Steam needs a graphical overhaul.

CasperTheGhost · 11-03-2009, 05:57 AM

Since I installed counter strike back in 2005, I haven't seen a single UI change for steam apart from a few additions. The formula has largely stayed the same, but now the market is moving in favour of downloading I think a few changes are required.

I'd like my games to be organised with their case artwork. If I'm paying £26 for a game, I'd like to know I downloaded a GAME and not a few files. Presentation goes a long way in this regard, and to look through my games visually with the boxart (ala windows vista/7) would be a nice touch.

Also, just..redo the whole thing. The design is old and clunky. Social networking on Steam is a joke.

Lord_Gannondorf · 11-03-2009, 06:11 AM

I agree - although still have an option to use the original skin.

Fatbubba · 11-03-2009, 06:15 AM

Making it more shiny doesn't last. After a few days you probably won't notice it anymore besides the bigger strain on loading all the graphics for the bigger box arts (especially for those with quite a lot of games).

So personally I prefer they keep it nice and simple.

Rumina · 11-03-2009, 06:26 AM

I highly recommend using http://www.rynostudios.com/steam-skins/roydarkle/. It really polishes up Steam while not deviating too much. To me this is the most "Official" graphical overhaul you can get.

Mrcod · 11-03-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumina

I highly recommend using http://www.rynostudios.com/steam-skins/roydarkle/. It really polishes up Steam while not deviating too much. To me this is the most "Official" graphical overhaul you can get.

Yeah, this. RoyDarkle is amazing.

mouton · 11-03-2009, 08:48 AM

A nice skin, thanks for pointing me there.

yaesir · 11-03-2009, 09:10 AM

For me the best skin is this:

http://jkhx.deviantart.com/art/SkinS...-1-2-107227410

Akudama89 · 11-03-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasperTheGhost

Since I installed counter strike back in 2005, I haven't seen a single UI change for steam apart from a few additions. The formula has largely stayed the same, but now the market is moving in favour of downloading I think a few changes are required.

I'd like my games to be organised with their case artwork. If I'm paying £26 for a game, I'd like to know I downloaded a GAME and not a few files. Presentation goes a long way in this regard, and to look through my games visually with the boxart (ala windows vista/7) would be a nice touch.

Also, just..redo the whole thing. The design is old and clunky. Social networking on Steam is a joke.

so...you want it to use more resources for eye candy?

However you are wrong in saying they havn't changed the way steam looks ever though..

i mean cmon it use to look like this

http://www.belchfire.net/screenshots...emes_steam.jpg

i can't find a bigger screenshot, but now, if we have it with the mini game list, it looks like this

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/w...clip_error.png

Dead Fish · 11-03-2009, 05:32 PM

I'm still using the L4D skin, that was mention in a Steam news update a while ago. Looks really nice:

http://rthaut.deviantart.com/art/Lef...1-04-124182132

I think most of Steam's ugliness can be removed with a good skin, but I agree that the the games should be presented in a better way than just a simple list. Grouping them into favorites and non-favorites is not enough as soon as that list has grown beyond a certain point, for example. I want customizable groups.

MovieMan999 · 11-03-2009, 05:58 PM

Making a smexy new look for the Steam client would be very nice, but with Valve as busy as they are and the hundreds of third-party skins out there I wouldn't hold my breath.

Finaldeath · 11-03-2009, 11:14 PM

I wish valve made a skin for vista/7 that has the transparency and whatnot. But im using one like yaesir posted but the dividers (lines under installed, not installed and Favorites) are red.

And i'm with you there dead fish, i have like 39 games now (well bout 32-35 since some are license revoke tools like the batman one lol) and still growing. But an option to show box art and sort games by genre would be awesome.

But ya steam hasn't really changed much since it first launched, visually wise.

and another thing i hate is how they add free play thing and demos to your games list automatically (l4d2 demo i'm looking at you lol) They either need a separate category for them (like installed not installed and favs) or ever their own tab like my media which i'm sure next to no one even uses.

arose1980 · 11-03-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumina

I highly recommend using http://www.rynostudios.com/steam-skins/roydarkle/. It really polishes up Steam while not deviating too much. To me this is the most "Official" graphical overhaul you can get.

