Steam, what program is it? How to use it? What is Steam? Steam activation.

This is also an excellent service for buying games - all the latest new games appear here at the time of release. You won't even need to get up from the couch - just press a couple of buttons, and the game is already on your computer. Read about all the main features of Steam further in this article.

The description of how to use Steam will begin from the moment you join this gaming community.

The registration process on Steam is similar to the same procedure in other programs and social networks. You will need to select a login and password, and then indicate your address email, which will be used to activate your account and further confirm all transactions on it. You can learn more about how to register on Steam.

How to change the language in Steam to Russian

If the program displays all text in English or another language (menus, buttons, descriptions, etc.), then you need to change the application language to Russian. This can be done through the Steam client settings. You can learn how to change the Steam language to Russian.

How to get a refund for a game on Steam

Steam is trying to stay ahead of the rest of the planet and was one of the first to offer the possibility of returning funds to the client’s account if he did not like the game he purchased. Moreover, the money is returned not only to the Steam wallet, but also to an external account, for example to a credit card. However, you can only return a game that you have not played for more than 2 hours. A number of other conditions must also be met. How to return the money spent on the game in this service, you can.

How to add a friend on Steam

Adding a friend to Steam can be a serious problem for a new user. The thing is that the gaming platform limits the capabilities of recently registered accounts. One of these limitations is the lack of a friend feature. How can you get around this limitation if you have just started using the popular gaming service - .

How to withdraw money from Steam

Although Steam does not officially support withdrawing money from an internal wallet to external accounts, it is still possible to do so. To do this, you will need to use the services of intermediaries - both companies and individuals. You can learn how to withdraw money from your Steam wallet.

How to enable Steam Guard

Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator is an innovative account protection feature on Steam. With it, you can reliably protect your account. You can only access it by entering the code from your mobile phone. This code changes every 30 seconds and is displayed in the Steam mobile application. Therefore, there is no way that attackers will be able to hack your account in this gaming service. How to connect Steam Guard to your Steam account -.

How to disable Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator

Despite the fact that Steam Guard significantly increases the level of account protection, it can also cause inconvenience. Since you must enter a code from a mobile application to log into an account with Steam Guard enabled, you may end up in the following situation: you need to log in, but your phone is not at hand (for example, its battery is dead). As a result, it will take quite some time until you can log into your account and play your favorite games. To avoid these unpleasant situations, you should disable Steam Guard. You can read about how to do this in.

How to link your phone to Steam

Linking your phone to Steam is necessary to increase its security. In addition, using the application on your mobile phone, you can use almost all the functions of the playground directly on your phone. The only thing is that you won’t be able to play games, but chat, activity feed, game purchases and much more are available in the mobile application. Learn more about linking your phone to your Steam account.

How to find out Steam ID

A Steam user ID number is required for use in various services. For example, you can use it to find out the player’s statistics in the popular game Dota 2. Also, using the ID, you can go to the user’s page.

How to find out your Steam profile ID.

What is a billing address on Steam?

When you use a credit card to pay for games on Steam, you need to fill out your account information. Among the fields to be filled in there is a line “billing address”. Many users do not know what it is and enter incorrect information.

It's simple, the billing address is your place of residence. You can read how to correctly fill out this field when paying for Steam services with a credit card.

How to deposit money on Steam

To purchase games on Steam, you need to top up your internal wallet. You can do this in many ways: electronic wallets, mobile phone account, credit card. Detailed description You will find all the ways to replenish your wallet on Steam.

How to enable trade confirmation on Steam

With the introduction of Steam Guard, the conditions for exchanging items between service participants also changed. Now, if you have not connected a mobile authenticator, you will have to wait 15 days for the exchange to be confirmed. This greatly interferes with the transaction, slowing them down. How to enable trade confirmation in Steam and remove the delay, read.

How to change your password on Steam

If you want to maintain a high level of security for your Steam account, you should change your password periodically. This may also be necessary if your password is too weak and you want to set a complex password that cannot be guessed. You can read about changing your password on Steam.

How to activate a key in Steam

Games on Steam can be purchased either by purchasing them using the service’s internal store or by activating keys purchased on third-party trading platforms. This opportunity is also used when activating games purchased in physical media (disc) format. How to activate a Steam game key - read.

How to find out the Steam trade link

The service has a large number opportunities and functions for conducting a full-fledged exchange and trade of inventory items. One of these features is activating exchange using a link. This allows you to exchange with other users without even adding them as friends. It is convenient to post the link on various forums and websites. Read to learn more about the trade link on Steam.

