*spin-off* Implications of Steam and potential PS3 features

[BoardBonobo]

Could be a stunning partnership, Sony provide the hardware platform via the PS4 and Valve supply the software platform via steam. With ready made access to a huge gaming arena and the added integration of the current services like Qriocity, Lovefilm, and access to VoD TV services like iPlayer.

 

[mrcorbo]

Could be a stunning partnership, Sony provide the hardware platform via the PS4 and Valve supply the software platform via steam.

Yes, please!

 

[RobertR1]

Could be a stunning partnership, Sony provide the hardware platform via the PS4 and Valve supply the software platform via steam. With ready made access to a huge gaming arena and the added integration of the current services like Qriocity, Lovefilm, and access to VoD TV services like iPlayer.

Absolutely. I've drop Live for that and I'm sure many others will follow.

 

[Scott_Arm]

Absolutely. I've drop Live for that and I'm sure many others will follow.

Agreed. Steam could use some tightening up, but it's very close to Live. I think Steam would benefit from a platform like PS3/4, because they'd focus a little bit more on the user friendliness for the console crowd. All it really needs is a slick simplified UI for the console space and it's golden.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

I'd be all for it if it also meant that as part of the agreement Valve would stipulate that all PS3 exclusives also had to be ported over to the PC. Win/Win.

Regards,
SB

 

[patsu]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/01/portal-on-playstation-3.ars

"It's not two copies of the game, it's the same game"

"The goal is to give a Portal 2 customer access to their game on as many devices as possible. We introduced this notion when we launched Steam Play for Mac and PC games in the spring of last year," Lombardi explained. "Giving a PS3 owner of Portal 2 the ability to also play their game on the PC and Mac is an extension of this philosophy. From our perspective, it's not two copies of a game; it's the same game, but with Sony's help we've worked out a method to allow that Portal 2 PS3 customer to also play their game on the PC and Mac."

Which of course brings up an obvious question: was this option also offered to Microsoft? "It is achievable from a technical standpoint, yes," he told Ars. Allow us to speculate for a moment and say that Microsoft most likely doesn't like third-parties using their own online tools, nor would it agree to giving up any control of patches or updates, an issue that has long been a sticking point between the two companies.

Now that Steam is running on the PlayStation 3, the service may be added to other games as well as Portal 2, but Lombardi refuses to give any specific news. "We are hoping other titles will benefit from the Steamworks tools and services we've created for Portal 2 PS3, but we don't have anything to announce today."

The PlayStation 3 version of Portal 2 offers a free version of the game for the PC and Mac once you link accounts, and you'll be able to play with friends on those platforms as well. "Portal 2 is cooperative multiplayer, and co-op only. So the mouse/keyboard vs. gamepad flame war doesn't really apply," Lombardi said when asked about the difference in controls. "It's also worth noting that Portal is more about brain power than split-second reflexes. If you're thinking with Portals, the input device used to execute each move is very much secondary."

Some of our readers expressed nervousness about linking their games with their Steam accounts. Will they still be able to resell their games? Lombardi declined to offer specifics when asked about what protections were built in, saying only that we'll have more details on account linking closer to launch.

When's Portal 2 release date ?

EDIT:
… and what about portables ?
[size=-2]Something else may be cooking given the rampant PSP2 and PSPhone rumors/news.[/size]

In addition, what does SOE use on PC ?

 

[BoardBonobo]

I'd be all for it if it also meant that as part of the agreement Valve would stipulate that all PS3 exclusives also had to be ported over to the PC. Win/Win.

Regards,
SB

The thought of Uncharted or God of War running on a high end PC

 

[Silent_Buddha]

In addition, what does SOE use on PC ?

SOE sells games directly and through online vendors like Steam. I know I used to buy EQ2 expansions (DD version) directly through my Sony account. And they current sell them in Steam as well.

Regards,
SB

 

[patsu]

Did some Google since I remember seeing something about station.com. SOE should have Station Cash, Station Voice, Station Launcher. e.g., http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=14479

 

[taucias]

Could be a stunning partnership, Sony provide the hardware platform via the PS4 and Valve supply the software platform via steam. With ready made access to a huge gaming arena and the added integration of the current services like Qriocity, Lovefilm, and access to VoD TV services like iPlayer.

Sony makes their cash from software licensing though.

 

[LightHeaven]

Well, it's not like they couldn't have implemented a similar online activation system already. It'd have just pissed off rental companies and everyone who makes use of the used games market.

How steam handles game modifications? Or it doesn't?

 

[Silent_Buddha]

You can mod games bought on Steam just like you can with traditional boxed copies.

Regards,
SB

 

[patsu]

http://www.vg247.com/2011/01/24/portal-2-to-feature-two-end-credit-sequences-says-valve/

User-made levels confirmed for all platforms

Faliszek also confirmed to NowGamer that the title would include user-made levels for all platforms. Including the usually-closed 360.“

The mod tools have to stay on the PC side just because there’s a bunch of dependencies that require the Windows platform,” he said.

“But the content that comes out is agnostic, and so we will be seeing that on all the platforms. Depending on the platform you’re on I should say, will depend on how we’re delivering it.”

He added that PS3 users would get said levels through Steamworks.

 

[Cornsnake]

It's a shame we can't make levels PS3, but beyond that this is awesome.

 

[Nesh]

It's a shame we can't make levels PS3, but beyond that this is awesome.

Well, you can buy the PS3 version, which will give you the PC version as well, design games on the PC version and transfer them to the PS3 through steam

 

[patsu]

They should do a lbp.me like website to list and promote user levels !

 

[Cornsnake]

Well, you can buy the PS3 version, which will give you the PC version as well, design games on the PC version and transfer them to the PS3 through steam

I'm not sure if it'll run on my old laptop, but it might worth a try.