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Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 25, 2015 in Videogames 
Yes, you read that right: you can now pay for mods. Steam’s Workshop has been a really impressive source of user-generated content, and being able to easily load and unload mods into games has been incredibly useful. Skyrim in particular has gotten tons of great content from the modding community. Now, Valve has added a way for modders to get paid for all their hard work: you can list paid mods on Skyrim’s Steam Workshop. After uploading a mod, you can choose a set price for it, allow a “pay-what-you-want” model, or leave it for free as before. The idea is to have modders get paid for making good content, and also encourage higher-quality mods in hopes of hitting it big time. Read more…
Tags: Mod, Skyrim, Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 6, 2015 in Tech, Videogames 
If you’re waiting for a Steam Machine and the accompanying Steam Controller, get ready, because Valve has added them all to the Steam store. You still can’t buy them yet, but their prices and specs are listed, along with a nebulous “November 2015” release date. The Steam Controller is there, featuring its curious dual haptic touch pads and myriad of buttons. The streaming Steam Machine, the Steam Link, is also listed. I’m not really sold on a Steam Machine yet, aside from maybe a smaller streaming box. The controller is definitely something I want to get my hands on, though! Check out everything here, then also see Valve’s VR prototypes they’re showing off at GDC here. Read more…
Tags: Steam, Valve
Posted by Ben Huber on Dec 19, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s that time of the year, and Steam has officially begun their holiday sale. This’ll be running from now until January 2nd, with new deals each day. If you haven’t been around for a Steam sale in the past, always wait for a game you want to show up on the daily deal, as that’s where it’ll be cheapest. Voting in community choice polls and buying sale items will net you holiday cards with adorable little elves on them, which can create a 2014 Holiday Badge for your Steam profile. Anything to get you to spend more money, eh? Check it out here! Read more…
Tags: Steam
Posted by Bob Muir on Dec 3, 2014 in Videogames 
Out of nowhere, Steam has decided to enter the game-streaming arena currently dominated by Twitch and Ustream. They’ve announced the beta of Steam Broadcasting, which allows you to watch your friend’s game as they’re playing it. When someone starts watching, the player automatically starts broadcasting, with the broadcast ending once no one is watching. Naturally, there are privacy settings, which range from only sending invites to allow viewers to letting your friends actively creep on you. The highest setting lets anyone watch and shows your broadcast on the game’s hub, allowing built-in streaming with no need for extra software/hardware. Lowering barriers always results in more people streaming, which is always great for the activity. Read more…
Tags: Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Dec 1, 2014 in Videogames 
The most recent Steam sale is wrapping up, so now is your chance to pick up any deals on games you might’ve wanted this year! The Steam Exploration Sale doesn’t have any collectables or trading hooks like the (eventual) winter sale, but you can grab games like Far Cry 3, Gauntlet, Legend of Grimrock II, and Dishonored for really cheap! Plus, even newer games like The Binding of Isaac Rebirth are discounted! However, make sure to come back on the final day of the sale to see if anything you wanted will go up as a daily deal, which is when it’ll be at its cheapest! Happy shopping! Read more…
Tags: sales, Steam
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 21, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s always good to see fighting games, which usually only get arcade-to-console ports, come to PC. So it’s a pleasant surprise to hear that Kiss Ltd. and Funbox announce that Guilty Gear X2 #Reload is coming to Steam on Friday, September 5. But while it’s a great version of a fun fighting game, it’s also a strange choice. The latest Guilty Gear release in arcades and on other consoles is Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R, with many more updates over #Reload. It’s the current standard in the fighting game scene, so it’s not entirely clear why Kiss and Funbox chose to rerelease this version instead of a more relevant version still played in tournaments. Maybe if there’s enough interest, there will be a more recent port in the future? Read more…
Tags: Guilty Gear, Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 6, 2014 in Videogames 
You may have heard of Neotokyo before — it’s a Half-Life 2 Source mod that has been around since 2009. It was a really unique multiplayer shooter that combined cyberpunk aesthetics with team-based play. You had to be a bit more careful and cerebral in your play, as going in guns blazing wouldn’t always work. Now, a whole new crowd can try the game, as it’s been added to Steam. Instead of installing various mod files, now you can just click the install button and jump right in! Granted, the game only has a small dedicated player base, but hopefully this will reignite interest in this compelling little mod. I highly recommend checking it out! Read more…
Tags: Mod, Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 22, 2014 in Videogames 
Out of all the games at E3 last week, one of the most interesting games that caught my eye was Cuphead. It’s a run-and-gun platformer that can be played single player or co-op — and it has some amazing art direction. Reminiscent of classic cartoons from the 30s and 40s (while still being its own thing), Cuphead hits a niche I didn’t even know I wanted to see. The art is all hand-drawn, and the jazz soundtrack is completely original as well. Really impressive! I can’t wait to see more of it. The game sadly doesn’t come out until 2015, and will arrive on Xbox One and PC. Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Steam, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 2, 2014 in Videogames 
