Retail threatens Steam ban, Valve monopoly is killing PC market

Other than Steam, I have bought games digitally through EA.com, GFWL, and D2D. How is this a monopoly? Retailers practically abandoned pc games years ago. They started reducing shelf space years before Steam was even an option.

Other than Steam, I have bought games digitally through EA.com, GFWL, and D2D. How is this a monopoly? Retailers practically abandoned pc games years ago. They started reducing shelf space years before Steam was even an option.

Qixote

Why aren't they complaining about Amazon too?ssvegeta555

id rather download digital copys any day. i cant resell the game but i dont care. stores have hit rock bottom in selection of games. the games they do have are outdated and overpriced. ive seen games as much as 20 dollars more in the store then on steam because the stuff isnt kept up with the age of the game and how the game is selling. all to often ive seen games that have been just released but scored badly in reviews so they are marked down to 30 bucks but retailers still trying to get full price for em.

the fact it holds onto my games too if i need to redownload them is also a bonus. i dont have to worry about damaged disks. i remember years ago i rolled over my diablo 2 disk with my chair. stupid things do happen.

Finally I hope the retail stores make games makers stop using steam that would be awesome.:)

[QUOTE="MCV UK"]The world's biggest digital distribution platform for games is under attack.

MCV understands that key retailers will drop titles that integrate the popular Steam service as fears mount that the service has a 'monopoly' on the download market.

Insiders say Steam, run by US studio Valve, serves a massive 80 per cent of the PC download sector. And retailers preparing their own rival platforms don't want that share to grow any more.Hexagon_777

The above is only an excerpt.

You can read the full article here.

Here is another article on the matter.

Since I buy all of my games, that integrate Steam through Steam, I couldn't care less. Anyway, most gaming retailers like EB and GameStop have stopped selling PC titles around me a long time ago. Stores like Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Target are ususally more expensive than any online retailer as well.

I think you guys are misinterpreting what is being said. They're saying valve has a monopoly on digital downloads. Which is probably true. It wouldnt suprise me if 90% of digital downloads were through steam. Then again you couldnt have a nicer company than valve to run steam. Imagine if Microsoft owned steam. You'd never see sales, special deals, etc.

bonafidetk

the retailers are just jealous that Steam has 30 million users plus achievements in games

i hope Steam destroy every one of these retailers

guildclaws

[QUOTE="bonafidetk"]

I think you guys are misinterpreting what is being said. They're saying valve has a monopoly on digital downloads. Which is probably true. It wouldnt suprise me if 90% of digital downloads were through steam. Then again you couldnt have a nicer company than valve to run steam. Imagine if Microsoft owned steam. You'd never see sales, special deals, etc.

F1_2004

Well luckily steam has other DD competitors such as d2d, impulse, GOG etc. However I feel no pity for these retailers who have a paltry pc section consisting of one rack, with all the prices hiked up, they stopped caring about PC gaming a long time ago.

I wish they would bring back full size PC game boxes, full size and full color manuals, and cd checks as the only security measure against piracy.

Only store that i know that sells games for the pc now is best buy in reality..They still stock some pc games..Even they are getting slower on there sales with less an less..Went to best buy a few months back there section used to be larger..Im happy steam is around..Hopefully diablo 3 an some others will be on steam..Love the no cd thing, it really is a good thing..If i want a pc game ive got to pre order it at gamestop..Even my wife sims games they dont carry in the story with out pre ordering any more..So retailers should shut there mouths a tad an wake up..

It will be good to see some competitve pricing, retail is too over priced and lags way too far behind trends.

this is how i feel about this WHOLE MESS

and aint it the truth!

[QUOTE="bonafidetk"]

I think you guys are misinterpreting what is being said. They're saying valve has a monopoly on digital downloads. Which is probably true. It wouldnt suprise me if 90% of digital downloads were through steam. Then again you couldnt have a nicer company than valve to run steam. Imagine if Microsoft owned steam. You'd never see sales, special deals, etc.

