Independent Gaming IP & Accelerated Commercialization: Valve, Source, Steam

A

amallama

Guest
The Steam platform developed by Valve (Half-Life, Counter-Strike) provides an electronic distribution platform for both private and independent games and related content and information. Valve founder, president and guitarist;-) Gabe Newell says, "One of our goals for Steam and Source is to provide a viable platform for independent developers who would rather be working on original IP."

The Steam electronic distribution platform is a compelling value-add for Valve's powerful game engine Source. Steam is particularly attractive for independent game developers who may not have established shelf-space with Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc. Since the Source engine is also extremely developer friendly, a boat load of creative independent IP is on tap within the Steam network of users.

An opportunity appears to exist for Valve to use the Steam network and Source to accelerate the commercialization of independent gaming innovations by incorporating a licensing channel element in Steam and Source. New levels, models, sound designs, motion captures, episodes, plots, texture, etc. could all be submitted by independent developers for licensing consideration. The developer is afforded some IP protections as well as legal advice and other related licensing services.

Key selling points:
1) Valve benefits by having access to market-driven R&D of new game innovations built around the Source engine.
2) Valve can purchase the IP from the independent developer for incorporation into existing and new Valve game releases.
3) Valve can broker independent IP licensing to other Source-based game development companies. This is a double win for Valve: brokered IP as well as increased licensing of the Source engine.
4) The independent developers can make a buck by licensing their IP.
5) The ability to play games, create new IP and maybe make a buck or find a career in the process is an attractive selling point for end-users and parents who sometimes make the purchase.

Comments, ideas, that's all just crazy talk?
 
Right
...
No need to sell us the steam concept mate, we already bought it, try a forum for doom 3 or something :)
 
_-_-SELAS-_-_ said:
Right
...
No need to sell us the steam concept mate, we already bought it, try a forum for doom 3 or something :)

I was going to say that...
 
not selling

not selling anything, just curious how this technology is advancing and where we are headed. i restated the obvious steam factoids to set a base for the topic.
 
amallama said:

Now theres an interesting word...


Did you want to know about steam or talk about the future?
i.e other developers using the technology to distribute their own games.
 
Steam is great, despite what alot of people claim, it's the quickest way for players to update their games, find servers, and play. It probably uses a bit more resources than it actually needs, which is debateable, but overall it's by far the fastest way to get into any game.

As for developers, like you said, gives smaller companies a chance against the big corps.
 
Pesmerga said:
Steam is great, despite what alot of people claim, it's the quickest way for players to update their games, find servers, and play. It probably uses a bit more resources than it actually needs, which is debateable, but overall it's by far the fastest way to get into any game.

As for developers, like you said, gives smaller companies a chance against the big corps.
Geh, I agree with you on all points except the last, in a few cases only though.

I mean sure it's great for the small companies because they don't need the publishers and can easily get their content out to people. But really all VALVe are doing is hypocritical in a sense, because they are becoming the publisher for all these games.

For instance: SiN2 is already probably reserving bandwidth, which means the developers are most likely paying for the bandwidth per month, week, year? but even then they are expected (at least now) to show some courtesy. I expect VALVe are also planning on using SiN2 as a massive publicity event to show that steam does indeed work, and, though most likely more flexible than a real publisher, VALVe could push certain developers like ritual (the SiN2 devs?) to meet deadlines

Of course, this has already been said in another thread and we reached the conclusion while it's still the traits of a publisher, the Steam content delivery system is a lot cheaper for up-and-coming developers to get their content out to the world. But that still doesn't excuse the fact that all VALVe has done is become a publisher themselves - something which, in my opinion, was the reason they formed steam in the first place.

-Dekstar
 
from the den to the world

Shodan said:
Did you want to know about steam or talk about the future? i.e other developers using the technology to distribute their own games.

I want to talk about the future of steam. There are huge opportunities right in front of us--some known and in the works and others needing some thought and discussion. One of those ideas is providing independent developers a simplified pathway to commercialize their creations.

For example, a new developer builds a model, does the texture, applies some custom animations, perhaps some levels, etc. This is something done all the time for fun. Some of these independent creations have real market potential and someone out there might be interested in purchasing that independent IP (i.e. Counter-Strike, etc.).

