steam

Way back in March, the Internet sort of exploded when it became apparent that Valve really was working on its own gaming hardware package.

Now, Gabe Newell himself has told Kotaku that Valve will create its own hardware and software solution that is designed to compete directly with next-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft.

Kotaku interviewed Newell at the Video Game Awards in Culver City, Calif., over the weekend. Newell said that the consumer response to Big Picture had been better than expected, and that the next step was to get Steam Linux into alpha and ensure that Big Picture … Read more

Steam's Big Picture mode is now available for all. Developer Valve announced today that the television-friendly version of its massive Steam digital video game distribution service is out of beta and available for Steam's 50 million members. This follows a trial period that began in September.

To mark the occasion, Valve is discounting numerous titles through Steam until December 10. Deals include Limbo for $2.50, Alan Wake for $7.50, and Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal 2 for $5. For more on the special promotion, check out Steam's Web site. … Read more

Updated with new Steam details.

PC gamers will find deals on lots of titles today. It's a great opportunity to pick up a game or two you've been meaning to play.

Two notes: Dishonored. Every retailer has it for a discounted $29.99. Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition. Amazon and Steam both have it for $7.49. I recommend both titles, especially at those prices (just beware of Batman's always-odious Games for Windows Live integration).

Amazon Amazon's site navigation is kind of a mess. You can find the discounted, downloadable PC games here.… Read more

Steam defines itself as "the ultimate entertainment platform." Its software, available for PC, Mac, and mobile devices, allows people to "play, connect, [and] create." Its gaming library has more than 2,000 titles and it has approximately 40 million users. If you're one of those 40 million, you know what a pain it can be to wait for a game to update or for a new one to download -- it's not the speediest process.

Here's how to make the wait time a little less painful:

Open the Steam settings page. This can … Read more

Cable companies are hatching a plan to take on console makers, a new report claims.

Verizon, AT&T, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and others, are planning to launch a digital-gaming service that would allow their customers to play titles directly on their televisions without the need for consoles, Bloomberg is reporting today, citing several sources. According to Bloomberg's sources, those games would include everything from simple titles, like Tetris, to the most advanced games from major publishers.

Cloud-based gaming has quickly become a popular trend in the industry, with several companies trying their hand in that space. Steam … Read more

Move over, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Valve Software today revealed a new television-friendly version of its massive Steam digital video game distribution service.

Aptly named Big Picture, the new view transforms Steam into a more polished experience for the big screen. The optional redesigned interface represents a departure from the traditional Valve design used in the Steam application for Windows and Mac, instead falling in line with the easy-to-navigate layouts commonly seen in streaming media devices. … Read more

McKayla is not impressed with Thursday's big tech stories:

Microsoft helped develop a surveillance system for New York that pulls in information from video camera footage, 9-1-1 calls, radiation detectors and license plate readers, and analyzes the data in real-time to better fight crime and terrorism. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the program, known as the Domain Awareness System, and it will be available to law enforcement agencies around the world (New York earns 30 percent of sales revenue). It doesn't use face-recognition software, but even still, some critics are worried officers could abuse this technology and … Read more

Video game publisher/developer Valve created the Steam distribution platform to offer easy downloads and installation for Windows and Mac games. The Steam app and online store work for both Valve's own games, including Half-Life and Portal, and games from other publishers, including both hits such as Skyrim and indie games like Torchlight. Now, the company plans to add nongaming apps, starting in September.

In a brief online statement, the company says: "The Software titles coming to Steam range from creativity to productivity. Many of the launch titles will take advantage of popular Steamworks features, such as easy … Read more