How to create a group on Steam

Groups on Steam are designed to unite users with common interests. For example, you could join a group related to a game that's coming out soon. Any user of the service can also create their own group. Learn more about the process of creating a group on Steam.

How to level up on Steam

Steam developers are constantly improving this gaming platform. One of the interesting innovations is the Steam profile level. With it, you can level up your account in the same way as leveling up in some RPG ( role-playing game). A high level is a great reason to show off to your friends. In addition, it affects the chance of random drops of Steam inventory items. The higher the level, the higher this probability.

You can increase your level in several ways. About the most effective ways For level ups on Steam, read .

How to get free games on Steam

Steam can please its users with a large number of free games. Moreover, many of them are not inferior in quality to large paid projects. For example, one of the most popular games in the world - Dota 2, is completely free. About how to get free games in this service, .

How to make money on Steam

The service will allow you not only to have fun with friends, playing great new gaming products, but also to earn money. There are several ways to earn money on Steam. Read more about this in.

How to transfer money from Steam to Qiwi

Many users want to transfer money from their Steam wallet to their account in an electronic payment system. For example, about the popular QIWI service. But, unfortunately, there is no direct opportunity to do this yet. In order to transfer money from Steam to Qiwi you will have to use the services of intermediaries. About how to do this.

How to check cache integrity in Steam

If you have problems launching a game on Steam, the first thing you need to do is check the integrity of the cache. This feature allows you to check game files for damage. If the files are damaged, then the problem was with them. After verification, the files will be replaced with intact ones, and you will be able to play the game. Read to find out how to check the integrity of the game cache on Steam.

How to open inventory on Steam for exchange

An open inventory will allow other service users to view your items without adding them as friends. This is convenient - if you have the necessary items, the user will add you as a friend and send you a request for exchange. If the required item is not available, then you and the other Steam account owner will not have to waste your time on unnecessary questions. In addition, an open inventory is needed to create an exchange link. How to make your Steam inventory public, you can.

How to write to Steam support

Like any other popular service, Steam has its own support team. You can access it through the Steam program. By submitting an application, you can solve problems related to games, account and other functions of the service. You can read more about how to contact Steam support in.

How to remove Steam

You may lose the mood to play games and want to uninstall Steam. But at the same time, you plan to resume your hobby in the future. A trap awaits many users here - when you uninstall the Steam program, the games installed in it are also deleted. Therefore, read on to know how you can uninstall Steam while keeping installed games.

How to delete a game on Steam

Deleting a game on Steam is easy. Just press a couple of buttons and the game will be deleted from your hard drive. But sometimes unexpected things happen here, for example, an error during deletion. This most often happens with games from inexperienced developers. About how to delete a game on Steam in any situation.

How to make an invisible nickname in Steam

You can surprise your friends by using a blank instead of your nickname. When they go to your profile page, they will only see a blank space instead of your name. Also, your name will not be visible in the games of the service. Read to learn how to make an invisible nickname on Steam.

What does rep mean in Steam?

If you have been using this gaming service for a long time, you have probably noticed more than once inscriptions like “rep+” or “rep+” on the pages of various users. You can read about what they mean in.

How to unlink a phone from Steam

Linking your phone to your Steam account may prevent you from logging into your account, as this will require you to enter your Steam Guard access code. For this reason, many people unlink their mobile phone number from their Steam account after using this function for a while. You can read how to do this in.

How to change email in Steam

Changing your mail is necessary if you decide to change your address email box. How to do this, you can.

How to set a background in Steam

A beautiful profile background allows you to make it unique and will delight page visitors. Steam allows you to choose a page background from the options available in your inventory. Read to find out how to set the desired background in Steam.

How to change currency on Steam

Changing the currency in Steam may be necessary if prices in the internal service are displayed incorrectly. For example, in dollars, while you live in Russia. This also affects the cost of games. You can read about how to change the display of prices in Steam.

How to buy a game on Steam

In order to play games on this playground, you must purchase them. Purchasing games is one of the main features of Steam, so much attention is paid to it - games are divided into categories, there is the ability to filter them by various characteristics, you can view games at a discount, etc. How to competently buy a game on Steam, you can.

How to find a friend on Steam

Since Steam uses several tens of millions of users, this gaming platform has an advanced profile search system. With it you can find your friends in this huge gaming community. You can learn more about finding and adding a friend to your contact list.

