
Valve’s blossoming digital distribution network set to be bolstered by widening range of content
With both user numbers and publisher support swelling for Valve’s online digital distribution network Steam, Valve’s marketing vice president Doug Lombardi has said that the firm is looking to widen its offering to more types of digital content.
Speaking to US consumer site Tom’s Games, Lombardi stated: “We're looking at other types of content like video and music. We're definitely having those conversations and meetings, and we're reaching out to folks with other types of digital entertainment.
“I think before the end of the year, you'll probably see some pilot programs with other digital entertainment on Steam.”
Lombardi also expressed his delight at the sales of the console version of The Orange Box, though he did add that the PC version was by far the strongest performer.
“We were very happy with both the Xbox 360 and PS3 sales of The Orange Box. I think the Xbox 360 version did just over a million, while the PS3 version did a few hundred thousand copies. So I think when all is said and done, The Orange Box will have sold about 1.5 million copies on the console, which is great.
“But the game's PC sales were much stronger. I'd say significantly stronger, at least a two-digit percentage increase over the console sales. And that includes Steam sales, retail sales, and now individual sales of Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Half-Life 2: Episode 2.”
Comments
So it begins
I'm not keen on this as I prefer to have different programs for getting different Content, such as Itunes for Music and Steam for games, I hope they don't concentrate too much on trying to take away from the one thing Steam is good at and thats downloading legal games.
Excellent news
This is fantastic news. I am longing for a model like Steam to encroach on other entertainment fields. IMO the best feature on Steam is the ability to download the game you've purchased whenever and as many times as you want, which essentially means I'm protected against accidental deletion or loss.
The sooner tv, film and music are sold with this pay-once access-forever model the better.
Sweet
This is sweet. Digital Distribution is sweet. The only time I buy a game from a store is if I want the Special Edition or if it's not available through DD. Now having all entertainment in one location will be even better. Although I prefer my movies on Blu-Ray. If they can offer a system to download 1080p movies without quality loss from compression then it would be even better.
Leave a Comment
HOT TOPICS
PS3 Slim already in production? 11
Pachter: PS3 will trump 360 by 2015 11
Warner Bros boss questions pre-owned 9
‘80s home computer war becomes comedy show 9
US: Sony's PS3 titles struggle to hit 1m 9
UK console installed base tops 24m 6
Sony planned UMD-free PSP 'from the beginning' 5
Reborn Woolworths bursts into life 3
Last.FM free to XBL Gold members 3
Blu-ray sales boom in UK 2
RELATED STORIES
AMD gets Steamed up
Valve’s downloads build up Steam
Eidos lets off some Steam
Steam gets major overhaul
Steam enters community battleground
Rockstar Steams up 1
Steam deal struck with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. prequel
More Portal on the way 1
Google to buy Valve, says report 5
Google refuses to rule out Valve takeover 2
ABOUT US
MCV is the leading trade news and community site for all professionals working within the UK and international video games market. It reaches everyone from store manager to CEO, covering the entire industry. MCV is published by Intent Media, which specialises in entertainment, leisure and technology markets
















