If you’re new or unfamiliar with computer gaming and don’t really know where to start, then Steam is a service that has pretty much everything you need when it comes to setting up your gaming library. It is one of the most popular gaming services for online PC gamers and allows you to download games straight onto your PC for you to play instantly. The store is full of new released and indie games ranging across every genre, so there’s a very high chance that you’ll be able to find something in the store that suits you and your play style.
Steam itself is free to download and register on to. It’s secure and awards you for adding an extra layer of security onto your account in the form of using your mobile phone to verify your account. It’s easy to use although the store’s interface can be quite overwhelming as there is so much to choose from and each kind of game you can think of is accounted for under the tens of categories that it has listed. It is easy to navigate if you have a particular title in mind, but if you really don’t know where to start, then it may take you a while to find something that you think will suit you. (If you’re looking for a good online multiplayer game, then try Team Fortress 2. The community is plentiful and you can play online with strangers or team up with your friends to take on strangers…oh and it’s free)
Playing online with friends is fun and the steam community is a large one so even if you don’t have any friends that are PC gamers, by joining forums and finding likeminded people that way, you’ll make some online friends easily. The search bar on Steam allows you to search for your friends by username or email if you know it which is handy and the chat enables you to instantly message them in and out of game. This chat extends to their mobile app which you can download for free from the app store or it’s android equivalent, giving you another way to stay in touch with your friends even when you’re away from the computer.
In regards to game prices, you can expect to pay pretty much the same price as you would in the shop for the newer game releases, however, Steam is no stranger from a sale and usually every other week there’s a sale on something. The games information is given to you in a lot of detail so that you know if it’s the right one for you. Also, Steam shares the system requirements needed so that you can check if the game will run smoothly. If you’re in doubt the forums are there for you to use and someone in the community will surely be able to help you out. Not all games are for the decked out, high specification computers, a lot of games will run and play smoothly on computers on the lower end of the spectrum. Either way, you’ll be able to find something, maybe at a cut price on Steam, making PC gaming easier to enjoy.
Hey, I’m Rory and I am the ultimate accidental geek.
Born in London I was never interested in technologies until I started a part-time job at Apple and now I can’t get enough. Join me as a help you navigate the world of tech with some of my fellow geeks.