STEAM: And the future of the video game industry

DIGITAL distribution giant and gaming platform, Steam, has fast become the Google of the gaming world – reaping in an estimated US$468 million (roughly R3.1 billion) in revenues through June 2011, according to mygaming.co.za. This attests to the fact the gaming industry has become one of the fastest growing industries in history.

Using Steam has become compulsory for ardent PC gamers, who are forced to use the platform to buy, install and update several of the latest gaming titles. According to Wikipedia, as of July 2011, Steam had over 30 million active users and offered over 1 300 game titles. It is estimated that Steam has a 70% share of the digital distribution market for video games.

The Steam platform

The idea of creating a centralised online platform to distribute games and related media online was, in part, a move towards combating software piracy – specifically pirated games. To play a store bought game that is powered through steam requires one to register a Steam account. One then has to be logged into Steam to install the game, update the game, play the game and be offered a host of promotional adverts upon exiting the game.

In bandwidth-stricken countries such as South Africa, one can imagine what a schlep this can be. In my experience, if a newly released game if bought through Steam, it can take up to two days to download and install. Thereafter Steam automatically updates your newly bought game, which can take another day or two. If your bandwidth hasn’t run dry by this point, you then have to log into Steam before you can play your new game for the first time.

The benefits of Steam

One can understand the benefits that gaming platforms such as Steam offer. They have made it extremely difficult for impoverished gamers to play pirated titles; it automatically patches and updates your game collection, and it offers you downloadable content for your favourite titles. It does also offer a lot of specials and promotions, whereby one can easily transfer and convert your money into US dollars and buy games via the web for cheap. In fact, purchasing games through Steam is so simple that it can be dangerously addictive.

However, this is not to mention that the Steam servers are often running at full capacity whereby one is put on a waiting list to play. I was once informed that my newly installed and updated game would launch in approximately five days. Bearing all this in mind it’s fair to say that Steam is having a negative impact on many game consumers who don’t necessarily want to play multiplayer.

Market research

Anti-piracy aside, Steam most certainly uses its cleverly crafted platform for market research purposes. A Steam user’s page includes some brief personal information, details of any games owned, as well as the number of hours played in each game. Steam admits that it collects and reports anonymous metrics of its usage, stability, and performance and uses this information to justify implementing new features.

However, a lot of this information is collected without notifying the user or offering an opt-out. Some of these metrics are also available publicly, such as what games are being played or statistics of a player’s progress in certain games. Last year, Steam announced that they would begin collecting a list of users' installed software as well.

Steam critiques

Steam has been criticised for allowing developers and game publishers to change prices and restrict game availability depending on the locations of users. Despite the reduction in manufacturing, packaging, design and distribution costs, this can cause some games to cost more than their retail prices. Steam has also been heavily criticised by European users for pricing games much higher in Euro-zone countries.

Furthermore, according to the Steam Subscriber Agreement, “Steam's availability is not guaranteed and Valve is under no legal obligation to release an update disabling the authentication system in the event that Steam becomes permanently unavailable.” - www.gamefaqs.com

Ardent PC gamers can argue for or against the value of Steam. However, if history has taught us anything, it is always wise to be cautious of that which is powerful. However, with Steam now being in the position of power that it is, has implications for gamers worldwide. In our liberal and democratic age, I suppose the biggest concern is a lack of choice.

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FALLOUT NEW VEGAS DLC: Honest Hearts and Dead Money

Hopefully by now all the bugs in the first two Fallout New Vegas DLC have been stomped out. If you haven’t yet played Dead Money or Honest Hearts here’s a quick review of each.

Fallout New Vegas Dead Money Review

Dead Money was a little disappointing in my opinion. It almost seems like Bethesda were trying to make a zombie shoot ‘em up expansion for Fallout New Vegas. The scenery is dull and eerie and the bad guys mostly consist of bright-eyed ghosts with multiple sclerosis. They have been cleverly named the "Ghost People." There is a lot of dialogue if that’s your thing and, in the case of one companion, none at all. There are a few new weapons on offer, which is nice, especially in the melee department.

So if pawning zombie-like creatures with melee combat in close quarters is your thing, Dead Money is for you.

Fallout New Vegas Honest Hearts Review

Honest Hearts, on the other hand, is something of a marvel. Fresh and expansive canyon scenery will have you immersed into a newly crafted section of the Fallout universe named Zion. Honest Hearts also ties in nicely with stories told back in New Vegas. The legendary Burning Man, who shall not be named according to Caesar, is looking for vengeance. You have the choice of either teaming up with the macho mummy or siding with a soft-hearted evangelical soul on missionary work.