Steam Family Sharing

You can learn how to use family access in Steam from.

How to increase loading speed on Steam

Since with the help of the Steam service you can buy and download games without leaving the couch, and modern games have large size, then their loading speed is extremely important. Agree, waiting 2 days to play a game that interests you is unpleasant. There is a way to increase the loading speed of games on Steam. Read more about it in.

How to add a video to Steam

With the help of the gaming service, you can share not only screenshots from games, but also upload game videos. To do this, you will need to connect your YouTube account to your Steam profile. After this, you will be able to upload videos to Steam. Read to learn how to add videos to Steam.

How to open a marketplace on Steam

The Steam Marketplace is a popular place for many users of the service. But you cannot use it immediately after creating an account. There are a number of conditions imposed on the sale and purchase of items that must be met to unlock them. Read to find out how to unlock the Steam trading platform.

Where are Steam screenshots stored?

The screenshot feature is one of the most popular features among users. The program saves the pictures you take in a specific folder. By opening this folder, you will have access to all saved screenshots and will be able to do whatever you want with them - send them to a friend in social network, edit in a photo editor, etc.

To find out where Steam stores screenshots, read.

How to transfer money from Steam to Steam

How to reinstall Steam

Reinstalling Steam is necessary if you have any problems with the client of this program. At the same time, it is important that during the reinstallation the installed games are not lost, since downloading them again may take considerable time. Read to find out how to reinstall Steam.

How to add a game to Steam

There are several ways to add a new game to your game library. One of them is adding a third-party game that is installed on your computer, but the game is not in the Steam service itself (in the game store). You can learn how to add a third-party game to the Steam library.

How to sell things on Steam

Selling things is one of the popular features of the playground. By selling things, you will receive money, which you can later use to buy new games or purchase other inventory items: cards, backgrounds, emoticons, etc. To find out how to sell things on Steam, read.

How to get cards on Steam

How to update Steam

The latest version of the program contains bug fixes and may also have some new recently introduced feature. Therefore, it is important to update the Steam client. Sometimes there may be problems with the update. Read on to learn how to update the Steam client.

How to find out the value of a Steam account

The games that are present on your account can amount to a decent amount in value. And you may not even know about it. In order to calculate the cost of an account, there are special services. If you want to find out the cost of purchased games for your account or your friends' account, then read.

How to unblock a friend on Steam

If you are annoyed by communicating with some people on Steam, then you can add them to the blacklist. But after the offense subsides, you will want to return the user to your friends list. This is not so easy to do. Steam developers have not added display of the list of blocked users in general list contacts. To unlock, you will have to open a separate menu. You can read about how to unblock a friend on Steam.

How to clear nickname history on Steam

Nickname history contains all your previous names that you put on your profile. If you want to prevent Steam users from seeing your previous nicknames, then you will have to clear your nickname history. This cannot be done by pressing one button. You'll have to use other methods.

How to find a game on Steam

It is important to know how to use the game search in the Steam client, as this will help you choose the right options for your entertainment. The game search on this playground is flexible, so you can find a game that best suits your tastes. About how to search for games on Steam.

How to change login on Steam

Changing your login on a popular gaming service is not an easy process. This is due to the fact that you cannot change your login by editing your profile. You will have to create a new account and transfer all the information and contact list to it. Read to find out how you can change your login on Steam.

How to add music to Steam

Steam can very well serve as a music player. You can add your own music collection and listen to it while playing. You can learn how to add your own music from your computer to Steam.

How to call on Steam

In addition to playing music, Steam can serve as a voice chat, replacing such popular communication programs as Skype and TeamSpeak. Just press a couple of buttons and you can talk to your friends via microphone. Moreover, this is possible in a conference format. Read to find out how to call your friends on Steam.

How to record a video on Steam

Although the program supports the ability to broadcast gameplay, but it does not have the function of recording video from games. Therefore, for this purpose, you will have to use third-party applications to record video from your computer. You can read about how to record a video from a game on Steam.

Where does Steam install games?

If you want to use mods for games or you need to change game files, then you should know where these files are located. Read to know where Steam installs games.

How to offer a trade on Steam

The exchange function in Steam allows you to transfer items between different users. You can exchange games and inventory items with your friends. In order to start an exchange, you need to send a request to your friend. You can learn how to do this.

