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[jeffrobot]

How are they ruining it for other developers? Would other developers be better off if Steam didn't exist? They've created an excellent place to distribute your game. Yes, you have to pay them money, but if they didn't exist, what? You would just struggle to market your game through less effective channels, right? Are they actually hurting you by existing?

I don't really have an opinion on this yet, I'm just trying to understand.

[PompiPompi]

I would be worried if steam would get on other platforms, because then the PC will completely dissappear as a gaming platform and all other platforms will have their own "over lords".
Maybe this steam guy just want a piece of the (apple) pie and don't really care about open platforms. He is acting like a busniess so why would he care about healthy competition?

[MattG]

they arent hurting anyone. steam is so overrated. I think indie guys are actually the only ones on earth who give a fuck about steam. blah blah blah inset vitriol here

My impression is that gabe is the only one pulling in big bucks from steam

[Paul Eres]

there are a lot of people who do not buy pc games unless they're on steam. there are especially a lot of people who told me they'd buy my game if it were on steam (i don't see how that matters, but whatever)

[Falmil]

The top selling products don't need Steam as much...because they are top selling.

[Xardov]

not many of the top selling products are on steam. angry birds? batman? minecraft? fifa? call of duty?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/115300/

Also, the entire Elder Scrolls series aren't big sellers?  What about Grand Theft Auto?

[MattG]

 

[Falmil]

-the hell are you talking about.

[Xardov]

whatever Im not using steam and Im not selling on steam.

As if you could make a good enough game to get on steam.

Elder scrolls and gta are huge but I thought 90% of those sales were console

You've just lost all your credibility.

[Paul Eres]

a lot of people are really defensive of steam, as if steam could do no wrong, i think the above post is an example

[MattG]

You've just lost all your credibility.

oh please xardov can I have my credibility back? I promise ill watch steam every second to see what games are there like you. Oh god I wont call gabe a fatfuck donut neck if you just give me my credibility back pleaaaase

[cynicalsandel]

there are a lot of people who do not buy pc games unless they're on steam. there are especially a lot of people who told me they'd buy my game if it were on steam (i don't see how that matters, but whatever)

This is what worries me about steam. There are a large number of people that only buy PC games through steam, and any indie that doesn't make it onto steam is missing out on those possible sales.

Personally, if a game isn't on steam, I'd likely buy it straight from the developer. However, I doubt I would download origin or impulse or the like just to buy a game. That is getting a bit off topic though.

[Jasmine]

Basically what they've done is that they've created a console on the PC.

I wish Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft would do this instead of having consoles.

It's an interesting idea, but
(i) Console users generally like an invisible OS, and don't want to contend with something like Windows.
(ii) Console users want a discreet little box that lives under the television in the lounge.
(iii) Consoles have a fixed architecture, which means that games work predictably. Developers can always push the hardware to the max, knowing that 100% of systems can handle it.
(iv) A lot of professional C++ programmers hate writing games for windows. OSX/linux & consoles are widely regarded to be 'nicer' operating systems to code for.

[PompiPompi]

Basically what they've done is that they've created a console on the PC.

I wish Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft would do this instead of having consoles.

It's an interesting idea, but
(i) Console users generally like an invisible OS, and don't want to contend with something like Windows.
(ii) Console users want a discreet little box that lives under the television in the lounge.
(iii) Consoles have a fixed architecture, which means that games work predictably. Developers can always push the hardware to the max, knowing that 100% of systems can handle it.
(iv) A lot of professional C++ programmers hate writing games for windows. OSX/linux & consoles are widely regarded to be 'nicer' operating systems to code for.

Where did you get the information about (iv)? In my opinion it's completely wrong. But maybe you have data I don't, or maybe you just tried to make a claim with no basis?

[Jasmine]

My data is conversation with a handful of programmers who work for the big game studios.

Maybe that sample isn't representative. Or maybe it is.