Why Steam Deserves To Be Your New Console!

Do you know that romantic comedy cliche where the young twenty something chick has to choose between the good looking jerk or the wealthy foreign dude?  Then in a sudden twist she finds out that her best friend, Todd, has been the one the whole time.  That is your relationship with Steam.  While we were fretting over which Xbox or Playstation to get, Steam sat quietly promising to console you in your darkest hour.  Not once did it charge you for online capabilities and it doesn't get jealous if you use its Netflix.

5.  Backwards Compatible In Its Truest Sense

Steam did something smart.  It stuck to one media format for all its games-The digital download.  And because you have that one media format you never have to worry about your games becoming obsolete.  Your system can still play Max Payne, Serious Sam and Doom 3 like it was the day you first bought it.  No system can ever promise that longevity.  And Steam has cloud saves, which means you can still keep your progress in a game even though you switch computers.

The CD or the game cartridge are no longer the golden standard that sits above the PC.  Now that next gen systems have to find updates, install data, use up gigs and store to the hard drive it doesn't make it much more of an advantage.

Toaster not included.

4.  The Perfect Balance of Internet Capability

Did we mention that Steam is 1 of 2 game networks on the market that does not require 60 bucks a year?  The other system has an Italian plumber as its mascot.  Steam could also be a real jerk about being an online digital company and make some rule like, "your computer must be online at all times in order to play."  But Valve has a heart and a love for the Tiny Tim in us all.

3. The Thin Line Between Console and PC is Closing

It used to be clear as day to whether you were a PC gamer or a console gamer.  If you wanted 2D adventures, fighters and beatem' ups you went with console, if you wanted games that would make Star Trek engineers cry you went with computer.  That is no longer the case as more and more varieties of games are being ported to Steam.  Don't want to use your mouse?  Fine, be that way!  But also remember that a startling amount of Steam games are becoming gamepad compatible.  The Steam Box is also coming out with a controller that will take the place of your keyboard and mouse.  As mentioned earlier, the disc drive media is not convenient, fast or easy as it once was so Steam has the advantage.

2. The Issue With Upgrading

You may think to yourself, "Aha, computers must be constantly upgraded and consoles last about 8 years."  But you also have to remember that Steam is not asking you to get a whole new $600 system every 3 years. A strong PC can last 3-4 years before becoming irrelevant.  After those 4 years you can switch out any technical hardware to make the system better.

The mascot...a blue collar engineer with a degree in miming

1.  And Those Prices...

It's Christmas Eve and you turn on your warm and lonely computer to find out that Batman Arkham City is only $5, while the newest indie games are selling for $2.  Who has this power and authority?  It isn't Sony or Microsoft.  It is Valve.