Three coups up for Valve

STEAM IS RAPIDLY becoming the game distribution channel of choice for the PC world, hardly a week goes by without something new and interesting cropping up.

Valve had some problems with the network when Half-Life 2 first came out, but now it looks ready to take over the world, Pinky or no.

The first huge one was PopCap Games signing on. Not only did this bring possibly the widest played game of the last few years, Bejewled, to Steam, but it brought an entirely new class of casual games to a network dominated by Counter-Strike and other things involving sniping and headshots. It is a hard left, but it brings Steam to a huge new audience.

Next, they have a potentially great RPG, Dark Messiah of Might & Magic, the next step in the long running series. The game, powered by Valves Source engine is a natural fit for steam, but merely attracting A-list titles like this is quite the coup. Simultaneous releases in stores and steam are one thing if you develop the game in house, but doing so with a third party title is quite another. This must make the publishers very nervous, and with good reason. Oh yeah, the game looks hot too.

Last up we come to Defcon, the not quite a sequel to Darwinia by Introversion. This a real indy game effort, and Steam gives them something they would not otherwise have, a worldwide distribution network that puts them on the same level as top titles. Networks like Steam can be a savior for the little guys, adding their games to the mix costs little for Introversion or Valve, but can make the difference between eating and not for the smaller players. Luckily, there is little down side if the game flops, in fact, there is less down side than a traditional distribution channel.

What you end up with is a top to bottom list of titles from Valve, with the big and little guys represented. Steam is turning out to be an end to end comprehensive gaming network with things for the FPS, RPG and casual crowd, and every step in between being filled in rapidly. Mark my words, this is the channel to watch if you care about the future of gaming. µ