AMD and Valve team up to provide ATI Catalyst updates on Steam

[fellix_bg]

With today’s exciting announcement from AMD and Valve®, Steam gamers will never again have to worry about finding the most recent ATI Catalyst™ graphics driver. PC gamers can now detect and install the latest ATI Catalyst™ driver for their ATI Radeon™ graphics card directly from within Steam! Gamers using ATI graphics will not only be kept posted on the latest available drivers for their hardware, but with every update they’ll know that they’re getting the overall best possible gaming experience AMD and Valve can provide.

Moar!

[RacingTurtle]

[B][URL="http://blogs.amd.com/play/2010/09/14/video-driver-updates-made-easy-amd-and-valve-team-up-to-provide-ati-catalyst-updates-on-steam/"]

Nice, but hopefully theyve fixed that issue where you get the 'Your display drivers incorrect for your hardware'! I keep getting this despite having the latest Catalyst installed.

[madcho]

would be wonderfull

[SoulsCollective]

Now this is interesting news. I wonder if they'll deliver Crossfire profiles as well, and if they'll let you choose not to update.

Nice, but hopefully theyve fixed that issue where you get the 'Your display drivers incorrect for your hardware'! I keep getting this despite having the latest Catalyst installed.

Function of the game, not of Steam. A few games have this problem.

[SKYMTL]

Now this is interesting news. I wonder if they'll deliver Crossfire profiles as well, and if they'll let you choose not to update.Function of the game, not of Steam. A few games have this problem.

I believe he is talking about the pop up that usually occurs after the drivers are installed and Windows reboots.

[Manicdan]

this is the next major step toward a PC acting more like a console. with a few more steps, steam can revive PC gaming (for those who think it died)

[flippin_waffles]

I believe he is talking about the pop up that usually occurs after the drivers are installed and Windows reboots.

I thought Windows only reboots after a control panel install, but not if only the driver is installed.

[Rattle]

this is the next major step toward a PC acting more like a console. with a few more steps, steam can revive PC gaming (for those who think it died)

It's funny you think that because most old school pc gamers that I know LOATHE steam as do I. I think if anything them becoming the standard is one more step closer to consolized run of the mill BULLSh1t and the end of PC gaming itself. How are they saving PC gaming? steam is like free xbox live on pc for christs sake... Unless you actually like Tf2 or Counterstrike what quality multiplayer experience do they actually deliver?

[Calmatory]

It's funny you think that because most old school pc gamers that I know LOATHE steam as do I. I think if anything them becoming the standard is one more step closer to consolized run of the mill BULLSh1t and the end of PC gaming itself. How are they saving PC gaming? steam is like free xbox live on pc for christs sake... Unless you actually like Tf2 or Counterstrike what quality multiplayer experience do they actually deliver?

Provide 3 points why Steam is bad for PC gaming.

Who are these "old school pc gamers"? Those who STILL play Quake 2? Yeah, like their opinion matters to anyone.

Yeah, and Counter Strike was only good before beta 5, 1.6 went downhill back in the day and Source is just something to loathe.

[Rattle]

Anything lobby based is absolute junk 1

How about something new better than source so we dont get stuck with old tech and graphics 2

There's more idiots on steam then anywhere else, its just as bad as xbox live if not worse and VAC is a joke 3.

By old school gamers I mean people that prefer things like bc2 or Old school server setups/communities like in previous call of duty games and UT.

I never really liked source, it was fine for single player games, HL2 series and portal.... all their multiplayer games are junk IMO. Just because it has low requirements and its so easily and readily available to every little kid and their mom doesn't make it QUALITY.

[SKYMTL]

I thought Windows only reboots after a control panel install, but not if only the driver is installed.

Windows is supposed to reboot after the driver installation and / OR the control panel installation.

[Tom128]

I thought 99% of "old school" PC gamers stopped their Steam angst about 5 or 6 years ago, when it evolved to be one heck of an awesome platform. I love Valve and Steam. On the topic of quality I can't really imagine what else Valve would need to do to make a more refined engine such as Steam, or a game as thoroughly developed and polished as Team Fortress 2.

If it's not your style that's fine but that does not take away from it both as a fine example of how to code a game (I am a software developer for what it's worth), and also a great example of how to make a team-based game. Throw on top of it a truly unique visual style and good comedy easter eggs, I freaking love the game even though I stopped playing it regularly a while ago.

