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Valve has announced the release of the Steamworkssoftware development kit - a suite of publishing and development toolsoffering access to the game features and services available throughSteam. These features and services include product keyauthentication, copy protection, auto-updating, social networking,matchmaking and anti-cheat technology. "In working withdevelopers on the pre-release SDK, our focus has been on making it aseasy as possible for them to integrate Steamworks into their games,"said Jason Holtman, director of business development at Valve.
"Theyget access to these tools and services in a proven, scalable, andsimple to work with package that has already been deployed to millionsof gamers worldwide." Valve said that they are offering thefeatures and services available in Steamworks free of charge, to beused for both electronic and tangible versions of games. Valve's Steam distribution platform currently has over 15 million active accounts and offers more than 300 games.
VALVE SOFTWARE, maker of such diverse hits as 'Half-Life', 'Half-Life 2' and 'Half-Life 2 Episodes 1 and 2', has released the final version of its Steamworks SDK, which allows indie game developers to sell their titles through its Steam online gaming service.
Steam already includes robust tools for purchasing, anti-piracy features, anti-cheat protection, downloadable content and social networking functions. It is making that platform available to indie developers for the sweet cost of... nada.
The deal seems to be a win-win for both sides - small software developers get to sell their game through an established platform with a gimongous audience and at no cost, whilst Valve hoovers up the market share for PC digital games distribution.
Quote:
Indie games have come under renewed focus in the past couple of years, as mainstream games budgets spiral upwards and gamers increasingly hanker for more innovative (and cheaper) fayre - services like Xbox Live and, now, Steam will be quite happy to cater to their whims, as long as there's market share to be had and money to be made.
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