THQ Gets Steamed

Considering Company of Heroes was probably the best PC game released in 2006 (with a major standalone expansion coming in November) this counts as a major feather in digital distribution's cap. THQ yesterday announced plans to distribute A-list stuff like Supreme Commander, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Company of Heroes, Titan Quest, Full Spectrum Warrior, and the Warhammer 40k games courtesy Valve's download-only Steam service.

Sign me up. I love getting out of the house, but I loathe going to malls. Pulling Half Life 2 down moments after it went live at midnight, November 16, 2004 was inexpressibly satisfying. I love the idea that, very soon now, I may be able to get all my games -- allowing for download times -- as easily as hopping on pay per view. And don't mourn retailers like EB Games or Gamestop -- they'll either grow into digital distribution or gang way for services like Steam and Direct2Drive. The only hitch? Getting high-speed Internet to sub-$30,000 income households, though broadband penetration is on the ascent -- 82.2% of active Internet users have it, with 53% of all U.S. households subscribed to a broadband high-speed Internet service.

Speaking as a game reviewer, it's already infinitely easier pulling review code down online, something which mitigates publisher shipping costs, mail delays, version conflicts, and organizational snafus where only nine of ten intended recipients receive their review copies in time for deadline.

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