Music and video downloads may be headed to Valve Software's digital distribution platform Steam before the end of the year, according to the company's marketing VP Doug Lombardi.

"We're also looking at other types of content like video and music," said Lombardi to Tom's Games.

"We're definitely having those conversations and meetings, and we're reaching out to folks with other types of digital entertainment. I think before the end of the year, you'll probably see some pilot programs with other digital entertainment on Steam."

Lombardi also mentioned that while the Xbox 360 version of The Orange Box sold over a million copies, and the PlayStation 3 edition sold an additional "few hundred thousand," sales of the PC version were much stronger.

"I'd say significantly stronger, at least a two-digit percentage increase over the console sales. And that includes Steam sales, retail sales, and now individual sales of Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Half-Life 2: Episode 2."

A long-time proponent of PC gaming, the Valve employee took a moment to defend the platform from recent criticism.

"The NPD numbers are just a snapshot. In America, there's no doubt there's a problem with PC game retail sales," continued Lombardi, "But look at other countries like Germany, where sales are much stronger compared to the consoles in a lot of cases.

"So you have to look at the bigger picture; just look at what Blizzard did alone in 2007. And you also have to look at how money is changing hands and how games are being distributed for the PC games business. The PC is way more evolved in that respect, and digital distribution is a big part of it."