Game Stores View Valve's Steam as the Devil

[snoogins]

Before steam I would lose cd keys, cds would get scratched etc etc.

I like having steam because if I want to buy a game I can, at whatever time I want.

I do wish that the time played wasn't public, but hey what can you do about it?

 

[serra]

[citation][nom]stm1185[/nom]Retailers carry PC games these days? [/citation]

These must be UK retailers, because US retailers, other than maybe Best Buy have given up completely on PC games.

I've been using Steam since it came out. I love the updates, the fact that I can install on as many PCs as I want and I can reinstall without codes. The perfect world for me.

 

[reggieray]

Do you think Steam has a frighteningly strong grip on the PC games market? Yes and it will get worse, the retailers are right and they can thank DRM for the startup of Steam.

 

[neiroatopelcc]

[citation][nom]johnnysgraf[/nom]onlinekeystore.com is the main one I use,I use cdkeysdirect.com if onlinekeystore doesn't have a particular game[/citation]

Thanks mate

 

[reggieray]

[citation][nom]serra[/nom]These must be UK retailers, because US retailers, other than maybe Best Buy have given up completely on PC games. I've been using Steam since it came out. I love the updates, the fact that I can install on as many PCs as I want and I can reinstall without codes. The perfect world for me.[/citation]
You Obviously have never been in a Walmart or Target.

 

[Ha-So]

Steam stuff is over priced unless it's on sale. For the same money I'll buy the retail box. Bandwidth is not the problem, it's the perception. Steam is creating a massive captured audience, who once they buy something on steam, are bound to it. As long as the customer's and Steam's ideological visions are the same, everyone is happy (except the retailer), when they won't.... well, I guess retailers can start carrying PC games again. Which I can only assume will be eventually, when valve gets too greedy like all "good" corporations usually do...

 

[Ha-So]

Steam stuff is over priced unless it's on sale. For the same money I'll buy the retail box. Bandwidth is not the problem, it's the perception. Steam is creating a massive captured audience, who once they buy something on steam, are bound to it. As long as the customer's and Steam's ideological visions are the same, everyone is happy (except the retailer), when they won't.... well, I guess retailers can start carrying PC games again. Which I can only assume will be eventually, when valve gets too greedy like all "good" corporations usually do...

 

[Ha-So]

Steam stuff is over priced unless it's on sale. For the same money I'll buy the retail box. Bandwidth is not the problem, it's the perception. Steam is creating a massive captured audience, who once they buy something on steam, are bound to it. As long as the customer's and Steam's ideological visions are the same, everyone is happy (except the retailer), when they won't.... well, I guess retailers can start carrying PC games again. Which I can only assume will be eventually, when valve gets too greedy like all "good" corporations usually do...

 

[Ha-So]

Steam stuff is over priced unless it's on sale. For the same money I'll buy the retail box. Bandwidth is not the problem, it's the perception. Steam is creating a massive captured audience, who once they buy something on steam, are bound to it. As long as the customer's and Steam's ideological visions are the same, everyone is happy (except the retailer), when they won't.... well, I guess retailers can start carrying PC games again. Which I can only assume will be eventually, when valve gets too greedy like all "good" corporations usually do...

 

[oldscotch]

Show me a retail store that has supported PC gaming only half as much as they've supported console gaming and I'll show you someone with something to complain about.

Everyone else, you've no one to blame but yourselves.

 

[snotling]

[citation][nom]reprotected[/nom]Many people do not like to punch in their credit cards into the Internet, which is usually why they buy at retails. What's there to fear?[/citation]
having your credit card cloned and compromised at the store?

 

[devorakman112]

i was, along with many, one of those people who would not even touch steam for the longest time. i had no basis for my boycott. i just preferred going to my local game store for pc games.
when i got counter strike i found out after i got home i had to have a steam account to play it, so i signed up, and have been using it like mad ever since.
i thihnk my favorite thing about steam is while most people are waiting in a checkout line after that big midnight release, im already playing the game =D

 

[g00fysmiley]

translation.. its hitting our profits we're not buying a game for a few pounds and selling it for just a few pounds shy of new games awhen you buy a digital copy... well with any luck most brick and morter software shops will go the way of the dodo soon along with consoles

 

[rantoc]

I like steam in all ways but their prices here in europe, after they descided that a 1 dollar=1 euro i haven't purchaser many titles due to the insane price difference between their service and normal retail.

I don't pay between 30-50% on new titles and up to 100% on a tad older ones for digital download when i can get physical media, manual and a nice box as well as the possibility to sell it once im done. If steam get their euro prices right i will definatly consider it again but untill then normal retail wins in every way!

 

[TheDuke]

they didn't seem to care years ago when they started putting pc games on one little rack
complain at a company for doing something better than them
Steam has been good to the consumer which is evil to the retailers

 

[ScrewySqrl]

It's Blockbuster vs. Netflix again. And we know who won that. And why.

 

[C00lIT]

Steam + Google = The start of Skynet...
All jokes aside, bought battlefield2 at retail, lost the box and key
Same for Battlefield Vietnam, Warcraft2 BNE and many others...

However I still have Halflife, Counterstrike1.6, DOD, RedOrchestra and all my other steam games.

Steam is the best of Digital reseller so obviously retailers have a lot to worry about.