How to change the name of a group on Steam

Changing the name of a group on Steam is another difficult task due to the fact that the program does not have a suitable function. You will need to create new group and transfer information from the old one. Read to find out how to change the name of a group on Steam.

How to transfer money from Steam

How to set up Steam

Correctly setting up Steam allows you to make using this program as comfortable as possible. You can customize the application to suit your needs. The main settings include the format of notifications about various events in the program, display of interface details, etc. Read to know how to set up Steam.

How to get badges on Steam

You can show off your game badges to your friends. They also allow you to receive various items and increase your profile level. You can learn how to get badges on Steam.

How to view your trade history on Steam

How to change your account name on Steam

If you want to change your image on this playground, then you will also need to change your name. This can be done through your profile settings. You can learn how to change your account name on Steam.

How to activate the game on Steam

Activating a game on Steam can be done in several ways: you can activate a game key or activate a game that is in your inventory. Read to find out how to activate the game on Steam.

How to exit Steam

Logging out of Steam usually means logging out of your account. This may be necessary if you decide to create a new account or log in under a different user profile. Read to find out how to exit Steam.

How to change region in Steam

Setting up a region is important for the correct display of prices in the service’s internal store. This is necessary if you have moved to another country that uses a different currency. Read about how to change your country of residence on Steam.

Fonts for Steam

If you have been using Steam for a decent amount of time, you have noticed that the nicknames of some users of the playground look unusual and beautiful. This is achieved through the use of non-standard fonts. You can read more about using a special font on Steam in.

How to disable automatic updates on Steam

By default, Steam updates the client and games from the library at a certain frequency. But perhaps you need to make sure that the update only happens when you want it, and not automatically. Read to find out how to disable auto-updates in Steam.

How to Verify Your Email Address on Steam

If you want to use all the features of the program, then you need to confirm the email address associated with your account. Using email, you can restore access to your account or confirm the exchange. you can learn how to verify your email address on Steam.

How to find out the version of the game on Steam

When you have problems playing online with your friend via Steam, it's probably due to different versions of the game. You can check the version through the game properties. Read to find out how you can check the version of the game on Steam.

How to disable Steam

After you finish using Steam, you will need to turn off the program so that it does not take up computer resources. About how to do this -.

With the help of this series of articles you will learn about all the features and tricks of the largest gaming service in the world. We hope that after reading this you will not have any questions about using Steam.

The service replaced the earlier WON system, which was a more highly specialized service and was not a system for distributing data over the Internet (digital distribution). The history of Steam began in 1999 with success Team Fortress Classic And multiplayer games. At that time, the popularity of games reached a maximum of 2-3 thousand active players. Number of players TFC And C.S. a couple of years later it increased several times. The result is an anti-cheat system.

When the developers were working on this system, they came up with the idea of ​​using this platform to sell games. The implementation of this idea seemed too expensive, so Valve sought cooperation with various companies such as Amazon, Yahoo and Cisco, offering this approach, but everyone got off with promises. Since the system was so necessary for Valve, the company decided that it would implement this idea itself.

Steam interface first version

Steam was first introduced at the Game Developers Conference on March 22, 2002.

Version Steam 1.0 became available during beta testing . Steam installation was required for beta testers , but was only an additional component for the final version.

In September 2004, it became known about Vivendi Games' lawsuit with Valve. The company argued that distributing Half-Life 2 through Steam violated its publishing contract. Vivendi lost the case and was prohibited from continuing to license Valve games for Internet cafes. The contract between the two companies was later terminated and Valve chose Electronic Arts as the new retail publisher.

In November 2004, Valve released Half-Life 2, the first single-player game to require a Steam client.

Name

Also, the spread of Steam influenced digital distribution in general. Immediately after the release of Half-Life 2 (which requires a mandatory Steam installation), this service attracted the attention of many players. Steam was the first successful project in this area (About 25% of Half-Life 2 copies were sold through Steam). Soon after this, several companies announced the creation of their own similar services. large companies such as Sega, EA Games and 3D Realms. Smaller companies such as Stream Theory and Virgin Games have also announced their projects.

However, some companies ultimately did not bring their own projects to completion. Sega began selling its games on Steam, and Game xStream's Triton service, which distributed 3D Realms games, was closed. (3D Realms games have also moved to Steam). Electronic Arts also began distributing some of its games through Steam, despite its EA Store service (in addition to digital distribution, this service is also intended for online sales of games on physical media).

