[aldo_14]

http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=35924&subsectionid=1589

[q]
Hotly-tipped PC and Xbox 360 shooter Prey will be released for PC via an online delivery service that mirrors the Steam system used by Valve to distribute Half-Life 2.

Developers 3D Realms and Human Head Studios have signed up with Game xStream, which - according to industry publication MCV - claims that gamers will be able to play the game within minutes of initiating the download due to background streaming.[/q]

[NGTM-1R]

...****ing hell.

[vyper]

Not another bloody app to eat up resources and bandwidth...

[redsniper]

:arr: Arrr, whoever thought to invent Steam(ing pile o' crap) ought to walk the plank! Arr! Shiver me timbers! etc!

[Fineus]

How the heck can you play the game within minutes using any normal system? Most computer systems RAM etc. will make the computer faster to install and load components than it'll be able to get them from the internet. Unless of course the game is very undetailed...

[Bobboau]

you download the exe then all the data for just the first level, then while you'r playing the first level it downloads all the rest of the data

[vyper]

What if you don't have all the required data by the time you reach the next level? It's distributed software development without the proper backbone.

[Descenterace]

I think Steam is an excellent idea. It's just the execution that is flawed.

The flaw is, of course, that not many people can afford 50MBit fat pipes to the local Internet backbone.

[aldo_14]

Steam is a good idea in principle, but there's also a lot of downsides (besides the execution) for any 3rd party app with that degree of hard drive access.

[Taristin]

Boycott it!

[DaBrain]

I will.

There is no way I'll buy  a product that uses something like Steam.

[SadisticSid]

This is what Bittorrent's for.

[Deepblue]

Or, you could get an Xbox360 and avoid the steamy mess...

...

/console advert

[Krackers87]

Uh, i dont see anything wrong with streaming games.

I do see something wrong with authentication every damn time you want to play and the ability for them to shut your gaeme off if they think you hack, and everything having to be done through the app itself like steam does.

Now if this is just an alternative distribution method then i say hell ya, as long as i  get some kind of user/pass to redownload it if my HD explodes.

Might make the game cheaper to not have to publish it.

[WMCoolmon]

I have no problem with internet downloadable games.

I do have a problem with copyright schemes and extra apps that cost people time and extra resources, apparently to punish them for getting the non-cracked game.