
Terrible Secret Goes Hl2
#1
Posted 01 December 2004 - 07:52 PM
Video Series: Springheel's Modules * Speedbuild Challenge * New Mappers Workshop * Building Traps
#2
Posted 01 December 2004 - 08:51 PM
For me personally, if all of the garbage about steam is true and unavoidable, I won't be playing HL2 in it's current state.
Sad thing is, that just enough people (Just enough? Almost the entire gaming population, more likely) will buy it and support this model, resulting in the highest yields for a game ever by far, and we will soon see most games adopting this means. Thanks, Valve, for your insight. Perhaps a merger with Microsoft soon?
#3
Posted 01 December 2004 - 11:36 PM
A Thief's Path trailer is now on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=QpCej-ZIQeg
#4
Posted 02 December 2004 - 12:25 AM

I'm not referring to 'problems' with steam - it's larger than that. If you are comfortable with their 'delivery system' and what using it involves and means in the big picture, okay. I'm not. I happen to think it's another case where producers of a product are forcing something on people, and people are bending over and taking without protest. There are countless products and companies that can serve as further examples in everything ranging from automobiles to toothpaste (yes, toothpaste). I don't want any part of it; though, as I said - it's probably the way of the future, and there's no avoiding it as long as the masses accept it.
That topic alone could spark a huge philosophical debate about the "way things are" versus the "way things should be"... but I don't feel like it right now.
Edited by SneaksieDave, 02 December 2004 - 12:27 AM.
#5
Posted 02 December 2004 - 04:06 AM
I (We?) am not talking about the trechnical issues. It's more the legal implications that are my concern.Oh come off it, steam isn't that bad. Yes it's got some flaws but i haven't had many problems with it.
I can't sell the game if I don't like it, because I have no CD, which is a requirement here.
I'm forced to have an internet connection.
I'm forced to register.
I have games that are about ten years old. What if Valve decides in five years that it don't wants to support my game anymore?
What if Valve decides in two years that registered customers have to pay an additional fee (despite having payed the price for the game)? Electronic Arts already did this to some extent.
What if Valve decides that it wants micropayment pay-per-game? Some Musiclables are already have plans for that and don't tell me that game companies wouldn't do that. Players not accepting that? Why not? It's only fair and it doesn't hurt THAT much. This argument applies always and companies do exactly for this reason gradual changes where each step "is not THAT bad".
Why do I have to register at all? I just want to play single player and I'm not even interested in multiplayer.
Always remember: Companies do their stuff for money. Not for the customers. MS gives away IE for free? Why? Because it loves it's customers? Valve does this to protect the online comunity from cheating? Get real! Copyprotection? Steam doesn't prevent pirating.
#6
Posted 02 December 2004 - 04:08 AM
We already discussed this and we decided to go with D3. There are many reasons to stick to D3 and steam is only one of many. Of course it is a quite important one.For me personally, if all of the garbage about steam is true and unavoidable, I won't be playing HL2 in it's current state.

#7
Posted 02 December 2004 - 09:30 AM

Video Series: Springheel's Modules * Speedbuild Challenge * New Mappers Workshop * Building Traps
#8
Posted 02 December 2004 - 09:37 AM
Yes. I thought the same. Now that HL2 is out, there might be many poor orphaned developers looking for a cozy D3 home.My main interest was wondering whether or not we might be able to pick up disgruntled team members who don't want to switch to HL2. But it seems like Fingernail is already working on that.

#9
Posted 02 December 2004 - 12:28 PM
Argh! Yes, I've seen that! And some places like... what was it - it might be napster or maybe those apple music sites? I can't remember - anyway, they have a subscription fee. So, if I understand correctly, you join up and get whatever you want (from what they have) but you pay monthly to use it....micropayment pay-per-game? Some Musiclables are already have plans for that...
What is happening to the world! Good lord. Stop accepting it, people.
I tell you what, this ensures one thing for the future.
Everything owned = stolen.