Let's assume there are many more successful commercialization opportunities out there, sitting on someone's PC, full of potential, waiting to be discovered. A sound and easy to access commercialization pathway could help independent creativity and innovations find the way from the den to the world.
 
All of this, assuming you're online. And not everyone is. So what use is it to them?

Frankly, and I've said this in the past, I hate Steam. I destroyed my copy of HL2 in protest at the fact that I HAD to be online to play it, but even though I considered HL2 inferior to the original, I find myself missing it.

Irony of ironies, of course, Steam currently resides on my system. But that is the only way I can play TFC and CS:CZ online, and I resent having it on my system, like some ghastly army-fatigue-coloured bloatware that invasively scans my hardware and sends the private and confidential results back to Valve. Even Microsoft aren't as bad as that.

Valve should be just a software developer, not a publisher. With Steam they're overstepping their bounds and turning customers away in droves. You see, Steam and Valve assume you're a criminal even though you've brought the thing legitimately, by making you go through the unlocking stuff, for hours sometimes. I fear for the poor 56K modem owners. I can show you a web-page filled with over a hundred anti-Steam testimonials, to show you how unpopular it is.

Valve only pushed Steam to the forefront because of the Source source code theft, because they became extremely paranoid about losing money. They released it as an optional extra in CS:CZ (ie, not mandatory), but decided to enlarge its role for HL2.

As for deterring piracy, HA! Steam just gives the pirates an extra incentive to beat it, a challenge, if you like - Steam is just a big fat target for them.

I don't like the way other publishers are jumping on the Steam bandwagon, too, with their own versions. I hear Prey and Duke Nukem Forever will have similar systems, and they are different engines.

A lot of people are saying Steam sucks, and they are right.

BTW, I wonder how many potential sales Valve have lost because of Steam? As opposed to Far Cry, or Doom 3? I hear HL2 sold well, but that is because HL2 is a landmark game and highly anticipated, not because of Steam. Steam, IMHO, actually HINDERED sales of HL2. Imagine how well it would've sold had it been in shops like the original, not needing internet connections or anything?
 
Foebane said:
Steam, IMHO, actually HINDERED sales of HL2.

That's your opinion and I respect that, but I very much doubt Steam hindered the sales of HL2.

Valve aren't idiots.
 
Foebane said:
BTW, I wonder how many potential sales Valve have lost because of Steam? As opposed to Far Cry, or Doom 3? I hear HL2 sold well, but that is because HL2 is a landmark game and highly anticipated, not because of Steam. Steam, IMHO, actually HINDERED sales of HL2. Imagine how well it would've sold had it been in shops like the original, not needing internet connections or anything?
HL2 still sold better as Doom³ and Far Cry, because you didn't have to buy it on Steam, you could also buy it retail.

At the minimum requirements on the box, you can read that you need internet. It's their fault if they don't read it :)
Valve should be just a software developer, not a publisher. With Steam they're overstepping their bounds and turning customers away in droves. You see, Steam and Valve assume you're a criminal even though you've brought the thing legitimately, by making you go through the unlocking stuff, for hours sometimes. I fear for the poor 56K modem owners. I can show you a web-page filled with over a hundred anti-Steam testimonials, to show you how unpopular it is.
Who are you to say that Valve couldn't be a developer and a publisher? Like you have the right do demand them from not doing so :/

And 56k can still buy it in the shop. The authentication doesn't need broadband.
 
Riddle me this, how much of a percentage of people who have PC's capable of running HL2 DON'T have internet access?

And you are going on your own personal experiences of steam and then saying everybody had the same experience.

Ok lets go from my experiences then, never had a problem. Love the way it updates my games automatically. Freinds needs fixing, but xfire is superior anyway.

Heck, lets go from my freinds experience, this is a true conversation between me and him, because I was intrested in finding out what people though of it.

Me: "So what do you think of steam"
Him: "Whats that?"
Me: "Erm, it's the green thing that keeps your game up2date"
Him: "Yeh, it's ok"

And that ladys and gentleman is the perfect user experience, you never even knew it existed.

And I would like some proof on that FUD that it scans your hardware and sends it back WITHOUT your persmission.

And I can show you a webpage with 200k people playing on steam at anyone time.

Get with the times, did you cry for libarys when the internet was introduced.

