Valve has announced that Steam will begin selling productivity and creativity software applications starting September 5.

http://store.steampowered.com/news/8584/

What do you think about this, would you be inclined to purchase software apps through Steam? It's interesting that developers will be able to submit proposed apps via Steam Greenlight for feedback and approval from end users.

I wonder if we eventually might see some sort of Steam OS?

Urgh...

I like it. It's a smart move.

Though I still say they need to make a steam console.

So now I have to load up Steam to use software I've purchased?

[censored] outta here.

I don't buy software besides games, so no I won't be inclined. Seems like a good enough idea, though. But a lot of software already includes automatic updating, at least the free stuff I use. And there's little need for a social platform or all-in-one-place library for these programs. Steam's feature set might not be as appealing for regular software as it is for games.

No, because the Windows 8 app store will probably be the easier way to get apps.

click on steampowered for more information.... there is no more information.

Basically this. I'm tired of unnecessary 3rd party entanglements like this. It is NOT beneficial to the end user in the long run. It ALWAYS starts as an "alternative" means to aquire something, then before you know it, its REQUIRED.

I don't see Steam replacing Windows anytime soon, so you should be fine buying and installing software however you normally go about it.

I gather this might be a way of hedging their bets against a rumored exclusive Windows 8 app store.

Well yeah, I know that. I'm saying for software bought through Steam itself.

If I want to use a piece of software, I shouldn't have to do more than click "Start>Programs>Application".

I'm thinking the Windows App store might pull some Xbox moves and pay to get software early, so you'll have to use the Windows store before anything else. And maybe they'll get stuff cheaper. I like the Windows app store (from the consumer preview). I don't want to have to go to other companies websites to download and purchase apps. I want it all in one place, in the Metro dashboard. Click, buy (through my Windows Live account), download, install, done.

I think that's why I'm in love with Windows 8. I want my PC to be like an iPad. Everything in one store, everything managed and installed for me.

PC's as most people know them are dying. The people who don't want to let go hate Windows 8, but I think for the average user it's going to make life a lot better.

You shouldn't have to do more than that even if it's tied to Steam, as long as you have Steam start up with the computer. It's a little heavy on system resources though, even if it's only idle in your notification area. Valve should look into that if they intend to be a full-on software platform now.

Seems like a good idea to me, I can't imagine there would be any software I'd be inclined to use from it though. I generally always have Steam open, as a good majority of my games are on it, so being able to launch other applications through it makes sense.

I suppose it depends on whether there is some new app distributed exclusively through Steam that seems incredibly useful or cheap. The only paid applications I use frequently are Adobe Creative Suite and some accounting software. Everything else is pretty much freeware stuff, OpenOffice, media player classic, google chrome, Notepad ++, etc.

Personally, I don't have any particular loyalty to Windows, I'd be willing to try something new if it meant my apps and games would run faster, with as little bloatware as possible. I suppose if there were some sort of stable Steam OS, I'd rather deal with only one Steam client/updater application running in the background instead of all the multiple updaters and bloatware running for every application and all the crapware that came with my laptop.

Windows 7 is pretty stable, however, and probably cost billions to develop, so I'd be very surprised if Valve develops something better.

I hate that I always have Steam running in the background. The only game I have on Steam is Skyrim.

I just hate the invasiveness of it.

I'd love to see a Steam Winter Sale on Adobe CS6 or 3DSMax

How is it invasive? It hardly takes up any resources, and you don't even notice it unless you need to launch something through it, which takes a simple click of the mouse.

Don't need Steam. Don't want it. Same goes for any drm/client software.

Once my operating system is activated that's it. I see no reason to support activating or being tied to an account for any other application unless it ABSOLUTELY REQUIRES a client. e.g. an MMO. If they are going to just sell software then great. Tieing it to the drm side of Steam though...

At least they didn't say "App" in the press release. Whenever I read that in place of application I have the urge to see a small furry animal fired from a canon into a brick wall.

No, even if Microsoft commits itself to Windows 8's direction for good, there'll always be the Unix based OS's to keep PC as they are.

If that happens, i'll be switching to linux and (japanese ) consoles


I know what you mean

How is it NOT?

"Oh, you want to play this game that you spent your money on? You gotta check with us first to make sure it's ok."

Sounds like antivirus software.
windows authentication..

I'm still not seeing the problem, I have never once had a problem playing a game that I bought on Steam, and if I don't have an internet connection at the time I just put it in offline mode and go about my business. I'm as against DRM as the next person, but Valve has created a system that works without a hitch, and I have no problem using a piece of software that keeps all my games up to date and lets me download them whenever I want and as many times as I want.

I think it's a good idea. Compete with the Windows 8 app store. Hopefully Origin can improve itself and join in the race as well. We could start seeing lower prices on expensive software.

When was the last time you saw "Game currently unavalible" from a game NOT on steam? Case and point.

Ubisoft and before that Blizzard.

EDIT - This is probably a bad place to talk about this. There's a dedicated Steam discussion thread specifically meant for stuff like this. We should move there as to not de-rail this thread.