Possibilities

Multilingual

Steam is currently available in the following languages: English, Dutch, Danish, Italian, Spanish, Korean, German, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Finnish, French, Swedish and Japanese.

Steam has implemented regional protection due to the fact that in different regions, boxed editions of Steam games have different prices. That is, games purchased in Russia (in a boxed version) will not work outside the CIS (Such protection was implemented for the release of Half-Life 2: Episode One in 2006). At the same time, this approach allows publishers to make any official voice acting available, since publishers do not have to worry about games being re-exported. Most games purchased on Steam are multi-region and have no restrictions since they are sold at the same price in all regions.

Network games

The responsibilities of the part of Steam responsible for online gaming include obtaining a list of servers, checking the client and server versions to ensure compatibility, as well as providing the server with Steam account information and blocking accounts found to be cheating by the Valve Anti-Cheat service. to all online Steam games that support VAC technology. Steam also blocks access to users who do not have a Steam account (non-Steam versions of games) or whose account does not have a purchased game, which is another component of DRM protection. This component cannot bypass hacked versions of Steam as it requires hacking or bypassing authentication servers. Its essence lies in the fact that players do not connect directly to the server, but first to a lobby created by one of the players. The lobby leader can choose game parameters (map, difficulty level, etc.), “kick out” someone who has connected, and make the lobby accessible only to friends or by invitation. After required composition players are recruited, the lobby leader starts searching for a server. Steam selects the most suitable empty server on which it installs the required settings and connects players from the lobby to it.

Steam Cloud

This feature allows you to save game data (such as personal configurations, keyboard and mouse settings, and logo sprays for multiplayer games) on Valve servers. This feature is useful for those who use their Steam games on multiple computers. In the future, Valve plans to add the ability to save save files on the server.

Steam Community

For the convenience of creating a backup copy on Steam, the archive is split into files of 640 MB, 4.7 GB, or as specified by the user. Next, the archives are written to disks by any program. Steam does not have a built-in optical disc recording feature. However, backup You can also do it manually by writing the contents of the SteamApps folder to disk.

Features under development

Developers periodically announce what features they plan to implement on Steam. Such declared but not yet implemented functions are:

Promotions

Window for managing gifts (Gift) and guest invitations

Passes

Account Operations

Account creation

The user can create an unlimited number of accounts. When you first launch Steam, the create account button appears automatically. The user must provide an account name and password, as well as a security question and answer in case he forgets the password. It is also advisable to provide an email address that can be used to recover your password. The account name may contain latin letters, numbers and underscore _ . In this case, the account name should not be already registered, and should not contain the word valve And steam- this is done to prevent the possibility of impersonation

Activation

However, such a system has a number of serious disadvantages:

1. To install the game, an Internet connection is required, and a mandatory update to 100% is required. Otherwise, it is impossible to install the game. Thus, users who have a low-speed modem or an expensive (if paying for traffic) Internet connection cannot download updates and start playing, even if they have a boxed version of the Steam game.
2. Inability to activate the game or download updates for it when the Steam servers are busy.

It is precisely because of these shortcomings that pirated non-Steam versions received widespread, since Steam is not available in such versions. Such games can be launched immediately, without connecting to the Internet and launching Steam. Pirates also created hacked versions of Steam for users with an Internet connection, allowing them to download games and play them without paying. However, such versions become outdated quite quickly, and it becomes impossible to download new games or updates for some existing games. Through such hacked Steam clients it is also impossible to play on licensed servers controlled by Valve using Steam accounts.

However, it was the activation that caused greatest number complaints from Steam users. Being a bottleneck in the Half-Life 2 game distribution system, despite Valve's best efforts and assurances that it would pre-load a non-boxed version long before the game's release, many customers were forced to wait for many hours, waiting for a stable connection with the servers and decryption of the game files.

Purchasing games

Instead of buying boxes of games, discs, CD keys, a Steam user gets the opportunity to download purchased games from Steam servers from any place where the Steam client can be used. Games can be purchased individually (with some exceptions) or as part of “packs” of several games (if any), costing less than the total cost of the games individually, sometimes even several times. It should be taken into account that the volume of such “packages” can be tens of gigabytes, which must be downloaded via the Internet. Which in turn requires high-speed, cheap Internet.

All purchases are made from the Steam client desktop or through any browser, and data is transferred through an encrypted connection. For greater security payment information is not saved, so it must be entered again each time. Purchases are made through a virtual shopping cart.

