Steam needs an upgrade

[Unborn023]

Steam has served the gaming community quite well over the years, but lately I've been feeling like it could be so much more than it is. I started thinking about it a couple days back when I got dragged out a TF2 game because of an AIM message.
Many people have probably thought about this already but perhaps we can make a real push to get valve to add some things to their service.
I'm thinking support for most major IM programs and even a media player integrated into the already helpful steam overlay. Which despite being slow does provide a decent enough web browser to jump in and out of in between rounds.

 

[tomtom94]

Steam has served the gaming community quite well over the years, but lately I've been feeling like it could be so much more than it is. I started thinking about it a couple days back when I got dragged out a TF2 game because of an AIM message.
Many people have probably thought about this already but perhaps we can make a real push to get valve to add some things to their service.
I'm thinking support for most major IM programs and even a media player integrated into the already helpful steam overlay. Which despite being slow does provide a decent enough web browser to jump in and out of in between rounds.

Steam has Community Chat integrated.
If you're playing online whilst logged into AIM then that's not a particularly clever move. Or you could fiddle with priorities on your computer.

Sorry but this smacks of "I want I want I want".

 

[Icecoldcynic]

Personally I don't see why you would want to be distracted by people IMing you when you're trying to play a game anyway. Most games don't support that kind of thing so really steam has no reason to.

 

[DazZ.]

Well none of those things are in the new UI beta so I doubt they will be coming soon.

I wouldn't use a media player that's Steam integrated, unless using it used less memory than what I have going now, which I highly doubt it would.

MSN/AIM integration could bring a few more people in, but I use Steam to play games, and get away from the people I have on MSN. If they start trying to talk to me whilst I'm in TF2 they will irritate me quickly.

I don't care if you've had a bad day whilst I'm capping points, and I really don't care if you want to talk about your cats "hilarious" antics.

 

[Unborn023]

Well steam does allow you to message people on your friend list this is true. But it's hard to explain to your gf how you don't talk to her on msn because you're too busy playing modern warfare.
Why would I want people distracting me? Well thats for me to decide I suppose. A feature to turn the programs on and off would be essential.
But games don't support that kind of stuff because they're games. You enjoy them. But steam is a way not only to easily organize your pc games but to keep tabs on your friends. So why wouldn't steam want to do things like that.

 

[Mr. Grey]

Or... you could always shut off your Instant Messengers to play the game undisturbed, but that would be too crazy right?

It's already been said that it has a Community Chat integrated. As for media songs being played, I've never understood the need for that one... probably never will, but to each their own.

I do agree, however, that they need to upgrade their Web Browser for in-game.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

I don't care if you've had a bad day whilst I'm capping points, and I really don't care if you want to talk about your cats "hilarious" antics.

My thoughts exactly. It always annoys me when i'm playing xbox live and my friend INSISTS on having MSN on at the same time, and therefore is constantly distracted. Talking on IM when playing games just doesn't work, unless it's some low-involvement MMO.

 

[Unborn023]

I don't care if you've had a bad day whilst I'm capping points, and I really don't care if you want to talk about your cats "hilarious" antics.

My thoughts exactly. It always annoys me when i'm playing xbox live and my friend INSISTS on having MSN on at the same time, and therefore is constantly distracted. Talking on IM when playing games just doesn't work, unless it's some low-involvement MMO.

You guys need less annoying friends.

 

[DazZ.]

I don't care if you've had a bad day whilst I'm capping points, and I really don't care if you want to talk about your cats "hilarious" antics.

My thoughts exactly. It always annoys me when i'm playing xbox live and my friend INSISTS on having MSN on at the same time, and therefore is constantly distracted. Talking on IM when playing games just doesn't work, unless it's some low-involvement MMO.

You guys need less annoying friends.

My MSN friends are not gamers, and mostly girls. They wouldn't understand how to not be annoying (that's the girls) and how important it is that I have full attention on the sniper aiming for my head (that's the non gamers).

It's not their fault they don't get the importance.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

My MSN friends are not gamers, and mostly girls. They wouldn't understand how to not be annoying (that's the girls) and how important it is that I have full attention on the sniper aiming for my head (that's the non gamers).

It's not their fault they don't get the importance.

This man knows what he's talking about. Besides my friends aren't annoying, i'd just rather not have to pay attention to anything other than the game if I can help it. Talking to people on headsets is a different matter, since it won't divert my attention.

 

[Meemaimoh]

I don't care if you've had a bad day whilst I'm capping points, and I really don't care if you want to talk about your cats "hilarious" antics.

My thoughts exactly. It always annoys me when i'm playing xbox live and my friend INSISTS on having MSN on at the same time, and therefore is constantly distracted. Talking on IM when playing games just doesn't work, unless it's some low-involvement MMO.

You guys need less annoying friends.

My MSN friends are not gamers, and mostly girls. They wouldn't understand how to not be annoying (that's the girls) and how important it is that I have full attention on the sniper aiming for my head (that's the non gamers).

It's not their fault they don't get the importance.

Lovin' the casual sexism there. Good job.

I was running a dungeon in WoW the other day with some random players. The healer decided that talking on MSN was more important than keeping the tank alive, so he wiped us twice before we booted him. Moral of the story? Get Xfire! Or, y'know, don't do both at once. It's entirely possible to not have MSN running... unless that'll crash your computer or something, in which case I don't know what to tell you.

 

[DoctorWhat]

Y'know what works for this kind of thing? Alt+Esc. It minimises fullscreen games, so you can go do other things... It takes about 5 seconds for it to maximise properly again though, but surely even WITH integration, you wouldn't type except between rounds...

 

[Unborn023]

Iunno I think alot of gamers take games way too seriously. I can understand putting the messenger down during dungeon runs and clan wars, thats very reasonable. But it sounds like you guys wouldn't want to give people the option at all.

It is a "game" after all

 

[UnusualStranger]

Iunno I think alot of gamers take games way too seriously. I can understand putting the messenger down during dungeon runs and clan wars, thats very reasonable. But it sounds like you guys wouldn't want to give people the option at all.

It is a "game" after all

I take it you don't mind talking on your cell phone when playing any sport or anything?

The point the people here are trying to make is that adding additional features to Steam, or using a messenger while playing a game, is unnecessary. When you start playing a game, it should be because that is the one thing you want to do. If you want to talk to your friends, thats fine. If you want to game, that is fine. If you want to do both at the same time, its your fault if things go poorly in either one.

Its not taking games seriously, its knowing that you can't do two totally different things at once.

 

[muckinscavitch]

simple: Play in a window

Reason: Allows you to alt-tab inbetween lives and causes no problems at all. I do it all the time and frankly, I see this as a "Whine whine whine, gimme gimme gimme" topic

Steam did get a nice facelift a while back, and is looking fine. If valve is listening (which they won't be to this thread), leave it how it is.

 

[Acidwell]

Why not just get all of your friends to use an awesome new im called steam, it lets you talk anytime even if you are in a game