*Steam* is a game and download/update manager from *Valve*, the creator of
*Half-Life*. Allowing you to buy and download any of Valve's games, like the
recent, fantastic *Left 4 Dead 2*, Steam also has a huge library of titles
from other big developers, as well as free demos and videos. The list of
games is ever increasing, and it also supports non-commercial things like
game mods. Installing and setting up a Steam account is really easy, and the
download manager is very stable. Whatever your internet connection speed, you
don't need to worry about stopping a download partway through. If you exit
Steam, it will continue your downloads the next time you start it without
complaints. This new version of Steam has a much improved interface, with a
better news stream and cleaner overall feel. The layout is much simpler,
allowing you to quickly navigate between games, available demos and videos.
There's a game wishlist feature, and your game library now has real time
search and customizable categories. While you miss out on a box or
instruction booklet by buying games from Steam, you do get all the latest
patches and updates downloaded automatically. There are often exclusive demos
and offers available through Steam too, and there's a great community service
which allows you to join groups and find people to play online. Its major
downfall is that the client auto-updates far too often. *Steam may not sell
every game under the sun, but it's an excellent download application
featuring some of the best PC gaming you can find, and the best community
features found in PC gaming.*Download *Steam v012* in Softonic