Supported following methods payment:

Maestro debit cards, popular in Europe, are not directly supported, but can be used when paying via PayPal. At the moment payment methods are limited only credit cards and banking payment systems using accounts linked to credit cards. This was the reason for criticism of Steam, mainly in countries where strict criteria are established for obtaining credit cards (for example, age) and non-bank Internet payment systems (for example, WebMoney) are predominantly developed.

Price

Prices for games on Steam can vary widely. Currently, the price range is as follows: from $3.99 (for example Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved) to $49.99 for one game, or up to $99.99 for a collection (for example, Valve Complete Pack). Additionally, the price on Steam may vary by region. For example the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. for the CIS countries it is available at a price of $9.95, while in Europe - $29.95. And the game Call of Duty 4 has an even greater price range: In Russia and America - $49.99. In France - $69.99, and in Australia - $88.50

Account blocking

Valve reserves the right to block the accounts of users who violate the user agreement. The main types of violations are:

Piracy and hacking This includes using a hacked Steam client program to access the Steam network, attempting to register fake CD keys or CD keys found on the Internet. Credit card fraud Any fraudulent activity involving credit cards when paying for Steam products, as well as chargebacks (regardless of when the transaction was made). Stealing, sharing, or trading someone else's accounts Any actions with other people's accounts without the permission of their owners: theft and replacement of passwords, use of an account to log in, any operations with the account, disclosure of account data, etc. Phishing attacks and deliberate deception of users This includes communication with Steam users under misleading names and e-mail addresses of supposedly Steam employees or passwords and other confidential account information. Purchasing and selling Steam accounts Responsibility for using and ensuring the security of a Steam account lies primarily with the original user - all accounts subject to purchase or sale may be blocked if Valve determines the fact of purchase and sale. Any other violation of the Steam Subscriber Agreement or Steam Online Code of Conduct

Collection of statistics

Sales statistics

The Steam platform provides publishers with product sales statistics (including for retail, if the game requires mandatory registration). As a result, the developer receives up-to-date information on game sales, which can be used to evaluate the success of the game, as well as the effectiveness of promotions.

Hardware and software

Steam collects certain information from users' computers.

Gameplay

• Information about ways to complete the game, places in the game that caused the greatest difficulties/mortality. This data, for example, can be used by developers to make decisions about balance adjustments.
• If the game uses an achievement system linked to the Steam system, then the game statistics page displays the percentage of players who have completed a particular achievement. Some of these statistics are available to users on the official website.
• Information about the popularity of mods: the number of servers for the mod, the number of players currently, as well as the total number of minutes per month spent playing the modification by all players.

Technical features

System Requirements

Content servers

Steam uses the UDP network protocol suite. Data is loaded using the TCP protocol. The Steam client connects to so-called content servers. At the moment (2008) there are more than two hundred such servers around the world. To speed up loading, data is compressed. Also, the Steam client can receive data from several servers simultaneously, and the data download is automatically distributed among the most suitable servers. Steam authorization, however, depends on Valve's central server in Bellevue (USA).

Steam game storage formats

Game files are stored in the folder " …\Steam_root\SteamApps\" There are two formats: GCF and NCF. GCF is used primarily for Valve games, while NCF is the format used to distribute most third-party games.

Steam Game Cache Files (GCF)

Steam uses something like a virtual file system to host game files. GCF was originally short for Grid Cache File (Grid (Lattice) - an early code name for Steam) It is now generally accepted that GCF is an abbreviation for Game Cache Files SteamApps. All games based on such files cannot work without Steam, even with GCF fully unpacked - using them without Steam is only possible with the use of emulators.

Using the GCF format solves several problems, but at the same time has a number of disadvantages. In general, the GCF format is convenient for auto-updates and data recovery, but only for saving the original game in the form in which the developer created it - the user cannot directly change the game files themselves and implement a modification with changing characteristics directly into the game. Also, using GCF files requires unpacking library files (EXE) as well as media files, which reduces free space on your hard drive. The GCF format is based on the use of modifications while saving the original game, which makes it easier to restore it, but does not allow you to change the base game files.

Steam game files that do not contain cache (NCF)

NCF (No-Cache File) files do not contain game cache, unlike the GCF format. All game files are located in the folder steamapps/common/game name, and inside the NCF file there is only a list of these files and information about their checksum. These files are located in the folder SteamApps along with GCF files and are needed to be able to launch and update games via Steam, but are not integral part games. Updates and searching for damaged files for such games are more difficult and longer than for GCF files. NCF files can also be opened using GCFScape.

