PC Devs Abandoning Microsoft For Valve

[shio]

Zkuq said:

ssj12 said:

1. Here is the thing. Its all digital so obviously used games or selling your games went out the window. Its what happens when things modernize and become easier for the general user. Things must be sacrificed which I would much rather lose the ability to sell and buy used games rather then keep the ability to lose a physical disc or damage it.

2. Also lack of competition is a joke. There are at least 3 other services that offer similar to Steam and tend to have the same publishers of titles. First party titles stay exclusive and so does some 3rd party titles, but overall the majority stays open and competitive like the console market.

1. I've never lost or damaged a disc of mine. If one is careless enough to do so, he fully deserves it. Also, I'm not ready to throw my rights out of the windows no matter what everyone says.

2. This guy mentioned this as a way towards having one standard, and that standard is Steam. That's the future I don't want. Like you said, now there is competition.

1. You can get PC games far cheaper than on retail. Even if you consider trading, the digital version will still often cost less money. Due to the open of competitive nature of PC Gaming, the PC DD services are forced to constantly improve so as not to stay left behind.

Now, ALL PC DD services have ridiculous sales every week, some bordering insanity, and which service started it all? It was STEAM!!! If you can find Masss Effect for $5 on Retail, Bioshock for $5 on retail, Team Fortress 2 for $1 on retail, 20 THQ games for $25, ALL id Soft ALL Bethesda games for $50, etc...

2. There's only going to be more competition, and the fact that you think there will only be Steam definitely shows that you're not a PC gamer, or don't follow PC Gaming at all. Battle.Net, Onlive, Gaikai, Gamersgate, Impulse, etc... all these services are emerging and improving at a fast pace. The only service that is being left behind is the terrible GFWL.

Zkuq said:

blunty51 said:

1. The way I see it is, like XBL & PSN, you have one standard area for everything to be implemented. This would be achievements, leaderboards etc.

2. When you have an exclusive title on either XBL or PSN, then there's no competition there too isn't there? So I see it being no different when you have one service for PC. If you have a multiplatform title, there really should be no reason to charge higher on the PC just because there's one online service there. If you DO have an exclusive PC title, the reason for charging higher there should be no different than a reason to charge higher on an exclusive title for PSN, or XBL.

1. I'm fine with that as long as I'm not forced to use that system. Especially if that system also includes mandatory DRM. It would be pretty good if they made it so you get the game when you buy it but you can register it on Steam (using CD-key like always) and get all the benefits from Steam, as well as DRM. If Steam really is so great everyone should use it, then obviously piracy would disappear because everyone would want all those neat extras. Right?

I didn't think so either. But it would be a good system nevertheless, much better than current system. Retail titles forcing me to use Steam = EVIL.

2. Competition goes beyond prices. I'm more than a bit concerned about what happens to my games in the future. Also, I don't buy too much stuff on consoles either.

1. Uhhhh you are FORCED to use Xbox Live. You are FORCED to use PSN. If you buy a X360, you can only use Xbox Live, and if you buy a PS3, you can only use PSN there. You can't use other DD services on the consoles. Xbox Live has no competition on the platform they're at. PSN has no competition on the platform they're at.

Dude, CD check itself is DRM. ALL console games have DRM. At least with Steam you don't need the disc to play the game, and you get unlimited downloads, convenience, portability, etc... Tell me, most PCs nowadays are laptops or notebooks. It would be very hard for a PC gamer to travel and play on his laptop if he was forced to bring all the DVDs, just to play the games.

"If Steam really is so great everyone should use it, then obviously piracy would disappear because everyone would want all those neat extras."

Stupid statement is stupid. Piracy will only disappear when the governments start protecting digital goods for real.

2. I can assure you that Valve and Steam will still be here 10 years in the future. It is making billions.