The landscape in Honest Hearts is home to three different tribes who live off the land and have much to teach an adventurous courier. Will you team up with the Burning Man and wipe the White Legs off the face of the planet? Or will you help evacuate the Dead Horses before they fall victim to the same fate?

• Both Fallout New Vegas DLC are available through Steam for $10 (roughly R70).

More Fallout New Vegas Game Guides

• Fallout New Vegas Game Guide
• Fallout New Vegas Game Guide II
• Fallout New Vegas Bobblehead Locations

EDUCATION: Introducing gaming into the classroom

EDUCATION is the very foundation of our future. No doubt there are flaws in our current education system that need to be addressed. The marking system, learner agency and voluntary tangential learning are a few of the major issues in education today.

There’s a theory that tries to define each decade according to technological progress. Loosely speaking, by the end of one decade everyone had cellphones, by the end of another everyone was on Facebook, and this decade (2010-2020) it is said that everyone will be a gamer in a broad sense. It’s not a solid theory, but I’m sure you catch my drift.

Some exciting ideas are starting to surface which involved introducing gaming into the classroom — making education more fun and engaging. Again it is no solid science, but a few schools (especially in the United States) have started implementing such ideas into their teaching techniques and have started to see positive results.

To put gaming into better perspective — the most successful games on the market today are ones that encourage gradual progress. These award the player with experience points as he or she progresses through the game. Once enough experience is gained the player levels up, which comes with particular rewards or perks.

Benefits of a rewards system in education

Working towards clear and tangible levels with clear rewards or benefits would be a huge motivational factor for learners. Assignments and tests would feel more rewarding rather than disheartening if there is something to be gained. This wouldn’t necessarily require a major change in the way papers are generally marked. Marks would merely be changed to levels and learners would work towards a total rather than down from one.

Offering class-wide achievements, such as giving the whole class a reward if one or a few learners accumulates X amount of experience, would also encourage peer support. Rather than envying the top achievers, peer pupils would encourage their progress. The top achievers, on the other hand, would understand that they couldn’t get the best possible score unless they help the other learners improve their marks.

Gamifying Education

Agency in education

A huge hurdle for teachers is dealing with learners who lack a sense of agency — who feel that their opinions and choices don’t matter. They may feel that they have no control over their choices, perhaps ones that were made for them by their parents. They lack long-term goals and motivation — something that is common in young people today.

It is known that learners with a higher sense of agency do better at school. What’s interesting is that agency is the life force of games! You are in full control over the choices you make and the future lies entirely in your hands. What’s more, games teach us that if we fail, we try again (or try something different) until we succeed.

Voluntary tangential learning and information

A third challenge for our educational system is encouraging learners to pursue information voluntarily outside of the classroom. Homework, for most, is a bore — a chore that needs to be completed before we can play proper games. There are very few external motivators that encourage self-education.

An idea is to turn a subject into a game by leaving out pieces of the puzzle and using information that you want learners to learn on their own as keys that unlock the next section of the game or subject. In searching for this information there’s also a chance of tangential learning — learners stumbling across other pieces of related information.

I recall one of the most exciting times in my own education, which was when different subjects started to interlink and connect up. And this happened way after high school. Learning and understanding the connections between information and ideas is so important in education. A cross-disciplinary approach could be created early on by creating the keys mentioned here across different subjects. This will also allow learners to shine in different subjects and encourage communication and sharing of education among them.

This may also create an understanding and an appreciation of the importance of other subjects that learners may not immediately be interested in. I sure wish I had understood this when I was in high school.

• This article was inspired by the video above hosted at www.escapistmagazine.com called Gamifying Education.

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FALLOUT NEW VEGAS: Bobblehead mod and bobblehead locations

FANS of the Fallout New Vegas game will be please to know that there is a Bobblehead mod available for download. Bobbleheads add another dynamic to the game, which is particularly useful if you play the game in Hardcore mode. Download the mod via the link above. Below are their locations.

Fallout New Vegas Bobblehead Locations Revealed

1. Agility

The Agility Bobblehead is found Near Chance's Grave - near a Fiend camp where Chance slaughtered them all. In the center of the camp is a log where you'll find this bobblehead resting.

2. Barter

The Barter Bobblehead can be found southwest of Bitter Springs in Cap Counterfeiting Shack. The Bobblehead is on a workbench in the basement.

3. Charisma

The Charisma Bobblehead is inside the Gomorrah Suites building - in a large room with two circular beds. The bobblehead is on a shelf near the red bed.

4. Endurance

In Quarry Junction is a cave near a Deathclaw mother and her demonspawn. The Endurance Bobblehead is being grasped by a skeleton at the back of the cave.

5. Energy Weapons

The Brotherhood of Steel are holed up in a place called Hidden Valley, which is near the NCR Correctional Facility. You have to complete a few quests to gain access inside. Once you're done, the Energy Weapons Bobblehead is under some stairs at the back of the fortress.