Bottom line, you are part of a vocal minority.
 
Ok, so, theres what, about 100 people bitching on that, and they are not all unique people. And some of those people are idiots that shouldnt be let near a PC.

http://steampowered.com/status/status.html

And also.

"And I would like some proof on that FUD that it scans your hardware and sends it back WITHOUT your persmission."
 
^Ben said:
Ok, so, theres what, about 100 people bitching on that, and they are not all unique people. And some of those people are idiots that shouldnt be let near a PC.

http://steampowered.com/status/status.html

And also.

"And I would like some proof on that FUD that it scans your hardware and sends it back WITHOUT your persmission."

I'd like to know his definition of a minority :LOL:
 
Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Foebane said:
All of this, assuming you're online. And not everyone is. So what use is it to them?

Frankly, and I've said this in the past, I hate Steam. I destroyed my copy of HL2 in protest at the fact that I HAD to be online to play it, but even though I considered HL2 inferior to the original, I find myself missing it.

Fantastic protest - destroy it after you've paid for it. That's really going to send a message to Valve.

Irony of ironies, of course, Steam currently resides on my system. But that is the only way I can play TFC and CS:CZ online, and I resent having it on my system, like some ghastly army-fatigue-coloured bloatware that invasively scans my hardware and sends the private and confidential results back to Valve. Even Microsoft aren't as bad as that.
Back up your claims or drop them. I've seen zero evidence that Steam sends back anything without permission.

Valve should be just a software developer, not a publisher. With Steam they're overstepping their bounds and turning customers away in droves. You see, Steam and Valve assume you're a criminal even though you've brought the thing legitimately, by making you go through the unlocking stuff, for hours sometimes. I fear for the poor 56K modem owners. I can show you a web-page filled with over a hundred anti-Steam testimonials, to show you how unpopular it is.

Funny, people only make webpages to say how bad something is. I guarantee you that there are far more people happy with Steam than are unhappy with it.

Valve only pushed Steam to the forefront because of the Source source code theft, because they became extremely paranoid about losing money. They released it as an optional extra in CS:CZ (ie, not mandatory), but decided to enlarge its role for HL2.

Wrong again. Steam was always planned to be integrated into HL2, and was always going to be used for content delivery/authentication.

As for deterring piracy, HA! Steam just gives the pirates an extra incentive to beat it, a challenge, if you like - Steam is just a big fat target for them.
Didn't work, though. There was no "0 day" version of HL2. Even now, the warezed, non-steam versions can only play on hacked servers. No system is 100% secure, but Steam does a lot better than virtually every other system.

I don't like the way other publishers are jumping on the Steam bandwagon, too, with their own versions. I hear Prey and Duke Nukem Forever will have similar systems, and they are different engines.

That's because developers see digital distribution as the future. They're right.

A lot of people are saying Steam sucks, and they are right.
Opinion, not fact.

BTW, I wonder how many potential sales Valve have lost because of Steam? As opposed to Far Cry, or Doom 3? I hear HL2 sold well, but that is because HL2 is a landmark game and highly anticipated, not because of Steam. Steam, IMHO, actually HINDERED sales of HL2. Imagine how well it would've sold had it been in shops like the original, not needing internet connections or anything?
Now that's just blind speculation. You can't say either way. For the vast majority of users, installation of HL2 and Steam is transparent and painless. It is, as has already been stated, the vocal minority that speak the loudest.
 
^Ben said:
"And I would like some proof on that FUD that it scans your hardware and sends it back WITHOUT your persmission."

OK, I confess, I have no proof about that, I was merely speculating that Steam did that based on what people were accusing Microsoft of doing when XP came out, that it scanned hardware and sent the results to Microsoft.

Maybe Steam does NOT do that, I honestly don't know, and I apologise for tarring Steam unnecessarily. My point is, if Steam has to scan your HL2 program files and unlock them, then who knows what else it could be checking for security integrity?
 
at the fact that I HAD to be online to play it,
Wow....lol... Your stupid...
You just need it to be online to create an account and verifying with steam. Other than that... you can be in offline mode. Hell when I was setting my computer up on my cousins TV we were playing HL2 then we played Cs:S(Bots) all of offline mode... We just had fun.
Later I got there Cable Modem in and went and got LFS and went and raced.

