Valve Announces Steam Cloud; Online Network to Store Saved Games Indefinitely

by Nick Breckon and Aaron Linde May 29, 2008 5:23pm CST tags: Valve, Steam, Steam Cloud

Valve today announced Steam Cloud, a free Steam system that will retain users' saved games and configuration files indefinitely.

Half-Life and Half-Life 2 will be the first games to support the service. User key mappings will also be saved in Counter-Strike, and Left 4 Dead will ship with the feature.

If players are offline, the service will store the data and then add it to the network on the next connection. According to Valve, saved games and configurations will be stored forever.

Valve further noted that the service will be freely available to developers, and is set to launch in the "near future."

The company also detailed plans for several new Steam systems, including a driver auto-updater and calendar functionality.

Another feature in development is a system-requirement checker. The program will analyze your hardware and compare it to multiple games, estimating your performance and recommending upgrades.

Valve is also considering storing replay videos and kill-cam screens from games such as Team Fortress 2 and Day of Defeat: Source.

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#144

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By: WarrenCanuck x Show Full Post

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I hope they add TF2 stats and accomplishments as the first implementation of this. The lack of achievements and stats across computers is an epic fail for TF2.

I hope Valve starts requiring ALL steam licensees to at least integrate with the friends system to the extent that you can click on a user and join their game - it's my only complaint about COD4 on Steam.

May 30, 2008 2:53am CST

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I hope they add TF2 stats and accomplishments as the first implementation of this. The lack of achievemen... : WarrenCanuck
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  I agree. I said the same thing about Unreal Tournament 3. Even if you buy it over Steam you still have to... : Dr_Cube
  - that's more of a Steam Works thing then this new Steam Cloud announcement, but i agree with you none the ... : flasher 907
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  really? is there a file i can backup in case my HDs crash, because i really dont fancy getting the medic ... : Klebold
  - I think the achievements are saved online because I can see them on my Steam ID page. And I can see them ... : raxtor

#179

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By: IHATEDUST x Show Full Post

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This is the future. This is the kinda shit I've been talking about. Pirate games are going to be the new demos. Sure you can download some code and play some levels, but without the constant support and upgrades and features that you get from developers like Valve, who would bother pirating half a game? This is how to kill piracy and devs like Valve and Blizzard are going to carry PC gaming beyond the life-cycle of any console.

May 31, 2008 6:35pm CST

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This is the future. This is the kinda shit I've been talking about. Pirate games are going to be the ne... : IHATEDUST
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- i will agree, circle gets the square. The inevitable future of PC gaming (and the net in general) is blur... : downrightevil

#48

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By: jigstah x Show Full Post

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THIS is the kind of shit that makes me feel guilty buying a non-STEAM version of a game. It's getting even more difficult by the day. Please, let Mass Effect be the last game I have to buy elsewhere. (wishful thinking)

May 29, 2008 6:34pm CST

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THIS is the kind of shit that makes me feel guilty buying a non-STEAM version of a game. It's getting ev... : jigstah
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  It was a hard choice but I skipped Mass Effect for PC because it wasn't a Steam title or a Games for Wind... : Dr_Cube
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    You care if it is a Games for Windows Live title? I think that is the first time I have heard that. Is ... : OmegaRed59
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      I realize that it could be seen as a bullshit argument this early in the game, especially given the poor ... : Dr_Cube
      
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      If the previous Dawn of war titles are saying anything I bet that DoW2 will come to steam as well. : ysbreker
      
      Yes but I want the game to be integrated into Steam like CounterStrike is. For example, when I am playing... : Dr_Cube
      
      Christ... By the sound of it, you'd love if there was only one place to get and play games - in essenc... : fffortune
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    Games for Windows Live is the biggest POS ever. I forget which game I played at a friends place that had ... : WarrenCanuck
    - I agree that Games for Windows Live, as it stands right now, is a poor offering. It's even more pathetic ... : Dr_Cube
- Mass Effect is worth it but I agree, all Steam, all the time is OK with me. : IHATEDUST

#176

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By: LemonJoose x Show Full Post

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Valve and Blizzard are the PC gaming industry. Everyone else follows. Everyone else is their bitch.

All I hear from other developers is a bunch of whining and complaining.

May 31, 2008 1:03am CST

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Valve and Blizzard are the PC gaming industry. Everyone else follows. Everyone else is their bitch. ... : LemonJoose
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- Haha exaggerated but true enough. I'd count Stardock in there too, for their success with Sins. : stevesan

#105

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By: samduhman x Show Full Post

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I just can't seem to like Steam. Guess Im old school and don't like all the touchie feelie crap valve does with their games. Just give me my retail copy and let me be without all the big brother crap that steam brings to the table. I don't mind updating my own games and backing up my own pc. Its not that hard. I've been doing it for years, pie.