[Helmore]

Anything lobby based is absolute junk 1

How about something new better than source so we dont get stuck with old tech and graphics 2

There's more idiots on steam then anywhere else, its just as bad as xbox live if not worse and VAC is a joke 3.

By old school gamers I mean people that prefer things like bc2 or Old school server setups/communities like in previous call of duty games and UT.

I never really liked source, it was fine for single player games, HL2 series and portal.... all their multiplayer games are junk IMO. Just because it has low requirements and its so easily and readily available to every little kid and their mom doesn't make it QUALITY.

I actually bought BC2 on Steam . Much easier that way.

Another thing, what does Source have to do with Steam? Oh and your reason number 3 is a little subjective I'd say.

[Motiv]

Anything lobby based is absolute junk 1

How about something new better than source so we dont get stuck with old tech and graphics 2

There's more idiots on steam then anywhere else, its just as bad as xbox live if not worse and VAC is a joke 3.

By old school gamers I mean people that prefer things like bc2 or Old school server setups/communities like in previous call of duty games and UT.

I never really liked source, it was fine for single player games, HL2 series and portal.... all their multiplayer games are junk IMO. Just because it has low requirements and its so easily and readily available to every little kid and their mom doesn't make it QUALITY.

Sounds to me you're getting all the different elements that make steam, a bit messed up.

You start by saying steam is a lobby based system, when it is not a requirement within steam.

Old school gamers are BC2 gamers! You sure? Then saying they prefer old school serer setups (unlike bc2). Even so, steam doesn't stop you using dedicated servers, in fact most of valves stuff requires it.

Again you attack source. You don't need to use that game engine.

Most people I know are quite happy with steam, veterans to gaming and new people. There is certainly a lot of hate from new people, who only know of MW2.

[Manicdan]

im not even going to reply to Rattle, sounds like he needs a binky, or blanky, or something else that makes criers happy

steam rocks, i could start a post about why, but that could take all night

[JoNo216]

Anything lobby based is absolute junk 1

How about something new better than source so we dont get stuck with old tech and graphics 2

There's more idiots on steam then anywhere else, its just as bad as xbox live if not worse and VAC is a joke 3.

By old school gamers I mean people that prefer things like bc2 or Old school server setups/communities like in previous call of duty games and UT.

I never really liked source, it was fine for single player games, HL2 series and portal.... all their multiplayer games are junk IMO. Just because it has low requirements and its so easily and readily available to every little kid and their mom doesn't make it QUALITY.

1 - Most Valve games are done with server explorers, you can even put hacks on L4D to do that instead of the lobby.
<edit>With more recent updates they did change the default of their server explorer to be more lobby like, however this is also easily changed back</edit>
As far as Steamworks games I honestly do not know. Is that up to the game producers? I would imagine that it is, and Valve would be able to supply either interface with the steamworks API.

2-That is the engine that Valve uses for their games and has nothing to do with Steam except that Valve also owns Steam. So this is just silly...

3 - VAC is a joke I will give you that, but as with anything you aren't instantly going to find a group of people on a random server whom you love playing with and is free of annoying 12 year olds. you gotta explore and find a good server. they are out there.

I've been a PC gamer since Doom1 and Wolfenstein3D, I don't know if you considered that "Old School" enough. but I freaking love steam. Sure it's not a flawless system. but hey, what is? They have fantastic sales, and everything is in the cloud so you never have to worry about loosing a game disc or have it damaged. All Steam is a content delivery system. And the addition to save me some time when I want to update my drivers is something I like!

Also your biggest complaint seems to be with graphics, while Source isn't the best engine out there, it doesn't look too bad, and they are updating it all the time. But gameplay should always trump graphics anyways... but unfortunately some people tend to disagree and would rather play a game when you cook pancakes in 1080p than anything that would actually be fun.

I would rather get behind a company like Valve who is constantly delivering new updates and content to their games for free rather than constantly buying 10 different DLC packs for each and every game that comes out anymore.

The only real true kick in the balls to make PCs act as consoles has been Modern Warfare 2 with their lack of dedicated servers.

What is killing PC gaming is games like Assassins Creed 2 with over the top DRM. Making piracy a option so that some people can actually play a game that they bought!

Steam owns... get over it...

[flippin_waffles]

Windows is supposed to reboot after the driver installation and / OR the control panel installation.

Hmm that's odd. I could have sworn that changed with Vista and WDDM. Did that change with Win7?

