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Broadband Steam or Just Hot Air?
Valve software unveils new distribution system
Valve Software, the makers of the immensely popular PC games Half-Life and Counter-Strike, are set on Thursday to take the wraps off of their broadband content delivery service they've dubbed "Steam". The service, which Valve claims will have gamers installed and playing more quickly than CD based distribution, will be tested this week with the release of a beta version of Counter-strike 1.6. You can read the company's press release for yourself, or if you're feeling adventurous, sign up to be a beta tester for the system.

Most recommended from 39 comments



Go Chargers7
Fa Shizzle Ma Nizzle
Premium Member
join:2002-09-24
Huntington Beach, CA

2 recommendations

Go Chargers7

Premium Member

Upgrades yeah, original product no

I wouldn't use this service for anything other than upgrades. With the rate that I upgrade, swap drives, etc, I would feel WAY more comfortable with a physical media along with the book etc. Game pricing is such that I don't mind paying what they're charging for hard copies of titles. A packaging reduction to say a DVD case would be nice, but electronic distribution of a 1GB title is a bit much. Plus, with DL limits coming fast and furious from providers like Cox, how many titles would you be permitted to purchase before getting a nasty email saying that you are using too much of their unlimited service.