Everything owned = stolen.
(Repeating it was not a typo.)
Does anyone
Doom3world.org seems to be the hot place. List more if you know them!How to find them?
#10
Posted 02 December 2004 - 12:54 PM
As games have become more popular over the years, the price has stayed the same (about £35 for a new PC title, £40 for a console one, dropping to £30 and £35 respectively after a few weeks), whereas house prices and music prices have all risen fairly dramatically (partly because of the piracy problem with the music industry).
In the US, I could live in a far bigger house than I can in the UK.
These are all simple economic changes based on supply, demand, economies around the world.
Bottom line: I don't believe that Valve are trying to spy on us, treat us as criminals, or anything of the sort. There is no spyware or adware with Steam beyond what Valve sell through it, and you're not bombarded by popups.
I think they're just trying to avoid giving all of their hard-earned profits to Vivendi, who are a faceless corporation, more concerned with profit than the quality of their games.
Expensive applications have had this kind of copy protection for a while now, I'm not too bothered.
#11
Posted 02 December 2004 - 01:16 PM
Absolutely. In my little town, $225k bought a mansion (literally - I mean a huge place) up on the bluffs overlooking the river, 14 short years ago. I know, because it was the family of a close friend. I remember thinking to myself, with an internal laugh, "those rich bastards paid almost a QUARTER OF A MILLION FOR A HOUSE!!" as if it was such a big deal. Today, the friend himself paid $275k for a place half the size (same town). There was just a home for sale on main street for $900k. This is not Beverly Hills, just a fairly quaint, semi-nice town. The average price for an average place around here (yard, 3 floors, etc) is around $400k. To think that the house I was born in some ~30 years ago (3 floors, basement, big yard, driveway) was $15k makes me dizzy.whereas house prices and music prices have all risen fairly dramatically
Inflation, yes - but a "middle class paycheck" has not changed anywhere near as much as real estate (and cars, etc). I feel people accept too much. If no one bought, there'd be no choice for manufacturers and sellers but to produce and offer for less or go under. If suddenly 400k players said to Sony, "we're not paying our subscription this month, as a unified player base, unless it comes down to $9.99 again", you better believe that price would drop. Now that would be an interesting precedent, wouldn't it.

Must. Resist. Topic.
Re: Valve - I don't honestly think they're up to shenanigans, either. But it's a model I don't want to support. At least... not until/unless I have little other choice.

#12
Posted 02 December 2004 - 01:30 PM
Yeah. That sums it up pretty well for me.Re: Valve - I don't honestly think they're up to shenanigans, either. But it's a model I don't want to support. At least... not until/unless I have little other choice.
I try to avoid this topic like hell.

#13
Posted 02 December 2004 - 08:19 PM
Unfortunatly, that is a fact. Games are steadily getting more and more pricy, even the boxed versions. A content delivery system like Steam isn't a bad idea, and for the short term, a subscription fee could be a cheaper, more economical choice for some gamers. I can't say I particularily like the future, but we might as well be optimistic.
#14
Posted 02 December 2004 - 08:42 PM
No. I say that companies start to think about ways how to get even more money out of you without additional benefit.Oh my God, are you trying to say that the future will be more expensive?!?!?
You want to listen to that tune twice? Then you have to pay twice. It's only logical isn't it? But actually it is a benefit for you as a customer. You only want to listen to it once, you only pay for it once. Now you pay for several songs on a CD even though you might only listen to this one. What a great benefit this is. I can't wait until musiclables will do this.
Oh! You thought of that smart idea putting a link on website? Bad luck! I thought about this one week before you and now pay your fee for my idea. What a good thing patent laws are.
You payed for this programm? Well, that was last month. We have a new month now and you must pay again. Oh! you couldn't use it because of the copyprotetion? But that's your problem. You could buy a better CD drive after all. Why should I be bothered with this if you have crappy hardware. Copyprotection is good for you as a customer. It protects you from all kind of things.
... to be continued ...
#15
Posted 03 December 2004 - 12:54 AM

At least until the masses stand up and say "no more."
#16
Posted 06 December 2004 - 06:56 AM

So now i can't make medieval strugtures any more.HEH. Well..... nothing to do about it. HAMMER SUCKS!
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