Valve Unveils Steamworks

[CSN NewsBot]

Valve has just unveiled to the world a complete set of publishing tools for developers to make use of. Dubbed Steamworks, the tools are free of charge for all developers and offers a fairly robust set of features.

• Real time stats on sales figures and gameplay information.
  
  
• "State of the art" encryption system.
  
  
• Territory and version control.
  
  
• Auto-updating abilities.
  
  
• Voice chat abilities.
  
  
• Multiplayer matchmaking.
  
  
• Social networking abilities (Steam community) with achievements, friends, etc.
  
  
• Development tools that allow for scheduled testing periods, data collection tools for play testing, and more.

Valve aims to make the development of games easier by eliminating the set up processes and focus solely on the development of the game.



More information can be found via the Steamworks press release.

[Ryosuke T]

there has to be a reason for valve releasing their tech to other developers. i expect that valve wants royalty checks.

[Diamond Dust]

This is more to attract developers to use steam, they don't have to spend as much time and money to make all of their own programs to interact with steam. Big ol Gabe said,

"Steamworks puts all those tools and systems together in one free package, liberating publishers and developers to concentrate on the game instead of the plumbing."