Steam! The future?

fizzlephox

fizzlephox

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I know someone from Valve said this somewhere. It went something like this, "Steam is part of the future of distribution, not the dying business structure in place now." That's not exactly what was said, but it's the basics of what was said.

I assume this means that big-budget commercial software, PC games, and such will be distributed mainly through the internet fairly soon and not "Brick and Mortar" stores like Wal-Mart and EB Games. I mean we all remember the 90s, everyone had a store selling stuff online, it was declared to be the future and that traditional stores would soon deteriorate. That was kinda wrong.

So what do you people think? Is the person at Valve who said this just being overly cocky/ambitious? Or does he have a valid point? If he does I'll miss my boxes and manuals, hanging out at the stores with my friends etc.
 
as much as i'd like to get games online, even with a braodband connection your talking serious download time to get it. And i really wouldn't want to keep loads of installation stuff on my harddrive.
 
I just dont find it safe, especially with the leak. I dont think I would ever trust steam after that...
 
Well even if Steam isn't your favorite, do you see other fast, secure, download applications/servers as a viable way to sell software?
 
It will certainly end up happening someday I mean total bandwidth for a home user will only increase as time goes on.
 
Cutey_Kaite said:
I dont trust the internet, its evil
EVIL
Click to expand...

* puts on his tin foil hat *

This will protect me!!
 
The internet is controlled by the USSR and is used to brainwash us..
its true, why are u lookin at me like that? IT IS!!
 
But what if they.....what if they already GOT TO THE TINFOIL!!!!

I loathe steam. Also, most people still aren't on broadband, and even for those who are a lot are on "slow" broadband where it would still take a relatively long time to download a full game.

And I also don't really trust the Internet. Even if the data is sufficiently encrypted, there's still the chance of keyloggers etc.

And you don't get the shiny box!
 
If they do, then I bet many more people would be tempted to get a fast internet connection, which in the end would either make broadband companies happy to see some increase in profit or curl up in the fetal position because of lack of resources to maintain such a large amount of people.

I still would rather go to the store to get my games. I like the boxes and the overall experience better (can't wait to get that HL2 box hainging proudly on my wall :naughty: )
 
Or, if they're like me, it won't change a thing.

I DESPERATELY want broadband....don't get me started about Telstra.
 
exactly what problems do you guys have with steam, i don't really get many. my maps load up fine, the only time i get real lag is when it's actually a really high pinged server. but as for me purchasing things on steam...not a chance
 
If the fix they problems that still exist with STEAM & perhaps make it look more *professional* I have no quibs about using it.
 
Cutey_Kaite said:
I just dont find it safe, especially with the leak. I dont think I would ever trust steam after that...
Click to expand...
What did steam have to do with the leak?

And for the record, I have NEVER had ANY problems with steam, While in beta or when it published. I play on servers and I get sub 25 pings. I have NO COMPLAINTS. I love steam.
 
The future? I hope so.

Steam is the best thing to happen to online gaming in a long time.
 
Letters said:
The future? I hope so.

Steam is the best thing to happen to online gaming in a long time.
Click to expand...
I love you.
Thank you SO much!! :D

This guy knows what he's talking about.

How many people need to buy CDs nowadays? We've got fast MD players, and MP3 jukeboxes. So what's recently become much more available? i-Tunes, Napster 2.0, even Coca Cola are joining in for free music downloads and distribution. The physical media will never be phased out completely, but maybe one day, digital media will be more popular than traditional media.

It's the same with games. It's all very well selling a game as a boxed unit. A lot of people will keep doing that for years to come, but imagine all of the game companies, self publishing their games over a file distribution system like Steam. One that authenticates the user, lets the user download and purchase their games, lets them download patches automatically, lets them find servers to play on, lets them talk to their friends. It's a wonderful concept, and I hope it catches on.

As for its teething problems, they have all been ironed out and anyone complaining about errors that most people aren't getting just simply have poor set ups. Your 333MHz may run fine, but there's things out there nearly 10 times faster now, go get a new system and run Steam bug free.
 
I think there will be problems. Not because of software problems, but technical and ethical decisions that will still have to be made.

