Valve Comments on the Future of PC Gaming

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: Modeps
My only real complaint with digital distro is the lack of being able to trade/sell your games.

:thumbsup:

Also, would like to add that boxed games go on sale or hit bargain bin prices before Steam does. Like Bioshock, $29.99 on steam or $19.99 at Amazon.com a few weeks ago.

 

[tk149]

Valve has a good point about constant updating and instant distribution, but I think this has a downside as well: games will be released prematurely, because the developers "can always fix it later."

I don't like Steam because:

1. I absolutely hate that in order to play a single-player game, it has to launch Steam itself, which then calls home. I bought the darn thing, why do you have to treat me like a pirate? Later, I found out how to turn off Steam doing online verifications, but as far as I can tell, it's all or nothing. You can't choose which games you want to only play single player, and which you want to have as multiplayer. I wonder what happens if you want to play single-player, but you have Steam set to do online verification. Does it just not let you play at all?

2. You can't resell games without selling the whole Steam account. What if I just want to sell one game? Seriously, this is just stupid.

3. I have every single disc I ever bought. While I can understand that others enjoy not having to keep track of discs, I don't have a problem with it. And on my internet connection, downloading an entire game takes a heckuva lot longer than installing from a CD/DVD.

4. Awhile ago, I only had a few minutes to play, so I launched Half-Life 2 Single Player. Then it started downloading a patch automatically. Well, I spent the whole time downloading the blasted patch, which had NO effect on single-player, and I didn't get to play at all that day. How about an option to not download patches automatically?

5. Valve seems pretty solid, but what if they go out of business? If the creditors come knocking, do you really think that Valve will spend money to create and distribute patches to disable the online verification process? I doubt it.

Fix this stuff, and maybe I'll like Steam.

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: tk149
Valve has a good point about constant updating and instant distribution, but I think this has a downside as well: games will be released prematurely, because the developers "can always fix it later."

I don't like Steam because:

1. I absolutely hate that in order to play a single-player game, it has to launch Steam itself, which then calls home. I bought the darn thing, why do you have to treat me like a pirate? Later, I found out how to turn off Steam doing online verifications, but as far as I can tell, it's all or nothing. You can't choose which games you want to only play single player, and which you want to have as multiplayer. I wonder what happens if you want to play single-player, but you have Steam set to do online verification. Does it just not let you play at all?

2. You can't resell games without selling the whole Steam account. What if I just want to sell one game? Seriously, this is just stupid.

3. I have every single disc I ever bought. While I can understand that others enjoy not having to keep track of discs, I don't have a problem with it. And on my internet connection, downloading an entire game takes a heckuva lot longer than installing from a CD/DVD.

4. Awhile ago, I only had a few minutes to play, so I launched Half-Life 2 Single Player. Then it started downloading a patch automatically. Well, I spent the whole time downloading the blasted patch, which had NO effect on single-player, and I didn't get to play at all that day. How about an option to not download patches automatically?

5. Valve seems pretty solid, but what if they go out of business? If the creditors come knocking, do you really think that Valve will spend money to create and distribute patches to disable the online verification process? I doubt it.

Fix this stuff, and maybe I'll like Steam.

1. AFAIK steam will just default to offline mode, if there isn't an internet connection.

2. That does suck but doesn't bother me much since I don't sell my games.

3. It's quicker to install with a CD but personally I like not having to carry my games around with me and being able to use just about any computer to play.

4. There is an option to diable updates. If you right click the game in the list one of the pages has an option to "Keep this game up to date" changing it will stop auto updating.

5. Valve isn't going anywhere soon but there is an option to manually back up the games so I'm sure someone out there will figure out a way to hack it if Valve does kick the bucket. I'm pretty sure Steam is big enough where someone (EA, Activision, or MS) will step in and buy it if Valve is ever in trouble anyway. Not that someone buying Steam is a good idea but it's better than nothing I suppose.

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
I was glad CS went from that WON.NET crap to STEAM, it had its hiccups, but its been working great!

I miss meeting my friends in the WON Spanish chat room

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: pmv
I really don't like the concept of Steam, but, apart from the way it kills the second hand market, I have trouble coming up with a rational reason as to why.

I still buy music cds, would never pay for an mp3, still less DRM protected crap, but in that case there is the justification of better sound quality, plus I resent the way the music companies have saved all that cash on distribution, warehouses, physical media, printing, and retailers' markup, and yet pass almost none of that saving onto the customer and end up charging much the same per track as they always did.

But not sure that the same objection applies to digital distribution of games really. Do digitally distributed games end up cheaper than ones sold on physical media?

