Gabe Newell Speaks On Recent VAC Controversy

[Something Amyss]

The amount of people who missed the fact that they don't even use it anymore after cheaters circumvented it disappoints me dearly.

Well, yes, that's a problem. How does it relate to what I said, though?

 

[Timmey]

Good reply really addressed my points, he clearly laid out how VAC worked and why they had been using it in that way, whats the problem?

I didn't have a problem with your initial point, just the idea that a "CEO of a billion dollar company" shouldn't take the time to go and explain why they've been doing something incredibly sketchy. It's like you're implying that people aren't being grateful that they're given an explanation. Transparency should be a given, especially when it boils down to one of their former anti-cheating methods basically spying on users.

And the problem is probably that some people consider this a violation of their privacy, that steam's been dabbling in their browsing history. Even if they didn't do anything with it, and even if it happens to be the oudated measure, it still means that Steam has had free access to people's browser history for a long time, without anyone knowing. The only line that I thought was really, really stupid was the "if you don't like it, don't use it."

It doesn't really work that well when this was revealed years into the steam-service when a lot of people have already spent a lot of money on steam games. Those games are tied to the steam library and simply upping and leaving when Steam changed the rules mid-game isn't that easy for a lot of people. Those games weren't bought when people knew about this, which is why it's not fair to simply claim "don't like it, don't use it". Steam has already sold a ton of people games without revealing that they have had free access to their browser history.

I understand and agree with what your saying sorry if I came across as an ass.

Your right as well I hadn't considered those with money already invested in their steam accounts who could be turned off by something like this, I guess the best, and perhaps only, real option is to try and get steam to turn around practices like this, which in this case they appear to have done.

Also your right again in saying transparency should be a given, but due to the fact transparency certainly isn't a given when it comes to numerous online corporations, I think when a company does do the right thing then that company deserves at least a modicum of respect. This is because if other companies see steam gaining good will by being transparent, it might encourage them to do the same.

 

[Bravo Company]

I'm just saying, I would rather VAC in every game just so I wouldn't be required to use the horrible "anti-cheat" program that is called punkbuster.

Just go to punkbuster's website, it even looks sketchy. I can't tell you how many times I've been kicked from servers because my punkbuster couldn't do whatever the fuck it wants to do. I'm fairly certain more legitimate players get kicked by punkbuster than actual hackers. Whereas I've never had one single issue with VAC in my 6 years of using it.

 

[RA92]

The amount of people who missed the fact that they don't even use it anymore after cheaters circumvented it disappoints me dearly.

Well, yes, that's a problem. How does it relate to what I said, though?

People aren't giving Valve slack out of any because-it's-Valve exceptionalism (which you seemed to bemoan). It's because Valve has been forthcoming about it all and isn't actually doing it any more once it stopped working (so there's no case of Facebook-esque data-mining).

 

[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.