Steam: The next step in gaming's evolution

credit: velocity gamer

In 2002, Harvard dropout Gabe Newell decided to become an angel of the Lord. He, along with Valve Corporation, breathed life into their computers, and Steam was born. This tale tells the origin of one of the world’s largest digital distribution, digital rights management, multiplayer, and communications platforms today: the gaming software known as Steam. Since its beginning in 2002, Steam has developed from being exclusively a distribution network to the most popular and affordable gaming distribution/social network in the world.
For those who are unfamiliar with the gaming universe, Steam is a free-to-download online software. As such, it acts as a virtual shop for gamers to purchase from over fifteen-hundred different video games for computer platforms such as Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux (beta), iOS, Android, and partially for the Play Station 3.
Games can be ordered and downloaded via credit or debit card, as well as by purchasing “steam cards” at local software retailers like GameStop, Target, and EB Games. Similar to an iTunes gift card, a steam card (usually in the form of a receipt) displays a “steam wallet code” that purchasers can renew on their steam account. Once the code is punched in and renewed, the money that was used to pay for the card is registered in the digital storefront, allowing the users to purchase whatever video game product that they can afford.
Most games on Steam are generally cheaper than the average retail price, and weekly “weekend deals” slash the price of selected games anywhere from 25 percent to 75 percent. Many games on Steam, however, are free, meaning that beginners can get started playing games like Team Fortress 2, Lord of the Rings Online, and Sam & Max episode 104: Abe Lincoln Must Die immediately free of charge.
Along with providing easy-access games at affordable prices, Steam also incorporates a “Steam Community,” which can be described as a game-central social network. The Steam client, which is the name of Steam’s social network service, allows anyone with a steam account to invite friends to be added to their profile, allowing them to play online multiplayer games whenever they are online. In addition, the Steam client posts updates on its user’s computer, telling them when a friend is online playing a game, as well as identifying what game that friend is playing.
To say that Steam is popular with the rapidly increasing gamer population would be an understatement. As of December 2012, there are over fifty-four million active Steam user accounts and roughly six million concurrent players. Local Steam enthusiast claim that Steam is, “the perfect resource" for people who want to become gamers, and that it is better than other online multiplayer platforms like, Xbox live, by a "million miles.”
Its affordability and accessibility have made Steam a perfect example of how the video game industry is evolving in the consumer world. By receiving an estimated 50 percent to 70 percent share of the digital distribution of their marketed games, Steam’s economy has grown to the size of a small country.
So for those out there who are looking for high quality games at the lowest possible price they can find, Steam is literally a click away. To become a part of the largest and most popular gaming community in the world today, all one really has to do is go to Google, type in “steam”, click on the link to steampowered.com, download and enjoy.