Bingeling
Posts: 5186
Joined: 8/12/2010 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Kayoz quote:
ORIGINAL: various I love Steam. [insert standard jizz-fest over Steam services] Would it be accurate to summarize your effervescent support for Steam with the following (a == my response): 1. it's convenient - I can d/l my game to whatever computer I am on a1. in return for convenience, you also accept a complete reliance on their service to continue playing anything purchased from them, as well as being totally dependent on them for the application of updates, patches or content. Check the Steam agreement - they give NO GUARANTEE as to the availability of their authentication or download services in the future. They go under, you're totally and completely screwed. a2. in return for convenience, you give up a great deal of privacy. Steam will rummage about on your HDD and communicate its results to their server. You have the mother of all Trojan horses running on your PC for.... gaming convenience? 2. it's great exposure for developers a1. developers also restrict the sales of their product to certain geographical regions - Steam pricing and availability changes depending on location. a2. developers place themselves at the marketing mercy of Steam. If the boffins down at Steam aren't too chuffed with your game, you're pretty much boned. You trust the judgement of Steam as to what you want as a consumer? Look how well that sort of trust was rewarded when Microprose sold out. 3. it's great value for money a1. Really? Paying 1-1 exchange rate for converting £ sterling or Euros to US$ is... good for the consumer? a2. Steam can charge more for a game than the boxed version. Despite the complete lack of logistical support, packaging or manufacturing costs - getting a game froms Steam sometimes costs MORE than getting it from the shop! 1: It IS convenient. a1: Aye, I bet on their service being alive. I can live with that. a2: Yes, they can do whatever they want on my computer. So can Elliot or whoever makes any program that I run. Do you browse the internet with javascript enabled in the browser? Do you read pdf files from the web by the help of Adobe Reader? Are you sure you update flash player at every earliest opportunity? Good luck. 2: Developers do whatever they want. I decide whether I buy or not. Steam may or may not be a good idea for them, and buying through Matrix is convenient. Just one extra entry to my password db... 3: I have not found Steam particularly cheap. At my place, Steam is cheaper than full price games, but new "big" games are not full price. So big games are sometimes cheaper at big, consumer electronics stores. Old and new games may be cheaper at some online store. But once you factor the travel to store or postage, prices are rather even. Also, I have yet to find Steam out of stock, and I put negative value on the physical game packaging (box, disc), I don't want them. So the main thing is: Its convenient.
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