I never really appreciated Steam as much as I should have. It’s always been this annoying extra-door-I-have-to-find-the-key-for type of obstacle for me. I’m always one for a more elegant solution - clicking on another couple of buttons to get my game started via some resource hogging bloatware (all 12mb of it ) was never going to go down well with me.

It was a bit short sighted of me not to realise that it was a half decent games delivery platform.

I clicked on the "Buy Now" link for Orange Box, a few mouse clicks later and I was downloading the package within minutes. Backing up the files was also quite nifty, as well as prioritising the download speed for a game when I tried to open it. Speeds were also quite respectable as I believe I was downloading from the GameArena network.

Given the amount of mods and expansions for Half Life 2, it makes sense to consolidate them into a single platform. There is even an option to add non-Steam games to the list, which is pretty nifty.

So yes, Steam is actually quite a good distribution platform. Elegant? Open to debate. But it’s good.

Agg, the moderator on the Overclockers Australia forums, has recently confirmed speculation that PlusCorp has gone into receivership. Full story can be found on ARNnet.

From the Whirlpool forums: 

"Sadly after 17 years Plus Corporation and my other company Plus Technology will cease to exist. I am currently assisting the Administrator to find a buyer, so the name will live on. I am personally facing bankruptcy, and yes my 6 and a half year old Audi that is worth $35K and purchased in 2001 new for 82K will be re-possesed…Will be interesting to see how things pan out in the industry over the next few months. I may work with the new buyer of Plus Corp to help with the transition, unless a job offer turns up in the interim…Thank you for your support over the past 17 years, I am truly sorry it had to end this way." -PLUSCORP.BIZ

Personally, I think this is a damn shame. With competitors undercutting prices by ridiculous margins by varying shady tactics and the already tight margins that come with the territory of owning an online store, it was always going to be a hard fight for genuine retailers like PlusCorp.

Sure, if you looked on StaticIce and compared the prices, you’ll see that they were a shade more expensive, but you paid for the quality of service and to be treated like a worthwhile customer; the knowledge that what you were being sold could be RMA’d without any fuss or pushback; the peace of mind in the fact that you wouldn’t be pressured into buying something you never wanted in the first place; and the opportunity to do a Price Match on other competitors (usually he would meet you half way and that would already be a very competitive price).

I have bought hardware from PlusCorp on multiple occasions; on one occasion they were willing to open the doors for a few hours on a public holiday to ensure that I could pick up my beloved Silverstone TJ-09 case. Furthermore, they matched the cheapest price I could find on that case, dollar for dollar!

I was hoping to purchase a completely new rig with them mid-next year rather than piss around with the queues and put up with the attitude of hole-in-the-wall retailers, but alas it looks like there is just no room in this arena for genuine, quality service and peace of mind over saving a few bucks.

/end soapbox