For example: How will it handle digital rights management? How will it handle backup copies or re-downloads? Will prices be cheaper because of no box, manual or CD? How do companies persuade customers that 128bit encryption is secure enough? What about download times? (1 gig plus of data still takes alot of time to download and games will only get larger)

As of right now, I think steam is little more than a glorified Gamespy. Personally, I am against ideas like steam because I prefer to have something tangible (like a CD) than having a piece of software saying that I have the right to download and play a game.
 
I think that Steam is a secret planned designed by valve to get millions and billions of people on it. Then it will slowly corrupted our minds. Then Valve will take over the world!! AHHHH VALVE WHY WOULD U DO SUCH A THING!!!

Ne ways they should make a type of rom cd. In which the cd has more of an UNSCRATCHABLE SURFACE. ive rebought starcraft: brood war 10 diff times due to cd scratchings. God, it make me sooo mad!! Althjough 56kers would march to valve and just kick there asses if they did make steam all that. Although i would to, even though i can dl big files, i hate steam for dling. I cant pause and resume!! THATS WHY I HATE IT. So someday there will be a march Of the 56kers!!!
 
I have had no problems with Steam at all. I have never had to reinstall steam. The most I have had to do is log out and log back in. I even had no problems with steam back with CS 1.4 beta.

I don't mind paying for something and then downloading it. I actually perfer it since I have cable I can get it what I need any time from within a matter of minutes to an hour or so.
You fear what you do not know. You don't know how they handle DRM or if you pay and your dl stops...oh no. You are licensed for the program so you can download it, there should be no fear.
You can put it on CD if you like. The data on CD from the store is no different except I have to go to the store and handle the lines and traffic. What if they are out of stock? As long as I have my broadband I might just perfer to download it as I can keep busy. The only time I look at the manual is the first time I take it out of the box but I might as well get a PDF file or something that is just like it on my PC.

I think Steam is different than gamespy. I would never touch gamespy myself but I have used HLSW and similar programs along with IRC and IM contacts and Steam just puts that all in one while also having contact with the developer by having access to all of their games/updates.
 
Apart from the occasional "Friends" server going down, I found no real problem with Steam.

Being able to download the games is just a plus. Download and burn it to a CD. If you have a friend that's on 56k or a slow speed internet, you can give them a copy of the game install (this is, of course, assuming you can download the install file) and then they'd just "purchase" it on Steam and already have the install file. Since Steam is account based it eliminates the use of CD keys (and may decrease piracy rate.. may). That's how I visualized it as working, I may be way off but in my head I feel Steam is a good route to go; even if what I said isn't accurate. :/

I'm sure Steam has levels of reform yet to come, don't underestimate it ;)
 
When it comes to purchasing / obtaining big games, physical stores is all I'm ever going to use. I mean you can't hold the actual game that you're going to buy if you buy online, or walk by and druel over it. Viva la 'Brick and Mortar'!
 
Just to add...I had a friend who used Steam on his AMD Athlon 600mhz PC on 56k.
He did that with hardly any problems. He is now on cable but that was planned way before he tried steam.
 
Man steam sucks ass, so far. I bought HL2 and some ass is already playing with my key. And since every server I go to changes to that nazi software I'll soon be playing with myself than hl online.. it sucks. the support sucks (got no reply and not expecting any tbh).
 
I too have not had many problems with Steam. And any problems I did have were resolved by an update. It's better than WON anyway. Pff Never got that to work!!
* Wanders off muttering *
 
huh ? I can't edit my post.. well I meant HL1 of course!
 
Well Steam is now username and Password Based... Which is why its better than WON (the old system that used the Key method) as its a lot harder to crack. Okay for HL1 you might be screwed but just buy HL2 normally and use it to sign up for another steam account.

My 1 problem with Steam is that your putting money into a username and password. I think it needs a Longer Number (like a credit card number) in order to change peoples passwords, or if steam account DB gets hacked loads of ppl will lose there account to some hacker, who will just change the password, and then they lose out on their game. This is a concern I would like to ask valve about.
 
id rather go to the store and buy the DVD boxes.

nothing like admiring your game collection.


*and what if your system crashed? youd be F*CKED*



and the guy from valve said that becuase

A. he wouldnt have a job if he didnt

B. it means more $$$ for Valve.


they aint doin it for the fans, their doing it so they have more $$$ like every other company.
 
i agree with the previous posts that reminded me of that cool feeling i get when i get a new game in the box off of wal-mart....DOWN WITH BUYING STUFF OFF OF STEAM!!!!!!!!!.....go walmart!
 
