Mar 22, 2010
Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter Update Released
Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter - Valve
A significant update to Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter, has been released today that adds a deathmatch mode and new content.

Update includes:
  • Added deathmatch mode
  • Added 7 deathmatch levels
  • Added 22 Steam Achievements
  • Added support for spectators. Can spectate from preset per-level cameras, or from other players.
  • New "game overlay" menu is now used instead of the old player list. It offers:
  • - Stats and sorting for different game modes (coop/deathmatch),
  • - Shows player status as loading, spectating or playing,
  • - Shows "Host" in the ping column for the host player,
  • - Display overlay while playing in the background, or lock into full UI,
  • - Customizable single or double tap toggle,
  • - Game details display with game rules and customized settings,
  • - Mouse access,
  • - Vote kick/ban players directly from the list.
  • Server details display with customized settings in server list.
  • Added support for custom map rotation lists.
  • Voting of customized difficulty in cooperative.
  • Customize view smoothing in spectator mode and demo playback using plr_fSpectatorLerpingFactor.
  • chatSay() cfunc (alias "Say") allows scriptable chatting. (Spam prevention system is included.)
  • Dedicated server operator (logged in through rcon) can chat with players.
  • Added ser_ulMaxClientBPS cvar, which imposes an upper limit on bandwidth used per client (in bytes per second) on a server.
  • +exec <script> Lua code can now set values of cvars that are not yet declared. To be able to do that, all accesses to Lua global vars are forbidden. To create/access Lua globals, use a predefined "globals" table.
  • Player's weapon is not bobbing any more when player "walks" in the air.
  • Separate setting for autochange weapon in multiplayer games.
  • Added binding for toggling last selected weapon.
  • Added support for achievement progress display.
  • Fixed crashes when invoking samVoteIsEnabled, samVoteDisable and samVoteEnable from the console.
  • Removed F4 keyboard shortcut for invoking options menu (it collided with voting).
  • Fixed random crashes and lockups on exit that would happen if user exited the server list menu, while it was still searching for more servers.
  • Player join/leave/kill messages, as well as all chat messages, are now writen to the log file in a parser-friendly format.
Mar 22, 2010
Aliens vs. Predator Update Released
Aliens vs. Predator™ - Valve
Updates to Aliens vs. Predator have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Game Client

New Features:
  • In multiplayer damage from the Predator's Smart Disc has been reduced, unless it's a headshot.
  • In multiplayer minor hits from the Predator's Plasma Caster bolts will no longer knock down enemies.
  • When joining a dedicated server on which a round is in-progress you now have a limited time to choose your species/team and skin before entering the game, if the game mode and server settings allow this.

Bug Fixes:
  • Fixed clients not always being correctly notified that the game had ended.
  • Improvements to the networking code used in dedicated server games to increase stability and reduce pings.
  • DX11 optimisation when using tessellation
  • Fixed DX11 gamma controls on NVIDIA boards
  • Return to the server browsing screen instead of top-level menu when you fail to join a server
  • Fixed the lobby timer not always displaying correctly on clients.
  • Improved 'SayTeam' console command
  • Improvements to ranked matchmaking
  • Fixed occasional problems with peer-to-peer games after playing on a dedicated server
  • Fixed rare multiplayer bug where all players would be disconnected during level load if just one of them had a network problem during the load.
  • Fixed a cause of clients sometimes getting disconnected when pressing ALT+TAB or ALT+ENTER on the end-game scoreboard.
  • Fixed predators being able to cancel other players& Plasma Caster Lock-on.

    Dedicated server

    New Features:
    • Dedicated server no longer needs the Steam client to be running.
    • Dedicated server can use DLC maps.
    • New console/config file commands for dedicated server for friendly fire, team balancing and species balancing options.
    • New console command to set a Message of the Day
    • When joining a dedicated server on which a round is in-progress you now have a limited time to choose your species/team and skin before entering the game, if the game mode and server settings allow this.
    • The dedicated server now installs to a standalone directory, and the install size is now ~2.2GB instead of 15GB
    • Improved feedback and output for various console commands
    • Improved server console output when players disconnect
    • Improved server console output when there are problems starting the server
    • Additional server console output about the Steam connection
    • The dedicated server will now also be available via the HLDSupdate tool. Please note that while we believe there should be no problems as both the Steam Client version and the HLDSupdate version are identical, we cannot test the HLDSupdate version without making it available to everybody. Server administrators are advised to install and use the HLDSupdate version using their discretion.

