This is good news, it shows a good trend.
i have pondered a lot about the F2P model, overpriced games (Cost Of Duty, Bulletstorm etc), piracy........and how to make the game developers an income.
Heres my 5 cents as a pc gamer ...
1) 60$ for a game!!! (that sometimes lasts only 5-8 hrs) . Thats absurd. A game should actually be long enough so that you can actually start liking it. (Think of the amount of time you spent playing STALKER and GTA 4) I got those PC games for 9.99$ in my country one month of launch in my malls retail store. I live in India.
2) Single Player is always going to be pirated more and Steam has grown to be solid alternative/control system that i like.
3) about Multiplayer........casual and competitive gameplay have merge together. Thats the thing steam does with CS. theres a great rift, the core players only mostly play cs 1.6,CSS, Dota and Starcratf 1,2. Also i'd love to see more games like All Points Bulletin. Think GTA IV, but add in NFS Most Wanted style Multiplayer racing in the streets. Its possible with mods, why not just add it to retail. You can charge them Monthly for a cheaper fee like 5-10 $(make it cheaper than their mobile/internet cost)......and go for a debit card transaction.....A lot of college students have the money but not a credit card. U'll get a Huge playerbase. My other multiplayer game wouldbe would be something like STALKER, but completely MMOFPS. To make it more competitive u can have custom 5v5 rounds with diff game mechanics. u fight for money,assassinations, bomb sites,rescue hostiges etc...
4) Free 2 Play......here's my idea. Take the aforementioned APB type multiplayer game, make it f2p. The only catch is, u can play only 5-6 hrs a week, then it cost you something.
5) Piracy is not that bad any more, the pirating kids are getting jobs now and startlng to pay for the games now. I pirate games and keep on playing it......modding it if possible,without anyy drm and stuff.if i like a game, If i like like a game i just buy it retail and keep the box on the shelf. I've started to buy on steam recently.
/ran out of beer...