Are we sure this is an acceptable skin and doesn't install or change any files to cause a VAC ban?

op1uM · 11-04-2009, 12:30 AM

check the files for yourself.

Akudama89 · 11-04-2009, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arose1980

Are we sure this is an acceptable skin and doesn't install or change any files to cause a VAC ban?

why would a steam skin do a VAC ban?

Verminus · 11-04-2009, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akudama89

why would a steam skin do a VAC ban?

because sometimes, evil people like to hide VAC detectable hacks in things like map-packs and skins, while not actually part of the skin or map-pack, they get installed alongside it, so next time you play on a VAC server you get flagged and VAC banned

11-03-2009, 05:57 AM	#1
CasperTheGhost Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 102	Steam needs a graphical overhaul. Since I installed counter strike back in 2005, I haven't seen a single UI change for steam apart from a few additions. The formula has largely stayed the same, but now the market is moving in favour of downloading I think a few changes are required. I'd like my games to be organised with their case artwork. If I'm paying £26 for a game, I'd like to know I downloaded a GAME and not a few files. Presentation goes a long way in this regard, and to look through my games visually with the boxart (ala windows vista/7) would be a nice touch. Also, just..redo the whole thing. The design is old and clunky. Social networking on Steam is a joke.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-03-2009, 06:11 AM	#2
Lord_Gannondorf Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 25 Posts: 144	I agree - although still have an option to use the original skin.

11-03-2009, 06:15 AM	#3
Fatbubba Join Date: Feb 2007 Reputation: 69 Posts: 929	Making it more shiny doesn't last. After a few days you probably won't notice it anymore besides the bigger strain on loading all the graphics for the bigger box arts (especially for those with quite a lot of games). So personally I prefer they keep it nice and simple.

11-03-2009, 06:26 AM	#4
Rumina Join Date: Feb 2008 Reputation: 82 Posts: 427	I highly recommend using http://www.rynostudios.com/steam-skins/roydarkle/. It really polishes up Steam while not deviating too much. To me this is the most "Official" graphical overhaul you can get.

11-03-2009, 08:48 AM	#6
mouton Join Date: Aug 2008 Reputation: 23 Posts: 1,019	A nice skin, thanks for pointing me there.

11-03-2009, 09:10 AM	#7
yaesir Join Date: Jul 2008 Reputation: 0 Posts: 16	For me the best skin is this: http://jkhx.deviantart.com/art/SkinS...-1-2-107227410

11-03-2009, 05:32 PM	#9
Dead Fish Join Date: Sep 2007 Reputation: 5 Posts: 290	I'm still using the L4D skin, that was mention in a Steam news update a while ago. Looks really nice: http://rthaut.deviantart.com/art/Lef...1-04-124182132 I think most of Steam's ugliness can be removed with a good skin, but I agree that the the games should be presented in a better way than just a simple list. Grouping them into favorites and non-favorites is not enough as soon as that list has grown beyond a certain point, for example. I want customizable groups.

11-03-2009, 05:58 PM	#10
MovieMan999 Join Date: Jul 2008 Reputation: 6 Posts: 519	Making a smexy new look for the Steam client would be very nice, but with Valve as busy as they are and the hundreds of third-party skins out there I wouldn't hold my breath.

11-03-2009, 11:14 PM	#11
Finaldeath Join Date: Apr 2006 Reputation: 3 Posts: 145	I wish valve made a skin for vista/7 that has the transparency and whatnot. But im using one like yaesir posted but the dividers (lines under installed, not installed and Favorites) are red. And i'm with you there dead fish, i have like 39 games now (well bout 32-35 since some are license revoke tools like the batman one lol) and still growing. But an option to show box art and sort games by genre would be awesome. But ya steam hasn't really changed much since it first launched, visually wise. and another thing i hate is how they add free play thing and demos to your games list automatically (l4d2 demo i'm looking at you lol) They either need a separate category for them (like installed not installed and favs) or ever their own tab like my media which i'm sure next to no one even uses.

11-04-2009, 12:30 AM	#13
op1uM Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 49	check the files for yourself.