I couldn't continue my saved games...

    1. Re:A great adea by Vectronic · · Score: 5, Funny

      "I've loved the fact that I can access my Steam games anywhere (like from work ;), but hated that I couldn't continue my saved games..."

      Steam evaporates. Its very hard to save it.

      "Valve Unveils Steam Cloud" ... come on... that should have been "Valve Releases Steam Cloud"... then we could say stupid shit like "well close the damn valve!"

    2. Re:A great adea by SnowZero · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Valve Unveils Steam Cloud" ... come on... that should have been "Valve Releases Steam Cloud"... Yes but at the moment this new version of Steam is just vaporware. Thus I'll leave mine on the back burner until new Steam is produced.
  2. No file management? by Drenaran · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I understand how for some users not having file management isn't something they'll notice or care about, but what about the multitudes of people that would enjoy having a choice? What if we just plain don't want something game related (save, setting, whatever) stored any more? I checked the article to see if there really weren't any options at all about your stored files, but unfortunately it gives about the same amount of information as is in the article summary.

    This seems like a fairly big thing to leave out seeing as there seems to be a great deal of options and tools (import/export/backup, etc.) for controlling your data (games/saves/etc.) when it comes to the current Steam client.

  3. Valve by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is consistently late with consistently stellar products.

    I know I'm a happy customer... eventually!

  4. Steam rocks by Toreo+asesino · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Steam is the first online content distribution system that's genuinely made it easier to buy a game rather than pirate it.

    New games are purchased, downloaded, activated and constantly patched all automatically and in no time at all...it's step in the right direction in combating piracy; just make it easier to NOT pirate ffs rather than just stuffing games full of anti-piracy nastiness.

    --
    throw new NoSignatureException();
    1. Re:Steam rocks by Majik+Sheff · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And what happens when Valve decides that they don't want you to have a game any more? What happens if/when Valve goes out of business or is bought by a less scrupulous company? Oops, sorry. EA owns your ass now.

      --
      Women are like electronics: you don't know how damaged they are until you try to turn them on.
    2. Re:Steam rocks by Phydeaux314 · · Score: 5, Informative

      First, I think Valve is primarily owned by the founders, so unless they decide to sell it, I don't think it's likely that it will get sold.

      Secondly, Valve has publicly stated that if the company does go out of business, they already have DRM removal patches ready to go for all the content on Steam. So if Valve does go belly-up, you won't lose access to your games.

      --
      Never underestimate the stupidity inherent in all human beings.
  5. Re:Not to mention by debatem1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not on my network, it doesnt.