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

[Pesmerga]

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?

Oh noes, Steam will find out that I store anal penetration porn on my computer!!!!111

Same debate that's going on with alot of privacy related issues. IMO, while privacy should never be too intrusive, if you've got nothing to hide then why do you worry that they are looking at you? It sounds a little selfish and conceited to me. And if you do have something to hide, then there are obvious ways to make sure it doesn't get discovered.

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

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!

No on WON they could ban the cd keys as well. As every other game can aswell, STEAM didn't start it, cdkey bans have been around for awhile.

 

[PickledGecko]

No on WON they could ban the cd keys as well. As every other game can aswell, STEAM didn't start it, cdkey bans have been around for awhile.

That’s totally different, CD Key bans are only relevant to multiplayer, and as far as I’m concerned they are needed to keep the casual cheats away. But what I’m talking about here is the removal of your right to play a game at all. Ever. Single or multiplayer. For any reason the distributors decide. They may decide that its more cost effective to remove ownership of games altogether and effectively rent the game to us. Imagine that, even a single player game costing a monthly fee. Steam gives them that ability. Will they use it? Who knows for sure, all I know is that when it comes to using new technology to restrict a customers service, it’s happened before and could easily happen again.

Example. Steam stops you, the owner of your copy of Half Life 2, from reselling or trading in the game. Why does Valve do this? Because they don’t want someone who has gotten all the use out of the game they want selling to someone who has not paid for it, because it ensures them more money. I have effectively no ownership of what I have purchased, i.e. I have merely rented the game. Okay, for now I have only paid a single fee and am allowed the “rent” the game for as long as I want without charge, but why would a company, motivated by making money and allowed to strip away consumer rights, stop there?

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

Dude, if you get banned from hl2 servers that use VAC, you can play on non-VAC servers. Then on SP you don't connect to any servers, the only way they can stop you from playing the game is if they ban your steam accounts. Which THEY WILL EVIDENCE TO BACK UP WHY THEY DID SO.

 

[PickledGecko]

To clarify my point:

1. When I bought Half-Life I owned the game. I could sell it, swap it, or trade it in. It was my property.

2. Now I have bought Half-Life 2 I do not own the game. I can not sell it, swap it, or trade it in. It is not my property.

Steam has taken away my right to buy a computer game. Okay, so I have paid the same amount and get to rent the game for my entire life, but I have still had the right to own the game taken away from me.

So here we can see, as soon as Valve gets a new technology they immediately use it to take away something from the consumer in order to make more money; i.e. by removing my ability to sell the game, the person who would have bought it now has to buy a retail copy.

So, if Valve are willing to take away that right for more profit, what else are they willing to take away from us. Will Half-Life 3 be rental only? Will I have to pay a monthly subscription for a single player game? They have the tools (Steam) and they have shown themselves willing to put profit over service.

But of course I’m sure you are all shouting, “But this is Valve, they’re, like, totally cool and give us updates for free and stuff.”

Yes, but think about it. What happens when, say EA, develop their own online distribution program? They already tried to sucker us FPSers into their moronic sports game style of releasing games. They thought that we would fall for the rip off concept of releasing yearly updates and charging full price for each with their Unreal Tournament 200X franchise. But we didn’t fall for it, we used our consumer power to show them that we will not pay £35 a year for the same game, every year like a sports game fan does.

But what if they release Unreal Tournament 2007 over a Steam style system. They could tell you that your £35 only covers 12 months of using the game, then you’re locked out. Then you have the choice to pay £35 for Unreal Tournament 2007 again or buy Unreal Tournament 2008 instead; for 12 months use of course.

And what would stop them? There are no laws to protect us from them. The legal system is stacked in their favour.

 

[Insano]

Then don't buy it. It's as simple as that.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

EA have nothing to do with the Unreal Tournament games.

we didn’t fall for it, we used our consumer power to show them that we will not pay £35 a year for the same game, every year like a sports game fan does.

Ever seen the sales figures for the Unreal Tournament games? Apparently not.

You don't need laws to protect you - vote with your wallet. If you don't like the game or anything associated with it, then don't buy it. Problem solved.

 

[^Ben]

You can sell of half life 2.

It's called your steam account, you sell that instead of the discs.

 

[PickledGecko]

EA have nothing to do with the Unreal Tournament games.

Oh, my mistake, but my point still stands, even if I got the wrong publisher.

Ever seen the sales figures for the Unreal Tournament games? Apparently not.

Actually seen them? No, but I have read that 2004 sold less than 2003, I could be wrong though.

You don't need laws to protect you - vote with your wallet. If you don't like the game or anything associated with it, then don't buy it. Problem solved.

Exactly, in order to avoid it I will have to quit playing computer games, listening to music on anything but radio and watching movies other than what I rent and what I see on TV. That’s my point, we will all have to live in a world where we no longer own these things so that the companies who sell them will maker even more money, or stop buying them altogether. I’m not complaining here, I’m warning you.

Will I vote with my wallet, yes, I will have no choice, I can barely keep up as it is. As soon as things get more expensive and I can no longer squeeze every last ounce of entertainment out of the things that I own I will have to just stop paying. But it will take more than just me stopping buying, it will take people who can actually afford to carry on consuming to stop, only then will they listen.

You can sell of half life 2.

It's called your steam account, you sell that instead of the discs.

Maybe I don’t want to sell all the games associated with my steam account, just one.

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

Dude its very simple, if you don't like it, move on, oh well if you can't sell a game.

"As soon as things get more expensive and I can no longer squeeze every last ounce of entertainment out of the things that I own I will have to just stop paying. But it will take more than just me stopping buying, it will take people who can actually afford to carry on consuming to stop, only then will they listen."

WAH WAH WAH, seriously you worry about things too much. If $50 squeezes your wallet, you need a new job or if you even have one.

 

[Styloid]

I don't mind that games may be moving closer towards something like watching a movie, going to a museum or riding a rollercoaster- you pay for the experience, not the traditional "ownership". Many game developers have been against reselling games simply because it takes a big chunk out of their profits (let's face it, if devs don't make money- particularly the small/independent ones- they shut down; especially with the rising costs of creating a game). If you simply want the best 'bang for your buck' you, as a gamer, will be the one to lose out.

More on topic, I think Steam does solve a number of current problems with the gaming industry: publishers compromising quality of the game, publishers producing only "marketable" games, and the lack of exposure for good games vs. heavily advertised junk.