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2 registered members (AndrewAMD, Quad),
595
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Key:
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Global Mod,
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Re: Valve's Steamworks
[Re: Blattsalat]
#180952
01/31/08 07:18
01/31/08 07:18
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 290
Latvia
Leonardo
OP
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 290
Latvia
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Well, then let's hope that the Steamworks package will be fully customizable, so we may fix the problems mentioned in this post. I reckon that we will have the option to turn off certain parts of the software, that require the personal information of a buyer, at least that would make sense to me. But I guess I just have to wait for the software to come out! 
"Things of the mind left untested by the senses are useless."
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Re: Valve's Steamworks
[Re: Cacti]
#180955
01/31/08 10:56
01/31/08 10:56
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 290
Latvia
Leonardo
OP
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 290
Latvia
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As I understood from the small details written on their site, you are not obliged to link your game to the Steam network. The Steamworks package supposedly only helps you, as a developer, publish the game, it is like a tool. And why they are giving it out for free - well: 1) Valve rocks! ^^ 2) The more people use their software, the more recognition they get and more people are getting used to using Steam, so more sales for Valve's games. If everything goes as planned for these guys, I believe Steam might become one of the top methods of publishing your games, and from a marketing point of view, that is always good!
"Things of the mind left untested by the senses are useless."
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Re: Valve's Steamworks
[Re: Leonardo]
#180956
01/31/08 14:43
01/31/08 14:43
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,726
old_bill
Senior Expert
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Senior Expert
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,726
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In my opinion it's a mix of an anti-pirate, distribution control and user-connection package. So whether you like steam or not, over 13 million people already joined the network, which makes it very attractive as publishing channel, even for smaller games. I think thats also the deal behind, the sdk makes it easier for valve to have games which are ready to integrate in Steam, and with every sale they're participating in your success. Quote:
• Real-time stats on sales, gameplay, and product activation: Know exactly how well your title is selling before the charts are released. Find out how much of your game is being played. Login into your Steamworks account pages and view up to the hour information regarding worldwide product activations and player data.
• State of the art encryption system: Stop paying to have your game pirated before it’s released. Steamworks takes anti-piracy to a new level with strong encryption that keeps your game locked until the moment it is released.
• Territory/version control: The key-based authentication provided in Steamworks also provides territory/version controls to help curb gray market importing and deliver territory-specific content to any given country or region.
• Auto updating: Ensures all customers are playing the latest and greatest version of your games.
• Voice chat: Available for use both in and out of game.
• Multiplayer matchmaking: Steamworks offers you all the multiplayer backend and matchmaking services that have been created to support Counter-Strike and Team Fortress 2, the most played action games in the world.
• Social networking services: With support for achievements, leaderboards, and avatars, Steamworks allows you to give your gamers as many rewards as you would like, plus support for tracking the world’s best professional and amateur players of your game.
• Development tools: Steamworks allows you to administer private betas which can be updated multiple times each day. Also includes data collection tools for QA, play testing, and usability studies.
Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.
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Re: Valve's Steamworks
[Re: lostclimate]
#180959
02/01/08 09:05
02/01/08 09:05
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,815
Finland
Inestical
Rabbit Developer
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Rabbit Developer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,815
Finland
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I'm grown fond of Steam. It's system works well. Even though there are The Steam Problems™ it still works.
"Yesterday was once today's tomorrow."
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Re: Valve's Steamworks
[Re: Inestical]
#180960
02/01/08 19:29
02/01/08 19:29
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,264
Wellington
Nems
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,264
Wellington
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@ mpdeveloper_B, It might be worth looking at for sure (despite my current prejudices ) however, my target audience is specific to NZ first, the world second and most providers here do not like Steam either as it 1. registers as a viral type of application to them therefore, caution is on red alert, 2. They are principly business people and not willing to change something that works well for something they regard with suspicion as its 'New Tech' and 3. their engineers are of a similar mind too. Mind you, my experience was some 3 or 4 years ago where having downloaded 2 gigs of data, the dam thing would not register after multiple tries, might have improved in the interim and so I never got a look at my all time fav game Half Life revisited  As it stands, I will await developments here and make an assessment on your guys experiences with this package
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