http://www.gamesradar.com/steam-hits-5-million-concurrent-users-means-all-online-all-once/

steam has hit 5 million concurrent users, wow jesus. 

im shocked.

star wars old republic could have been on steam, but alas.

EA could have sold more digital copies if it was on steam, stupid move on ea bioware for not having it on steam.

Steam starts the year strong, with news that the 2011 holiday season saw peak-time user counts break the 5 million mark for Valve’s digital distribution service. That's not 5 million total logins: that's 5 million people, all online and gaming at the same time.

no surprise.

it's good and they have some pretty amazing deals.

Read an article about a year back in which a dev from paradox entertainment telling a reporter that 90% of their sales where digital. He also added it was somewhat a relief as retailers where only interested in sequals of hits and games that are hyped and so on. While reading this I was asking myself if steam will become too powerful like ITunes is often accused of being in the music business. Personally I love using steam, I like the way that if I'm bored I can look for a game and 20 minutes later I can be playing it. Although I do wish their range was wider than it currently is.

It's funny, a couple of years ago I really didn't like the idea of buying games digitally and using Steam for everything. Now 95% of my game library is on Steam.

One thing I did learn though: unless I want to play the game RIGHT NOW, I have no reason to purchase most games on launch day. They are usually hit with significant price slashes only a couple of weeks to months later.

Originally posted by MikeB

It's funny, a couple of years ago I really didn't like the idea of buying games digitally and using Steam for everything. Now 95% of my game library is on Steam.

One thing I did learn though: unless I want to play the game RIGHT NOW, I have no reason to purchase most games on launch day. They are usually hit with significant price slashes only a couple of weeks to months later.

Honestly I was just mad about the changes to Counter-Strike and DoD that followed the release of steam.

Totally irrelevant to the previous statement:

One question has always been in the back of my mind though, with the success of valve and steam, who will be the successor to Gabe? What impact will his successor have on the company. It does make you wonder about all other beacon-esque companies though, how the passing of power will affect the future.

I like steam alot. Grats on 5 mill!

Originally posted by MikeB

It's funny, a couple of years ago I really didn't like the idea of buying games digitally and using Steam for everything. Now 95% of my game library is on Steam.

One thing I did learn though: unless I want to play the game RIGHT NOW, I have no reason to purchase most games on launch day. They are usually hit with significant price slashes only a couple of weeks to months later.

Exactly the same story here.   Steam has also become pretty much my main program for instant messenging as well.   I've become a huge fan of the service between the silly discounts they offer, and for introducing me to so many outstanding indie titles I never would have known existed.

Originally posted by MikeB

It's funny, a couple of years ago I really didn't like the idea of buying games digitally and using Steam for everything. Now 95% of my game library is on Steam.

One thing I did learn though: unless I want to play the game RIGHT NOW, I have no reason to purchase most games on launch day. They are usually hit with significant price slashes only a couple of weeks to months later.

I have to say, I'm a bit like you. I really don't like the idea of buying digitally as I like having the box just in case i need to reinstall. Dowloading takes a bit, even though I have "slightly better" internet now than years ago.

However, with Steam I was able to get a game that I couldn't find anywhere in the stores and was sort fo jonesing to play it.

Also, it allowed me to get Amnesia, dark decent on the spur of the moment and Vampire Masquerade with all the fixes that were later made to the game.

So I'm a bit of a convert.

But but.... PC GAMING IS DYING!!1!

Steam is amazing. Sadly you can't buy everything on steam (Thanks EA...) but 99% of my games are on my steam account.

Gamersgate is another really good digital downloader service, and some games not found on Steam are there. They have great deals too. Gog is good too, for finding old classics that are very hard to find elsewhere or/and really expensive.

Between Gamersgate, gog and Steam...no more needing to go to retail stores :D

Originally posted by MikeB

It's funny, a couple of years ago I really didn't like the idea of buying games digitally and using Steam for everything. Now 95% of my game library is on Steam.

Same here MikeB.

Originally posted by spaceport

But but.... PC GAMING IS DYING!!1!

One of the things Skyrim proved wrong..