New Steam Like or Dislike?

[pcslookout]

Does anyone here like the new Steam layout ? The new Discussions instead of the old forums, game hubs, etc ?

I don't know why but I find a lot of it Facebookish. It is horrible.

 

[ApexBoost]

I don't frequent the community sections much but I must agree with the Facebook comparison. Everything feels very busy and disorganized but I'll give it time to see if it will grow on me.

I'm glad they are trying to improve community aspects though, even if it may not be the best iteration.

 

[HeXen]

It's just ok. The part i'm confused with is the big picture mode, what is the point when you boot up you have to use a mouse to open Steam as normal then select Big Picture mode each time, it never stays that way and i didn't find a way to make it open in BP mode or just open automatically like that when Windows boots.
Cause if i'm sitting on a couch with the bigscreen and i still have to start off using the mouse to set it up so i can navigate with my gamepad? doesn't make any sense...less i missed something.
Logically a feature like that should come up when Windows starts so you can just turn power on, kick back on the couch, grab your gamepad and roll. If i have to touch my mouse/kb to begin with, then i have no need for the feature really.

 

[KaOTiK]

I like the idea behind the gamehubs and being able to get all that stuff in one centralized place. But I think the whole facebook-ish style is just crap.

DarkVision, I imagine that will be fixed/added by the time it is out of beta. But I do agree with your point.

 

[DeadFred]

I havent logged into Steam in ages, hooked on BF3. There is a new Steam?

 

[Texashiker]

I havent logged into Steam in ages, hooked on BF3. There is a new Steam?

Valve is trying to turn the steam community into a type of gaming social network site.

The steam program looks the same. But a lot of changes have been made to the community page.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I never use the community portion. Just right click and load a game....so doesn't matter to me

 

[PrincessFrosty]

I think they're trying too hard with stuff like game hubs, I don't really see any value there, the whole social side of steam is pretty uninteresting to be honest, everyone I know sticks to facebook and game forums for that kind of thing.

 

[iahk]

the game hubs is actually fairly popular so far. I think this is something fun for people to do submitting screen shots, game play videos, and even small discussion. I found some info I never would've known if i didn't look in the game hub.

i like the new community feed redesign too. i used to never look at the old one and actually frequent the new one.

 

[darkewaffle]

I never knew anybody actually used that part of Steam.

 

[TheVrolok]

I never use the community portion. Just right click and load a game....so doesn't matter to me

This. Only ever look at library and store.

 

[pontifex]

what changes?

 

[WiseUp216]

I like the new Community layout. I find myself taking screenshots to share now.

I dislike the Big Picture mode. I game on a 50" but I prefer the standard mode. Big Picture mode is very slow and clunky, in my opinion. I imagine that they will smooth things out and tweak it, so I'm not going to completely write it off.

Those of you that haven't seen the new layout may not have the latest beta update installed. You have to 'opt-in' to beta updates to receive it.

 

[festa_freak]

I usually like to middle click a few threads that intrest me and then read them in order. I can't do that with this new system. The 'message board' has barely changed since its inception, why change it now. Ii mean, anandtech forums work well, don't they?

The new community page is nice though. Screenshots and achievments are better laid out.

 

[crownjules]

Big Picture mode is meant for people who have their PCs hooked up to their HDTV and are gaming with a controller. It's not meant as a replacement for the regular Steam interface on a PC w/KB+M. Cue theories about a Steam console.

As for the hubs, I think it's better than the Steam community forums. If people start using them, it'll be very easy to look into discussions about bugs, mods, etc. I like it so far.

 

[HeXen]

Big Picture mode is meant for people who have their PCs hooked up to their HDTV and are gaming with a controller. It's not meant as a replacement for the regular Steam interface on a PC w/KB+M. Cue theories about a Steam console.

Oh, i see..so after i use my mouse to click on Steam, then use it...again, to click on Big Picture mode, i can put my mouse down and redundantly pick up my gamepad just so i can select a game, then put it back down and pick up my kb/mouse since the majority of PC games work better with it anyway :whiste:

it makes so much sense now, its just like a console, only its nothing like it at all

 

[Dumac]

the game hubs is actually fairly popular so far. I think this is something fun for people to do submitting screen shots, game play videos, and even small discussion. I found some info I never would've known if i didn't look in the game hub.

i like the new community feed redesign too. i used to never look at the old one and actually frequent the new one.

This. I LOVE the new community. You can scroll through a bunch of submitted screenshots and videos, as well as discussions. Its presented in an easy-to-access format as well.

 

[Dumac]

I think they're trying too hard with stuff like game hubs, I don't really see any value there

Name another place where you can easily find/comment/upload videos and screenshots of games you are interested in.

 

[sandorski]

Neutral. Love the Service, don't care too much about the Interface, at least as implemented. Could be Worse and I can think of some improvements, but am perfectly satisfied with how it is.

 

[Zargon]

its nice

but id rather see the effort go into them actually handling the load of a big game launch for once instead of crashing when people really want to use their service, like it did last night

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

I think it's better than what it used to be. They need to integrate the forums with the community. Would be better. Maybe clean it up a little bit.

 

[pcslookout]

its nice

but id rather see the effort go into them actually handling the load of a big game launch for once instead of crashing when people really want to use their service, like it did last night

This.

 

[BladeVenom]

The new format kind of sucks. It's harder to find the forum you want.