I guess I just prefer the idea of paying to own an object that I can then use, without having to ask them for renewed 'permission' every time I go to use it. I dunno, I wouldn't buy a house that required me to phone up the previous owner to ask permission every time I wanted to open the front door. Or, if the analogy is reinstallation rather than execution, every time I wanted to redecorate.

I also worry that companies might eventually move to a 'pay per play' model, charging you every time you fire up a game.

(When in that article the Valve guy talks about viewing games 'as a service' that's what I worry he means. If it gets to that point I would probably give up on gaming).

But it's probably just because I'm old and set in my ways. Prefer the good old-fashioned traditional computer game on disk, like grandad used to play.

uh, the problem is they use DRM shit on discs now. Hence, digital distro becomes better. I still like music CDs as well.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: imaheadcase
One thing I hate about steam is that I got some boxed games, like company of Heros, but it does not "remember" you own it. So if you reinstall OS or uninstall game, you have to actually install the game to redownload it. Kinda takes the awesomeness about not having to reinstall everything.

I heard they are going to put in a function that lets you redownload games you already own and saves that info plus saved games, configs, etc on steam servers..but you would think the registering a copy of a game would be permanent already..lol

you can, as long as you use the same account, assuming you bought it through steam, but I'm not sure about registered boxed games.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: tk149
Valve has a good point about constant updating and instant distribution, but I think this has a downside as well: games will be released prematurely, because the developers "can always fix it later."

I don't like Steam because:

1. I absolutely hate that in order to play a single-player game, it has to launch Steam itself, which then calls home. I bought the darn thing, why do you have to treat me like a pirate? Later, I found out how to turn off Steam doing online verifications, but as far as I can tell, it's all or nothing. You can't choose which games you want to only play single player, and which you want to have as multiplayer. I wonder what happens if you want to play single-player, but you have Steam set to do online verification. Does it just not let you play at all?

2. You can't resell games without selling the whole Steam account. What if I just want to sell one game? Seriously, this is just stupid.

3. I have every single disc I ever bought. While I can understand that others enjoy not having to keep track of discs, I don't have a problem with it. And on my internet connection, downloading an entire game takes a heckuva lot longer than installing from a CD/DVD.

4. Awhile ago, I only had a few minutes to play, so I launched Half-Life 2 Single Player. Then it started downloading a patch automatically. Well, I spent the whole time downloading the blasted patch, which had NO effect on single-player, and I didn't get to play at all that day. How about an option to not download patches automatically?

5. Valve seems pretty solid, but what if they go out of business? If the creditors come knocking, do you really think that Valve will spend money to create and distribute patches to disable the online verification process? I doubt it.

Fix this stuff, and maybe I'll like Steam.

1. It's not treating you like a pirate, think of it somewhat like xbox live. It's a built-in community used to make gaming better. Also, it defaults to offline mode with no internet connection, which still alows singleplayer.

2. Well, steam is still fixing things. i'm sure they can fix this.

3. Your one in a million. And, in fact, CDs can be scratched and lost, which happens to the majority of humans on earth, you excluded I guess. This makes digital distribution ideal, where you can install games by downloading from any computer where you log on to steam.

4. Because many valve games are based on the source engine, updates are often released for the engine itself, so patching one game will sometimes patch all your source games. and if your in offline mode, it won't download them. Also, this should be listed as a benefit. All your games stay patched automatically.

5. Same goes with any game distributor. If a companies servers go down, then you have no mp. At least Valve is the best PC game Dev in the world right now, so i'd trust them more then anyone.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: Aikouka
One thing you can't get digitally... collector's editions!!!

ah shit, I missed wasting $10 on some art book I'll never look at....


/sarcasm

UT Collectors Editions come with Tutorials on Mapping/Modding. Which, I suppose, would make them Downloadable.

 

[Fenixgoon]

you dont have to be online to play single player steam games. "offline mode" exists for a reason.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

I wish everything was on Steam. I think I first started using it in 2003, and liked it even early on. Never had many problems with it like some did.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Originally posted by: kabob983

Originally posted by: Ultralight
Thanks for posting this; very eye opening. I am sick of the whole "PC Gaming is Declining/Dead" mantra.

PC gaming won't die until they make a console with a keyboard and mouse, and even then I still doubt it'll die off. Some games simply cannot be played with a controller.

Then you're essentially playing a PC game, except without having any and all apps you want running in the background or on another monitor. At that point you really may as well be playing a PC game, because you then don't have the console advantages of being able to sit on the couch or being able to play with a group of friends sitting together.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: lupi
I've bought about 2 digital games the last 2 years compared to probably 70+ boxed.