They should keep cool, make their own digital system and still sell Steam games because Steam doesn't cover everything... so why say no to business that could be... some people want their boxed version.

 

[compton]

I really like Steam. It just makes it so easy and hassle free. But I miss the awesome box games too... the Ultima VII box comes to mind. Until publishers have games worthy of such awesomeness, I prefer Steam. Also, I walked into a GameStop two days ago for the first time in forever. This particular GS here in Charlotte didn't even have a token shelf in the back with PC games. They didn't have anything. Maybe they had them under the counter like porn. I walked out quickly. I used to be a big console gamer, but have come back to the fold. If the consoles are just going to have FPSs, why play them on a console? Even "Best Buy" has a vestigial shelf for PC games next to the GPUs that are 50% more expensive than they should be. So, I'll stick with Steam.

 

[Lavacon]

If retailers hadn't turned their backs on PC games they wouldn't be crying about losing a slice of the pie. To bad so sad.

I've used steam since they opened shop and *knock on wood* have never had a problem. With the used PC game market being practically dead besides what you find on Ebay, what do I need the box for? Most games that are not a collectors edition don't come with anything compelling anyways.

Why are PC games STILL coming in boxes anyways??? What a waste. Something the size of a DVD case is more than sufficient when all that comes in a game is a 10 page manual, an ad and a DVD disc..

Steam had foresight and is reaping the rewards of the risk they took opening up shop when they did. Don't hate ;-)

 

[rallende]

[citation][nom]reprotected[/nom]Many people do not like to punch in their credit cards into the Internet, which is usually why they buy at retails. What's there to fear?[/citation]

Then the Clerk's at the store gets to take your credit card info.
[citation][nom]alidan[/nom]i love steam in concept, but i HATE it in practice.in concept it makes games cheaper and gives more money to publishers. i go to a store, i get box art, i get a physical disc, instructions and anything else that comes with the game, for 40-60$ (cod is the only 60 pc game i can think of) but if i go to steam, im paying the same damn price as retail, when there is nothing making that price higher.i NEVER buy a game on steam unless its on sale. if i really want it i will pirate it until i find it on sale, buy it than, and transfer my saves if possible. dont get me wrong im all for giveing the devs their fair share of what they make, but it seams like they took out all the crap that realy drove game prices up and got rid of it, only to charge the same damn price.i get that part of that is to appease the walmarts of the world, but F them, seriously, never do things half way.[/citation]

YAY! for pirating!! Let's get those game prices even higher!!

 

[usfs]

Steam Response " U jelly retailers?"

 

[fausto]

steam probably has a big grip on things but so far they've been pretty good.

 

[cptnjarhead]

im sure i will get a thumbs down.. but IMO .. steam is like iTunes for the iPhone.. you cant do anything with out it. When i pay $50.00 for a game at Wal-Mart.. then i have to hook up to steam just to install it! that is gay!
I bought Civ V.. and of course.. had to install steam and jump through hoops just to play a game that i physically purchased... i could understand if i had downloaded the game from steam.. so of course i would need to have steam running to install and play.. but if i go out and buy it.. why should i need to have steam just to play it? I guess my only option is to buy Non-steam games.. which sucks.. but I need to put my money where my mouth is!

 

[Lavacon]

[citation][nom]alidan[/nom]i love steam in concept, but i HATE it in practice.in concept it makes games cheaper and gives more money to publishers. i go to a store, i get box art, i get a physical disc, instructions and anything else that comes with the game, for 40-60$ (cod is the only 60 pc game i can think of) but if i go to steam, im paying the same damn price as retail, when there is nothing making that price higher.i NEVER buy a game on steam unless its on sale. if i really want it i will pirate it until i find it on sale, buy it than, and transfer my saves if possible. dont get me wrong im all for giveing the devs their fair share of what they make, but it seams like they took out all the crap that realy drove game prices up and got rid of it, only to charge the same damn price.i get that part of that is to appease the walmarts of the world, but F them, seriously, never do things half way.[/citation]

Yes there you go... Go Pirate the game because you don't get the pretty box and 10 page manual you will never look at. Your box is worth $2, manual $.50.(I'm making up these prices of course, but, that said, my figures are probably on the high side) Steam makes up that $2.50 in convenience and gas savings. Are you really upset because Best Buy isn't getting their cut? Do you feel steam should pass their cut onto you? You make no sense. IMO Steam earns their cut, more so than any retailer that sells boxed games even.

You pirate because your a bum, don't sugarcoat it and make stupid excuses....

 

[cnox]

Steam is a good idea, I have used it more and more (My last 10 games have been steam purchases). However, I also have bought games from Impulse, Direct2Drive and another source, and what i don't like is that there's no way to tie all those distributors together in one UI. It makes it harder to catalog my games and understand what I have as well as finding the right place to go when I want to play it.

Because Steam has the best selection/deals, 90% of my games are there, but I still have some from other distributors. Steam should provide an open API or something to allow games to be hosted in a sigle location. Maybe distributors need to make a plugin for Steam or something.

I can understand why some vendors woudln't want to do this: when you go to impulse to lauch sins of a solar empire, there's some advertising that can be done for other games in impulse while you load the game. They'd be loosing out if they put everything in steam. However, a plugin api would give those external sources a chance to hawk their own wares while they navigate through games...but the fact that it first opens to Steam would make that pretty lame.