http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/
http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=news&cc=CA
http://www.gameproducer.net


As I have read and understood, Valve is releasing a package containing all the tools a game developer needs, ranging from making the game to distributing it, and you don't even have to publish the game through Steam's channel's. And it seems that the package will be free!
Sounds like a dream come true? Well, we will just have to wait and see!

Leonardo

Hiya.

That's the online download and authentication, and the "protection scheme" that they used for HL2, right? If so, all I can say is I *specifically* didn't buy HL2 because of this scheme. Actually, it's one of the 'copy protections' I watch out for. If I see a game that has "Steampowered" or "Steamworks" listed on the box, it goes right back on the shelf.

Yup, me too, hate these systems, I just want the game.

Could you please explain to me, why you hate the Steam system? I mean, if the Steamworks pack offered a possibility to customize the look and the name of the program you offer to the customers, then this wouldn't be a problem.
But actually I have nothing against Steam - it doesn't even take that much space on your HDD.

it gives people a id on steam, and if you log on to steam from a computer you can download your copy of that game, but you have to have an internet connection to even play

Heya Leonardo, for me here in NZ, Steam isnt fully represented by our service providers and needs to be requested to activate to use, then there are huge permance issues while using steam both single player and online.

It requires far too much on the user to actually play or take part in a game fronted by steam technology which is why I hate it, it denies me ease of use of which I am accustomed to from games that do not use it and because such games require steam, I cant really access them if they cannot be activated which is a common prob here.

Hmm, weird... haven't had any performance issues on my side, but if it isn't represented by your service providers, then that can be a problem. Maybe you know how many people in your country COULD have the same problem? I mean, does this problem impact the gaming market a whole lot or are those numbers I shouldn't worry about?
And, speaking about the internet connection you need to have to play a game downloaded using Steam, that is not a problem personally for me, seeing as my original idea is distributing the games using the internet either way.
Also, why I will be definitely using Steamworks - the problems you mentioned might cause a drop in the number of my potential clients, but compared to one of my games that don't use any of the possibilities Steamworks offers, that number will still be significantly higher!

It sounds magnificent to me, too!
I didn't have any problems with Steamm, alone to play the demos and see the high resolution ingame videos was worth to connect.

I'm curious how this will turn out. It is a matter of the ease of use to me.

@ Leonardo, no dont worry about it, its a quirk of living in an area where floating IP's prevails.
Some can connect intially and some cant but lots of people here missed out on Half Life 2 because of it.