Half-Minute Hero was a fun PSP game (that later came to PC) giving the player “30 seconds” to save the world, though in-game mechanics allowed you to continually roll back time. Later unlockable modes let you play as an Evil Lord, Princess, or Knight with new gameplay styles. Like many unique ideas, it didn’t sell that well, seemingly dooming the sequel to remain in Japan. But luckily, Marvelous AQL has announced that they’re bringing Half-Minute Hero: The Second Coming to Steam on April 4. Here’s where the info gets murky. Because yesterday was April Fool’s Day, the info provided about the game seems fishy. Marvelous claims the game will support the Oculus Rift (which seems unlikely) and that the game will cost $999.99 on Steam — though owners of the first game will get 25% off. If the game is coming out on Friday, I’d expect the price to be much, much lower. Either way, check it out! Read more…
Tags: RPG, Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 3, 2014 in Videogames 
Back in September, Valve had start up the Family Sharing beta, which allowed users to share their games with other Steam accounts that they had designated as “family.” Obviously, you can share with anyone you trust, but if they’re using a game from your library, you’ll have to kick them off if you want to play a game. It’s essentially a safer way to share your account and games with friends. We all have that one friend who would love a certain game, but won’t take the plunge and buy it — now you can let them try it easily. Check out the Family Sharing page here. Read more…
Tags: Steam
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 9, 2014 in Videogames 
WayFoward’s take on Double Dragon, Double Dragon Neon, was an awesome beat ’em up game with a rocking 80s soundtrack. Now it’s coming to Steam, with online co-op to boot. For $9.99, you can punch bad guys in the head, which is better than getting hit yourself, as this trailer illustrates with science. It says “coming soon,” so there’s no date, but I’d imagine it won’t take long for it to come out. Now PC gamers can enjoy this old-school game too! Read more…
Tags: Retro Games, Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Dec 21, 2013 in Videogames 
It’s the time of the year, when everyone gathers around the warmth of the computer screen and buys games for cheap on Steam. The holiday sale has started now and will run until January 3rd. There’s a lot of really great games on sale, so be sure to check out the full list for everything. Konami also has the PC port of Metal Gear Rising up for pre-order… and on sale! Jump on that ASAP if you’re interested. In other Steam-related news, you can get items for your favorite free-to-play games by participating in the sale. And, as part of that, Team Fortress 2 has just gotten a holiday update that adds new Smissmas-themed items and more! Read more…
Tags: sales, Steam, Team Fortress
Posted by Ben Huber on Nov 29, 2013 in Videogames 
It’s that time of the year again! Gabe Newell and co. are coming for your wallet, and there are tons of great deals on Steam for this year’s Autumn Steam Sale. This time, the items on sale didn’t leak early, so each day is going to be a surprise! Already there have been great deals on games like Gone Home, Papers Please, Skyrim, and The Walking Dead. And don’t worry if you miss something one day, because all daily deals stick around until the following day, and at the end of the sale an encore occurs, giving you the chance to grab popular titles you might’ve missed. Check out everything here. Read more…
Tags: Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Oct 21, 2013 in Videogames 
Since its release a few days ago, The Stanley Parable has quickly gained momentum. It’s a delightfully unique game that breaks a lot of conventions and preconceptions you might have about video games. You start out confused, wondering what in the world is going on, and why is this narrator constantly talking to you? But as you explore and discover more, things become more clear — and more interesting. This isn’t a game that you “win.” There’s no “perfect” ending. Instead, you play it multiple times, going different ways each time and figuring out how to make strange new things happen. Trust me, saying too much would spoil it: just buy this amazing game. If you’re not sold on it though, try the free demo, which is completely unique content from the main game and gives you a better idea of how things will work. Read more…
Tags: Steam, The Stanley Parable
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 28, 2013 in Videogames 
Weird is definitely the way to describe this. But, it could be the good kind of weird? As their final announcement, Valve has revealed their controller for the Steam Machines: the Steam Controller. It features two circular touchpads in place of the usual two joysticks, with two clickable areas on each: one in the center, and one in the outer ring. It also has advanced haptic feedback inside under each trackpad, allowing for a great degree on control over the intensity, direction, and force of the vibration (presumably allowing you to feel some degree of “pushback” when moving your finger around). It also has the usual assortment of buttons, as well as two on the underside of the controller. And of course, a touchscreen. Valve has a lot going on here and these controllers will begin beta testing with the lucky 300 hardware beta participants this fall. Click here to enter. More images below! Read more…
Tags: Steam, Valve
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 26, 2013 in Tech, Videogames 
Let’s say you were excited about SteamOS, the living room-focused OS meant to make it easier to play PC games on HDTVs. If you were thinking of buying a new PC to hook up to your HDTV, why not consider a Steam Machine? These boxes running SteamOS are the second of Valve’s three big announcements this week. Valve is working with multiple manufacturers to bring Steam Machines with varying specs to retail in 2014. But before those are released, Valve is testing a high-performance prototype machine, and you could be one of the 300 people to test it for free, if you’re eligible. Read more…