I activated HL2 on a 56k modem. It was all smooth for me. I don't see what anyone is complaining about....I've never had a problem(minus when steam first launched).
 
Foebane said:
OK, I confess, I have no proof about that, I was merely speculating that Steam did that based on what people were accusing Microsoft of doing when XP came out, that it scanned hardware and sent the results to Microsoft.

Maybe Steam does NOT do that, I honestly don't know, and I apologise for tarring Steam unnecessarily. My point is, if Steam has to scan your HL2 program files and unlock them, then who knows what else it could be checking for security integrity?

That's still a ridiculous way of looking at.

"What's my client guilty of?"

"Well, he might be guilty of these things that we think he could be capable of"

"Any evidence?"

"Er, no. But he might be guilty!"
 
I never had any problems with Steam.

From my direct friends, there are 2 gamers and I recommended them HL2 and CS: Src.

I asked them after a couple of months: "Did you enjoy HL2 and CS: Src?"
Them: "Yeah, I haven't played any other game since!"
Me again: "And how about Steam?"
Them: "That's the best system I've ever seen, I think it's great except that Friends never work."

That's the conversation we had, but then only in Dutch :p
 
I've never ever encountered any problems with Steam. Period. I actually love steam because I no longer have to endure taunts about how I paid for a game when they got the warez version free.
 
I said before that Prey and DNF were going to be released on similar Steam-type systems. Well, I found out that they're going to both be released on Game xStream:

http://www.gamexstream.com/

Assuming everyone can use such a system that requires an online connection, how is Steam any better than this? This system seems to be geared to any game type, and best of all, you don't have to d/l the full game, just the first bits, and play! Now that sounds a lot better. I bet you can't do that with HL2!

I don't know which came first, this or Steam, but you will always have competition in the same field of computing, won't you? Content delivery systems, game engines, you name it, each offers something new and different and each has their pros and cons.

On a final note: I wonder which system would be easier to implement SiN Episodes...? :p Just out of curiosity, mind.
 
Steam came first, obviously. What other games are out that use GamesXstream? None.

I'd love to see the caveats that come with their claims of being able to play while the game downloads in the background. It's so dependent on so many factors that there's no way it can work for everyone.

Steam will be easier to implement SiN Episodes, because that's what they're using.
 
TBH if GamesXstream has had no games released on it, or anything, how will they know it will handle that much stress? Plus, I'd like to see if this system works, now knowing that PREY will be released on that, I will be waiting a few weeks after its released to see how "well" it works.
 
Content delivery systems, game engines, you name it, each offers something new and different and each has their pros and cons.
So? Wtf is your point?
Competition is what has Evolved the world.
2 Companies can be making a product that everyone needs. They each try to improve there products over the other aswell as trying to keep the cost down so more people buy theres.
If 1 company was just making a product that everyone needs, then they could raise the price higher thus making more money and since people need it they still have to buy it.

Anyway Steam just brought more Competition. Competition to the publishers. Thus this could make publishers give more money to the developers when a game is bought.

you don't have to d/l the full game, just the first bits, and play! Now that sounds a lot better. I bet you can't do that with HL2!
Then that can screw up they way the Developers design there games.
Think of it this way.
Your downloading the game, and you have like half the engine itself downloaded. You don't have any graphical parts of the engine downloaded, and you also have the first few maps downloaded and such.
Thus technically this isn't a GamesXstream thing this is part of the actual Game Thing.
 
Frankly, and I've said this in the past, I hate Steam. I destroyed my copy of HL2 in protest at the fact that I HAD to be online to play it, but even though I considered HL2 inferior to the original, I find myself missing it.

The thing is, the more people are required to be online to play games, pay bills, read news (whatever it may be), the more it pushes the need for a system of cheap, fast, internet service for the entire world. Protesting this movement is like protesting the sun rising.... you can dace around all you want and it won't change a thing. I'ts inevitable. I applaud Valve for having the balls to take a solid stance, trust steam, push the online factor, and use their influence to help move things forward just a tad faster.
 
My only problems with Steam are:
1. It’s cheaper to sell a game through steam, yet the customer gets no benefit. i.e. if it costs less to sell, it should also cost less to buy.
2. It allows distributors to walk over consumer rights by making sure you can’t sell or trade in the game.
3. If each distributor has their own version then it will be messy and annoying having lots of programs running in the background hogging resources and sucking up bandwidth on update nights.

