A Well-Known Video Game Hub: Steam as a Web-Based Network
This is my/ChatGPT’s perspective on how video games on Steam quickly become popular to Steam users from similar game communities they played.
Once upon a time in the vast realm of digital entertainment, a magical platform known as Steam was at the heart of the gaming universe. Steam, a haven for gamers, had long been the go-to place for discovering and playing a diverse array of video games. However, a new trend was emerging, one that would reshape the landscape of gaming and captivate the imaginations of players worldwide.
It all began with the rise of two mighty gaming communities — the legendary Fortnite enthusiasts and the passionate followers of Overwatch. These two games had taken the world by storm, creating a fervent and dedicated fan base. Their success, however, had unintended consequences that would forever change the dynamics of game development and distribution.
Inspired by the success of Fortnite and Overwatch, a wave of talented game developers set out to create their own masterpieces. They drew inspiration from the vibrant, competitive, and visually stunning aspects of these games, aiming to capture the essence that made them so popular. These ambitious developers believed in the power of innovation, building upon the foundations laid by their predecessors while introducing fresh and exciting elements to the gaming world.
From network data, video game developers are wondering how other on-going games, such as Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, are becoming more popular with Steam users while Fortnite is still gaining users daily outside of Steam’s hub. While Steam users cannot directly access Fortnite from their Steam Library, but this game, along with Overwatch 2, paved the way for Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS to share the similar battle royale and player-versus-player elements onto Steam’s hub.
Due to the uprising in playtime for the above games, data comparing the amount of players on Fortnite and Overwatch 2 to Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on Steam, will provide an insight on how popular these steam games are in comparison to their predecessors. This gives video game developers an opportunity to attract more Steam users, who enjoy playing games such as Fortnite and Overwatch 2, and bring more revenue to their companies via micro transactions, game popularity on Steam’s popular games category within their online store, and units sold.
This information is relevant to answering the question of how Steam connects its hub to other game communities that play a similar objective and use similar mechanics by comparing the recent activity, number of players, and viewers between Fortnite and Overwatch 2 to Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. Between Kaggle, FortniteGG, SteamDB, and VideoGameDatabases, data for most played and popular Steam games were collected to illustrate the comparison between Fortnite and Overwatch 2 to at least Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS.
Although the following code is incomplete, the Steam network is represented by Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS as the main nodes of the directed graph, and the edges are the amount of Steam players that play these games. The nodes and edges share a non-reciprocal relationship where not all users that play the game follow other users and the game can connect to several users simultaneously. The importance in the “graph” refers to the number of players (edges) that are playing one of the games (nodes).
By using a datetime function to format the date each day a game is played on a monthly scale and removing the time from the date variable with a string for time function, the data from Counter-Strike 2 should have been clear to read, but the constant bug of the time still remaining within the date column of the used csv file caused the code to not return a clean table. Limitations to this analysis includes the names and user ids of users for privacy purposes, and reviews for the most played games on steam since it impacts whether the main nodes receive more edge connections. There is potential bias involved as this data is constantly changing with several players logging in and out of each game, and that gradually alters the graph in which would require updating the csv files and remaking the graphs.
Steam, with its open doors to creativity, became the ideal platform for these new games to flourish. As the games hit the virtual shelves, they found an eager audience ready to explore the next big thing. Steam users, ever hungry for novel experiences, embraced these titles that bore the unmistakable influence of Fortnite and Overwatch.
The game developers benefited immensely from this trend. The popularity of Fortnite and Overwatch had created a market hungry for games with similar mechanics, aesthetics, and competitive features. By tapping into this demand, developers found a ready-made audience eager to try their creations. The games were not mere imitations; they were evolutionary steps, each one pushing the boundaries of what gaming could offer.
As these new games gained popularity, the developers found themselves not only with financial success but also with valuable insights into player preferences. They learned what worked and what didn’t, refining their creations based on real-time feedback from the gaming community. Steam, acting as a conduit between developers and players, facilitated this dynamic exchange, fostering a symbiotic relationship that benefited both parties.
The success of these Steam games also propelled the developers into the spotlight, earning them recognition and respect within the gaming industry. With each new release, the developers honed their craft, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical innovation. Steam, as the enabler of this phenomenon, solidified its position as a platform that not only hosted games but also played a pivotal role in shaping the future of gaming.
And so, in the ever-expanding realm of Steam, a new chapter unfolded. The legacy of Fortnite and Overwatch lived on not just in their own right but through the myriad of games they inspired, as the gaming community continues to evolve and thrive in this digital wonderland while the game developers are working hard to bring updates and new content to the already popular Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and Apex Legends for fans of these franchises.
