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First Person Shooters (Games) PC Games (Games) Entertainment Games

Steam Updates On Hardware Changes, Debugging Innovations 50

Posted by simoniker from the failure-at-line-infinity dept.
Thanks to Planet Half-Life for reprinting a note from Gabe Newell discussing the latest changes and survey results regarding Valve's Steam 'content delivery system'. He compares the recently mentioned hardware survey to an earlier one, mentioning: "There's lots of interesting info, for example Windows 98/Windows ME users going from 62.8% down to 8.25%." Newell also discusses the code debugging innovations that Steam is now providing: "We've been able to increase the level and speed of our Steam upgrades by direct reporting of client bugs back through Steam. If a Steam client reports a problem, we can replicate it on our machines and jump directly to the line of code in our debugger", before ending by revealing that the much-delayed Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is now available for pre-order via Steam.
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Steam Updates On Hardware Changes, Debugging Innovations More

Steam Updates On Hardware Changes, Debugging Innovations

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  • pre-order (Score:4, Insightful)

    by pizza_milkshake ( 580452 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @01:21AM (#8566180)
    has any game offered via pre-order ever delivered on time?

    • Re:pre-order (Score:5, Informative)

      by jantheman ( 113125 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @03:32AM (#8566610)
      well....It (CS:Condition Zero) is already apparently on my computer already (via the steam 'trickle feed' update) - the 'gcf' (game cache file?) is there. Apparently all I have to do is wait for them to 'release' it officially, so delivery on time seems to be a moot point.

      hmmm...have I got time to attempt to hack it out...?

      • How can valve place the game on your PC without at least a statement if intent from you to buy it?

        They should not use up space on peoples harddrives just on th eoff-chance that they decide to buy it.

        Or am I misunderstanding...?

        • I think the idea of pre-order is that you've stated intent to purchase the game.
          • You're downloading it regardless of preorder, but they do warn you so you can go in there and disable it.
            The files are all encrypted with what looks like some weak 128bit encryption, and considering how many files you have to compare from the previous CZ leak, it looks like something anyone into cryptanalysis could break.

    • Re:pre-order (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Pvt_Waldo ( 459439 )
      The thing is, this game HAS been delivered. That pre-cache everyone is downloading is the game, encrypted.

      The game HAS been delivered - if you got that CZero Steam cache, you have the game.
      • And you know what? I didn't ask for the CZero Steam cache and it's still downloading it. My Steam network bandwidth is at 150 kbps and "Steam is not currently updating any games". WTF?

        I have no interest in CZero. Why should I have to go in and manually tell Steam to stop downloading something I don't want?

  • stupid. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ziggles ( 246540 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @01:31AM (#8566212) Homepage
    I think it's kind of silly to compare the results from these surveys. One was taken via Steam, which is basically only going to be used by people on broadband and hardcore players; and the other was taken via the web which obviously includes a lot more people and a different kind of player in general. Comparing the results doesn't tell you anything.

    • Re:stupid. (Score:2, Informative)

      by stedd007 ( 675121 )
      If you already have counterstrike 1.5 installed, the download via steam to update to 1.6 is small enough to be manageable. Also, most of the counter strike community has moved over to 1.6 now, so the survey should be fairly accurate of the gamers playing counterstrike, as you have to have steam installed to play 1.6
    • In the previous article- a lot of comments were made regarding the crappy video cards, and it was just assumed that since people were still playing Counterstrike, they had older computers not capable of running anything better. (Or, because they have older computers, they play Counterstrike)

      So one of the assumptions must be incorrect.

  • Survey biased (Score:1, Redundant)

    by GregoryD ( 646395 )
    This survey was only given to people who use steam.

    Of course people who use steam would have more modern hardware and software. It doesn't require a broadband connection, but I doubt a 56k, 200mhz pentium, windows98 person would go through the effort of downloading 1.6.

  • the use of steam (Score:5, Interesting)

    by mandalayx ( 674042 ) * on Monday March 15, 2004 @01:41AM (#8566240) Journal
    One has to wonder why Valve seems to be spending so much time on Steam. I've seen previous comments speculating that the reason Valve is delaying HL2 is to work on getting Steam 100% correct.

    Yet even if that were true, it's hard to see how Steam would really increase the amount of people buying Valve games. Even though I was a hardcore HL1 player, I would not buy any game because of the Steam association. If anything it just seems like a cool market research tool and possibly some DRM in the future. But to spend a few years programming a cool market research/DRM tool?

    • Re:the use of steam (Score:4, Interesting)

      by BrookHarty ( 9119 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @03:05AM (#8566520) Journal
      Even though I was a hardcore HL1 player, I would not buy any game because of the Steam association.

      Steam is here, so if you want to play HL2, you have to use steam, there is no way around it. When you go to the next lan party and everyone is playing Hl2, what choice do you have?

      But I know how you feel, DRM, and other things just pisses everyone off. I just bought a DVD player, and they had a damn advertisement logo on it, when I removed it, it left the sticky tape on the DVD player. The damn tape wouldnt come off. I uses a wet sponge and tried to remove the tape, but scratched the surface of the dvd player.

