Valve Outline New Steam Features at GDC

[Hectic Glenn]

[br]With GDC kicking off today through to 4th March, Valve have published a press release revealing plans for a new "big picture" mode of Steam which will offer controller support and navigation designed for television interaction. Big picture mode will enable gamers to enjoy Steam and their library of Steam games on more screens throughout the house. More info from Doug:

"Our partners and customers have asked us to make Steam available in more places. With the introduction of Steam on the Mac, and soon in Portal 2 on the PS3T, we've done just that," "With big picture mode, gaming opportunities for Steam partners and customers become possible via PCs and Macs on any TV or computer display in the house."

Further details on 'big picture' mode will be presented to other publishers at GDC, stay tuned for more.[br]After another year of growth for Steam, Valve will also share with partners the data it gathered during the hugely successful launch of Steam Microtransactions late last year within TF2, hoping to help their partners establish similar in-game economies according to Robin Walker.[br]Lastly, following the 2010 introduction of Steam for Mac, Valve will also discuss the integration of Steam features in its own titles, including its first day-and-date release for Mac, Portal 2. The upcoming Portal 2 release will also be the first to feature Steam on the PlayStation 3, enabling even broader cross-platform interaction and play between PC, Mac and PS3T.

 

[Shakermaker]

So this is 'big picture' mode is basically for media center PCs and will give us an idea how Steam for PS3 will look?

 

[Kyzr]

I'm willing to bet money that Valve is going to do something similar to what Onlive is doing with the help of this new feature.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

So this is 'big picture' mode is basically for media center PCs and will give us an idea how Steam for PS3 will look?

Yes I imagine so. I assume since it will be 'controller friendly' you won't have lots of small buttons and options all over the place. Simplified and...big probably.

 

[Shakermaker]

I'm willing to bet money that Valve is going to do something similar to what Onlive is doing with the help of this new feature.

Hmmm, that is a very interesting idea.

 

[Paulaner]

Could be interesting, but I didn't understand what that "big picture" mode is.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Sounds like a simple way to play PC games on the TV, but I figure you would still need equipment for that.

 

[sixteenth]

I'm willing to bet money that Valve is going to do something similar to what Onlive is doing with the help of this new feature.

I agree. They could possibly use the PS3 as a means of displaying whatever game the host PC is actually processing.

 

[BlueWolf72]

expect big things

 

[ríomhaire]

I'm willing to bet money that Valve is going to do something similar to what Onlive is doing with the help of this new feature.

It would certainly be a logical move for them, but they'd need to set up a lot more servers around the world to pull it off. Of course, they have the cash to do so, but it would be a large effort.

What does the T in PS3T stand for?