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− | '''Steam''' is an online digital distribution service run by [[Valve Corporation]], originally started in 2002 as a way for them to deliver their gaming content direct to consumers, and as a means to automatically provide patches for their games. The first Valve game that required mandatory Steam registration was ''[[Half-Life 2]]''. The service was eventually opened up to other publishers and developers. The system caused controversy, as it was the first system whereby a game had to be activated, and this had the knock-on effect of encouraging other publishers and developers to do the same, most notably Electronic Arts, so as to prevent their games from being sold on the second-hand market once purchased and activated. |
+ | '''Steam''' is an online digital distribution service run by [[Valve Corporation]], originally started in 2002 as a way for them to deliver their gaming content direct to consumers, and as a means to automatically provide patches for their games. The first Valve game that required mandatory Steam registration for was ''[[Half-Life 2]]''. The service was eventually opened up to other publishers and developers. The system caused controversy, as it was the first system whereby a game had to be activated, and this had the knock-on effect of encouraging other publishers and developers to do the same, most notably Electronic Arts, so as to prevent their games from being sold on the second-hand market once purchased and activated, and to prevent people from pirating their video games. |
− | Because this process of selling and delivering online cut out game store retailers and game publishers, Valve became involved in a legal dispute with [[Vivendi Universal]], their publisher at the time. Vivendi Universal argued that Valve was violating their publishing contract with Vivendi |
+ | Because this process of selling and delivering online cut out game store retailers and game publishers, Valve became involved in a legal dispute with [[Vivendi Universal]], their publisher at the time. Vivendi Universal argued that Valve was violating their publishing contract with Vivendi by opening a competing digital distribution platform. |
There are currently {{#ask:[[Digital Platform::Steam]]|format=count}} Steam games documented on Codex Gamicus. |
There are currently {{#ask:[[Digital Platform::Steam]]|format=count}} Steam games documented on Codex Gamicus. |
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==Client Features== |
==Client Features== |
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− | The Steam client supports the downloading and launching of games purchased through the Steam Store, and includes support for Downloadable Content (DLC). In a unique move, Steam allows its users individual control over what DLC packs a game runs with; this allows games to be run with certain expansions or content disabled, including content that grants shortcuts to game completion, such as the DLC used in the ''Saints Row'' series. |
+ | The Steam client supports the downloading and launching of games purchased through the [[Steam Store]], and includes support for Downloadable Content (DLC). In a unique move, Steam allows its users individual control over what DLC packs a game runs with; this allows games to be run with certain expansions or content disabled, including content that grants shortcuts to game completion, such as the DLC used in the ''Saints Row'' series. |
Steam also supports cloud saving for supported games, and built-in mod support for supported games via Steam Workshop. The Steam Client is currently available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, with a development release currently available for Linux. Steam is expected to be integral to Valve Corporation's [[SteamOS]]. |
Steam also supports cloud saving for supported games, and built-in mod support for supported games via Steam Workshop. The Steam Client is currently available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, with a development release currently available for Linux. Steam is expected to be integral to Valve Corporation's [[SteamOS]]. |
Revision as of 14:23, 10 February 2016
Steam is an online digital distribution service run by Valve Corporation, originally started in 2002 as a way for them to deliver their gaming content direct to consumers, and as a means to automatically provide patches for their games. The first Valve game that required mandatory Steam registration for was Half-Life 2. The service was eventually opened up to other publishers and developers. The system caused controversy, as it was the first system whereby a game had to be activated, and this had the knock-on effect of encouraging other publishers and developers to do the same, most notably Electronic Arts, so as to prevent their games from being sold on the second-hand market once purchased and activated, and to prevent people from pirating their video games.
Because this process of selling and delivering online cut out game store retailers and game publishers, Valve became involved in a legal dispute with Vivendi Universal, their publisher at the time. Vivendi Universal argued that Valve was violating their publishing contract with Vivendi by opening a competing digital distribution platform.
There are currently {{#ask:Digital Platform::Steam|format=count}} Steam games documented on Codex Gamicus.
Client Features
The Steam client supports the downloading and launching of games purchased through the Steam Store, and includes support for Downloadable Content (DLC). In a unique move, Steam allows its users individual control over what DLC packs a game runs with; this allows games to be run with certain expansions or content disabled, including content that grants shortcuts to game completion, such as the DLC used in the Saints Row series.
Steam also supports cloud saving for supported games, and built-in mod support for supported games via Steam Workshop. The Steam Client is currently available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, with a development release currently available for Linux. Steam is expected to be integral to Valve Corporation's SteamOS.
Steam also have an overlay that can be accessed during gameplay, that allows for the opening of a Browser windows within Steam; the overlay also allows checking on achievement progress and interaction with friends.
Search by Features
Currently, many games are available over Steam, and the system has expended in scope enormously in the decade since release. Valve now has several aspects of the Steam service available to third-party developers and publishers. In addition, these and other criteria can be used to search for games. Valve also offers a region-locking service, meaning games purchased in a particular territory many not be playable in others. This system is optional, and Valve itself does not region-lock the games that it offers.
- Captions available
- Full Controller Support
- Mods (require HL1)
- Mods (require HL2)
- Includes level editor
- Includes Source SDK
- Partial Controller Support
- Steam Achievements
- Steam Cloud
- Steam Leaderboards
- Steam Stats
- Steam Trading Cards
- Steam VR Support
- Steam Workshop
- Valve Anti-Cheat enabled ("VAC")
Search by Type
Entries in the Steam Store can be further searched by type:
- Games
- Videos & Trailers
- Demos
- Mods
- Packs
- Downloadable Content
- Guides
- Software
Search by Tags
Games be also additionally be searched by "Tag", of which can be considered a selection of what genre(s) a game falls into. The following are available:
- Action
- Adventure
- Casual
- Free to Play
- FPS
- Indie
- Massively Multi-player
- Racing
- RPG
- Sci-fi
- Shooter
- Simulation
- Strategy
Note: Singleplayer and Multiplayer are also entries in this field, however, this functionality is a duplicate of the next section, and is to be treated as a side effect of the Tagging system being opened up to players to define.
Search by Number of players
Games can also be searched via the type of gameplay they offer with other players:
- Co-op
- Cross-Platform Multi-player
- Multi-player
- Local Co-op
- Single-player
Search by Languages
Steam supports a number of non-English languages, and allows games to also be searched using this as a criteria. The following are supported by Valve within Steam:
- Bulgarian
- Czech
- Danish
- Dutch
- English
- Finnish
- French
- Greek
- German
- Hungarian
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean1
- Norwegian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Russian
- Romanian
- Simplified Chinese
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Traditional Chinese
- Thai
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
1Korean is listed twice, possibly in error.