A Season of Games

The Steam client by Valve is redefining the way we play video games. Similar to iTunes, you can purchase games on Steam. These games are tied to your account and you begin downloading the files needed to play. If you install Steam on another computer, you will redownload all those files needed, as long as you sign in with your account.

Valve is also creating an Episode system for the games that they have out. Basically these episodes are expansion packs, but for some games like Sin Episode 1 is the "expansion" to the old Sin game made years ago. Because it's on a new engine (the HL2 engine) it might as well be a new game by itself.

I see great potential in this system. Hopefully Valve can see that the episode system can be more than just expansions, but really, whole "Seasons" of games can be released. Of course, a season for a video game might not be the same length of time as a season for a tv show, but it would be amazing to have one long continuous storyline.

Having an episode system means that more time could be focused on developing the new game's core engine and how it will run, with less focus on the storyline. The game could debut with a small story, a pilot episode. If people like it, they buy the next episode which could come out as 3 month release buckets. It may seem like such a short cycle isn't feasable, but you have to realize, if the engine and core game was developed in such a way as to provide an easy way to great new storylines, maps and scenarios, it is possible.

Pricing could be reduced for the initial launch of the game and episode prices could rise. If a two hour movie dvd is worth 20 bucks, 20+ hours of an Episode of a video game should be worth that if not more, right?

Assurances would have to be put in place to allow users to skip episodes. Just like a consumer might not watch every episode of a tv show, a video game should have the same philosophies.

Steam is already set up to market itself. Whenever a user logs on, it lists the lastest new games and package deals. It's like tv guide.

My only issue with Steam is pricing. Why is the game the same price for download as it is if I purchased it in a store? Though there are those who would argue that the cost for releasing a game isn't in the packaging and materials, I'm sure something could be done. At the very least, give consumers the incentive to purchase things through steam by giving a small discount, so that they don't let the superficial argument of owning the actual physical game deter them from consolidating all of their gaming onto one system.