Mac users will be getting a treat later on today. Software company, Valve, is releasing their online game platform, Steam, for Mac today!
Basically, this service is the equivalent of iTunes for gamers. Allowing users to download games directly to their computers, as opposed to buying a physical copy and having to install it.
Think of it like this… When was the last time you bought an actual physical CD??? I can’t remember the last time I did. Apple’s iTunes eliminated the need for me to get up off the couch on Tuesday to go a buy a new album, bring it home, and import it into my iTunes. I think Stream is going to have the same effect on the Gaming Industry. Why wouldn’t gamers rather download the latest games directly to their computers and be able to play them instantly.
Stream has a bunch of other awesome features too. It’s not just a place to buy your games, you can also chat with your friends / foes and join tournaments / matches. Personally, I think the best feature is automatic game updates, which brings me to my next point…
Web-based applications are the future for software companies! The days of spending $500 for Adobe’s Photoshop or Microsoft’s Office will soon be behind us. Well, that’s if those companies want to survive. The automatic game update feature in Steam is what makes web-based apps so appealing. Currently, consumers spend a small fortune on software applications, that take up a ton of memory, and slow computers down. Then a year or two later, the software company releases a new version, making the version you just bought out-dated. Imagine, if you could pay a monthly subscription fee to use that same software! And get software updates and bug fixes automatically, ensuring that you always have the most updated version. We recently made the switch from Quickbooks ( physical ) to Freshbooks ( web-based ) and couldn’t be happier! Whenever they add new features or updates to their app, it automatically updates on our end and we don’t have to install a thing!
One company that really embraces web-based software is 37 Signals and they’re CRUSHING IT! Companies like Adobe and Microsoft had better follow suit, in order to keep up with the competition!!
Hey Apple… how about a MacBook App Store!
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