If you don't have pulseaudio, start Steam like this: SDL_AUDIODRIVER="alsa" steam
or add SDL_AUDIODRIVER="alsa" to the start script in /usr/bin/steam
Is this still active?
Closing pending confirmation this still occurs.
SDL_AUDIODRIVER="alsa"x1 2013-02SDL_Ix1 2013-02SDL_INIT_AUDIOx1 2013-02
Archlinux x64, KDE 4.9
Terminal out:
SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_AUDIO) failed.
S_Startup: SNDDMA_Init failed.
AL lib: pulseaudio.c:612: Context did not connect: Access denied