Valve pushes first “Steam 3″ update
Posted by inpheaux on October 12th, 2005 at 2:35 am
Earlier today, Valve pushed the first of several upcoming incremental updates leading towards "Steam 3". Steam 3 is the next version of the Steam platform, and prominently features a UI overhaul (which now makes it the fattest, roundest, and most-non-native windows application I run), and a much tigher integration with the Steam purchase / delivery system. It's tough to miss the UI overhaul. Rather than the old plain boxy thing that looked like it really would rather be an IM client instead of a game launcher, the new default view looks more like a real application. Luckily, the old streamlined view we've all grown accustomed to is still in there, it's just not the default.
The seemingly requisite bad-news about this Steam update is that - surprise surprise - some third party mods have been screwed again. It should be something easy to change, and reportedly there's a slightly complex and roundabout way to fix it in the meantime, but this is really getting quite ridiculous. I hope that some day in the amazing distant future, future generations will be able to get a Steam update that doesn't hose every application contained within.
But anyways, that wasn't the only change that occured. This update also allowed valve to completely restructure their purchase system. The key difference: everything is now available a la carte. Yes, finally, you sad sad people who went with Half-Life 2: Bronze can now pick and choose whatever addon games you want. You want Half-Life Source? You can have it, for the low low price of $9.95. Want HL2:DM but don't want CS:S? Feel free, just buy what you want.
Along with these changes came a restructuring of the package deals you can buy via Steam. Gone are the days of Bronze/Silver/Gold. Now there's three main package deals:
- HalfLife 2 - $39.95 - includes ONLY HL2 and HL2 - Lost Coast
- Source Premier Pack - $59.95 - includes HL2, HL2:DM, CS:S, DoD:S, and HL:S (No Lost Coast)
- Valve Complete Pack - $79.95 - includes everything ever released by Valve, plus Lost Coast
These roughly equate to the bronze/silver/gold packs, but not completely. I kinda like the new system due to the customizability, but feel the stock Half-Life 2 pack is kinda lame. It just seems unfair to me that it includes a game that doesn't have a release date, and no multiplayer. Sure, you can fix the multiplayer problem for another $9.95, but that's still kinda lame. It doesn't really matter to me, though, as HL2:Silver included everything the current "Source Premier Pack" does now, plus Lost Coast . . . whenever it gets released.
In yet more Steam news, Ragdoll Kung Fu (which we reported on previously) is being released today. Today's also the last day you can get it for its pre-order price of $12.95, starting Thursday the price pops back up to $15. I'm still apprehensive about this game. To me, it still seems like it's going to be the most awkward fighting game ever produced, and I really don't want to drop $13 on a game I'm never going to play . . so here's hoping for a speedy demo release.
Source: Steam
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