Heard about the Steam platform from a friend or relative (probably a child) but don’t know what it is? So here is a small presentation of this application which will reveal to you what it is for, how to install it and how it works.
Steam is a software platform for games and applications that also serves as a social network for gamers. For years, Steam games like Dota and CS: have connected millions of players. Learn all you need to know about Valve’s biggest project.
Steam – what is it?
Valve Corporation, the company that created Steam, is well-known in the game business. Well-known for titles like as Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life, the business launched its online content sharing platform in the early 2000s. Later on, this will grow into an online content sales platform, a customised gaming library accessible through the Internet, and a community platform.
Steam was created by the Steam studio and its creator, Gabe Newell founded the company in 1996 Kirkland, Washington, . The iconic game Half-Life was their debut project. Valve has always made a lot of opportunity for individuals who want to make modifications for its games. One of them given rise to, among other things, Counter-Strike! Steam is now one of the major online game distributors, with over 50,000 games available. The site also brings together around 120 million users who, due to the social portal’s incorporated components, may, among other things, exchange creativity, talk on forums, trade in-game stuff, or evaluate creations.
As a result, a wide range of products, particularly video games, may be purchased through this platform. It will not be the purchase of the physical product (box and CD), but of the computer version; as a result, after the transaction is finished, you will be able to download the game straight to your computer. Steam is well-known for providing one of the world’s largest selections of video games, as well as a very active community system and famous seasonal promotional deals. In addition, under certain situations, you may be able to get a refund for your Steam games.
There is something for everyone, from all walks of life and all publishers, whether it is a little indie game or a large game from an international development team. All forms of video game amusement are accessible, whether you want the action of shooting games, the immersion of role-playing games, the realism of simulation games, the thinking of strategy games, or the unexpected of adventure games. They are available on the platform for a wide range of audiences.
Steam history and development
The studio’s defining feature was an innovation. Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 3 changed first-person shooters. No previous shooter has successfully integrated the plot, gameplay mechanics, and physics engine. Moreover, Half-Life 2 was the foundation for the emerging idea of a digital gaming platform – in order to play it, each player had to sign in to Steam. Year after year, more individuals joined the virtual library, and works from other companies began to surface in large numbers on the Steam Store. Gabe Newell is the spiritual father of digital distribution since Valve is responsible for the popularisation of game keys.
Initially, Valve approached other companies (such as Microsoft or Yahoo ) about collaborating on Steam, but no one believed in the platform’s potential success. As a result, Gabe Newell’s firm was forced to build the website by itself. The players’ initial hesitation rapidly disappeared. After four years, Steam had 13 million subscribers who could play games from gaming giants as id Software and Capcom.
Steam has evolved constantly throughout the years. Of course, the platform’s primary focus remains digital games and their delivery. However, Valve added a few features that elevated the site to the top of the list for players and game creators. In 2013, the company added the ability to evaluate productions available through the Steam Store. Moreover, the platform provides a direct communication system, in which users can chat with each other and open individual threads on the built-in forum. Additionally, the website features a sustainable digital market. It allows gamers to sell game products for real money. Also, some of them were made by members of the Steam community.
Valve reviews its users’ creations on Steam Workshop on a regular basis and gives them the option of introducing their content to individual games.
How do I install Steam on my computer?
The Steam application can be downloaded from the platform’s official website and installed on your computer. Once on the site page, look for a green button labelled “Install Steam” in the upper right corner. When you click on it, you’ll be prompted to install the application on your computer using another “Install Steam” button. It may be installed on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Normally, the site will provide you the version that matches to your computer, but if this is not the case, select the brand’s logo that best fits you.
It is essential to know that in order to use Steam, you must first create an account. Don’t worry; creating this account is completely free and safe. Also, it is not necessary to register your payment card or personal information, such as your address. Because they will be requested for each transaction, saving them to your account is not required. The site has its own safe and simple purchase method.
How do I use Steam on my device?
To buy a game, navigate to the application’s store tab. You may immediately put the name of the game you’re looking for into a search box. You may visit a product presentation page for every game on the application store, which details not only the game’s contents, but also the settings required to play it, as well as the many operating systems on which the game plays. Then there’s the purchase process, which is still quite straightforward and traditional, with the usage of a product basket that you fill and pay for at the end.
When the transaction is complete, the platform will issue you a confirmation and install the game and the programme on your system. This is due to the fact that, despite the fact that the game is on your device, it requires permission from Steam to begin. This is why, in order to use the Valve platform’s goods, an internet connection (even if it’s a slow one) is required.
Finally, the platform functions as an online gaming library. The application provides immediate access to all games and software purchased on the marketplace. This allows you to have a single location where you can locate all of the shortcuts for your various games, arranged alphabetically.
The Steam community: a big family
Valve’s platform has become very popular and has a community of very active players that the company has been able to bring to bear. Indeed, upon purchase, you will see user reviews of the game (with specific statistics such as the community’s overall appreciation of the product). Of course, you can also leave your comment on the item you have purchased. In addition, there are many forums on the platform dedicated to different games, allowing you to communicate and discuss with other players.
Another strength of the Steam community is its high concentration of modders. A mod is a downloadable (free) piece of code created by players that make it possible to improve a game, whether by adding content, fixing bugs, or optimizing the game experience. Thus, Steam has a large number of players who offer mods that they have created themselves. The platform provides a tool to install this additional content on your favourite games, considerably increasing their lifespan and changing the way of playing altogether.
Finally, the community system makes it easy to find a friend’s account so that you can play with him as a team in your online games. The chat and interaction system between players is easy to use and efficient, which allows you to quickly get what you are looking for, whether it is an invitation to a game, sending messages or even buying a gift for a friend.
Games on Steam – is it worth buying on the Steam Store?
For a long time, Steam was rubbing against the monopoly of digital distribution. Despite this, the platform still offered attractive prices and organized periodically great promotions. Today, the website has several close competitors in the form of Epic Games and cloud gaming provided by, for example, Google Stadia or GeForce NOW. Is it still profitable to buy games on the Steam Store in 2021? Absolutely. Of course, the best possible option is to wait for significant discounts organized 2-3 times a year. However, if you’re lucky, you might find the title you’re looking for in one of the mid-week, weekend, or daily deals. The service has always wanted to sell productions at a bargain price, thanks to serial discounting of products. Moreover, the platform allows you to share games on Steam with your friends. Just find the “Family” tab in the settings and add another Steam user.
How do I get a refund on Steam?
Any product purchased on Steam can be easily returned. Just click the “Help” tab in the upper left corner of the program, and then go to “Steam Support”. The next step is to select the item you want to refund. There are some rules for a product to be eligible for a refund. The first is the time that has passed since the purchase. Typically, Valve approves a refund for a game purchased within 14 days of the request. That’s how long played with the product concerned; it can also affect whether or not you get your money back. If the game time does not exceed 2 hours, rest assured – your refund request will most likely be approved. The transfer with your funds will reach the selected account within 14 days.
