The Valve and Steam Platform Discussion Thread

[Hornawkawk]

The ultimate troll would be for Valve to release Half-Life 3 as a movie, or even better, a 12 episode tv show.

 

[Caim]

Popularity is the deciding factor, not quality. They're also making a movie about WoW, after all.

Eh, but that at least has a degree of original story to it.

We all know WoW is doomed to eternal war because you can't have Warcraft without, you know, war.

 

[Cyberarmy]

Yet another "Half Life 3 confirmed"?

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

As big of a Valve fan as I am I just don't give a shit about Half-Life 3. If and when it's announced and released I'll buy it, probably even preorder it, but if they never make another Half-Life game ever again I can't say I really care. The story was always so "We're pulling this out of our asses!" anyway I can't see any big shocking developments happening.

Give me Left 4 Dead 3 with better level randomization, the interface and ESPECIALLY fucking gun model size of L4D1, and maybe some persistent leveling and/or hat shit that I can dick with on occasion. Give me that space game they were working on way back when. Give me Alien Swarm 2: Not Going to be Abandoned Edition. Give me a Valve RPG or adventure game. Portal series has shown you've got entertaining writers, do a writing-heavy game. HL3 is just about the thing I want least from Valve apart from Steam boxes and touch pad controllers.

 

[Athelas]

Popularity is the deciding factor, not quality. They're also making a movie about WoW, after all.

Eh, but that at least has a degree of original story to it.

WoW is original? Admittedly I only played Warcraft III, but I remember the storyline was very predictable stock-fantasy and from what I understand the MMORPG is even weaker in that regard.

At least a Half-Life movie would give us the lulz factor of writers struggling to come up with a personality for 'the best written character in gaming' Gordon Freeman.

 

[Caim]

Popularity is the deciding factor, not quality. They're also making a movie about WoW, after all.

Eh, but that at least has a degree of original story to it.

WoW is original? Admittedly I only played Warcraft III, but I remember the storyline was very predictable stock-fantasy and from what I understand the MMORPG is even weaker in that regard.

At least a Half-Life movie would give us the lulz factor of writers struggling to come up with a personality for 'the best written character in gaming' Gordon Freeman.

Predictable stock fantasy beats predictable sci-fi story, at least in this time where we have more of the latter than the former.

They could go with Freeman in either of three ways: just have him not say anything, write that he's suffering from some kind of disease that ruined his ability to speak, or whenever he tries to say something he is interrupted by someone saying something or something bad happening.

 

[yellowcake]

I'm not sure if this was ever mentioned here, but there already is a kind of half life movie.

 

[MicoSelva]

In before Half Life 3 (and L4D3?) being SteamOS exclusive.

HL2 alone made Steam rise back in 2004. I don't think that SteamOS announcement and this HL3 'confirmation leak' are a concidence. Just as new consoles need killer apps to gain popularity, SteamOS would need one too. HL3 seems the ideal choice for this.

The most probable scenario is of course a timed exclusive, just like HL2 went XBOX, after a year of Steam-only availability.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Got in the Steam family/friend sharing beta. It's really fucked up. Here's how it works.

Step 1, change your password to some shit and disable Steam Guard
Step 2, sign off Steam and give your friend your login and password
Step 3, friend signs on your Steam account on your computer, goes to your account settings, marks his PC as a shared machine, signs out and gives you a message
Step 4, you sign on your account, friend signs on his
Step 5, friend tries to launch anything in your library which will send an email to your email address, you ok it
Step 6, friend now has access to your shared library

Obviously this means anyone you let in sees your email, can fuck with your Steam account, has access to any cardmoney/Steam wallet funds you have, and theoretically has access to any payment methods you have set remembered in Steam. I believe they can't change your email address or password since that involves emails being sent to your current email, but I dunno.

TLDR: Only share with family, real life friends so you can enter all your shit yourself, or super trusted internet pals. No spreading your ass for all internet buddies.

 

[Zed]

if that's how it's gonna work then I predict a busy future for valve customer service.
"my frend change passwrd what to do pls fix volvo"

 

[Absalom]

Goes without saying. People expect less out of Left4Derp3.

Bullshit. I no longer give a shit about HL3. I would prolly get L4D3


(when its on sale)

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Yeah, just double checked to confirm, but anyone you gave your info to could totally steal your account if they wanted. Changing email address requires password confirmation so even with a junk temporary password they can do that, and then changing password requires confirmation from email. So if they do email first, then password, they've got you. If they're dumb and go straight to password it doesn't work.

 

[LundB]

Well, I'm checking to see if any info is revealed if I temporarily change to a junk email as well as changing PW. Even if none is though, the list of people I'm comfortable sharing with just shrunk massively.

 

[Don Peste]

It's OK, you can share it with me.

 

[Achilles]

Yeah, just double checked to confirm, but anyone you gave your info to could totally steal your account if they wanted. Changing email address requires password confirmation so even with a junk temporary password they can do that, and then changing password requires confirmation from email. So if they do email first, then password, they've got you. If they're dumb and go straight to password it doesn't work.

So wait, Family Sharing is intended for actual families? Those rascals!

