Ok, I just did a search and I still don't know WTF Steam is.

[LOLyourFace]

I did a search with a word, "Steam" and all the threads talk about the download probs and performance but never actually talk about what it is.

What is it? I'm under the impression it's a 3rd party counter strike helper program? is it a new engine? why do ppl wanna not buy HL2 because of this?

 

[CaseTragedy]

steampowered.com

 

[Kev]

it is a substance that is produced when water is boiled.

 

[Desslok]

Originally posted by: Kev
it is a substance that is produced when water is boiled.

HEHEHHEHE

 

[LOLyourFace]

Originally posted by: CaseTragedy
steampowered.com

Steam is Valve's new way of getting games into your hands ASAP. Games like Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Counter-Strike Condition Zero are all being made available through Steam.

Steam games are automatically kept up-to-date with the latest content and revisions. Steam also includes an instant-message client which even works while you're in-game.

At its core, Steam is a distributed file system and shared set of technology components that can be implemented into any software application.

With Steam, developers are given integrated tools for direct-content publishing, flexible billing, ensured-version control, anti-cheating, anti-piracy, and more.

that doesn't say anything. it's just a new interface for existing games i assume?

 

[hdeck]

in order to play cs or half-life, you have to load a 3rd party client named steam. you download all updates through this new client. you connect to servers through it. you can talk on it to friends like an IM program.

the consensus from the community is that it looked great on paper but horrible in execution =\