News Alienware PCs to come with Steam pre-installed

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2009/11/25/alienware-pcs-to-come-with-steam/1

Alienware PCs are now shipping with Steam pre-installed and a free copy of Portal.

 

I don't see this as being that big a thing really. Can see why Brad will be getting annoyed though!

 

Its a logical step, Alienware are gaming PC's and I dont know any gamers that dont use steam.

 

How would this work tho?
To include portal i assume they'd either have to premake each pc an acc (no thanks), or include steam preinstalled and a promo code on a card for the game, and how many of those do you think will go missing?
Id like to know how this works out, not steams increase in sales etc.. just how many poeple don't get their free copy

 

Sadly, I fear the epicness of Portal would be lost on the likes of people who buy Alienware PCs

 

lol

 

I really don't see a problem here, they've been handing out steam coupons with graphics cards for some time now i think.

 

Damn right, and starforce and securom are no longer required, nor keeping the CD in the tray.

 

Yeah, I got a HL2 free with my 9600XT back in 2004 I think? It was just an activation code so you still had to download steam and the game.

Having Steam pre-installed isn't really a selling point so I am going to be cynical and suggest the Valve are providing some sort of incentive to Dell for doing it.

 

Its just more bloatware preinstalled on machines, but amazingly its actually useful.

I think that most "alienware gamers" may be unaware of things like steam, and have completely overlooked an amazing game like Portal. They are the "Crysis iz da bestest gamez evAR bcz its got da bester grafix dan nefind els" generation of gamers, so getting them into some games with a great story line not just lots of gloss is a good thing.

 

Steam must be careful, anticompetitive behavior can cost you allot these days.

There are many anti-competitive commissions just looking for their next target, don't get me wrong I like Steam but they must be careful of their implementations.

 

Uhmm... didnt demigod require impulse to be installed???

 

Add SOSE to that list

 

I think steam is great and use it but as a selling point for alienware I think its pretty weak and
steamworks is free to use so wardell is full of hot air aka steam lol

 

okay Im all for steam but that does feel a little anti-competive, feels like an Intel move via Valve lol they better rethink before they get sued by impulse lol.

 

is it any worse that having googledesktop preinstalled? I think not. at least steam is useful

 

No more anti competitive than bundling Steam keys for Black Box/Orange Box/Dirt2/StreetFighter IV with new graphics cards. ATi have been doing this for years. It's part of the reason they have 70% of the digital distribution market. That and Valve's great games. Besides, a key code is cheaper and lighter than a CD.

 

Steam needs to go away. I'm one of the few that hates Steam with a passion. I spent 50 dollars on a game, and I HAD to install Steam to even use the game. Steam is such a joke.

 

I don't think this was ever a secret. But that said I didn't like STEAM when I first came across it when HL2 was released. I was still using dial up and having to download content after buying a disc was a bit of a tw@.

 

Steam should come pre-installed on every hard drive sold in the world, this would increase PC Gamer numbers and help the Ascendancy of the Valve Age!