Sign up for STEAM beta

Hey guys Steam is now doing a signup for beta testing it.
STEAM on mac

Sweet, I'll have to fill it out at lunch so I can submit my Mac specs that I spend most of my time in front of when I would be playing games

Hopefully their games will run on the unibody C2D MBPs without overheating like windows tends to do.

Well at least you won't have to choose between bootcamp or crossover/parallels anymore for steam games. You'll be able to play them native in OS X. And if anything, that'll bring down the system resources used to play the games. No need to emulate windows, and OS X is a more optimised system then windows is.

the8thark said:

Well at least you won't have to choose between bootcamp or crossover/parallels anymore for steam games. You'll be able to play them native in OS X. And if anything, that'll bring down the system resources used to play the games. No need to emulate windows, and OS X is a more optimised system then windows is.

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Here's to hoping the code the games for OS X and don't use an emulator like EA.

Village Idiot said:

Here's to hoping the code the games for OS X and don't use an emulator like EA.

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From what I understand, the Source-engine games are native. Not that Cider-powered games run terribly, but there is obviously some overhead.

At least having the option to switch platforms on the fly is compelling. I don't game often on my MacBook Pro, but its nice to know that if I get stuck at work, I can play some of my older source games.

Wont let me sign up .... Anyone else having trouble ???

Allowed me to sign up. Not very optimistic about being accepted to the beta though.

TattooedMac said:

Wont let me sign up .... Anyone else having trouble ???

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I got a 404 earlier and haven't tried since.

TattooedMac said:

Wont let me sign up .... Anyone else having trouble ???

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I had trouble deciphering their lettering system... the best part is it says "prove your humanity," but you almost need a computer to read the freaking things. Anyway, signed up - hope I get in.

I just signed up, I couldn't remember my old account info. So I had to start a new one. It says to reset your account that you have to open the Steam Client, oops dont have one for mac yet. Guess I need to set up XP with boot camp again.

I hope I passed their humanity verification.... lol

vansmith said:

I got a 404 earlier and haven't tried since.

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Yep same here, then when i verify my humanity, it scrolls to the top of the page with a cute little msg "You cannot sign up at this time please try again later"

Will keep trying

TM

Just did it and got an error at first, but went back to the original link, logged in and submitted my info.

Does this mean i can play Counter Strike on my MAC now?!?!?

upp my last comment...can somebody help me with this?

From what it seems, once it's released, Valve games will be available for OSX thru steam, but until it's actually out or someone can actually talk about it, it'll be hard to say what will and won't work

Frankly, if I can get L4D, L4D2 and Half Life, without crossover, I'd be VERY happy...

well it you download the BETA doesn't it work right away? or only some games n u have to wait untill the full software is out

idirtbike said:

well it you download the BETA doesn't it work right away? or only some games n u have to wait untill the full software is out

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Hard to say since beta candidates haven't been chosen yet

What exactly is steam? I've heard a lot about it but I'm a little sketchy on the details.

From what I read to me it is:
A place you can purchase games online you can download to your computer. SO you have the files on your computer. Also it is a online hub a little like battle.net where you can play online the games you just purchased from steam. As in steam has online servers for the games they are selling.

I'm pretty sure that is totally wrong. But can someone tell me exactly where I am wrong. I'd like to sign up for the beta, but only after I know exactly what I would be signing up to.

the8thark said:

What exactly is steam? I've heard a lot about it but I'm a little sketchy on the details.

From what I read to me it is:
A place you can purchase games online you can download to your computer. SO you have the files on your computer. Also it is a online hub a little like battle.net where you can play online the games you just purchased from steam. As in steam has online servers for the games they are selling.

I'm pretty sure that is totally wrong. But can someone tell me exactly where I am wrong. I'd like to sign up for the beta, but only after I know exactly what I would be signing up to.

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Your description is fairly apt, but it goes a bit farther.... Yes, it's an online marketplace for your games. It also manages your games and ensures they are up to date. I have even seen it suggest and defragment my game files to optimize them and remind me when my video drivers are out-of-date. Additionally, it handles all of your settings and provides a venue for backing everything up. It also provides a community for multi-player games.

Another nice thing is that it makes your games universally accessible. So, if you have 5 PCs and bought one game, that one game can be played on any one system at a time (depending on which one you sign into using your Steam credentials).

In short, this is one of the biggest things to happen to the Mac this year. Even though the library will be pretty limited at first (just Valve games, not that they aren't some of the best), this will almost certainly drive a lot more developers toward the Mac since it will ease distribution and support overall.