Installing modifications

Criticism

Steam got quite a lot negative reviews from the players. Basically the criticism comes down to the following points:

Internet access required

To install games, even those purchased at retail, you must be connected to the Internet, and be sure to download updates that have accumulated since shipment installation disk to print, which often requires a broadband connection.

Forced updates and difficulty using offline mode

The offline mode is nullified if you reinstall Windows, since in this case you need to run Steam in Internet mode, and this will lead to inoperability of games that have been updated until these games are fully updated. Despite the fact that in the properties of any game you can select the “do not update automatically” option, in practice this means that Steam will not start downloading updates automatically, but when the game starts, the update will begin. Thus, you can launch the game without updating only either directly through its exe file, or by switching to offline mode. This is very inconvenient for users playing over the Internet and having games that they have banned from updating (for example, single-player games), since searching for servers for multiplayer games

You can often hear the question of what Steam is and how to use it. Steam is the best service for online purchasing at the moment. computer games. Here you can find hundreds of different operating games Windows systems and MacOS. In this article we will look at the main features that Steam provides to users.

The Steam service has four main parts, these are: Store, Library, News and Community. We will now look at each of these parts in more detail.

Shop this is a catalog of games where you can choose and buy the game you like. After the game is purchased, it moves to the Library section and begins downloading; after the download is complete, you can play.

Library This is a catalog of games you have purchased. Having purchased a game once, it remains in your Library forever, and you can always download it using Steam and start playing. This way, all your games are centralized and cataloged in one place.

News not a particularly interesting section. News about the Steam system, new games and updates are published here.

Community is a social network for gamers. Here you can chat with Steam users you have added as friends. The community provides many opportunities for organizing joint leisure time playing computer games.

Key features of STEAM

• Purchasing games. If you don't know what Steam is, it's best to start by purchasing games. There are a large number of games available in the Steam catalog. And most of these games can be purchased from anywhere in the world. All you need is Internet access to top up your Steam account and download the game after purchase. By purchasing at least one game, you will quickly understand all the capabilities of this system. You can top up your Steam account using Webmoney, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, PayPal, as well as other payment services. Replenishment occurs quickly and without problems.
• Free games. Steam users are given access to a large number free games.
• Convenient client. You can also work with Steam using a browser. To quickly get acquainted with what Steam is, go to . But, in order to gain access to all the features of Steam you need. The client is an application with which you can top up your account, buy games, communicate with other players and much more.
If a game you purchased from a physical store is also sold on Steam, you can add it to your Game Library. To do this, just enter the key to the game. After this, this game will become available in your Steam account, and you can download it any time you need it.
• Saving game settings to the Steam Cloud online storage. By saving your settings online, you don’t have to worry about their safety.
• Creating offline backups of games. If you have a slow Internet connection and downloading games is difficult for you, you can create a backup copy of those purchased from Steam games and burn it to a disk or other

Steam is a service that is primarily useful to people who are interested in computer games. What does Steam give us? Using it, you can activate your new toy, download its components via the Internet, download updates and news about the game.

Steam is the brainchild of Valve. Accordingly, Steam works with Valve products and products of those developers who have signed a contract with Valve.

In addition, through Steam, without leaving home and without being distracted from your computer, you can buy new games from Valve and other developers.

Who works with the Steam service?

• Activision;
• Codemasters;
• Eidos Interactive;
• EA Games;
• Epic Games;
• GSC Game World;
• id Software;
• Sega;
• Atari;
• Rockstar Games;
• UbiSoft;
• NCSoft;
• and many others.

According to statistics for October 2010, up to 3 thousand products are sold through Steam, and the number of registered users reaches 30 million. The main products of Steam are computer games, trailers and modifications for games.

The word Steam itself means “steam” in English.

It is impossible to overestimate the impact of the emerging service on modern market computer games. The most serious development was found by developers of independent games. Previously, large publishing houses were very wary of new non-standard games, since it was not known in advance how profitable these developments would be. Now the situation has changed. Indie games are distributed through Steam, which gives a start-up team of programmers a chance to get into serious business in the field of computer entertainment.

Steam is a new word in the sales of computer games via the Internet. The method by which Steam operates is called digital distribution. If the publisher uses this method, then he significantly reduces his costs for a whole series positions. There is no need to spend money on producing discs, packaging, printing covers or transporting them. Now everything is possible via the Internet. Accordingly, the financial risk of independent games is reduced several times. In addition, if an independent game finds particular popularity among Steam users, then the developers will have the opportunity to get a contract with a major publisher.

