Half Life 2: Episode 1 Updated

Valve has released a source engine update for Half Life: Episode 1. This particular update adds surround sound (5.1ch, 7.1ch) under Windows Vista for CS: Source, HL2: DM and Episode One.  As always, it’s available from Steam.

Episode 1 Source Engine

• Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch customers running under Windows Vista can now take advantage of 5.1 and 7.1 speaker configurations

Microsoft: Xbox360 More Important Than PC

Despite running Games for Windows campaign and being a member of PC Gaming Alliance, Microsoft has admitted prioritizing releases and favoring their game console - Xbox360 instead of PCs. Yes, hypocrisy is a wonderful thing…atleast in Microsoft’s perception.

On a global scale the Windows Vista business is as important as our Xbox 360 business. But in Germany for example, we want more gamers to buy our Xbox 360. If we launch a game that is on 360 and PC simultaneously, we basically shoot ourselves in the foot by allowing the German market to choose to play the PC version – because they are more likely to buy that than spend their money on the Xbox 360. On a global scale the PC is very relevant to us. And I would say that 90 per cent of the games that are pitched to us are on console. We’re strongly perceived as a console publisher because we’re the first-party publisher even though the Windows operating system is equally important to us. If we launched a Halo game on PC and 360 in Germany simultaneously, 80 per cent of sales would be on the PC. So we need to pick and choose our formats.

Ben Cousins: “Web is the future of gaming”

Ben Cousins, DICE’s executive producer and the senior developer of upcoming Battlefield: Heroes game was interviewed by GamesIndusty.biz. Cousins says the web will be the dominant gaming platform of the future. This statement holds plenty of ground when you look at the crazy popularity of “casual” web based video games. Ofcourse, let’s not forget Battlefield: Heroes is also browser based and is catergorised as a “casual” game.

“People talk about which of the two, PlayStation or Xbox, is going to be the big platform of the future,” Cousins said.

“I think the web is going to be the big platform of the future, whether it’s running on an iPhone or a Mac or on the PC.”

Steam Client Update Released

Valve has updated their Steam client. To apply the update, check for updates within your Steam client.

Steam Client

• Added the ability to block all communications from another user
  
• Added an option to timestamp friends messages
  
• Added an option to configure taskbar window flashing behavior on friends messages
  
• Added background detection of game updates while Steam is running
  
• Fixed backups failing for certain games, and made other improvements to it