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UK Games Retailers Threaten Boycott of Steam Games
RogueyWon writes "Games industry trade site MCV is reporting that two major UK video games retailers are threatening to ban Steam-enabled PC games from their stores. The as-yet-unnamed retailers are apparently concerned that by selling Steam games, they are pointing their customers towards a competitor and will by trying to bring pressure upon publishers to strip Steam functionality from their games. This could prove an interesting test of where the real power lies at the retail end of PC gaming."
As someone who works at a second-hand store, this is a very rude thing to do, and I would politely tell you to leave if you continued to do so. Poaching buys is pretty low: while you just want a game, we're fronting all the costs to bring that game to you. Plus, you don't get our 7-day money back guarantee! Likewise, selling things to other people inside the store or just outside will get you asked to leave.
I've played steam games over a LAN with no internet connection, it can be done very easily.
Try installing Steam games and then playing them over a LAN with no internet connection. Fail.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
1) You don't have to worry about losing your DVD. Once registered with Steam, the game is on your account and can always be redownloaded. If you lose the DVD, no problem, just download it again (Steam will also allow you to create a new backup DVD, if you wish).
I have better ways to back my shit up, like alcohol 120% and demontools. No deal.
2) For games with an online component that make use of Steam's services properly, Steam can handle aspects of match making, such as allowing you to join a server your friends are playing on. The game has to be designed to use it, of course, but the service is provided. Also in all games it provides IM communication with your friends, that functions as an overlay that does not interfere with the game.
The server browser is about the only thing you've described here that has any actual use. But this has been a standard component of every multiplayer enabled game since about 1996.
3) Likewise Steam allows for small amounts of data to be saved to the Steam Cloud. Things like save games, keyboard mapping, and so on can be saved meaning that when you go to another computer, that all follows you.
Free spyware!
4) Steam provides globally viewable achievements. Maybe you think that is silly, but people love achievements. It provides and easy interface so games can grant them, and people can see and share them. Achievements are a massively popular part of XBL, and Steam is a way to get that on PCs.
Sorry can you go over that again? I must have missed the part where i give a shit.
Now from the publisher's perspective, Steam provides two benefits:
I stopped reading at that point. Insta-fail.
So no, I don't see what all the hype about Steam is. I think the label of Reality Distortion Field is entirely appropriate.