In 2004, Valve entertainment released a new game distribution program called Steam. While not the most creatively titled service, it has grown to become one of the most influential forces in gaming, helping to make the PC for more than just WoW when it comes to games.
The biggest difference that Steam has from traditional stores is that when you never buy physical media unless you’re buying a physical game that supports Steam. The games are tied to an account you make and you can download games as many times as you need to without having to ask for permission to re-download. Also, the only time there is a CD Key is if you buy a physical disc, and that’s just to activate the game with Steam. You do it once and never need to do it again. So, you never need to worry about losing your disc or the CD Key. This has revolutionized my gaming habits, making PC games a reasonable thing for me to play now since Steam has actually made it convenient to play on my computer.
The service is not perfect, however. Being a download-service, users have to deal with their ISPs when getting their games. Some companies, like Comcast, have bandwidth caps so if you go on a buying spree, you can have your internet shut off or have to pay extra. Also, if you lose your internet connection you may lose the ability to play the games. Usually Steam allows you to play games in “offline mode” but without being to validate your account, some games just may not run.
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