Valve updates website: 35 million users, Source update inbound?

[DarkLite123]

So, Valve updated their website today, and there's a few interesting bits:

• "Steam [...] connects its 35 million active users to each other—and to us"
• "We don’t like to brag, but Source is considered the most flexible, comprehensive, and powerful game development environment out there. And it’s about to get even better."
• A lot of job openings have appeared, including "Food Services" and "Psychologist".

Let the speculation begin!

[Fred DM]

awesome.

but i wonder whether they're talking about 35 million unique users, or if it's just 35 million accounts, with many dead and duplicated ones among them.

[Clanks2]

Originally Posted by Fred DM

awesome.

but i wonder whether they're talking about 35 million unique users, or if it's just 35 million accounts, with many dead and duplicated ones among them.

A majority of them would be dead, duplicate and rarely used ones yes, but at least we have like something from 2-4 million regulars on at different times of the day.

Maybe at least 10 million use steam regularly, perhaps slightly more or less.

[UberTrevor]

I wish I was a lunch man for three years. . . I would apply for that food job just to be at Valve

[epsylon_Z1]

Originally Posted by DarkLite123

[*]"Steam [...] connects its 35 million active users

I wonder how many of them were forced by the publishers to use Steam .

[michael89]

Originally Posted by DarkLite123

So, Valve updated their website today, and there's a few interesting bits:

• "Steam [...] connects its 35 million active users to each other—and to us"
• "We don’t like to brag, but Source is considered the most flexible, comprehensive, and powerful game development environment out there. And it’s about to get even better."
• A lot of job openings have appeared, including "Food Services" and "Psychologist".

Let the speculation begin!

Source gets upgrades pretty much every time, when a new source game is released.

For example, Dota 2 bringing cloth simulation and improved global lightning to source.

[DarkLite123]

Originally Posted by epsylon_Z1

I wonder how many of them were forced by the publishers to use Steam .

I wonder how many of them regret being forced by the publishers to use Steam

Originally Posted by michael89

Source gets upgrades pretty much every time, when new source games is released.

For example, Dota 2 bringing cloth simulation and improved global lightning to source.

Aye, but Dota 2's release date is some time in 2012, so that doesn't really seem like "about to" to me.

[Skeith]

Valve has talked about a Source SDK update on occasion over the past couple years. The needs haven't outgrown the tools but the tools could be reworked to do what's needed faster.

[Trashcantoy]

the 35 million figure is active accounts, one login per month i think (dead accounts are certainly not included)

Originally Posted by epsylon_Z1

I wonder how many of them were forced by the publishers to use Steam .

no1 is forced to use steam. dont like it, dont use it.

[TheInsaneDump]

Steam still sucks!

/sarcasm

[k177sh0t]

No hint of Half Life episdoes or Half Life 3?

*sigh*

[ScepticMatt]

Active means at least one bought game, and last login fewer than 30 days ago, from what I've heard. Couldn't find a source, though.

[DarkLite123]

Originally Posted by k177sh0t

No hint of Half Life episdoes or Half Life 3?

*sigh*

Depends whether you think asking for so many jobs counts as evidence of HL development

[Varsity]

Valve are working on a new suite of development tools for Source. Whether they have any other surprises waiting is another question...

Edit: LOL

Shawn Zabecki

Shawn was raised by the best mom ever. Since joining Valve in 2007, he’s been designing and implementing the Steam user experience. And he's terrific at it. But what we all marvel at is how polite and well-groomed Shawn is. People passing through the lunchroom often stop and stare at his supernaturally excellent table manners. It's like working with David Niven. Shawn is also very helpful and clever. Everyone likes him. You did a great job, Mrs. Zabecki.

[ThatFreakingFox]

Linux Client!

...Oh, who am I kidding...