Valve Steams Up Mainstream Software

Kicking off September 5, 2012, the uberportal that is STEAM will be streaming mainstream, non-gaming, software to it 40 million subscribers.

Valve says that 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 installation, automatic updating, and the ability to save your work to your personal Steam Cloud space so your files may travel with you.

More Software titles will definately be added to the catalogue in an ongoing fashion following the September 5th launch, and developers will be welcome to submit Software titles via Steam Greenlight. Keep your eye on Steams pre-release page steampowered.com for upcoming gaming and non-gaming software. No specific software titles have yet been announced,

Steam has some 40 million gamers, if even a small percentage is interested in software other than games then Valve looks to be on a winner.

Tackling Microsoft – specifically the Windows 8 store – head-on is an interesting theory being bandied around by watchers of Steam, Valve currently can’t put a foot wrong and with 40 million subscribers online retailers like Microsoft must be swaeting September 5. The clue according to gameranx.com, came when Valve released Steam iOS app, the addition of categories such as accounting, animation, audio production, design and illustration showed the publisher’s hand, giving gamers the biggest hint that Steam would be growing out of game in the near future :: Read the full article »»»»

New Alienware MX14,17+18 Ivy Bridge

Hot on the heels of last week’s preview of Intel’s 3rd-generation Core i5 and i7 Ivy Bridge mobile processors, Dell’s Alienware has announced Ivy Bridge availability in its refreshed M14x, M17x, and M18x gaming laptops. The three units also get new GPU and storage options, dedicated Creative Sound Blaster chip, as well as THX TruStudio.

Locally, cnet reported, Dell has officially refreshed its Alienware gaming laptop lineup in parts of Asia Pacific with Ivy Bridge processors. Countries getting the update: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. Unlike the US and UK, those in this region (with the exception of Australia and New Zealand) won’t be seeing the M18x. This means that consumers only get to choose between the M14x and the M17x.x

The 11-inch M11x didn’t make the transition to Ivy Bridge, the company is discontinuing it :: Read the full article »»»»

The WipeOut Quantum Levitation Hoax, Wipe Out 2048 And How It All Leads Back To The PSP Vita Worldwide Release

Levitation, the ability to appear to defy gravities bonds, has long fascinated humanity. From flying carpets to flying nuns it has long been part of our culture. Quantum Levitation is such an attention grabber that even the latest marketing push by Sony has made use of Quantum Levitation.

The latest viral video to highlight quantum levitation it turns out is a fake, a brilliantly executed rendering of WipeOut 2048 in real life. The video uses computer generated graphics to render what is a simulated real life WipeOut 2048 slot car set.

Not intended as a demonstration of toys in the year 2048, which it actually achieves effortlessly but instead intended to be a part of the build-up to the world wide release of WipeOut 2048 and the PS Vita, all on February 22nd and 23rd. There are many other examples of this build up too, little snippets around the web that all point to the end of February release. With the cogs of the Sony machine slowly gaining speed finally the rest of the world will get a chance to test the PS Vita waters.

Ready, Steady… Wait For IT… GO

Not that we’re suggesting that government moves in slow and mysterious ways BUT! Way back in July last year we noted: After almost three years of public consultation and industry wide debate, the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games in Australia is teatering on the line. It looks as though it may go through however it’s been delayed once more due to the failure of federal, state and territory attorneys-general to reach a unanimous decision!?

Happily – don’t hold your breath,  it might be another 3 years until the legislation is passed –  the Australian Federal Government has at last introduced legislation to establish an R18+ category for computer and video games in Australia. Currently in Australia, the maximum legal classification for games is MA15+. Games that are not considered suitable for children are refused classification and banned.

Way back in 2009, the Government received close to 60,000 submissions in response to a discussion paper on the matter. The Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare says the legislation is scheduled to come into effect at the start of next year. This will bring the classification categories for computer games into line with existing categories used to classify films and make the Australian classification regime more consistent with international standards,” he said.

A national telephone survey conducted by Galaxy in 2010 showed 80 per cent of the 2,226 people contacted said they supported the introduction of an adults-only category for games. No Sh_t Sherlock!

RELATED: www.sociallyengineered.com.au/australian-gamers-to-get-r18-rating/

Steam Mobile App Beta. Steam Engine Gaming on The Go

Valve is preparing to bring it’s legendary Steam Gaming system to a Smartphone – Android or Apple iOS – near you. Over many years Steam has built up an enormous following of dedicated gamers by offering an easy to use system that streamlines the gaming experience, providing easy gaming at discount prices. Now with the open beta program taking applications Steam is preparing to revolutionize mobile gaming. Allowing your Steam experience to cross all boundaries.

Steam has over the years built a strong brand name amongst PC gamers. Applying the extremely successful PC online game distribution model to smartphones the new Steam Mobile App brings the Steam game store, chat functions, friend lists along with news and reviews. Sensibly Steam Mobile uses the same log in as your PC account, leveraging the existing user base onto the mobile platform and giving its users another portal into their online gaming lives. Read the full article »»»»