Jason9jasons guide to steam.
- Ok when you first open steam by default it should open to the steam store(screen1)here you can view the latest game releases and purchase them via paypal ,also in the store page you can view updates to games and follow a few links to certain steam games.
- the next page is the 'games' here you can view what games you currently have installed and ready for playing,when downloading or updating in stead of saying '100% ready' there will be a timer counting down and and download speed .by right clicking on any game you can choose an number of options like start ,properties, by clicking properties you can view the homepage, developer and if available its manual .you can also set its launch options and add a short cut to you desktop for that particular game .also in properties you can view the games updates and in 'local files' 'de-fragmentate,'verify integrity of game cache',and also 'delete local content' in other words uninstall.Also in the game section at the bottom of the page (see screen 2)there is a button called 'activate a product on steam' if you press this you can register a cd-key you will have got in your 'boxed version' of the game (correct me if i am wrong but do you not get a cd key if you download the game from the store ?).
- ok now we have the media page by clicking 'add media' you are taken to part of steams store where you can add videos to your steam account these are free to view.(screen3)
- steam friends here you can see what friends you have are online and what game they are playing ,you can tell this by the logo next to there name.you can aslo see if they are set to away, on phone, busy, offline,by double clicking a name you open a new chat window to that person.by default the steam friends plays a sound when a person send you a message.by clicking 'options' you can change your status add a friend and edit your profile(see screen 4).
- next we have the steam tools here you can download source sdk,source dedicated server and many other different things the dedicated server is used to create your own server but a number off things a required before you can host your own server .again like the games page you can view to see if the tool is ready to use or is currently being downloaded or updated.
- finally settings you can view your contact email your steam id name (the name you give to people who want to add you) and your VAC(valve anti cheat) status if you are running steam for the 1st time this should say 'in good standing' and you want this to remain that way.also you can change your password ,email,and login as a different user and choose whether to save your account information on this computer.on the other tabs you can change what page will open when you run steam ,refer back to when i said by default steam will open up in the store page.you can change your internet connection speed what skin you want steam to use (these are also available to download for free)and then finally what language steam should use .
TO VIEW THE SCREEN SHOTS PROPERLY PLEASE CLICK THEM any more questions donut hesitate to ask me :).
