Valve's digital distribution service Steam will be coming to the Mac platform tomorrow, finally bridging a big gap for Mac users in the PC gaming market. Slowly but surely, Valve will be porting their personal library of games to the Mac. The first Source powered game to be released will be the first-person puzzle game Portal, which will be available at launch tomorrow, along with several other third-party games.
Perhaps even more important is the fact that any future multiplayer Valve games ported to the Mac (Like Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Left 4 Dead, etc.) will be compatible with their PC counterparts. While the ability for Mac and PC users to intermingle in online games isn't exactly new, Steam will make it a much more common occurrence. This is good news for both parties, considering the deep rivalries that exist between Mac and PC users.
Imagine it. You're in a TF2 server on 2Fort, and your enemy, a Mac user, has just stolen your team's intelligence. But as he sprints across the bridge, you jump down from the battlements with your flamethrower and watch as you burn his victory to a crisp. Pretty sweet revenge, right?
Beyond that, though, Steam's release on the Mac is really a victory for PC gaming in general. Not only does it give the Mac some sorely needed entertainment software and open up a lot of new possibilities, but it also may help to put PC gaming back on top again. And who knows, the shared battles may even cause Mac and PC users to gain a mutual respect for one another.
How do you feel about the Steam service coming to Macs?
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Comments (8)
I don't like using steam, period. Some people consider it convenient, but I say it's a pain in the ass.
can't wait to finally play some real games on my mac!
I'm sure it's a good thing, but apple is a terrible selfish corportation and I'm sure will sue steam for some reason or another afterwards, like them making a new game using mac's specifications or some shit.
I'd rather things work on linux/windows comps because well, that's what I (and most other people) prefer. *shrug*
.sweet! I"ve been thinking about upgrading my computer for something a little more powerful, but I'm fed up with windows. With this news, it almost guarantees I'll get a mac next. (the only issue is price)
Mutual respect? "Let's go PC bashing again even though they are far superior!" ....Right....
Gah! Finally. Love my Macbook, but I want to be able to kill zombies on the go. And soon, I will have that ability.
Oh man. I used to like Steam but then it was a huge pain to delete games off of my system. I think I still have something stuck on my computer. :\