Out of those 3 my least favourite is number 2. I have a feeling there will be no such thing as owning any type of digital entertainment in the future. Everything will be rented. You wont “buy” a DVD in the sense that you will own a copy. It will have some sort of DRM nuke built in to make sure you can only watch it, say 10 times, before you have to re-buy it. The same with music and games; no opportunity to keep a copy forever; no chance of swapping your Star Wars Trilogy for your friends Lord of the Rings Trilogy; no ability to trade in a game or buy cheap games off ebay.
 
PickledGecko said:
I have a feeling there will be no such thing as owning any type of digital entertainment in the future. Everything will be rented. You wont “buy” a DVD in the sense that you will own a copy. It will have some sort of DRM nuke built in to make sure you can only watch it, say 10 times, before you have to re-buy it. The same with music and games; no opportunity to keep a copy forever; no chance of swapping your Star Wars Trilogy for your friends Lord of the Rings Trilogy; no ability to trade in a game or buy cheap games off ebay.

That's exactly my point, thank you for making it so clear PickledGecko! I too hate the thought that I don't solely own what I've paid for, and that I have to log on at all to play it! The DivX format was initially designed with this limited use in mind, and I hated it for that reason - but it was dropped. The same goes for those DVDs with a special coating that makes the whole disc unreadable after a day or two - very wasteful and damaging to the environment. Thank God that's been dropped too, but people still keep trying to push similar schemes on us.

I like the way things mostly are at the moment - buy your games off the shelf or online and pay for them only once, then they're yours. Agreed, Steam works like this, but who knows what could happen if people get too greedy?
 
Ok you hate it because of what it could be used for. I know hate the sun because it could come crashing down on my head in a million years.

Heres the thing, you have never truley owned what you have. You have a license to use it, and that license can be revoked.
 
I have no words. Well, a few.
First off : Foebane, stop being so paranoid lol :p
You can compare your stance with this joke :
A woman is reading a book in her husbands boat in a lake. A policeman sees this and tells the woman to come to the side.
"What would be the problem, officer?"
"Do you have a fishing license?"
"No, I don't. But I wasn't fishing."
"But you have the materials to do it! I'll have to give you a ticket."
"If you do that, I'm afraid I'll have to sue you for rape."
"Huh? But I didn't even touch you!"
"Yes, but you do have the materials to do it! :naughty:"
 
I get your point Beerdude.

ALRIGHT! I won't go on about Steam any longer - I'm fed up of talking about it anyway.
 
^Ben said:
Heres the thing, you have never truley owned what you have. You have a license to use it, and that license can be revoked.
How so? Yes its true when you buy certain media, part of the cost is the license to use it, but it cannot ever be revoked. As long as I have my copy I have the license to use it.


^Ben said:
Ok you hate it because of what it could be used for. I know hate the sun because it could come crashing down on my head in a million years.

Is there any precedent of the sun crashing down on your head? No, therefore it’s a ridiculous statement. Is there any precedent in a new technology being used to decrease consumer rights or give the consumer less value for money? Yes, there are many. For example;

1. CD’s cost more than tapes even though they are cheaper to make and contain the same content.
2. Downloading music cost about the same as an album, and then on top of that you have to pay to put it onto a CD. So you can have the product with limitations for the same price, or the same product for more money.
3. CD’s can be played on any CD player you want, but DRM protected music restricts you to limited numbers of computers.
4. Steam does not allow you to trade in Half Life 2, sell it as a second hand product or swap it with a friend for something you do not already own.
 
PickledGecko said:
How so? Yes its true when you buy certain media, part of the cost is the license to use it, but it cannot ever be revoked. As long as I have my copy I have the license to use it.

You need to read the EULA, VALVe can revoke your license whenever they want, of course with proper evidence to back it up.
 
DiSTuRbEd said:
You need to read the EULA, VALVe can revoke your license whenever they want, of course with proper evidence to back it up.
Exactly! Because of Steam! You could never do that if it was a regular CD/DVD without online activation.

And things like Steam allow so much more erosion of consumer rights, that’s my point!
 
Back
Top