MintMouse

Ok. But that's my point.

SilverPotato

Where did all the prejudice against PC gaming come from?

If I can't use my computer to play games then whats this all been about? What am I working toward? The pursuit of nothing? Why video game industry why!?

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Skylit

All though I do agree with you on some extent, I like steam because all the games I've purchased stay on my account. I don't have to worry about installation disk, and it saves space in around my desk and storage areas. I can also log on to steam from any computer with decent graphics and play my games when I want, and the friends list is quite neat. That's my favorite feature of the whole steam platform. I can see who's playing what, join their game, chat, etc. so I wouldn't say its unnecessary...

r34p3rex

Going digital with steam has another benefit, people can't resell their used copies which means new players, who would've bought a used version, have to buy a full priced copied (with profits going to the Dev)! though, this only works if they don't release any physical copies, or force all physical copies to be used with steam

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justarealguy

This article has conflicts of interests, I don't see where it goes.

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Kryten

That's the point though. It's getting to the point where we are being forced to. Not by Steam, mind. But still. Shouldn't be happening.

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justarealguy

Almost every game you can buy on steam you can buy elsewhere. How are you forced?

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Daegameth

If you understand what the guy is saying, he trusts Valve/Steam as currently run by Gabe Newell and Doug Lombardi. But, leaders are not permanent in a company and when they move out, what will happen when the new leads step in? I like Steam and Valve, but I agree with the article, as management changes I fear what Valve/Steam has the potential to become.

Assuming a dark reality, Valve could turn into the Walmart of the internet. Any other developers return percentages are dropped further and further, fees for setting up the games in the store are added, and charges for bandwidth used by Steam's servers are passed onto the developer/consumer. Meanwhile, any game that Valve puts out ignores any of these charges and fees, each sale is pure revenue. Companies will still abide by these terms because they are hoping for a (small return % * large quantity) for some measure of profit. It could get to a point where it's more profitable for a developer to sell your finished game to Valve and getting 1 check for it. Valve would look into obtaining and monopolizing the PC gaming industry, buying up developers and thus quality drops. With so much money and power Valve decides to resurrect the Dinosaurs for a 'real first-person shooting' experience the likes the world has not yet known.

supaspoon

+1. It's really not that complicated. The guys pointing out that there's a rediculously blatant conflict of interest there. Quite obvious really, doesn't matter if you like steam or not. If I was in the business I would certainly have to think twice about it.

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Kryten

Where did I say "we are" being forced? I said it's getting that way. Modern Warfare 2 is the first really big game to go that way. Probably the first of many.

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