What Would PC Gaming Look Like Without Valve?

[jboking]

We would have lost some of the games that had a huge (possibly positive) effect on gaming as a whole. So, much more bleak. I would see pc gaming being based around RTS without valve.

 

[YuheJi]

I would prefer a downloading service that offered games digitally at a reasonable price, instead of the ones that Valve offers.

Sorry, but their prices mean that I do not purchase from them, as well with no guarantee that I get a return from a crappy game...well that's just another reason to stay away.

What? If you buy games from Steam, look at the weekend deals. Right now, Steam has to keep the prices of non-indie games for the most part (besides said weekend deals) because of pressure from retailers (obviously digital copies are cheaper, so Steam could easily put retailers out of business if it were allowed to set its own prices).
Valve gets around that through short-term deals, that have boosted the sales of games that were previously thought to be dead, or have gotten people interested in indie game companies. For example, DoW II was recently 25% off last weekend, which effectively put it well below retail value. I bought Left 4 Dead at half off which means I got it for well less than how much it costs even now. Bioshock was a mere $5 during the winter sale. And chances are, you weren't going to buy that "crappy game" at a retailer anyways. You can look it up online while on Steam, and perhaps download a demo if it exists. So I think you're missing the advantages that Steam brings.

Sorry, I'm not a "sale" kind of guy. I don't like watching everywhere for the "best deals". I want my software to be reasonably priced all of the time. If Steam adjusted their prices to be more inline with making a markup over cost, they would force companies to lower their physical copies to compete, or include more actual value to make it worthwhile.

I'm sorry if I don't want to have to pay attention to Steam all the time just to get a good deal on a game that I may have chance at liking...It's far too random for my liking.

Sorry, your original post made it seem like you were intent on getting the best deal possible. However, I have explained that Steam cannot lower their prices, due to pressure from retailers. Obviously they would like to, but right now brick and mortar retailers force the situation. And you should consider the fact that there is no shipping and handling, and the product starts whenever you want it to after you buy it. No need to deal with people or disks. And the deals are basically every weekend, bringing attention to that particular game that is in need of sales. Chances are, you aren't going to find that game that you were looking for, but you will probably find something fun and interesting that you would not otherwise have bought. And I would like to point out that Valve can generally modify the price of its own games well enough (Orange Box at $30).

 

[Devildoc]

Slightly more expensive but that's it. HLF2 was average at best in my view, CS:S was confused & awful and their physics engine is nothing compared to Havok & Physx. Although I would miss left 4 dead.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure HL2 et al uses Havok [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havok_(software)#Use].

It's heavily modified. If you use havok in 3d modelling, it is far more effective I find then whatever Valve decided to do with it. All in all, HLF2 was nothing special.

Yeah source is proprietary but they did gut havok and modify it into something else of a physics engine.

I don't know, I liked HL2. The pacing of the game was very good, and I liked the war of the worlds battle with the striders at the end. Quite a lot of variety for a shooter too, multiple vehicle segments, puzzle solving, platforming, squad based combat along with solo combat, not to mention the gravity gun. Aside from the gravity gun it'd all been done before in other games sure. But, putting it all together and giving it a decent story makes it a pretty decent shooter overall. I don't know if it's a 96/100 good, but I did like it. Its biggest flaw is a lack of replay value, but that comes with the territory of being a strictly single player game, with everything set and no randomization a la L4D. Are there better physics in other games.. sure.. but source isn't so bad that it's game breaking (aside from the buggy that tipped over from strong winds..).. it's just showing its age these days.

 

[Ago Iterum]

PC games would still be awesome, it just means someone else would make FPS instead of Valve.

Joshy Joshy Josh.

Who needs TF2 when CoD: Modern Warfare 2 is coming out later this year?

The correct answer is 'nobody'.

 

[Doug]

Impulse, the stardock version of Steam, might have expanded to become a replacement for Steam. That or EADM (be thankful EADM is never going to replace Steam, its awful!)

 

[Doug]

PC games would still be awesome, it just means someone else would make FPS instead of Valve.

Joshy Joshy Josh.

Who needs TF2 when CoD: Modern Warfare 2 is coming out later this year?

The correct answer is 'nobody'.

The correct answer i-*nade spam blowed everyone to pieces*

*Respawn*
As I wa-*helicopter wipes out everyone on the map*

*Respawn*
*ducks and covers before being killed anyway by an airstrike*

*Respawn*
Seriously, why play CoD4 online? If there is anyone with even half a gram of skill more than you on the opposite team, they get all the kills and just start spamming support weapons. Its not any fun for the bulk of the players.

 

[Ago Iterum]

PC games would still be awesome, it just means someone else would make FPS instead of Valve.

Joshy Joshy Josh.

Who needs TF2 when CoD: Modern Warfare 2 is coming out later this year?

The correct answer is 'nobody'.

The correct answer i-*nade spam blowed everyone to pieces*

*Respawn*
As I wa-*helicopter wipes out everyone on the map*

*Respawn*
*ducks and covers before being killed anyway by an airstrike*

*Respawn*
Seriously, why play CoD4 online? If there is anyone with even half a gram of skill more than you on the opposite team, they get all the kills and just start spamming support weapons. Its not any fun for the bulk of the players.

Well we've had quite different experiences then. I enjoy the game, but I guess it boils down to opinion. You clearly don't like it, and I'm not prepared to avoid it because of that fact.

 

[Doug]

PC games would still be awesome, it just means someone else would make FPS instead of Valve.

Joshy Joshy Josh.

Who needs TF2 when CoD: Modern Warfare 2 is coming out later this year?

The correct answer is 'nobody'.

The correct answer i-*nade spam blowed everyone to pieces*

*Respawn*
As I wa-*helicopter wipes out everyone on the map*

*Respawn*
*ducks and covers before being killed anyway by an airstrike*

*Respawn*
Seriously, why play CoD4 online? If there is anyone with even half a gram of skill more than you on the opposite team, they get all the kills and just start spamming support weapons. Its not any fun for the bulk of the players.

Well we've had quite different experiences then. I enjoy the game, but I guess it boils down to opinion. You clearly don't like it, and I'm not prepared to avoid it because of that fact.

True. My bad, I over-stated my position. But for me, it got to the point were 9/10 times I'd log onto a server and find that the gameplay was boiling down-to that. If they just disables the nades, I'd probably find it fun again.