Why dont more publishers use Steam?

The main issue with Steam is the fact that whatever you buy is tied directly to that account, and cannot be moved in fear of piracy or game swapping (think of them like books in a library. 1 copy goes around to 7 people, no need for those 6 people to buy the game theselves). The dilema with this is that if your account is stolen (hundreds are reported per day with no way to prove scammers from real victims), you can't retrieve the games you brought right and proper.

Back to the question, publishers can gain from Steam with Digital Distribution. It increases visibility, convienience, and there's no need to wait in line or wait for the game to be shipped, if you can have it shipped to you at all. Thus, Digital Distribution = more sales, and more potential profit.

The problems with having publishers sign onto Steam is the deal that since Valve will be hosting the download on their servers, they'll demand quite a portion of the game's profits, possibly too large of a percentage for the publishers. Not only that, but since they've got the upper hand in negotiations, they can name any price, and they'll have to abide by them, or lose the deal.

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"][QUOTE="tenaka2"]

From my understanding developers make more money using Steam.

Publishers make more money from shelf sales. Publishers run the gaming industry not developers :(

Deihmos

Exactly. Steam is good for cutting out the middleman, aka the publisher. We need more Steam like programs...if we're lucky, we will get more games, more independent developers, and less EA-type publishers.

Steam isthe freaking savior of PC gaming.

If you cut out the publisher who will finance the game development? The independent developers don't need a publisher because most of the games are low budget.

The only games I would buy from Steam are the Valve games, anything else I am buying in the store. I will also buy from EA Link as their games are compatible wiith the retail version. I will also never buyanything from Direct2Drive again.

The same people that finance restaurants, bars, small businesses....bankers! Family! Friends!

I mean, if people can find financiers for restaurants, which have a 90% failure rate in the first 6 months, then I dont see why a video game would be so crazy.

[QUOTE="F4ll3n_1"]

-Cant trade games in at stores - even the packaged ones which have to be registered.

ProudLarry

X WRONG!! X :P

I assume your speaking from America or elsewhere, but Gamestation in the UK let you, and theyre one of the very few who do.