F1_2004

You're probably right, which is exactly why the competition needs to stay. Don't get me wrong, I love Steam to death, nearly all of my CoD games are on there, as well as pretty much every other AAA title that I own. Steam is a wonderful thing, and if your computer isn't wrecked to hell and back, it works flawlessly. I've had zero problems with in the past 6 years, and I've made about 4 computer changes in that time, going to be 5 pretty soon. The DRM isn't necessarily heavy, you start up another small process, integrate friends (so unless you're socially awkward, you have no problem there), and have connectivity with the rest of the Steam community.

That being said, I have my Company of Heroes through D2D, and let's not forget that the largest PC game around, World of Warcraft, is not possible to buy or download through Steam. So yea. 80% of the market my butt.

QQ my retail-based business model is becoming teh irrelevantz and obsol33tz!!!!!!

Retailers threatening Steam

their PC selection is so abysmal I don't care how much it cuts into their profits

I prefer boxed copies but it's so hard to find them unless they are the big thng and new.

OilySuperWillie

I have almost as many games in steam now as I do in my physical collection. Their sales are too good to pass up.

subyman

I wish they would bring back full size PC game boxes, full size and full color manuals, and cd checks as the only security measure against piracy.

Falconoffury

[QUOTE="Falconoffury"]I wish they would bring back full size PC game boxes, full size and full color manuals, and cd checks as the only security measure against piracy.Animatronic64

[QUOTE="Animatronic64"][QUOTE="Falconoffury"]I wish they would bring back full size PC game boxes, full size and full color manuals, and cd checks as the only security measure against piracy.Hexagon_777

The other Digital Distributors (such as Impulse) have an edge...you can run your games even if the Internet is down. You have to have Steam running in order to play a game, not so with Impulse.

All you need Impulse for is purchase, download, installation, and registration...after that, you can close Impulse and run a game from the Desktop.

The other Digital Distributors (such as Impulse) have an edge...you can run your games even if the Internet is down. You have to have Steam running in order to play a game, not so with Impulse.

All you need Impulse for is purchase, download, installation, and registration...after that, you can close Impulse and run a game from the Desktop.topsemag55

The other Digital Distributors (such as Impulse) have an edge...you can run your games even if the Internet is down. You have to have Steam running in order to play a game, not so with Impulse.

All you need Impulse for is purchase, download, installation, and registration...after that, you can close Impulse and run a game from the Desktop.

topsemag55

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

The other Digital Distributors (such as Impulse) have an edge...you can run your games even if the Internet is down. You have to have Steam running in order to play a game, not so with Impulse.

All you need Impulse for is purchase, download, installation, and registration...after that, you can close Impulse and run a game from the Desktop.

Animatronic64

It's still unnecessary. If you have already paid for and registered a game, you should not be forced to run a program not required by the developer to execute a game program.

Let's say we both own Dragon Age...yours is Steam, mine is Impulse. I don't need Impulse running to allow the game to run, but if Steam is corrupted on your drive for any reason, then all of your games that you paid for are locked-out.

[QUOTE="Animatronic64"]

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

The other Digital Distributors (such as Impulse) have an edge...you can run your games even if the Internet is down. You have to have Steam running in order to play a game, not so with Impulse.

All you need Impulse for is purchase, download, installation, and registration...after that, you can close Impulse and run a game from the Desktop.

topsemag55

It's still unnecessary. If you have already paid for and registered a game, you should not be forced to run a program not required by the developer to execute a game program.

Let's say we both own Dragon Age...yours is Steam, mine is Impulse. I don't need Impulse running to allow the game to run, but if Steam is corrupted on your drive for any reason, then all of your games that you paid for are locked-out.

Worrying about Steam corrupting is ridiculous in my opinion. The majority of PC gamers, although many would disagree, are not idiots. I'm sure they can handle basic tasks such as not defragmenting the area that Steam is installed while they throw files around or throwing water on the computer. Also, I really don't see what the big deal of running Steam in the first place is. It's not like it forces you to do a whole, you start up Steam, start up the game, and have fun. Where is there a problem? There's one more step in that that going via Impulse, GoG, or D2D. It's not like Steam takes up a lot of...well...anything.theafiguy

It's NOT a big deal, hence why most people do infact buy from/use Steam. Nevertheless, it is not a GOOD thing that some games require Steam to run whether or not you purchase the game from Steam.