May 29, 2008 11:23pm CST

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I just can't seem to like Steam. Guess Im old school and don't like all the touchie feelie crap valve d... : samduhman
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#167

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By: Zolneirz x Show Full Post

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Aside from delays, I've never had anything significant to bitch about Valve. They make my gaming life better each and every month, companies like this, along with Google, are what the market needs more of. It's been a long time since I respected a company and wasn't fearful of them taking the evil corrupt corporation route.

While I had nothing important to say, I feel I needed to say something positive (and for good reason) for a change.

May 30, 2008 12:14pm CST

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Aside from delays, I've never had anything significant to bitch about Valve. They make my gaming life bet... : Zolneirz
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- It's interesting to hear someone else compare them to Google. I've always gotten a similar sense from bot... : SFtheWolf

#44

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By: Trips x Show Full Post

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I remember back in the days of the SteamBeta, people will bitching HARDCORE about how much Steam sucked and everything. Now, Steam is about to make you it's BITCH! Suck it down!

May 29, 2008 6:31pm CST

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I remember back in the days of the SteamBeta, people will bitching HARDCORE about how much Steam sucked a... : Trips
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#89

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By: MR 9000 x Show Full Post

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It's as if no one has ever heard of CD-Rs (or floppies for that matter).

Heh.

May 29, 2008 8:47pm CST

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It's as if no one has ever heard of CD-Rs (or floppies for that matter). Heh. : MR 9000
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  i think you're missing the point : lja83
  - He'll get it...eventually. : Dr_Cube
- you probably still buy your games at retail too eh? : flasher 907

#169

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By: psycho100 x Show Full Post

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Holy shit it's goatse....

seriously, is that cloud up there goatse'ing everyone?

May 30, 2008 1:18pm CST

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Holy shit it's goatse.... seriously, is that cloud up there goatse'ing everyone? : psycho100
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- yes it is : pinion120

#64

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By: datim x Show Full Post

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Steam is getting better everyday, this is just me but, I would love to see chat protocols incorporated into it, like AIM, Gtalk, etc.. If they did that, Steam would be my only background app.

May 29, 2008 7:07pm CST

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Steam is getting better everyday, this is just me but, I would love to see chat protocols incorporated in... : datim
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#165

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By: hanabal x Show Full Post

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This is a great idea,

But I wish that they had it a few months ago. I was mostly done with psychonauts before I had to leave my old PC behind. Im not sure I can be bothered doing the first 90% just to get to the end.

May 30, 2008 11:55am CST

This is a great idea, But I wish that they had it a few months ago. I was mostly done with psychonauts... : hanabal

#158

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By: amrbean x Show Full Post

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I still want to activate my non-steam games in steam (i.e. call of duty 2, my id games, etc.). Once this happens I will name my first child "steam".

But actually this is a feature I have been wanting. Happy day.

May 30, 2008 8:10am CST

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I still want to activate my non-steam games in steam (i.e. call of duty 2, my id games, etc.). Once this... : amrbean
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- Steam already supports this but it's up to the developer to allow it. : SockMonkeh

#80

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By: Luminair x Show Full Post

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Where the fuck is the source of this news? I'm looking hard but I don't see any links to sources.

May 29, 2008 8:20pm CST

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Where the fuck is the source of this news? I'm looking hard but I don't see any links to sources. : Luminair
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#151

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By: tripkebab x Show Full Post

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Is it just me or does it look like that cloud is about to partake in some hardcore porn? ^^

May 30, 2008 4:58am CST

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Is it just me or does it look like that cloud is about to partake in some hardcore porn? ^^ : tripkebab
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#161

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By: magicfucker x Show Full Post

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smeh.. seems like more of a Steam feature than an actual service that requires a new name..

May 30, 2008 9:44am CST

smeh.. seems like more of a Steam feature than an actual service that requires a new name.. : magicfucker

#57

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By: Wisp! x Show Full Post

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Driver auto-updater and calendar sounds awesome. They should put the calendar on your profile and then you can make public and private entries though...

May 29, 2008 6:42pm CST

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Driver auto-updater and calendar sounds awesome. They should put the calendar on your profile and then yo... : Wisp!
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  seriously, steam should be an operating system..... : mrhankeydinks
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    Give them time. : Wandergeist
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      I was thinking the same thing. When they first started Steam their idea was digital distribution. I think... : Dr_Cube
      
      Actually, they said Steam was created so they could automatically patch games. Digital distribution was w... : Wisp!

#155

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By: Mad Brahmin Disease x Show Full Post

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Valve is the Google of gaming whatever that means

May 30, 2008 8:02am CST

Valve is the Google of gaming whatever that means : Mad Brahmin Disease

#15

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By: nudel x Show Full Post

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Excellent news. I hope this causes MS/Sony/Nintendo to get off their arses and offer something similar for their respective console platforms. It's even more of an issue on the 360 where there is no official way to get a savegame file off the console and on to a PC/network for backup, but it really needs to be automated for it to be truly worthwhile.

