Poll: Steam + AIM = Awesome?

[KeithA45]

I came to a startling realization the other day: What if you could use Steam to talk to your AIM (or MSN, Yahoo, Skype, or other instant messaging program) contacts mid-game?

Personally I hate having to pause the game (if the game is even pause-able) and use the Windows key or Shift+Tab to see what my friends sent then go back into the game, especially when it's a simple response like "lol" or "k".

While I expect the poll to be a little one-sided, my internet searches for plug-ins and the like have turned up nothing. Can anyone else find a solution to this?

 

[Looking For Alaska]

I think it would be fantastic and a good way to keep in touch while I play more methodical/slower-paced games like Total War or Civilization.

 

[MiketheBassMan]

It seems like a good idea, except that the people you talk to with AIM you generally don't want to be talking to while in game. The only exceptions, really, are people who would already have Steam on their computer. Rather than wasting resources with Steam, someone ought to make a plug-in for Pidgin that allows use in game. You can talk to whoever you want and you don't have to deal with the bloat of Steam or AIM.

Perhaps I'll get on that...

 

[KeithA45]

It seems like a good idea, except that the people you talk to with AIM you generally don't want to be talking to while in game. The only exceptions, really, are people who would already have Steam on their computer. Rather than wasting resources with Steam, someone ought to make a plug-in for Pidgin that allows use in game. You can talk to whoever you want and you don't have to deal with the bloat of Steam or AIM.

Perhaps I'll get on that...

Do it man.

I just use AIM and Steam as an example because I know you can load non-steam games into steam (just through a shortcut) and then be able to use the Steam chat while in that game. In theory, if AIM was implimented into Steam and you could load any game into Steam, then you could have AIM while on any game, right?

 

[Anarchemitis]

Yeah, maybe.. meh. Don't think it'll happen though.

 

[LesIsMore]

SteAIM. Huh. It could work.

 

[guardian001]

Or you could just add them on steam and use the built in messenger... just a thought. Really no matter what they do, you're going to have to at very least pause the game to talk, which can be slightly inconvenient in online games.

 

[s0denone]

SteAIM. Huh. It could work.

"We aim to aim to improve your focus and thus your aim"

 

[KeithA45]

Or you could just add them on steam and use the built in messenger... just a thought. Really no matter what they do, you're going to have to at very least pause the game to talk, which can be slightly inconvenient in online games.

Not really, alot of people I talk to on AIM don't have steam.

 

[MiketheBassMan]

When you're playing games like World of Warcraft, you've almost always got a little extra time on your hands in which you could be chatting with someone not in game. However, the option of windowed mode isn't exactly the most immersing experience.

 

[wilsonscrazybed]

You could always just play these games in windowed mode.

 

[Sib]

I don't want to be pestered in-game unless it's by people who I will also be playing with, hence my I shut off MSN when I boot up Steam.

 

[Erana]

I'd use this for all my non-gaming friends, considering the fact that its hard to explain to three people the difficulty of gaming while AIMing at the same time with all that window clutter.

 

[Cousin_IT]

People still use AOL? :shock:

 

[SnowCold]

Could be nice, it can b a little chat log, with a difrent color.