What is Steam?

Explain yourselves peasants! (And can a non-gaming PC run it without lag?)

http://store.steampowered.com/

It's basically an installable library for PC games.
Which can also be used to add friends, and chat with them.

But, if you don't want to install it, you can make an account and use the web browser version, I'm pretty sure. Which is pretty much the same thing.

As for lag, the program itself shouldn't lag. The games might, of course. depending on your computer.

Well look who's finally caved.

And yeah, Dark explained it pretty well. Think of it as Playstation Network or Xbox Live (or the WiiU thing, I guess), but for PC games. We all mostly use it for chatting, though. There's a mobile app you could chat from too, if you have an Android or iOS thing. You could think of the chat system a bit like Skype. It'll give you a little notification when your friends are online and such, but with game integration so you could see what games your friends are playing and join each other for multiplayer and such.

I don't think there is a browser version, though. Steam itself shouldn't slow your computer much, like Dark said. Games, though, are case by case depending on their requirements, just like any PC game without Steam.

If you do plan on using it for games, Steam constantly has insane sales, so it's a great money saver. For example, I got Borderlands and Fallout 3 for five dollars each, which were both originally 60 bucks at retail. There's a ton of fantastic Indie games on Steam too.

So yeah, does all that make sense?

Yeah, it makes sense. I sorta figured all that, but it's good to hear from people who use it. I think what I really want is to just download some cool little PC gems when they come around. I heard about this game called Fez, and the only way I can play that without buying a new system is through PC when that comes out. I also sorta miss talking with you all.. I think about you guys all the time actually. I don't know if you guys do the same but yeah. Anyway, I feel like that's the only way to get a hold of you guys nowadays haha. And now with my new laptop, I can do that whenever I have free time.

Kirb wrote:

I heard about this game called Fez, and the only way I can play that without buying a new system is through PC when that comes out.

Fez looks incredible. It's one of the few games that makes me wish I had an Xbox. I'll be picking that up when it comes around on PC too.

Kirb wrote:

I also sorta miss talking with you all.. I think about you guys all the time actually. I don't know if you guys do the same but yeah. Anyway, I feel like that's the only way to get a hold of you guys nowadays haha. And now with my new laptop, I can do that whenever I have free time.

D'awww, you didn't forget about us. You'll be happy to know that we've all missed you too. Except Jaco. With you out of the picture, he was able to move up in the ranks. Just kidding, of course!
We're like family!

I can sense a group hug coming on!

Everything Jeff said.

You're always on my mind, Supa. You and Sneasel (and Max but he's always here)

EMBRACE!!!!!!!!

And it's nice to know that the feeling is mutual haha.

There needs to be a hug emoticon. The closest we have is this:

There was no good emoticon. Also Supa, we talk about you every marathon, I miss someone as hot as you! CGA is all cool and sexy, but there's not hot in here! Even jeff hates warm colors, therefore he hates hot! Also Dark dreams about you; we also miss the podcasts. Just sayin'

Also, steam has the same power usage as Skype or a browser I believe. I don't know which one is a more accurate approximation.

YouOnlySueOnce wrote:

we also miss the podcasts. Just sayin'

Yeah, you ought to be able to run Steam Supa. My computer is not too good and I can run it just fine.