Heard of Steam? You should have. Not only is the online PC and Mac gaming store a very carefully maintained and updated service run by Half-Life creator Valve, it’s also just pulled off a complete masterclass in customer care and rewards that its console counterparts seriously need to take note of. Read more
You’ve worked your fingers boneward all year to be able to have a week off with your family over the holidays and you’ve only just remembered: your family are boring. What are you to do? Get some games in. Read more
Mozilla’s Firefox, amid reports of a tumbling web browser chart position, may be about to add a new string to its bow by focusing on online gaming. The company has just added an API to allow gamepads to work in-browser, so is it about to change tact completely? Read more
Steam, Valve’s digital game distribution service, can currently grind to a halt when the company announces a big sale or major title like Portal 2 but that should soon come to an end. The company has announced that it’s designed a brand new content system for Steam that will supercharge downloads and put an end to having to download hefty updates for minor changes.
Valve says the new system decreases the amount of data you’ll need to download and will allow you to grab updates to games while playing them. It’s also promised that the new set up will bring long-awaited features including download scheduling, bandwidth throttling and the ability to pick which games you want to download first. Valve is rolling out the new Steam back end now and you can test its speedier approach by grabbing free HD trailers from the store.
Out now | From £free | Steam blog
One of the most popular online action games, Team Fortress 2, is now free on both PC and Mac. The new “free to play” promotion carries a few limitations compared to a premium account, but we’re inclined to download now and ask questions later. Here’s a quick account comparison to get you up to speed.
Team Fortress 2 free accounts feature 50 backpack slots versus 300 slots for premium accounts (expandable to 1000). Items are limited to standard, you’ll have access to limited blueprints, and items and gifts can only be received, not sent.
Intriguing rumour alert! Whispers says Valve’s Steam games distribution platform is set to add iOS devices following the Steam for Mac launch in May 2010. The rumour comes via a Steampowered User Forum member who chatted to Valve co-founder Gabe Newell. He apparently dropped hints that both iOS and Android could become Steam-friendly platforms…
Fresh off our system maintenance it’s time to get down and dirty with the latest in tech news. We start off your morning with details on the Motorola Xoom Germany launch, show off the white iPad 2, a look at Steam for the TV and more.