There is no doubt that digital distribution is a step into the future. These technologies are used not only in the field of computer games, but also in the music business. The time is coming material assets, but the time for ideas that bring material profit.

“You can break a sword, but you cannot destroy an idea.” (Victor Hugo)

Steam - service to pump money out of your wallets digital distribution of licensed video games, programs and films; TV series and music may also appear in the future.

The developer and owner of the service is the world-famous company Valve, the developer of such popular games as Counter-Strike, Dota 2, Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress and others.

A little history

The Steam service began its history in 1999, but it officially appeared in 2002 and then it was not yet a platform for sales and was simply an unnecessary component for games.

Around the same time, Valve came up with the idea of ​​selling digital content through its service. At the time, such an idea was very expensive to implement, so the company decided to partner with Amazon, Yahoo or Cisco to help solve the problem. Negotiations between them led nowhere, and Valve begins to bring the idea to life on its own.

So already in 2003, sales of digital goods began in the Steam store, and in 2004, with the release of the game Half-Life 2, the presence of a Steam client became mandatory.

Another year later, games from other developers began to appear intensively on Steam.

The service is developing, new functions appear, the design changes several times and, after going through quite a long way, it becomes what we see it today.

You can learn more about the history of the service by following the links:

• Steam History: Wikipedia
• Steam History: Steam User Content

What is Steam?

If I were asked to briefly and clearly give a person an answer to the question “what is Steam?”, then I would say something like the following:

Steam This is a service that provides access to thousands of licensed products, mainly games. Here you can buy the game for real money and immediately download the licensed version to your computer.

All purchased games will be linked to your account and you will be able to access them at any time, years later, even from another country. Even if the game is deleted from the service for some reason, you will still be able to download it and play it if you purchased it before deletion.

In addition to paid products, there are many free ones, some of which are really high quality and worth your attention.

In addition, Steam has a social part, that is, you can add other users as friends, share achievements, screenshots, videos from games, etc. with them.

What is Steam for?

I decided to answer this question by listing everything positive aspects of this project:

• A huge catalog of games with easy search and navigation makes it easy to find and purchase games. Your collection will always be with you, even when you have to reinstall the operating system or even change your computer. A couple of clicks and the library will be restored. It's convenient.
• Steam is famous for its spontaneous sales and promotions, and the discounts themselves have become business card. Although we are not talking about new products, old games that were released a year or more ago can definitely be obtained at a good discount, up to 90%. The biggest sales are the Summer Sale and the Winter Sale. There are also less global sales, such as Autumn sales, or dedicated to some holiday, such as Halloween. There are also mini-sales - all games from one developer or publisher receive discounts. And that's not all. Every week, several games also get good discounts and "free weekends", meaning you can play the game for free over the weekend.
• Steam has long been not only a trading platform, but also a kind of social network. Convenient communication with friends, social services (comments, likes, etc.) and many network games, which were developed thanks to Steam.
• Don't forget about others useful services. For example, Steam Family Sharing allows you to share games with your family or friends. There is also Steam Cloud, which makes it possible to store settings and saves from games on Valve servers. This means that even if you lose all the data from hard drive you can continue the game thanks to cloud storage your saves.
• If a game or other product turns out to be bad or you simply don’t like it, you can cancel the purchase, thereby getting your money back. But it’s worth noting that the game can only be returned if you’ve played it for no more than two hours. This opportunity encourages developers to release the highest quality product possible, and guarantees that the service will work fairly.


• Steam provides the opportunity to receive money to its users. Ordinary players definitely won’t be able to earn much, but you can earn $10 a month (if you work from several accounts) by selling game cards, things, emoticons, backgrounds, etc. But designers have room to expand, as they can create their own models of items for the workshop.
• Steam has become a real paradise for indie developers. After all, on the vastness of the entire Internet, it’s easy for a small project to get lost, but Steam is easily capable of raising a worthwhile product to the top.
• As mentioned above, Steam has many online games that can be played by people all over the world. However, there are users who play with cheats and other auxiliary programs. An anti-cheat was developed especially for such games and players, which is not flawless; the most “rage” cheats are able to detect and prohibit the player from playing this game on this account for life. In addition, Valve is preparing a neural network that should learn to detect foul play on its own.