Gabe Newell Speaks On Recent VAC Controversy

[Charli]

I don't trust anything on my computer which is why I tend to not look at anything I don't think I will care if people know I look at it.

Sounds draconian I know, but you'd be surprised about what I really don't care if people know. I mean I won't sing it from the rooftops but if someone is going to dig for information on me, I may as well give them the most boring pit with a giant 'haha fuck you' note in the cruddy wooden treasure chest they tried to obtain.

So, look away VAC, I don't care what you, battlenet, origin, chrome or any other shit goes though when it comes to my web history. It's really not all that amazing, and I'm a stickler for the rules in most games. (when it comes to multiplayer)

 

[Something Amyss]

People aren't giving Valve slack out of any because-it's-Valve exceptionalism (which you seemed to bemoan).

Did you not read the thread? Several people on the first page said ": if this were any other company, I'd be pissed" in some variant.

I was commenting on them.

Don't try to make me out as the problem for not knowing what I'm talking about if you're not going to read the thread.

 

[RA92]

People aren't giving Valve slack out of any because-it's-Valve exceptionalism (which you seemed to bemoan).

Did you not read the thread? Several people on the first page said ": if this were any other company, I'd be pissed" in some variant.

Perhaps they aren't pissed because of Valve's track record, which continues on with this action?

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

The amount of "it's Valve, so it's different" in this thread disappoints me dearly.

I'm inclined to agree, but the amount of "This proves Valve is just as bad as EA!" going on isn't any better. It's disapponting how quickly we flock to our corners, ready to come out swinging.

I do wonder if any of the people who are wholly against this have ever asked "Why doesn't Valve do more to stop cheaters?!", though.

 

[Something Amyss]

Perhaps they aren't pissed because of Valve's track record, which continues on with this action?

That's not what they're saying, and now you're sidestepping.

I'm inclined to agree, but the amount of "This proves Valve is just as bad as EA!" going on isn't any better. It's disapponting how quickly we flock to our corners, ready to come out swinging.

I do wonder if any of the people who are wholly against this have ever asked "Why doesn't Valve do more to stop cheaters?!", though.

The thing is, they're not really different than EA. Both are companies that put money first. Valve may have a friendlier approach, but their anti-competitive nature is forgive almost exclusively because of Stockholm Syndrome. People have bitched that it's different when EA does it, and that's just inane.

Besides, the defense for Valve in the past is they would never do something like this. So asking why Valve doesn't do mor eto stop cheaters shouldn't be an issue here.

 

[RoonMian]

The amount of "it's Valve, so it's different" in this thread disappoints me dearly.

You're disappointed because people make decisions informed by their personal experience with a company? Or did I get you wrong here?

 

[Sanunes]

The amount of "it's Valve, so it's different" in this thread disappoints me dearly.

You're disappointed because people make decisions informed by their personal experience with a company? Or did I get you wrong here?

For me at least I don't mind people having faith in Valve and Steam, but expecting me to share their faith is my issue with what I have been seeing.

 

[Something Amyss]

You're disappointed because people make decisions informed by their personal experience with a company? Or did I get you wrong here?

I'm disappointed because people will continuously excuse one company for acting the same as the other companies they despise for those reasons. The same goes for Nintendo, Google, Apple, or whoever else. It undermines the "personal experience" argument entirely.

 

[Tiamat666]

If I'm going to trust any company with some of my private information, Valve would be pretty high on the list.
Also, cheaters are assholes. They deserve to die.

 

[RoonMian]

You're disappointed because people make decisions informed by their personal experience with a company? Or did I get you wrong here?

I'm disappointed because people will continuously excuse one company for acting the same as the other companies they despise for those reasons. The same goes for Nintendo, Google, Apple, or whoever else. It undermines the "personal experience" argument entirely.

Well... As you said, to you EA and Valve are the same. All the people saying "if anyone but Valve did this then ..." see that completely different though. To them Valve is not the same as Nintendo, Google, Apple or whoever else. It IS their personal experience. You just give the impression that you are disappointed that their personal experience is not the same as yours.

 

[Vigormortis]

Holy fuck the level of misinformation, paranoia, overreaction, and lack of understanding of this whole situation is just staggering. Utterly dumbfounding.

I'm not even sure there's enough time in the day to address it all.

What the hell, Escapist? Damn...

 

[Do4600]

Call me a purist, but when I'm playing a video game that's secured by VAC, all I'm doing on my computer is playing a video game, and when I'm browsing the web I'm never playing a game secured by VAC.

Is it really a thing to play CS and watch porn at the same time?

 

[Agente L]

Not sure where gaben said "trust us".

As a matter of fact, he specifically stated Valve tries to earn and keep the costumers trust. He even gone as far as saying that he came out with this statement about VAC and transparency (which most companies would never do) so people can judge for themselves if valve is worth their trust or not.

I think there are some people reading way too far into the lines.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

The amount of "it's Valve, so it's different" in this thread disappoints me dearly.

Me too. Surely the point isn't whether or not you 'trust' Valve to not dick you over; the point is that they have a highly invasive program which only has a generic 'accept all or terminate service entirely' approach to privacy. Not to mention that he has a pissweak argument in the form of 'if you say publicly that you don't trust us, you'll make it easier for people to cheat!'

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Can someone explain to me why Gabe Newell is the "Valve-boss-that-is-not-really-Valve-boss"?

 

[Sanunes]

Can someone explain to me why Gabe Newell is the "Valve-boss-that-is-not-really-Valve-boss"?

Valve operates under a "flat structure" so technically there aren't any bosses, but he is the figurehead of the company and I would think most people in Valve will listen to what he has to say.

 

[Dr. Thrax]

Yeah no Valve I do not trust you.

Note to self: For now on turn off Steam before I go delving into my usual porn sites.

VAC isn't even running unless you're playing a game that has VAC enabled.

Jesus, it's like people can't fucking read.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

The amount of "it's Valve, so it's different" in this thread disappoints me dearly.

Me too. Surely the point isn't whether or not you 'trust' Valve to not dick you over; the point is that they have a highly invasive program which only has a generic 'accept all or terminate service entirely' approach to privacy. Not to mention that he has a pissweak argument in the form of 'if you say publicly that you don't trust us, you'll make it easier for people to cheat!'

Jesus christ it scans for specific behavior. Do you have any idea how many servers use that now? I seen server add ons detect hacks and log them for admins. Do you have any idea how many anti cheat programs do the same thing VAC does?

Anti cheat is not new, take it from a server admin. The only difference is that people now know about it because its mechanics had to be kept secret for it to work.

But in reality, VAC isn't special. We all knew what it did, its how it did it that throws hackers off.

What next, my anti virus is watching me fap because it scans my computer? I bet Norton, Mcafee, Avast, and everyone else must be getting their jollies off now.

And if you don't like it, don't play on a VAC server. You have a choice in the matter. VAC only bans those from a VAC server, which pretty much means only official servers. A server without VAC can't track you.

Jesus, the thread paranoia is reaching critical mass. I am amazed no one said the NSA and Obama is behind this yet.

So you're not in the slightest bit concerned that it has basically become de rigueur for everyday programs to scan your browsing history? And that the general response to it is 'trust us, we're not going to do anything naughty with it'?

It's funny you mention the NSA, because five years ago people would have laughed at you for thinking that the government was collecting all your personal data through major internet companies.