I'm all for great DD deals and stuff but steam is really becoming a monopoly in the DD market. I really don't like the idea of being forced to use third party software to use third party software in order to access my games. Sure, buying cheap games on steam is nice. But we really do need an alternative to steamworks. Valve may not be as kind towards gamers as they are now once their stocks really soar.

Activision wasn't always like this. I remember rejoicing when they merged with Vivendi and thus Blizzard as well. Looking back on that I see that the only thing that matters is capital, and the only reason consumers aren't always shafted up the ass is strong competition. Steam really doesn't have any competition.

are people (in this topic) seriously complaining about a digital distribution system that gives absolutely ridiculous sales as often as newegg does? wow. i wish i was ignorant to the point i'd complain about paying 1/2-1/4 of the normal price of a game.

yellosnolvr

And what does any of that have to do with teh fact that Steam is being FORCED ( yes forced) on gamers regardless of whether they buy it on steam?

I cant belive that people are so willing to give up teh choice of not having the game on steam.

I'm all for great DD deals and stuff but steam is really becoming a monopoly in the DD market. I really don't like the idea of being forced to use third party software to use third party software in order to access my games. Sure, buying cheap games on steam is nice. But we really do need an alternative to steamworks. Valve may not be as kind towards gamers as they are now once their stocks really soar.

Activision wasn't always like this. I remember rejoicing when they merged with Vivendi and thus Blizzard as well. Looking back on that I see that the only thing that matters is capital, and the only reason consumers aren't always shafted up the ass is strong competition. Steam really doesn't have any competition.

shakmaster13

Which would mean that they are just doing what they want to do then right? Steam is a powerful contender, and it can easily pretty much do what it wants and have people still be working with the service. They have a pretty tight hold on the DD market, and even the thin competition doesn't necessarily look better because the thing that Steam does that is different is that it's an entire community. It's not just a marketplace and download hub, it's an entire gaming world. If other companies offered that, then I'm sure we'd see little problem here, since it would then boil down to preference rather than necessity.

But let's look at what 2K Games is doing with Steam. They let other DD outlets sell Borderlands, but cut off everybody but Steam from the DLCs.

That's bad business, imo, forcing people to choose Steam and Steam only if you want added content.

Steam is THE best thing to happen to PC gaming in a LONG time! I hope Steam becomes the standard for PC gaming as they seem to be truly in tune with the PC gaming scene.

Steam is THE best thing to happen to PC gaming in a LONG time! I hope Steam becomes the standard for PC gaming as they seem to be truly in tune with the PC gaming scene.

Daytona_178

I agree with what people have said about retailers scrambling, hopelessly I might add, to save a market they neglected for too long. I've enjoyed Steam since it opened, and while people are frustrated with the "online for activation" aspect of it, consider the alternative: EA, Ubisoft, etc. I'd rather have to be online to "activate" a game than ALWAYS be online to play it, or have a limited number of installs. Valve isn't stupid, and, yes, they have games with further DRM on Steam, but I doubt they sell well, if at all. Steam is here to stay, and if other retailers can not match the sales or "ease-of-use" of Steam, then they pay for it. You live by the market, you die by the market. If retailers make money in the gaming market, then lose money when something better comes along, I guess we should bail them out as well? ;)

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"]

Steam is THE best thing to happen to PC gaming in a LONG time! I hope Steam becomes the standard for PC gaming as they seem to be truly in tune with the PC gaming scene.

iwilson1296

[QUOTE="iwilson1296"]

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"]

Steam is THE best thing to happen to PC gaming in a LONG time! I hope Steam becomes the standard for PC gaming as they seem to be truly in tune with the PC gaming scene.

kdawg88

i don't like Steam. It's like i haven't bought the games i have in Steam. I live in Philippines and PC games at Datablitz (sort of like Gamestop for PH) are much cheaper than in Steam. The only thing i like about steam are some cheap deals when it comes to small/old games. Just like sex and women, physical >>> digital. lolz i may be going overboard in this one but i'm not like that of a nerd. Seriously, there's just a sense of satisfaction in a physical copy that you'll never get in buying off steam especially for CE boxes.lordlors