Poll regarding Steam users

[bw_wolverine]

I've almost completely switched from buying my PC games on DVD to buying through Steam (if it can be done so). I think it's a great service.

And, yes, I have had problems on Steam. Buying a big AAA title on release day almost guarantees you're not going to have a fun time because of the millions of people trying to download the title at the same time. I've also had an issue with Steam's configuration files that required me to reinstall the Steam client.

But even with those things under my belt, I still love the service. Let's face it, with current computers, background applications are FAR less of a problem when running games than they used to be. I used to go nuts trying to make sure nothing on my computer was running besides the game and the most BARE parts of Windows. Now, I really don't bother. I just make sure I'm not downloading anything when I game online is all. I don't have a very expensive computer at the moment (probably middle of the line).

In the end, it's all a choice. That also means its a choice for 1C as well. If they feel that Steam is the best way of delivering their title to us (which it sounds like they do) then that's the way they'll deliver it. Their choice. And its my choice to decide that I want the game and that I'm prepared to buy it through Steam (I am).

This is no different from a game company selling the game on a DVD with Starforce protection or whatever anti-piracy stuff of the hour that people hate.

If anything, this whole argument isn't even about the Steam service at all. It's simply a DRM debate. 1C's made their decision about which DRM to use.

EDIT: That all said, I'm hoping very much that the game takes full use of Steam and doesn't require something like the horrible yuplay mentioned in the above post. I still shudder at that thing.

[addman]

At same time as I'm writing this I'm downloading Mafia 2 from Steam, got it for 10€ on this weeks "midweek madness". +1 for Steam, again. Will help me pass some time until CoD is released.

[Korn]

Originally Posted by Kikuchiyo

Steam was 1C Publishings decision for some simple factual reasons: More profitable for them, a simple user interface for MP gaming, more money for them and less for Ubishaft.

I'm sorry, do you know that for a fact? I can tell you for a fact who's going to make money if Steam is on: Valve. Now why do i need to pay Valve for? I don't even like Steam (i like Valve though lol). Actually Steam and Valve's "bussiness model" (fancy expression for bs) are the reason downloadable games are not cheaper.

If you want to screw 1C for making a smart business choice, and ensuring a huge market of 30 million people, and the most dominant thriving PC community on the planet then you can't see the forest for the trees.

What most dominant community? That's not even a community. Me using Steam to play Il2CoD does not make me pal with the guy playing The Sims or whatever; we're not a community. There's just a bunch of people using a download service. Dominant community? WoW has a dominant community, Starcraft 2 has a dominant community. I don't see Blizzard on Steam... you know why? Because they're smart. Wanna download Starcraft? No problem. Wanna pay Valve to download Starcraft? No you can't . Why would Blizzard share some of that money with Valve? Why? Bandwidth is cheap this days. The developer should sell it as directly as they could, not go through 2 intermediaries, and then wonder how come they're not making as much money as they should for their hard work.

I got no problems with downloadable games, yes, that is the future. But not by giving half your profits to Valve (or anybody else). You don't need to do that. I bought a few months back ARMA2 Complete, where did i bought it from? Sprocket download baby, because i wanna put money in the developers' pockets, not a bunch of middlemen.

They should have went the Bohemia Interactive way, sell it yourself if possible at all, especially in niche markets. Make no mistake, if a game is good, it will sell, but such types never in huge volume, so more reason for you as a developer not to let other people get money you deserve for your work.

[TheGrunch]

Well honestly I'm glad they have used Steam. At least the game will have a working server browser. I don't see Steam dying any time soon the way the ubi.com servers did for Il-2.

[Kikuchiyo]

Originally Posted by Korn

1)I'm sorry, do you know that for a fact? I can tell you for a fact who's going to make money if Steam is on: Valve.

2)Now why do i need to pay Valve for? I don't even like Steam (i like Valve though lol). Actually Steam and Valve's "bussiness model" (fancy expression for bs) are the reason downloadable games are not cheaper.


3)What most dominant community? That's not even a community. Me using Steam to play Il2CoD does not make me pal with the guy playing The Sims or whatever; we're not a community. There's just a bunch of people using a download service. Dominant community? WoW has a dominant community, Starcraft 2 has a dominant community. I don't see Blizzard on Steam... you know why? Because they're smart. Wanna download Starcraft? No problem. Wanna pay Valve to download Starcraft? No you can't . Why would Blizzard share some of that money with Valve? Why? Bandwidth is cheap this days. The developer should sell it as directly as they could, not go through 2 intermediaries, and then wonder how come they're not making as much money as they should for their hard work.

I got no problems with downloadable games, yes, that is the future. But not by giving half your profits to Valve (or anybody else). You don't need to do that. I bought a few months back ARMA2 Complete, where did i bought it from? Sprocket download baby, because i wanna put money in the developers' pockets, not a bunch of middlemen.

1)All the evidence points to it, and that has been pointed out numerous times over the last 2 days by numerous people with numerous links.

2)Frankly because although bandwidth is relatively cheap these days running FTP servers 24/7 365 and maintaining your servers isn't. STEAM (which is a software program made, updated, and run by Valve not a separate business or partner business) Has an approximate 70% market share of DD, and 30 million users. You don't get that kind of business over night, and 1C sees that. Valve had to keep prices up to the same levels as brick and mortar stores because B&M's threatened publisher with "we won't stock your games if you let Valve sale lower than box retail prices."

3) 3.
a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually preceded by the ): the business community; the community of scholars.

I wasn't referring to a social community such as this one. As to why Blizzard can do that and say 1C can't really at this juncture is frankly Brand recognition and loyalty. It has nothing to do with Blizzard being smart or dumb they just simply have the weight to do it on their own.