Right now there are several I'd like to buy from Paradox, but those dumbasses seem to be going digital only and haven't seen my money.

why do you avoid digital?

Are you going to be able to play-d/l that digital game of yours next week, next month, etc...

I know I'll be able to play my boxed copy as long as I want.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: lupi
Are you going to be able to play-d/l that digital game of yours next week, next month, etc...

Steam has a backup utility that backs up the entire game to DvDs (or any other media you wish to use).

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: videogames101
Digital Only allows for games to be used on ANY computer, at least the way steam does it. You can be on any computer with internet access, and because all games you buy are linked to your account, download them and play. Steam is an amazing distrobution utility that is the future, because it's so much better then boxed....

digital is complete crap compared to boxed... the cost is so damn high

If i buy a game for $50 play it, get bored of it, I can sell it for $25-40 give or take. If they make a way to sell/trade then it would be awesome, and dont say something stupid like sell your steam account, because that isnt gonna work.

 

[pmv]

Originally posted by: videogames101
Digital Only allows for games to be used on ANY computer, at least the way steam does it. You can be on any computer with internet access, and because all games you buy are linked to your account, download them and play. Steam is an amazing distrobution utility that is the future, because it's so much better then boxed....

I don't see why this would ever be a big deal. You can install it on any computer _with broadband access_ _that you have appropriate admin rights on_ _that you actually are able to play games on_. For most people that's, like, one machine - the one at home that they would normally be able to just put a disk in the drive on anyway. Its not as if one has multiple machines in one's multiple homes all around the world.

 

[fierydemise]

I started using Steam when I got the Orange Box and I have become a convert. The way I see it Steam offers 3 major advantages:
1) No more draconian DRM (Securom)
2) If I'm across the country I can still get all my games without having a bunch of boxes around
3) It makes it easier for indie developers to get games out, Audiosurf for example is one of my favorite games
However there are 2 things I don't like about Steam:
1) No resale, generally I'm not a big fan of reselling games (I love the ability to go back and replay old games) however I would love to see a system implemented. That said a system is likely ripe for abuse, because the copies are fully digital single player games could be rapidly shuffled around.
2) Prices on Steam don't fall as fast, it would be acceptable if prices on Steam started lower considering that digital distribution lowers costs for publishers.

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: pmv

Originally posted by: videogames101
Digital Only allows for games to be used on ANY computer, at least the way steam does it. You can be on any computer with internet access, and because all games you buy are linked to your account, download them and play. Steam is an amazing distrobution utility that is the future, because it's so much better then boxed....

I don't see why this would ever be a big deal. You can install it on any computer _with broadband access_ _that you have appropriate admin rights on_ _that you actually are able to play games on_. For most people that's, like, one machine - the one at home that they would normally be able to just put a disk in the drive on anyway. Its not as if one has multiple machines in one's multiple homes all around the world.

I have one gaming machine which I play most of my steam games and then I have a laptop which I sometimes play civ or samnmax on.... I bet alot of people have a laptop and a desktop.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: RandomFool

Originally posted by: tk149
Valve has a good point about constant updating and instant distribution, but I think this has a downside as well: games will be released prematurely, because the developers "can always fix it later."

I don't like Steam because:

1. I absolutely hate that in order to play a single-player game, it has to launch Steam itself, which then calls home. I bought the darn thing, why do you have to treat me like a pirate? Later, I found out how to turn off Steam doing online verifications, but as far as I can tell, it's all or nothing. You can't choose which games you want to only play single player, and which you want to have as multiplayer. I wonder what happens if you want to play single-player, but you have Steam set to do online verification. Does it just not let you play at all?

2. You can't resell games without selling the whole Steam account. What if I just want to sell one game? Seriously, this is just stupid.

3. I have every single disc I ever bought. While I can understand that others enjoy not having to keep track of discs, I don't have a problem with it. And on my internet connection, downloading an entire game takes a heckuva lot longer than installing from a CD/DVD.

4. Awhile ago, I only had a few minutes to play, so I launched Half-Life 2 Single Player. Then it started downloading a patch automatically. Well, I spent the whole time downloading the blasted patch, which had NO effect on single-player, and I didn't get to play at all that day. How about an option to not download patches automatically?

5. Valve seems pretty solid, but what if they go out of business? If the creditors come knocking, do you really think that Valve will spend money to create and distribute patches to disable the online verification process? I doubt it.

Fix this stuff, and maybe I'll like Steam.