Tags: Steam, Valve
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 24, 2013 in Videogames 
While we’re all pondering what else Valve has in store for us, let’s look at an indie game series that has been approved for Steam via its Greenlight service. Higurashi: When They Cry (a.k.a. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) is a visual novel series that has been sold through English publisher MangaGamer’s website. But with a Steam release approved and in the works, the company is considering updating the product. Being on Steam means much more visibility and higher sales, so it may be possible that Higurashi will receive a new translation. A translator says that they still need to look at their schedule to see if it’s doable, but it’s something they’d like to do. Read more…
Tags: Steam, visual novel
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 24, 2013 in Tech, Videogames 
The first of Valve’s three big announcements is here: SteamOS, a full operating system based on Linux. SteamOS will be downloadable for free and is intended for use on PCs in the living room. This isn’t Valve’s first attempt at moving from desktop PCs to the living room, having introduced Big Picture Mode that tailors PC games to an HDTV. The OS itself seems tuned to improve game performance, from audio improvements to input latency reductions. Read more…
Tags: Steam, Valve
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 22, 2013 in Videogames 
Valve’s mighty leader, Gabe Newell, recently mentioned at Linuxcon that they’d reveal more details about Linux support and the Steambox. And this time Valve time didn’t kick in! Valve has placed a page on Steam teasing three announcements regarding the future of Steam, the Steambox, and presumably, given Gabe’s comments, Linux support. Will the Steambox run Linux? Has Valve figured out a way to convince devs to develop for Linux? Will we see Source 2 at all (or any new games for that matter)? Whatever happens, the first big announcement will hit Monday. Intense! Read more…
Tags: Steam, Valve
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 13, 2013 in Videogames 
Ever wanted to lend your digital games just like your physical discs? While most have gotten used to the fact of digital rights generally being locked to single device, it would be nice to have more freedom. So here’s a little something! Valve announced that Steam will soon have a Family Sharing feature, in which you’ll be able to let other Steam accounts (your close friends and family) play your game library. While you lend your library to your friend, they’ll be able to download and play any game you own (unless the publisher specifically forbids it). If you start up a game though, it’ll start a countdown timer on your friend’s PC, telling them to save and quit or buy the game to continue playing. Sign up to the Steam group here to enter for a chance to get beta access next week! Read more…
Tags: Steam, Valve
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 12, 2013 in Videogames 
Are you ready to give Gabe Newell all your money? The Steam Summer Getaway Sale has begun, and it brings with it a whole host of discounted games, along with a new meta-game to play. Steam Trading Cards are out of beta and are available to all Steam users now. How do you get these virtual trading cards? Just play the games! TF2, Half-Life, Bioshock: Infinite, Hotline Miami, Toki Tori 2, and more will drop cards into your Steam inventory as you play. You can also collect Steam Summer Getaway cards by combining your existing cards, nabbing you emoticons and wallpapers. On, and the sales too. Buying stuff in the sales. Read more…
Tags: sales, Steam, Valve
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 16, 2013 in Videogames
This sweet little indie game was featured in Sony’s E3 press conference last week, but I want to make sure it didn’t get passed over! Octodad: Dadliest Catch is a sequel to the indie hit Octodad, in which you play as a wonderful loving father and husband living in suburbia… who happens to be an octopus. And no one has noticed. Yet. So your task is simple: control Octodad as he maintains the illusions, and struggle to do the simplest of tasks. It’s a virtual slapstick comedy, and it’s looking fantastic. It’s arriving on PC and PS4 in late 2013 or early 2014. Check out the trailer below! Read more…
Tags: Octodad, PS4, Steam
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 8, 2013 in Videogames 
Feeling a bit nostalgic for PC games of yesteryear? Well, do I have some good news for you! Microsoft Game Studios has announced that Age of Empires II will be returning to PCs this year in Age of Empires II HD Edition. This version contains the expansion packs and updates in one package, as well as new fire, water, and lighting effects, along with Steamworks multiplayer, leaderboards, cloud saving, and of course, achievements. They’ll also be including Steam Workshop support so you can share user created content with other users. The game launches April 9th, but if you preorder now you’ll get it on the 5th. A perfect dose of old-school RTS gameplay! Read more…
Tags: age of empires, Steam
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 9, 2013 in Tech, Videogames 
The rumors were true! At CES, Valve confirmed they are making their own videogame console — well, sort of. The as-of-yet unnamed “Steam Box” (codenamed “Piston”) will run their already-existing Steam game delivery system, which is by far the market leader when it comes to PC gaming due to solid service, simple DRM, and ridiculously cheap sales and vast bundle deals. Valve has recently introduced “Big Picture” mode, a menu system designed to be viewed on HDTVs instead of PC monitors, so it made sense that Valve was eyeing the couch gaming market. Read more…
Tags: CES, Steam, Valve
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