    Bug Fixes:
    • Prevent "Adding Master Server" console output looking corrupted.
    • Fixed team selection not working for the first map hosted on a dedicated server
    • Made the ban list file have the servers port number appended so multiple instances on the same hardware are independent
    • Improvements to the networking code used in dedicated server games to increase stability and reduce pings.
    • Fixed cause of clients thinking the host had disconnected at the end of a game which actually ended normally.
    • Fixed predators being able to cancel other players Plasma Caster Lock-on.
    • Fixed an issue where dedicated servers left idle for an extended period of time would result in the first match played having the clients "running around without their bodies attached".
    • Setting the Autostarttime to "0" now correctly turns this feature off, rather than attempting to instantly start the match upon players returning to the lobby and kicking all the clients.

    Additional note:
    Due to some improvements to the networking code, the new server and client are not compatible with the old versions. Clients who have not yet restarted and updated their game will not see updated servers in the in-game browser and conversely, any servers that have not been updated will no longer be visible in the in-game list for clients who have applied the update. Both new and old servers will be visible in the Steam Client server list but players will see an "Incompatible Version" error message if they attempt to connect to server which has not been updated.
    • Mar 22, 2010
    Battlefield Bad Company 2 Update Released
    Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 - Valve
    Updates to Battlefield Bad Company 2 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

    • Server browser downloads 100 entries instead of 500 in a chunk this makes the Cancel button more responsive
    • Fixed crash during server browser refresh
    • Low-level networking library switched back to the optimized version (the game client was temporarily running with one that had more debugging logic in it)
    • Localization fixes in the scoreboard
    • Server browser ping handling code modified
    Mar 19, 2010
    Galcon Fusion Update Released
    Product Update - Valve
    Updates to Galcon Fusion have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

    Steam Changes
    • Notifications move to top-right corner
    • Achievements no longer reset when you rank up. To reacquire any Achievements you lost, just rank up in any single or multi-player game and all your missing Achievements will re-appear.
    • Fixed overlay in 4x3 aspect ratio
    Game Changes:
    • During multi-player games, player positions are now randomized.
    • Standoff countdown made quieter
    • All commands can now be tab-completed
    • Chat scroll-back less jumpy
    • Tweaked min/max options in multi-player
    • Changed away text so it is easier to read.
    • Box selections reset, unless pressing CTRL
    • Changed music playing while observing a game
    Bug Fixes
    • Audio driver updated (fixes 64-bit linux compatibility)
    • Fixed can-can in team games.
    • Windows: fixed LAN / Local games
    • Fixed 16-bit graphics slow-down problems
    Mar 19, 2010
    Everyday Genius: SquareLogic Update Released
    Everyday Genius: SquareLogic - Valve
    Updates to Everyday Genius: SquareLogic have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

    • Fixes a bug introduced by the last patch that prevented some brand-new players from saving any of their game data. Existing players were not affected. Everyone can now create and save new player data on Steam's Cloud service.
    Mar 19, 2010
    Team Fortress 2 Update Released
    Team Fortress 2 - Valve
    Updates to Team Fortress 2 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

    Team Fortress 2
    • Updated the new community-built hats so they can be crafted
    • Updated the Camera Beard and Medic Mask so they can be crafted as hats
    Mar 19, 2010
    Battlefield Bad Company 2 Squad Pack Available Now!
    Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 - Valve
    Join the fight now! The Battlefield Bad Company 2 Squad Pack is now available on Steam! Buy 4 copies of the game for the price of 3 and gift the extra copies to your friends. This special will expire on April 2.
    Mar 19, 2010
    Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West Pre-Purchase Now
    Lead and Gold - Valve
    Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West is now available for pre-purchase on Steam. Receive beta access and 10% off now! This game is a third-person shooter that delivers an intense team-based multiplayer experience. Relive the violent era of the Wild West with adrenaline-fueled action and fast-paced gunfights.
    Mar 18, 2010
    Dragon Age: Origins Awakening - Now Available Everywhere
    Dragon Age™: Origins Awakening - Valve
    The first expansion to the critically acclaimed RPG of 2009, Dragon Age: Origins Awakening is now available everywhere!
    Mar 18, 2010
    Metro 2033 Now Available on Steam
    Metro 2033 - Valve
    Metro 2033 is now available on Steam!

    The year is 2033. An entire generation has been born and raised underground, and their besieged Metro Station-Cities struggle for survival, with each other, and the mutant horrors that await outside.
    ...