UK Retailers Threaten to Ditch Steam Games

[snugglesgold]

I tend to buy from amazon or play, usually cheaper than buying instore or as a download...I was very annoyed to find,having bought a boxed copy, fallout 3 new vegas just downloaded itself from steam and didn't seem to have an option to install from disc..

 

[boholikeu]

It also doesn't mean that I should be obligated to install Steam to play a game even if I don't buy it through Steam.

Except that Steam isn't just an online store, it's DRM. Like it or not, games these days usually have some sort of DRM to them. The difference between Steam and other DRM is that Steam actually provides you with benefits as well.

As such, when you buy a game from a B&M store and still have to install Steam, you are really just activating your DRM and multi-player matchmaking and patching functions. I think most players would much rather do this than deal with DRM that doesn't give you anything in return.

I imagine if you had to sign into Gamestops website to play a game bought at Gamestop - their would be uproar. This... really isn't that different.

Yes it is. Like I mentioned before, Steam provides you with benefits in exchange for the DRM. If Gamestop came out with their own DRM scheme there'd probably only be an uproar if it didn't have all the extra features that Steam does.

 

[lacktheknack]

You see, my dear retailers, I WOULD by more games from you, but you NEVER STOCK PC GAMES.

The last game I bought a physical copy of was Starcraft II, because every time I go look for a game, it's nowhere to be found, so I go home and get it from Steam. For three quarters of the price.

I'm wondering why I bother going out and looking anymore.

 

[ender214]

Seeing that I buy all Steam titles through Steam anyway simply because the price is cheaper, I don't think that the actions of UK retailers would do much.

 

[Weaver]

Damn free market capitalism, how dare it work exactly as it's supposed to!?!
In what crazy world is risky, progressive, convenient and immensely cheaper system with great customer support flourishing while traditional old as time physical location is beat out by it?
This internet thing is just a fad anyways.

 

[DrScoobs]

to be honest not much is gonna be stopping the steam choo choo train from ploughing straight through both of these major games retailers (probably game and gamestation) and putting them out of business. This business strategy of not stocking steam games will at best just delay the inevitable and at worse put them out of business even faster.

tbh i think the only thing that will save them is doing even more special offers than ever. but then again they might not be able to profit from selling their games on the cheap while steam can by cutting out delivery costs etc.

 

[wolfister]

In all honesty I would love for Steam to become a monopoly. They have excellent service, prices, and selection. I mean I found a game, The original Deus Ex, I thought I would never see again, but of course steam had it and it only cost me 5 dollars. So I say bravo Steam bravo keep up the good work and when the day comes you control all sales of PC games I will be waving the banner of Steam.

Also, how can you compete with a company that apologizes to its modern warfare customers that could not access there game for only a few hours by giving them two free copies of LFD2? BRAVO!

 

[RobCoxxy]

I don't care, I've used Steam for years anyway. Stores are often more pricey than Steam, so...

 

[obex]

The way to stop a monopolys growth is to remove yourself as a potential competitor, yeh good one.

 

[Hungry Donner]

Most of the hate that comes towards GFWL is only because of a loyality to another service, such as Steam. There is still a large part of the market that hates anything that has to do with online.

I needed GFWL to get the Fallout 3 DLCs and I found the service to be absolutely miserable. Not only was the software labyrinthine to navigate but I experienced considerable problems trying to get three of the five DLC. I was never able to resolve these problems with the last too in fact, I had to wait for the GOTY edition.

At the time I had never used Steam so I didn't have any bias towards them. In fact I was avoiding Steam after hearing about the problems friends had during it's first two years. I eventually needed to dive in to play New Vegas and so far my experience with it has been almost entirely positive. I don't like the cloud computing function, or at least that it was enabled by default and there are a few minor things that irk me but I haven't had any problem using the software itself.

I do think that digital distribution needs more competition and hats off to MS for jumping in before the major retailors - but it will be a long time before I'm willing to give GFWL a second chance after the problems it put me through.