Well done Valve for doing this.

May 29, 2008 5:41pm CST

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Excellent news. I hope this causes MS/Sony/Nintendo to get off their arses and offer something similar fo... : nudel
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  Exactly. Live / PSN should backup your saves. It's so frustrating to have an uncopyable Forza2 save with ... : tcs
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    Do Forza2 saves have the "no-copy" bit set? Or you mean you don't have a memory card? Dunno about Forz... : nudel
    - Got a MC card, buying one for that is a no-brainer if it would actually be possible. F2 has the bit set. ... : tcs

#40

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By: mikecyb x Show Full Post

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is there some kind of valve PR for this or did they just tell the shack about it? I can't find anything on the steam site :(

May 29, 2008 6:23pm CST

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is there some kind of valve PR for this or did they just tell the shack about it? I can't find anything ... : mikecyb
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  They had a few sites out to their office today and held a little mini-conference. : Nick Breckon
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    ahh. do you know when they are going to release more info? I MUST KNOW : mikecyb
    - add http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ to your daily newsround, mikecyb. You'll be a better, more educated ... : ysbreker

#71

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By: packav x Show Full Post

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Valve, if you are reading this, you are the last bastion of PC gaming. Keep innovating you fuckers!

May 29, 2008 7:27pm CST

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Valve, if you are reading this, you are the last bastion of PC gaming. Keep innovating you fuckers! : packav
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#131

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By: Dr_Cube x Show Full Post

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I'd like to take a small private stake in Valve now, please.

Gabe, can I take some of your holdings off your hands?

May 30, 2008 1:11am CST

I'd like to take a small private stake in Valve now, please. Gabe, can I take some of your holdings of... : Dr_Cube

#45

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By: Decepticon Matrix x Show Full Post

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I'm really liking what Valve is doing here in the big picture, they're taking the right steps to streamline PC gaming, and I'm glad they're the ones at the tip of the spear.

May 29, 2008 6:31pm CST

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I'm really liking what Valve is doing here in the big picture, they're taking the right steps to streaml... : Decepticon Matrix
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- Agreed. Go, Valve! Go! : Dr_Cube

#72

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By: Skyburst101 x Show Full Post

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This makes me really happy, especially since some of my saved game folders are taking up over a gig of space. With 20+ games installed, and even when they only take up 300MB a piece, they add up. It helps though that about 10 of those games I play for the multiplayer experience, not the single player, so saved games taking up space are the least of my problems(cough...lag...cough...curse you comcast for overselling in my area)

May 29, 2008 7:29pm CST

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This makes me really happy, especially since some of my saved game folders are taking up over a gig of sp... : Skyburst101
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  I don't think this will solve that. Its just syncing them off line. There will still be a local copy I am... : SirX
  - I agree with SirX. Local copies. : Dr_Cube

#69

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By: Sylvanus x Show Full Post

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Want to know how to kill piracy? Look at what Valve is doing. Buy into it. There will be cake.

May 29, 2008 7:25pm CST

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Want to know how to kill piracy? Look at what Valve is doing. Buy into it. There will be cake. : Sylvanus
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#8

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By: Rolphus x Show Full Post

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And there goes yet another reason to worry about backups.

Steam is becoming absolutely essential to gaming. I just hope MS incorporate it into Windows 7 or something.

May 29, 2008 5:35pm CST

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And there goes yet another reason to worry about backups. Steam is becoming absolutely essential to g... : Rolphus
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#2

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By: haiku x Show Full Post

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haha cloudse http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/52906

May 29, 2008 5:28pm CST

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haha cloudse http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/52906 : haiku
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#111

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By: razorblade79 x Show Full Post

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Here I am, still hording DOS era savegames and now this. DEVELOPERS! ADAPT!

This would be huge in games like COD4 and Puzzle Quest.

May 29, 2008 11:54pm CST

Here I am, still hording DOS era savegames and now this. DEVELOPERS! ADAPT! This would be huge in game... : razorblade79

#99

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By: Sailor of Fortune x Show Full Post

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This is like something Google would have done but left in a beta indefinitely. Kudos to Valve!

May 29, 2008 9:56pm CST

This is like something Google would have done but left in a beta indefinitely. Kudos to Valve! : Sailor of Fortune

#32

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By: qwplayer x Show Full Post

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lol goatse

May 29, 2008 6:08pm CST

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lol goatse : qwplayer
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#95

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By: ShoCon x Show Full Post

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And here I was just a couple of days ago thinking how it would be neat if they did that. Sweet.

May 29, 2008 9:28pm CST

And here I was just a couple of days ago thinking how it would be neat if they did that. Sweet. : ShoCon

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