Steam is the way forward. If you look past the immediate problems with the client, it's a pretty fantastic technology.

Sure, games are 1gb or so now, but the beauty of Steam is that you can play a game without having downloaded all of it. You don't need the final level to start playing, for example, or the gun that's only going to be in the last quarter of the game. It'll download the full game content in a constant trickle while you're playing and while you're just online, prioritising what you'll need soon. Brilliant.

Plus, I don't think I'd have any problems giving a credit card number to Steam. The Source leak only included interfaces from HL2 into Steam, which didn't include any of the Steam server software from what I'm aware of. Not to mention that you can have security and open source at the same time. They're not mututal exclusives. So Steam should be as secure as any e-commerce site, like Amazon.

If the download fails, Steam will just pick it up where you left off. If you need to reinstall you don't need to pay again to re-download. Hell, you don't need to pay again to go to a friend's house, and download HL2 on his computer.
 
Exactly. They don't let you just download it once...haha.
It's not like waiting in line at fileplanet only to get disconnect and have to wait in line again. Nothing like that.
You payed for it so every time you load steam you have access to everything your account is supposed to. If it's on your system...you cn play it. If it isn't...you can download it when logged into your account.
 
Garlic bread is the future

And possibly Steam.........I've had no problems with it, but i uninstalled for reasons of space (i needed some!)
 
Nothing ever going to completely replace retail 'brick & mortar' stores. Sure, more viable solutions to online distribution may become available, but people are still going to want and hold the product in their hand. Human nature will always drive people to the stores for social interaction, and human connection.

Years ago people thought automatic teller machines would replace teller jobs within banks. But that never happened. Why? Because people still wanted to see 'Sally' the teller and strike up conversation. They still needed that social interaction they get by communicating with another individual. Same thing with the .com online retailers. Everyone thought people would ultimately stop going to the malls and purchase goods online. But who's the busiest during holiday season? Malls. Again it's a social aspect of society.

I think products like Steam will be a great alternative for low income, or low expense developers but it will never become mainstream for all major companies. I still believe that if software developers want to make a good profit, they need to get their product on the shelves in the real world, not online.
 
You have a point and at the same time online distribution like Steam is there to exist at the same time as retail stores rather than replace.
But also for games ppl don't go to the store and buy games to visit with "sally". Unless a new game came out once a day or weekly, then you might. hehe
Or if you are one of those ppl who buy most the games on the market from the same place where you have an account.
Online distribution is just another option out there. Remember price will be different too. ;)
 
well like SteelWind and Asus have said.. both forms of shopping will be around.. but perhaps in the future when buying over the net is "more" secure (i put more in quotes because i do understand its secure now.. just not enough to some pples's liking) services like Steam may become more popular.. but certainly wouldn't totally replace the good o'l hard copy ;)
 
Steelwind, that's not necessarily the best analogy given OECD countries have been losing bank branches and teller fronts like they're going out of fashion for the past decade at least.... This is partly because of more cost effective 'remote' solutions like ATMs and internet banking and partly because of a global move to 'rationalise' employment through downsizing...

You're right in that there is a limit on how far the elimination of physical points of contact/exchange will go based on common sense, the needs of socialisation, and the inadequacy of a machine interface. But it wouldn't surprise me if such models make inroads in the next decade and publisher/retailers are forced to get more competetive or lose market share.

It will work eventually even if it is not Steam. Think about it - machine interfaces are getting better, HDD space is getting bigger, the environment could benefit from a few less shrink wrapped cardboard boxes, and it's cheaper because the middle man is taken out of the equation...

Sound pretty good from where I am sitting...
 
well like it was stated before, Before steam wants to "revolutionize" the market they first have to fix at least 80 percent of their problem cuz yall cant deny it the shit is buggy as hell. the reason i say this cuz when u ask for money and yo product works when it feel like it and errors every 5 mins your product aint going to revolutionize a damn thing but frustration and uninstallation.

Dont get me wrong Steam is a great concept but is only great when done right without all the bugs and all the questions with no answers or suggetions its downright gay

and secondly the people who are defending steam its only great to you cuz it works for you but to others who it doesnt work at all for its shitty and Valve know steam is messed up but like my rap friends say gotta make that money man

maybe i will become a steam fan when they fix about 80 percent of problems but until then i am a Anti Steamer or what ever
 
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