      I was pretty pissed off. Next time I go into the store, im opening the damn box and looking at the unit first. I'm also sending a nasty letter to the company about such shitty services.

      It seems like every company just does what it wants, and fucks the consumers, We can just hope that HL2 doesnt suck using steam.
      • DRM, and other things just pisses everyone off. I just bought a DVD player, and they had a damn advertisement logo on it, when I removed it, it left the sticky tape on the DVD player

        Did you just compare DRM to a sticker on your DVD player? That's...well...the BSD is dead trolls are generally more on topic.

        Of course, if you are comparing Steam to a useless sticker attached to the games that serves no purpose to the user, but makes the producer feel good, well now, that's appropriate!

      • HL2 *requires* Steam? (Score:4, Informative)

        by StupidKatz ( 467476 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @05:13AM (#8566873)
        HL2 was not originally going to, and as far as I know, won't require Steam, as long as someone buys a boxed copy. ... Until you patch it. You should have seen the thread on the Valve/Steam forums that blasted that decision to hell and back. No one, save Valve/Vinvendi, likes it.

        I won't buy or play HL2 if it requires Steam. Exception: when I can buy a used copy off of someone for single-player or when a LAN fake-Steam server will fool the software, I might buy it (used) for ten bucks, as long as my purchase won't add a tick to their sales figures.

        Think about it - the entertainment industry (Vivendi/Universal, hello? MPAA/RIAA, hello?) wants to own everything. Forget about fair use if this Steaming crap becomes the norm; you won't even be able to use your computer when your ISP borks your net connection. The only way to fight this crud is to fight it by keeping your money away from the people resonsible for this farce, even if it means passing up something that might actually be really fun.
        If HL2 really will require Steam, then don't purchase the game. Don't increase their sales figures, don't let them think this is a profitable way to force DRM down our throats. Behave like customers, not simpering consumers, and take your business elsewhere.

        • HL2 requires Steam, period. What you are thinking of is Valve's intial proclamation that, once you patched HL2 or played online, you would thereafter always need to be connected to the Internet, even when playing the single-player game. This has already been dealt with - Steam has an "offline mode," so you connect once, disconnect, and then play single-player (or multiplayer on LAN) without an Internet connection. Probably HL2 will ship this way.

          I don't really have anything to say about your actual poi

        • If HL2 really will require Steam, then don't purchase the game. Don't increase their sales figures, don't let them think this is a profitable way to force DRM down our throats. Behave like customers, not simpering consumers, and take your business elsewhere.

          Can someone point me to an official quote from the company that explains that if you don't have a network connection, you can't play HL2? Because other than them requiring me to connect to their computers to play this game, I don't really see the big d
      • a damn advertisement logo on it, when I removed it, it left the sticky tape on the DVD player

        totally off-topic, but there's a few products out there, sold as "Goo-gone" or similar, that take off tape residue very nicely. too late for this DVD player, but in the future...

      • Re:the use of steam (Score:3, Informative)

        by Chibi ( 232518 )
        The damn tape wouldnt come off. I uses a wet sponge and tried to remove the tape, but scratched the surface of the dvd player.


        Sometimes using nail polish remover will get rid of tape residue. I haven't taken organic chemistry in years, but I believe you need a like solvent to dissolve the "gunk."

      • > The damn tape wouldnt come off. I uses a wet sponge and tried to remove the tape, but scratched the surface of the dvd player.

        Rubbing it with butter or oil and then scraping it off works. Old trick.

    • Re:the use of steam (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 15, 2004 @03:14AM (#8566553)
      One has to wonder why Valve seems to be spending so much time on Steam

      One word: MONEY.

      They get control of the distribution channel and get themselves a bigger cut. The more copies of the game they can sell via direct download (as opposed to in stores), the more cash they get. Typical costs are something like:

      CD & box = $5
      Advertising costs = $5
      Retailer = $15 (shelf space == very expensive)
      Publisher = $10
      Developer = $15
      Total price = $50

      By selling directly they can eliminate both the publisher - and the retailer costs. Except that now they can change the price to $40 a downloadable copy. They not only sell the game for less - but they also make double the money on that copy:

      Bandwidth for distribution = $5 (say, 4 GB transfers over the course of the game's life if it's installed three or four times when the customer upgrades machines)
      Advertising costs = $5
      Retailer = $0 (no shelves)
      Publisher = $0
      Developer = $30
      Total price = $40
      • Intelligent, you have won me over.

        However every time I load up HL I connect to the Steam server. I wonder if these costs add up to negate the initial boost in cash? Keep in mind I have been playing HL since 1999 or so.
      • They also hired a bittorrent dev recently, obviously with the intention of applying his skills to Steam.

        Basically I'm assuming that means we the users will be responsible for paying a significant bulk of Valve's bandwidth for distribution costs in the (near?) future.

