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Game developer Valve is preparing what it considers to be a "major update" to the Steam Community, one that will introduce a Game Hub feature to each and every game. The Hubs will highlight the most popular user-created screenshots, videos, and Steam Workshop items as rated by the community, while also populating them with game related news, discussions, and comments.
"The New Steam Community is all about showing off the best content that gamers have created," says Emily Kent at Valve. "With over 89 million screenshots, videos, Steam Workshop maps, levels, mods, and items, plus news articles and product updates, the community has created an unbelievable wealth of content around their favorite games."
The forum integration means gamers will no longer have to fire up a Web browser and dive into a Steam forum to discuss a game or troubleshoot a title. Everything is centralized and separated by tabs that include All, Discussions, Workshop, Videos, Screenshots, and News.
Right now the Steam Community overhaul is a closed beta, though Valve says it will show a preview of a new feature each day from now until August 16.
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Hilarity
August 15, 2012 at 1:45pm
More social media shit. What ever happened to single player games that never had multiplayer? What ever happened to staying the fuck alone and not in 50 different networks updating you are taking a big fucking dump in real time? If the world does end in 2012, I can't wait.
Gezzer
August 14, 2012 at 4:54pm
Another with mixed emotions on this one.
Sure having a nice tight integration of mods and community with the steam client opens up all sorts of possibilities. But it has the potential to be a major PITA too. I understand the need to have a client for DRM and cheating problems. But I don't want a client that due to either size or community gets in the way of what I fire up Steam to do.
Play games.
Bottom line if it only enhances my experience I'm all for it. If it ends up a PITA, then why have it? So I really hope some of the social aspect is on an opt-in basis.
2fools
August 14, 2012 at 12:00pm
Can't post my comment because: Your submission has triggered the spam filter and will not be accepted.
And there is no spam or anything of the sort
John Pombrio
August 14, 2012 at 11:38am
Paul, have you heard about Valve adding other programs besides games to Steam?
vistageek
August 14, 2012 at 11:32am
Can we please just get a freaking in game volume mixer? Like, open up the steam overlay, and be able to turn down music, or turn up skype, or whatever?
tekknyne
August 14, 2012 at 8:51am
Yeah, Steam is pretty neat. That's all, just neat. Don't try to be anything else. I'll buy a game or 2 a year, but I'd rather not have to sign onto it more than that, yet it always starts with Windows... now that I mention it, time to RDP home and fix that.
Done. There. Great prices and great deals though, Valve. If you want to do anything that involves costing the company money, eat shit on some of those prices and drop them down even further.
Peanut Fox
August 14, 2012 at 9:46am
There's a little check box in the settings menu that allows you to disable it. I hate that it's on by default though.
I'd like to see them get better optimization of the software. I find that it doesn't run especially well. Also an option to adjust the font size please.
Valor958
August 14, 2012 at 8:38am
I've got mixed feelings and see both points as valid between zaznet and akrazyassho, and agree with both points. It will be nice to have a change of scenery. Time will tell if it's a good change or not.
I guess we'll know fairly soon.
Valor958
August 14, 2012 at 8:38am
I've got mixed feelings and see both points as valid between zaznet and akrazyassho, and agree with both points. It will be nice to have a change of scenery. Time will tell if it's a good change or not.
I guess we'll know fairly soon.
zaznet
August 14, 2012 at 8:24am
This sort of integration with their website seems long overdue to me. I'm looking forward to the features but hope they don't bog the Steam client down too much.
akrazyassho
August 14, 2012 at 7:42am
No, no and no. The way steam is currently is simple, works very well and I don't see this need to turn it into a public social hub. Yes the steam workshop could use an overhaul, or its own dedicated page w/ a better plugin/mod browser but about that's it.
The steam forums works well enough on its own, and there are already threads dedicated to screenies and videos under most games, I just don't see the point unless they are looking to get rid of the interwebs forums. IMO steam is an amazing platform as it is, but they are pushing their luck w/ all their "ideas and innovations"...
The Corrupted One
August 14, 2012 at 8:36pm
Have you seen the Steam forums? Especially the TF2 section?
They are funny reading, but they are the western front of trolling. It's crazy down there.
And now they are going to integrate it into Steam.
Penterax
August 14, 2012 at 12:10pm
I agree here; it seems like every time you turn around, someone wants to hook you into their social network.
Well, that's not all bad, and please don't think I'm saying it is, but these people aren't doing it for your social health, they are doing it to make money. Nothing wrong with making money, but that means selling information about you.
Facebook is an example of poorly managed information; and they won't tighten up their security (voluntarily, anyway) because their whole business model is based on passing on information about you.
What we really need here is Federal intervention, very strict laws about what a company can reveal about you. Being a Libertarian kind of guy at heart, I hate the idea of more laws, but sometimes we have to tell the spoiled brats and real bad guys where to stop.
Bottom line - for me, Steam is just something I have to live with because some of the games I play are connected to Steam for whatever reason, but to me they are an information gathering site with benefits I don't use and don't want, and I don't really trust any of these people to keep my info completely private.
I tell you what, Gabe Newell, you want me to like Steam and say good things about it, get behind some serious privacy legislation, something the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) will endorse, and then I'll change my tune. Until then, the less Steam I have in my life the better.
