Valve Software Powered by Steam - CounterStrike 1.5

So you play online games, right? You play Counter-Strike? Team Fortress Classic? You hate cheaters? How about downloading patches? Do you find it a necessary nuisance?
If you've answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be ready for Steam, Valve Software's new online gaming platform announced today at the Game Developer's Conference in San Jose.
Steam is essentially a “platform” for all types of applications - an integrated solution for a number of tasks. Whether it is delivering new content (new maps, mods, skins, full versions of game, etc), managing version control (no more patches) or handling anti- cheating measures (it can check your version every day, hour or however often the developer wishes, preventing cheaters from hacking the code).
Example CD keys : all of your authentication information is stored server side All future tests of Valve software will be done via Steam, and Half-Life/Counter-Strike 1.5 will update the installed base with Steam. In that update, players can expect new commerce, new UI, instant messenger capabilities and, of course, anti-cheat measures.

Full Story : Gamespy http://www.gamespy.com/gdc2002/poweredbysteam/