 

[One of Many]

First the hike in tuition fees and now they're getting rid of Steam?
Are they TRYING to piss off students over there?

Edit: Wait a minute, this could be a clever Tory plot to insight rebellion among the youth so they have a excuse to declare martial law and grant the PM emergency powers. Then after the army of Christian Bale clones has defeated the army of Scottish football hooligan separatists, David Cameron will issue order 66 to exterminate the British orders of knighthood.

SOMEONE MUST WARN IAN McKELLEN!

I fell to the floor, I was laughing so hard. Bravo.

OT: Cry more little men.

 

[defiante1]

I find this really funny, for years places like Gamespot have been trying to make life tough for game developers. In fact their the reason we have the whole project 10 dollar thing. Now steam is getting more accepted and offering a way around this, becomming more and more popular... the stores throw a hissy fit. Perhaps if they treated game companies better, they wouldnt feel the need to use steam to get more direct profits. Fact is steam has better, more regular sales and is more in touch with the game market. For PCs anyway.

And besides, shops have been putting PC games on the backburner in favour of console games anyway, they dont get as much shelf space or press. Surprising this hasnt happened sooner.

 

[Jamash]

If say, GAME, could have gotten me New Vegas on the PC at £30 or less on preorder, with the caravan pack, plus maybe extra goodies, then I would have considered it.

However, Steam got me the game for £30 on preorder, with extra DLC for preordering.

GAME.co.uk would have sold you Fallout New Vegas for £24.99 with preorder bonuses and delivered it to your house a day before the release date.

Every new PC game I've bought from them has been £5-£10 cheaper than Steam and I get the physical copy delivered to my house at least a day before it's released.

Unfortunately getting the game delivered early only compounds the frustration of games that use Steamworks as an installer because even though you have the physical game in your hands, you still need to wait a day or two for Steam to decide when you should be allowed to play your game, even though you didn't buy it from them and they should have no control over it.

 

[Patton662]

Why move with the times when you can just threaten others...

 

[SenseOfTumour]

You mean they haven't already entirely given up on PC games in GAME, Gamestation and the like? GAME especially, I go in there, there's about 20 metres of wall space, about 6 shelves per metre, ONE at the back is PC, of which 2 shelves are purely WOW stuff, 1 is mostly Sims, and about 3 are crappy budget stuff, some of which they still feel the need to charge £10 for.

On top of that, they still like to charge £20 or more for games over a year old, and silly money for new titles, generally £40 for a big title.

Even bypassing Steam, last year, the Wrath Expansion for WOW, £25 in GAME, £20 in Tesco (not even publicised as an offer), £18 on Amazon and Play. I think they purely exist as somewhere to sucker customers who don't realise you can buy games from places that don't have 'game' in the store name.

I'll give you the fact that Steam are pretty damn pricey too when it comes to new games, what's the deal in charging £40 for new titles when you don't even have to print up a box cover or burn a disc, never mind transport and storage, supplier and store cuts of the profit etc.

However, if you don't need games on the release date, you'll generally get a good set of deals a few months down the line.

(Still waiting for Witcher to go back on sale tho)

 

[jamesworkshop]

who cares I live in the Uk and those store are rubbish for PC gamers and the market is not big enough for publishers to care

 

[johnman]

tried, but failed, was hated by the community and was expensive for the developers (patching validation costs), and overall lack of Microsoft support. Man up, develop and support a competing system, or shut up when publishers start using Steamworks.

fanboy

GFWL is doing fine and is growing considerably.
It is hated, but no where near as much as Steam was when it first came around
Patches do not cost a dime on the PC side of things
Microsoft is releasing two PC exclusive titles, while revamping the marketplace, but still isn't supporting it? Okay.

/fanboy

Two Pc exclusives? Wow really?.
Read your own posts for ironic content before posting and you will save yourself a lot of embarrassment