[Bobsama]

Anything lobby based is absolute junk 1

Not quite. Do realize that almost every multiplayer game has lobbies where players can chat etc. before, during, and after rounds. If you mean the little 4p, 8p, & 16p player-hosted servers & the matchmaking system, you're correct.

If dedicated 3rd party servers are barred and dedicated official servers suck or are unavailable, that's very bad.

How about something new better than source so we dont get stuck with old tech and graphics 2

Steam =! Source games

Steam got its start with Source games. However, Steam isn't Source. Further, Source isn't a bad thing for PC gaming. If everyone needs a Core i7 or Phenom II X4, 4GB RAM, and a GTX260+/HD4850+, there wouldn't be many PC gamers. What's been killing PC gaming is the insane requirements which mean that many $2000 manufactured computers aren't sufficient. Source games actually make that better--expanding the market does bring in more whiny 12-year-old kids but shrinking the market means now, instead of a reformable/maturable 12-year-old kid, you now have an egotistical rich 12-year-old kid with a chip on his shoulder.

There's more idiots on steam then anywhere else, its just as bad as xbox live if not worse and VAC is a joke 3.

There are more idiots on AIM than anywhere else. There are more idiots on MSN than anywhere else. On Facebook. On Twitter. On 2ch. On 4chan. Et cetera. There are more idiots on Earth than anywhere else. The difference is that you don't have to interact with idiots. Host your own server or whatever and simply kick and then ban them.

By old school gamers I mean people that prefer things like bc2 or Old school server setups/communities like in previous call of duty games and UT.

I agree with this, except "old school gamers" would be more like BF2 than BC2 and more like CSS than MW2.

[danielkza]

Windows is supposed to reboot after the driver installation and / OR the control panel installation.

In Windows 7 I get no reboot prompts at all after the first time I install the driver.

[SKYMTL]

In Windows 7 I get no reboot prompts at all after the first time I install the driver.

There is a 50 / 50 chance of it happening with the ATI drivers. I have no idea why but one way or another, you should reboot in order to ensure everything is working properly.

[Hell Hound]

I don't want third party software to play my game,offline.ONLINE is diff and the new gui is still kinda of buggy.My css is fubared.If steam ever went down so does steam online only games,bah.

[flippin_waffles]

There is a 50 / 50 chance of it happening with the ATI drivers. I have no idea why but one way or another, you should reboot in order to ensure everything is working properly.

I've never had to either since they changed to the new driver model. Not once. Besides, it seems you were implying that a reboot was by design, when in fact it's not. So a reboot isn't necessary after all, and should not be an issue with steam.

[fiskov]

It's funny you think that because most old school pc gamers that I know LOATHE steam as do I. I think if anything them becoming the standard is one more step closer to consolized run of the mill BULLSh1t and the end of PC gaming itself. How are they saving PC gaming? steam is like free xbox live on pc for christs sake... Unless you actually like Tf2 or Counterstrike what quality multiplayer experience do they actually deliver?

I understand your pain and agree fully, Valve killed competitive gaming by pushing that CS wannabe.
Valve/Steam now infects its games with ads, connects you to some friends network BS, achievements malarkey and social networking nonsense.
Oh, and it's "Sync your steam with this game" blah blah blah...

Then there's it joke of game prices, Fallout 3 / Assasins creed 2 only £30!.. Or go downtown your local game store and get them for £12.99.
Where, get this? Not only do you get a case, you can actually get rid of them when your done!

So.. GFX drivers now being pushed over steam a good thing?
I bet when you install the drivers using Steam your get an advertisement at the end of the install begging and pleading with you to play TF2, the game they cannot stop milking, even though its a failure compared to the original.

[Pontos]

There is a 50 / 50 chance of it happening with the ATI drivers. I have no idea why but one way or another, you should reboot in order to ensure everything is working properly.

Windows Vista and 7 let you install from scratch and also replace on the fly any kind of video driver, reloading it in the process.

If you get prompted for a reboot then maybe it's some other driver from the package, like south/northbridge stuff in case you use them, HDMI sound driver or the like.

[madcho]

Windows Vista and 7 let you install from scratch and also replace on the fly any kind of video driver, reloading it in the process.

If you get prompted for a reboot then maybe it's some other driver from the package, like south/northbridge stuff in case you use them, HDMI sound driver or the like.

The on the fly is good stuff and work good, but if i'm using 3D or watching a film i would not like steam to change my driver without my will.

So i would prefer auto dl and install on reboot, and an option install it without reboot.