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PlayStation Now Streaming Service Available On Windows PCs (techcrunch.com)
Earlier this month, Sony announced PlayStation 3 games would be coming to Windows. Specifically, the company would be bringing its PlayStation Now game-streaming program to Windows PCs. Today, the service has officially launched and is available on Windows PCs. TechCrunch reports: "A 12-month subscription to PlayStation Now will run you $99.99 as part of a limited-time promotion to celebrate the PC launch. Normally, a PS Now subscription will run you more than double that. What does PlayStation Now actually provide? Access to a library of over 50 'Greatest Hits' games, which include popular titles like Mafia II, Tom Raider: GOTY edition, Borderlands and Heavy Rain. There's also over 100 console exclusives available to PC users for the first time, and a total library north of 400 games." If you're interested, you can download the app here. A USB adapter is set to go on sale September 6 that will allow you to use a DualShock 4 wireless controller with your PC.
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Steam actually found that sweet spot between walling the user in and offering him what he wants. Allow me to elaborate.
What does NOT work with Steam? Well, I cannot really sensibly resell the game I bought unless I sell the account it is bound to along with the game, which is afaik against the TOS. At least until Steam finds out that they could make a cut of that sale and doesn't fear that studios dump them for basically becoming a way worse version than GameStop (from the Studios' view).
Aside of this, Steam is quite permissive, going as far as offering me the Linux version of games I bought for Windows where available when I launch it in Linux. Now, could you imagine this in a MS-Shop? Or a Mac-Shop? I somehow doubt that you would get Android versions of programs you bought for iPhone, even if you could install the iShop (or whatever it's called) on an Android phone.
The permissiveness of Steam even goes so far that you can "share" your game library with friends to some degree. Personally, I can't really say that there is anything I'm missing.
And this is all the difference. What matters is whether the limitations you're dealing with actually cut into your experience. Steam offers a lot of convenience. No DVDs to hunt down in the mess I call apartment, no hours of patching before playing, double click to install, double click to play. Easy. And yes, there are limitations, mostly concerning the resale of the software. Doesn't affect me, though. But what DOES affect me is that I can return software after playing it for a few minutes and noticing that it's a messy, buggy, unstable piece of junk or simply noticing that I don't like it.
Try that with your local game retailer.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.