    • I agree that they are wasting time with the Steam development. Potentially, they could make a lot of money eliminating the distribution middle men (MS/Atari/etc and Compusa/Ebgames/etc), but it seems to me that a game company should focus on games. If they want to be a content distribution company, great, but why work on Half-life 2? They only have finite resources, and they're being squandered on Steam, just like they wasted a bunch of time on some Steam predecessor (that was supposed to deliver content
    • Hard core player don't play cs, anyway. Hard core lamers do... ;)

    • Re:the use of steam (Score:5, Insightful)

      by fireduck ( 197000 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @09:29AM (#8567808)
      Blame Blizzard.

      Whether you like their games or not, Blizzard struck gold with Battle.net. Easy one-click access to online gaming; built-in with the game, automagic patching when you log on. No messing with server lists, etc. Chat rooms. Battle.net is a PR dream and really helped propel Blizzard to the forefront of online gaming.

      The easier you make it for people to play your products, the more product you are going to sell. In Valve's case, one can easily envision a whole number of retail mods being released. Since multiplayer is the rage, money is to be made in the online arena. Given that from the total HL population, a minority of them actually played online (no idea how small, but it's certainly much less than the millions that were sold), any opportunity to get a fraction of them online and potentially buying your online mods is money.

      In the case of HL, I'm somewhat relieved that they're going the online autopatching method. There were a ridiculous amount of patches released for HL and if you didn't keep up with them you could easily get lost in what you needed (they released full standalone retail-to-current patches somewhat infrequently and lots of incremental patches inbetween). So an easy "click to update" system (or better yet, leave it running and have it updated and ready whenever you want to play) is a nice convenience.

      granted, it sucked mighty hardcore when it was first released and it'll absolutely suck for a couple weeks after HL2 is released, but overall, I'm not too worried about it.
    • One has to wonder why Valve seems to be spending so much time on Steam. I've seen previous comments speculating that the reason Valve is delaying HL2 is to work on getting Steam 100% correct.

      I would imagine that this is a somewhat correct assumption. I once had a copy of a Steam PowerPoint presentation [steampowered.com] (Dead link, send me a message if you happen to have a copy of it.) that pretty much stated that Valve was going to use Steam, and it's DRM related design, to force markets like Asia to pay up for their cop

  • Ever since it came out, I stopped playing HL's multiplayer and all the mods (Day of Defeat and Natural Selection). I eventually uninstalled it recently due to outdated mods, lack of playable servers, and lack of free time especially with newer games. I'd rather download the files manually myself!

  • Drop in Windows 98 users (partially) explained (Score:5, Informative)

    by StupidKatz ( 467476 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @05:00AM (#8566828)
    I recently changed my gaming PC's OS to Windows XP Pro. I'd previously used Windows 98SE. Why did I, a rabid hater of all things XP (updates, EUL"A"s, wizardry, etc.) give up on 98 for my gaming OS?

    DirectX 9 broke 98. I've been telling everyone within earshot that this was the way that MS was going to force the gamers off of 98 - via DirectX. All video files, under any format that I can find, (except real; I don't use it) are broken. They refuse to load. Breakdown of the issue here [corecoded.com] and here [corecoded.com]

    It isn't a critical problem at this point, but the second "solution" is so obscure that I wonder how anyone managed to find it. (The first involves re-running the directx installer, which will allow the system to play back videos fine until the subsequent reboot.) How likely is an official fix for this issue? That's what I thought. Too bad, though - Win98SE still had a year or two worth of gaming life left in it.

  • Slightly OT: Steam and your hard drive (Score:5, Interesting)

    by StupidKatz ( 467476 ) on Monday March 15, 2004 @05:46AM (#8566960)
    Who owns your hard drive? If you've installed Steam, read this [steampowered.com], then answer the question again.

    Yeah, let's all give game developers on-demand access to our storage. Cheat detection notwithstanding, this is bad news; is it worth the cost? I like to think intelligent people agree: it isn't.
    • That is outrageous!

      Valve have no right to load unrequested software onto your PC, despite any clauses buried 3 billion pages deep in a EULA that no-one reads anyway.
    • this must have been a bug.

      I've got steam running (and usually leave it running when I'm not home) on my DSL line and the only games installed are HL and Day of Defeat. None of the other mods have installed giving me the "icon is now colored indicating game is ready to play" condition described in the post. And I'm sure most of the gaming population has experienced the same. Sure it sucks that something is going wrong for this guy, but that's just 1 guy.
    • That guy sounds like an idiot. I just let it download it's pre-cache dealie, and I was fine. On another box I have Steam installed on, I stopped the pre-caching, and it was fine as well. Haven't had a single problem.
    • I'm guessing this guy shares the computer with someone else, most likely a brother or something, and that person initiated the pre-load AND the download of counterstrike

    • p2p and steam (Score:3, Interesting)

      by mandalayx ( 674042 ) *
      wow, highly interesting. text here in case the Valve mods don't want you to know:

      *********

      Here's what happened to the silent majority of people that found themselves with steam having downloaded CZ to their machines without any real notification. Story below is in chronological order. The reason I'm making this into the separate thread is because I don't believe something like this belongs in the CZ forum (this is steam issue and has nothing to do with CZ mod) and because I have two questions I'd like to
  • I can complain about STEAM, but Jacub at firingsuad.com [firingsquad.com] summed up the problems with STEAM much better,

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