Monthly steam option for all valve content, scrapped?

[poseyjmac]

It hasn't been mentioned in the packages.. but of course valve talked about it as a possible option in the past. wonder if they scrapped it realizing that people could just pay 1 monthly fee and beat hl2sp and then stop.

i still think its a good idea

 

[SupaKoopa]

thank jeebus...it was a stupid idea.

 

[Lanthanide]

It's more for access to all of their multiplayer games.

Since they don't really have (m)any right now that you need to pay for (CS:CZ will probably be pretty scarce once CS:S comes out, which is free), there's probably no real reason to offer it.

But for example, if they had 4 full games with multiplayer that you might normall have to buy for $50 each, you might instead be able to pay $15 a month and get to play them online. That way if you only played them for 3 months you'd be set back $45, rather than $200 if you had bought all of the games individually.

What's in it for valve? As it'd be sold over steam, they'd get 100% (or a very much larger chunk, at least) of the profits, rather than the small 15-20% cut they get from retail.

 

[poseyjmac]

well, it would be totally worth it for a newcomer that wants to try out all the source ports, mods because he makes a decision. of course yea it wouldn't be very worth it for some time when more valve content is released.

 

[merc]

lol everyone votes he is lame

-merc

 

[f|uke]

It seems to me that it would be smarter not to have this option with the initial offering. They can expect to make more money by actually selling the game, and so anyone who really wants to play HL2 will be willing to pay this price. Later, once all those who are sure they want it have bought HL2, VALVe could offer this option to those who are still undecided.

So I would not be surprised in the least if it is offered somewhere down the line. I dont know why anyone would have any objections to this,. it seems people are afraid VALVe will try to charge them regularly for games they've already purchased (like Sony does with EQ), but as HL games are not run on corporate servers, VALVe does not have the same mantinence fees, and should certainly know that we would not stand for it.

BTW, I voted for beans. Posey is cool. :smoking:

 

[FISKER_Q]

It's not offered cause Valve can't provide content each month for subscribers. When they can, they will.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

i think subscription service is a good idea as well.
obviously such a service is not geared toward hardcore HL fans but for those who have questions and concerns about HL2, its SP and MP and perhaps other Valve content as well.

pple around here seem to slam this idea not knowing its not a requirement, its an option.
pple also forget that not all gamers are HL fans and their interest in HL2 is perhaps only mild.. and thats where the subscription service would come in handy.

 

[Yellonet]

Personally I don't think that there would have been so many takers anyway.

 

[Logic]

I must say, I am a fan of refried beans.

Back when the subscription option ('Valve "Premium" service', or something to that effect) was first mentioned by Valve, even though it was perfectly obvious that it was only an 'option', it caused a huge number of people to panic that they would have to pay a monthly fee to play online, and despite many sane people trying to explain it, the rumour still spread, and dozens of "F*** VALVE, WE HAVE TO PAY A SUBSCRIPTION TO PLAY MULTIPLAYER???" threads popped up all over the place. Perhaps Valve thought it best to keep confusion to a minimum at least until after HL2's release. Maybe as time passes and more products become available, the subscription option will come into play.

For the moment though, it seems as though the idea was scrapped, and replaced by the inclusion of Valve's older games in the silver and gold steam packages.

 

[Asuka]

It hasn't been mentioned in the packages.. but of course valve talked about it as a possible option in the past. wonder if they scrapped it realizing that people could just pay 1 monthly fee and beat hl2sp and then stop.

i still think its a good idea

Its meant for lan cefes.

 

[PvtRyan]

I sent an email to Doug about this a few days ago, haven't heard anything yet.

I think they scrapped it.

 

[FISKER_Q]

Its meant for lan cefes.

No the cyber café program is for lan cafes.

PvtRyan they've already said they won't make it unless they can deliver monthly content, this is for the hl2 fan, it's not like a 1 month trial subscription.

They want it to be something players want to support for a long time.

 

[nerdcorerocks]

come on now guys, do you think valve can really put out content worth 50 bucks every five months...

 

[Gunner]

come on now guys, do you think valve can really put out content worth 50 bucks every five months...

Why not? we don't know what they have planned after HL²

 

[Bluestrike]

While this offer would not generate enough sales for something like HL2 singleplay. Multiplay and mods generate alot more sales that way so it kinda ballances itself out.

Now it just depends on how mutch a montly subsciption would cost and it would probebly have different versions too.

 

[Absinthe]

refried beans?