1. AFAIK steam will just default to offline mode, if there isn't an internet connection.

2. That does suck but doesn't bother me much since I don't sell my games.

3. It's quicker to install with a CD but personally I like not having to carry my games around with me and being able to use just about any computer to play.

4. There is an option to diable updates. If you right click the game in the list one of the pages has an option to "Keep this game up to date" changing it will stop auto updating.

5. Valve isn't going anywhere soon but there is an option to manually back up the games so I'm sure someone out there will figure out a way to hack it if Valve does kick the bucket. I'm pretty sure Steam is big enough where someone (EA, Activision, or MS) will step in and buy it if Valve is ever in trouble anyway. Not that someone buying Steam is a good idea but it's better than nothing I suppose.

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
I was glad CS went from that WON.NET crap to STEAM, it had its hiccups, but its been working great!

I miss meeting my friends in the WON Spanish chat room

Thanks for the help!
So I just started Steam up to follow your advice on #4 (above), and now it's updating...now it's scanning for game updates...it's been 5 minutes now...it doesn't even list my games...still scanning...

fvck it, I'll switch to offline mode.

Steam still sucks.

EDIT: I tried starting Half-Life 2 straight from the desktop shortcut, and it says "this operation cannot be completed in offline mode", then I got the same error after launching Steam in offline mode.

Steam seriously sucks. I can't even play my single-player game without Steam calling home.

 

[drebo]

Originally posted by: videogames101
At least Valve is the best PC game Dev in the world right now, so i'd trust them more then anyone.

I'd have to say that this is probably the single dumbest comment I've ever read on these boards.

Valve makes the same game and repackages it with a different title. Sure, they might update the skins and change the maps, but they're all the same game. Anyone who doesn't realize that is naive at best.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: drebo

Originally posted by: videogames101
At least Valve is the best PC game Dev in the world right now, so i'd trust them more then anyone.

I'd have to say that this is probably the single dumbest comment I've ever read on these boards.

Valve makes the same game and repackages it with a different title. Sure, they might update the skins and change the maps, but they're all the same game. Anyone who doesn't realize that is naive at best.

So TF2 is the same as Half Life 2, and CSS is the same as Portal?

You sir are an idiot.

 

[skyofavalon]

Valve are hands down the single most overrated gaming company.They basicaly do what EA does with Madden,yet they dont get the heat that EA does.

EA is 10 times the company Valve is.Sure EA has its blunders,but they are responsible for some of the best games of the past 20 years.Whats Valve come out with, 2 games ? Everything else they released are just mods or updates of mods.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: drebo

Originally posted by: videogames101
At least Valve is the best PC game Dev in the world right now, so i'd trust them more then anyone.

I'd have to say that this is probably the single dumbest comment I've ever read on these boards.

Valve makes the same game and repackages it with a different title. Sure, they might update the skins and change the maps, but they're all the same game. Anyone who doesn't realize that is naive at best.

have you played half life, or team fortress 2, or CS:S or PORTAL?

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: skyofavalon
Valve are hands down the single most overrated gaming company.They basicaly do what EA does with Madden,yet they dont get the heat that EA does.

EA is 10 times the company Valve is.Sure EA has its blunders,but they are responsible for some of the best games of the past 20 years.Whats Valve come out with, 2 games ? Everything else they released are just mods or updates of mods.

all there games are what EA seems to forget, FUN

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: skyofavalon
Valve are hands down the single most overrated gaming company.They basicaly do what EA does with Madden,yet they dont get the heat that EA does.

EA is 10 times the company Valve is.Sure EA has its blunders,but they are responsible for some of the best games of the past 20 years.Whats Valve come out with, 2 games ? Everything else they released are just mods or updates of mods.

and how many titles has EA ruined? Valve? Exactly.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: lupi
Are you going to be able to play-d/l that digital game of yours next week, next month, etc...

Steam has a backup utility that backs up the entire game to DvDs (or any other media you wish to use).

And every digital delivery service is steam.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Very good article. I have been a big fan of Steam since it came out. If only for the fact I dont have to keep the damn disc's around. For instance World in Conflict disc disappeared. I have no idea where it is. I will have to rebuy the game. With Steam I can download it again in a matter of a couple of hours.

I look at my steam catalog. Probably about 25 games over the past 3 years. I have maybe bought 4 games in a box over the same time period.

WoW: burning crusade(btw why cant blizzzard provide this as a free downloadable expac like EVE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?)
World in Conflict
FlightsimX
Company of Heroes

The above are my boxed retail purchases in the past 3 years.

they did make it downloadable, at least at one point it was because that's how i got it.