Let’s be honest here: how many of us actually bothers to read the terms and agreement when we install a new piece of software or sign up for a service? Given how lengthy some of these documents are, and how they can be so worded in such a tricky manner, for the most part it can go over the heads of many.
Last year Epic announced their plans to launch their own digital game storefront where it would play host to their own games as well as games from other developers. It seemed like quite a daunting task to challenge Valve’s Steam platform which has become the default storefront for most, but it seems to be working.
These days whenever games are launched on PC, it’s almost always guaranteed that you will be able to find it on Steam. This is because Steam has established themselves as the platform for distributing PC games, thanks to features like a friends list, the ability to read reviews and give reviews all in one place, gifting, and so on.
Is virtual reality (VR) still too much of a novelty to be considered a must-have device when it comes to gaming? Unfortunately that seems to be the case, but the good news is that according to Valve’s monthly Hardware Survey (via UploadVR) of its Steam store, it appears that while VR gaming isn’t exactly dominating, it has doubled in usage.
For the most part just like iOS devices, Apple’s macOS devices tend to be pretty well supported. For example my 7-year old 2011 MacBook Air has been on the receiving end of major OS updates right up until macOS High Sierra, which was the last major update my laptop was capable of receiving. That’s a pretty long period of time for support.
Last month it was revealed by that Valve had ultimately decided to discontinue its Steam Link box. For those unfamiliar, the Steam Link device basically allowed gamers to stream games from their PCs onto other devices, like their TV, thus giving gamers the freedom to play PC games in the comfort of their living room without having to hook up their computers to the TV.
Valve’s Steam platform has more or less become the default distribution platform for gaming on computers. Given their huge library of games, it’s becoming increasingly common to find developers releasing their games through Steam. Despite its success, Valve is hoping to entice more developers by changing up its revenue sharing system.
According to Valve’s policy regarding refunds, you can request for a refund for any game for a variety of reasons. Maybe you have buyer’s remorse, or you suddenly discover that you don’t have the time to play the game, or maybe the game didn’t deliver as advertised, or maybe the game went on sale shortly after you bought it at full price.
Valve has announced that it will soon start moderating the game discussion boards on its Steam platform. The task won’t be delegated to developers as the company’s content moderators will now be keeping an eye on the discussion boards to ensure that the discussions are as per the community guidelines. This new policy will go into effect on September 25th.
When it comes to distribution platforms, such as Apple’s App Store, some have criticized how strict and rigid it can be when it comes to the review process. At the same time there are also platforms such as Valve’s Steam, where a few months ago the company decided to opt for a more hands-off approach where basically anything can be uploaded, as long as it is not illegal.
The other day it was reported that Valve could be working on something in which it would make it easier for developers to create Windows games that could also run on Linux on Steam. The good news for those running Linux machines is that it looks like Valve has something for you in the form of an updated version of Steam Play.