 

[Dexter]

Yeah, just double checked to confirm, but anyone you gave your info to could totally steal your account if they wanted. Changing email address requires password confirmation so even with a junk temporary password they can do that, and then changing password requires confirmation from email. So if they do email first, then password, they've got you. If they're dumb and go straight to password it doesn't work.

So wait, Family Sharing is intended for actual families? Those rascals!

Afaik the idea is that you actually know said person and could visit him once to log in from his machine or similar, someone on the Steam forum simplified all his steps to this:

You have to first log onto their computer with your account. Then, open Settings -> Account -> "Manage Family Sharing & Devices" -> Authorize this Machine.

Sharing is done by devices, not by sharing with accounts, so there's no way to invite someone unless you've already logged into your account on their device.

I'm not sure why he is saying that you have to change your password, disable Steam Guard and give anyone your Login and/or password.
And afaik things like payment information don't transfer from machine to machine but get resetted or else anybody fishing a Steam account could employ that to empty someones account.

It's still kind of inconvenient at any rate and will probably disappoint many people.

 

[Gurkog]

Idiots are expecting free, unrestricted access to games wihile maintaining anonymity with all parties involved.... LOL fucking retards. It sounds like a decent sharing plan, imo. Make it just annoying enough to implement that most casual tards won't summon the effort to share and remove anonymity between those sharing and you stop the neckbeard basement dwellers. I can still see dumbass kids sharing their info with their dumbass friends, like in every online service ever, and wondering why their shit gets fucked.

Can't stop tards from tarding, but should be serviceable for actual families.

 

[Dexter]

GFWL got patched out of BioShock 2: http://store.steampowered.com/news/11567/

Hey BioShock 2 fans!

In August, the Games For Windows LIVE service marketplace closed and some of you wondered what would happen to BioShock 2 on PC. We remain committed to supporting BioShock 2 on PC and are excited to announce that starting today the game is available via Steam. Not only that, but the Steam version of BioShock 2 includes all available multiplayer downloadable content, as well as the single player “Protector Trials” DLC!

With the help of our friends at Digital Extremes, BioShock 2 on Steam fully supports popular features of the platform, including controller compatibility, Steam achievements, and Big Picture mode. Matchmaking is easier than ever now, allowing you to search for “any game,” as opposed to having to select your game mode. Leveling up is also quicker and easier, as we’ve fine-tuned the multiplayer experience to be better than ever.

If you have already purchased BioShock 2 through a different digital partner, we’ve got you covered. Simply take the same game activation key you already own and “activate” it within Steam. Doing this will grant you access to BioShock 2, all of its multiplayer and Protector Trials DLC, as well as Minerva’s Den – the single player story-driven add-on that includes new weapons, enemies, and plasmids!

For more information on BioShock 2 on Steam, you can visit: http://2kgam.es/bioshock2steam

-- 2K Games

 

[Morgoth]

How long until they flush that turd out of Dark Souls?

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Got a buddy to dock with me. Non-Steam games launched through Steam do NOT count as the owner playing a game in his library, so leeches can continue. If I launch a library game, buddy says he gets a little popup that says "Hey, MHC needs this game. You have 4 minutes to play!" and if I quit before he gets booted it pops up and says "Hooray! MHC quit! you can continue to play his games!"

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

More testing with buddy. It appears he can only see games that I've got that he doesn't. So Bioshock Infinite, Dishonored, Dungeons of Dredmor, etc etc etc don't show up on my shared list on his account. It makes sense but that's a minor bummer. I guess understandable though since that might cause all sorts of save issues if you go from DLC to not to back.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

SWEET CUPPIN' CAKES, YOU GUYS. THIS IS HUGE. Borrowers CAN go to offline mode and play borrowed games they've downloaded/installed! Obviously they won't get achievements or cloud saves like that because you don't get them in offline mode, but that means they can still play shit whenever. Even if the owner is playing. Huuuuuge!

 

[DarthBehemoth]

Finally, they patched GFWL out of BioShock 2... I always hated how GFWL fucked up my GTA IV and basically shitted all over the game with pop ups and security checks

 

[Morgoth]

FAQ has been updated with Steam Machine specs:
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse#announcements/detail/2145128928746175450

What are the specs of the Valve prototype?
The 300 prototype units will ship with the following components:

• GPU: some units with NVidia Titan, some GTX780, some GTX760, and some GTX660
• CPU: some boxes with Intel : i7-4770, some i5-4570, and some i3
• RAM: 16GB DDR3-1600 (CPU), 3GB DDR5 (GPU)
• Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD
• Power Supply: Internal 450w 80Plus Gold
• Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in high

 

[Hornawkawk]

FAQ has been updated with Steam Machine specs:
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse#announcements/detail/2145128928746175450

What are the specs of the Valve prototype?
The 300 prototype units will ship with the following components:

• GPU: some units with NVidia Titan, some GTX780, some GTX760, and some GTX660
• CPU: some boxes with Intel : i7-4770, some i5-4570, and some i3
• RAM: 16GB DDR3-1600 (CPU), 3GB DDR5 (GPU)
• Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD
• Power Supply: Internal 450w 80Plus Gold
• Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in high

This is so many years ahead of the 'nextgen' consoles it makes me laugh when I think what sort of twisted justification Sony and Microsoft marketing departments will have to come up with when put in comparison against those.