Valve opens applications store on Steam online service
updated 05:41 pm EDT, Tue October 2, 2012
First software available intended for game production and design
Steam online store owner Valve Software has announced the availability of the first non-game software for purchase on the online venue. While the Steam game store is cross-platform and includes Macintosh OS X software, the current seven offerings are Windows only. During the first week of Steam Applications availability, all titles are ten percent off.
The seven titles available are cross-platform engine GameMaker:Studio, sculptor application 3D-Coat, painting and drawing utility ArtRage Studio Pro, benchmarking suites 3DMark Vantage and 3DMark 11, graphic manipulation tool CameraBag 2, and in-game recording tool Source Filmmaker. Software titles will take full advantage of the Steam environment, including automatic updating, and in some titles, in-app "achievements."
Steam's 40 million users are "interested in more than playing games," according to Mark Richardson, speaking on behalf of Valve. "They have told us they would like to have more of their software on Steam."
The recent Steam Greenlight initiative allows the community to decide what games will get released onto the Steam store, through direct interaction with developers. It remains unclear if the non-gaming titles will be included in upcoming Greenlight programs.