6. Explosives

Look in the first aircraft hangar at Nellis Air Force Base. The Explosives Bobblehead is on a shelf at the back of the hangar.

7. Guns

Inside Vault 34. At the very last floor, at the very bottom is the Armory. The Guns Bobblehead is lying on a table next to a missile launcher and some armor.

8. Intelligence

The Intelligence Bobblehead is inside a building called Allied Technologies near downtown New Vegas. Take the first door on the right after entering the Interior Offices and you'll find it on a desk along with tons of Sunset Sarsparilla Star caps and bottles in the corner. Score.

9. Lockpick

The Lockpick Bobblehead is inside the NCR Correctional Facility - Prison Block B. It's underneath a rusted bunk bed at the back of the cell. Lockingpicking is essential for playing Fallout New Vegas in hardcore mode.

10. Luck

Where else but the Lucky 38 Casino! Check the check-in counter for the Luck Bobblehead.

11. Medicine

The Medicine Bobblehead can be found right at the start of the game, inside Doc Mitchell's house. It's on his desk next to where you (probably) swiped his glasses and magazine.

12. Melee

Near Legate Lanius' Camp is an area with a bunch of training dummies and what looks like a weapon forging area. The Melee Bobblehead is sitting on a table next to a grinder, Anvil and a stack of machetes. Fallout New Vegas has taken melee combat to a new level and is a lot of fun to master in.

13. Perception

The Perception Bobblehead resides at a place called "Sniper's Nest" - west of Cottonwood Cove. The bobblehead is sitting on a shelf next to a bed.

14. Repair

In the New Vegas Strip is a building called Michael Angelo's Workshop. The Repair Bobblehead is sitting on a bench next to a blueprint for a billboard.

15. Science

The Science Bobblehead is in a place called Fortification Hill Weather Station, located near The Fort. There are some panels on the floor that lead to a secret basement, which in turn leads to a massive Securitron Vault. The bobblehead is near the back of this vault on a desk with a broken radio and toolbox.

16. Sneak

Inside the Hoover Dam Power Plant is a bunch of wooden crates (one of which contains a suit of Chinese Stealth Armor). The Sneak Bobblehead is hidden behind the top crate on the right.

17. Speech

Nipton Town Hall is where you want to look. The Speech Bobblehead is on a table at the back of the room on the left side.

18. Strength

The Strength Bobblehead is on the top floor of Blackmountain Radio, which is on Blackmountain Summit. The bobblehead is sitting on top of crazy Tabitha's radio.

19. Survival

The Survival Bobblehead can be found on Scavenger Platform, which is right in the middle of Lake Mead. You'll have to swim to get across. The bobblehead is sitting on top of a footlocker.

20. Unarmed

Another bobblehead coveted by the Lucky 38 Casino! The Unarmed Bobblehead is in the VIP Lounge - right in front of a golden pair of boxing gloves.

• 25 best Fallout New Vegas game mods
• Download Fallout New Vegas Bobblehead Mod

Related Fallout Articles:

• Fallout 3 Tweaks and Tips
• Fallout New Vegas Game Guide
• Fallout New Vegas Game Guide II

NEWS FLASH: MWEB to host an additional 53 gaming titles locally!

MWEB is continuing to expand its online gaming offering through its existing partnership with Gameservers.com. Riding on the back of the successful launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops, MWEB is looking to expand its platform further to ensure that local Internet users have a superior gaming experience.

To support this, the Interent Service Provider will be hosting a further 53 Gameservers.com titles on its network, including the likes of the popular Counter Strike, Battlefield and Medal of Honour.

“Online gaming is a key focus for us in 2011 and we are excited by the growth that we’re seeing in this space. Our goal is to position MWEB at the forefront of online gaming in South Africa,” says Derek Hershaw, CEO of MWEB ISP.

To further support these additional titles and to ensure a flawless end-user experience, the ISP has deployed its own Steam server allowing South African gamers to get automatic updates on their favourite games. Steam has servers all over the world, which host several major gaming titles.

“The decision to deploy a Steam Server is another value added service to our customers and means that they won’t need to worry about hunting for patches and spending hours downloading updates on unsolicited websites,” explains Hershaw.

The new gaming titles and the Steam servers will be hosted in MWEB’s Cape Town and Johannesburg data centres to ensure that customers have a superior gaming experience.

Both MWEB and non-MWEB customers will see benefits from the local hosting of the games and Steam servers as they will no longer have to connect to international servers.

• For more information on MWEB’s games visit MWEB GameZone at www.mweb.co.za/gamezone

- Issued on belhalf of MWEB and Greater Than

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