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Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

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Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#71

Post by petitmiam »

SCdF wrote: post #62
ericd wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can tell you that it would be very hard for Microsoft to make me choose to use their app store over Steam without resorting to anti-competitive tactics. Steam, from a gamer's perspective, does almost everything right, and I have a huge number of games "stored" there. Then again, laziness might trump for most people.

I don't understand that perspective, and I honestly think there is a bit of a double standard going on here. People hate on Origin and 'meh' the rest of the competition, but are in love with Steam. I know people who will only buy games if they're on Steam, it's bizarre. Your games are locked into steam, and they may never be removed from there. You own none of them. The only way to play them is to open Steam (presumi…

Installers are an annoyance when game patches are released. Steam makes game updates seamless.

Right now, the benefits of Steam far outweigh the fact that your games can't be exported. I guess time will tell if that will change. It's not like Steam has always been the darling of gamers.

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#72

Post by throwaway64 »

Ralz wrote: post #47
malkia wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Microsoft is charging between 20 to 30%" - I think that's too much, it must be much less than that, but I don't know for sure.

Also I am 90% sure that this only applies to metro apps, non metro apps will be featured in the store but users will be directed to a website (chosen by the application developer) to purchase/download the product from.

the windows appstore is metro only

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#74

Post by Splines »

robryan wrote: post #64
ajross wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or Apple, or Google, or Amazon. Steam is, really, just an app store. And that's becoming part of the platform in the modern world. Frankly I think the sanest option here would be for MS to simply buy Valve and turn them into the "Windows App Store". But I can't imagine that happening given all the internal churn that would be required to eliminate all their existing online purchase junk.

I don't think they have too much to worry about. Will take a lot to get gamers to switch to a Microsoft app store. Granted Microsoft could probably eat away at the very casual end of gaming.

Gamers are (I think) attracted to Steam because of it's convenience and price. Many gamers will pass up games on alternative dd platforms because they can't get the game to register on steam.

If Microsoft provides competitive pricing, fast downloads and good key management (easy key activation, no PC activation limits, DRM-free options, good online/offline story) I could see people switching away from Steam.

Amazon is actually trying quite hard in this area - their download application could use work, but they have pricing and good DRM policies in place. Plus, their community outreach is mind boggling (especially considering the other DD outlets do none at all).

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#75

Post by Vekz »

ajross wrote: post #15
trotsky wrote: post #3

I'm all for linux support, but clearly he's more worried about a future with microsoft taking their digital delivery business, not usability.

Or Apple, or Google, or Amazon. Steam is, really, just an app store. And that's becoming part of the platform in the modern world. Frankly I think the sanest option here would be for MS to simply buy Valve and turn them into the "Windows App Store". But I can't imagine that happening given all the internal churn that would be required to eliminate all their existing online purchase junk.

You are correct app stores are becoming standard OS components. I feel like Steam on linux is one step away from a SteamLinuxOS. Which opens up console ideas comprable to the Ouya Andriod powered console that was just buzzing on kickstarter.

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#76

Post by GlennS »

wtracy wrote: post #38
commandar wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ubuntu Software Center isn't a direct competitor? If anything he risks footing a lot of the effort to get developers onto Linux (see: Valve openly talking about working with GPU manufacturers to improve the quality of Linux drivers) only to have it benefit people that choose to distribute outside of Steam.

I was going to reply that UBC doesn't support paid apps, but apparently now it does. That said, Valve appears to be going for a play based on being a cross-platform app store (Windows, OS X, Linux). It's not obvious to me that they can add much value that way (after you've gone to the work to implement support for three platforms, submitting to three app stores is not a lot of overhead) but we'll see.

A cross-platform store is something that appeals to the consumer rather than the game developer I would think?

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#77

Post by fpp »

After the Vista Candy shop its toy blocks now...

- haven't looked under the hood of W8 yet but if MS wants to limit me what I can install on my computer / take over boot / BIOS control this one will certainly find no home on any of my computers.

Call me old fashioned but if I go to a shop and buy a computer (or have it send to my place) I actually want to own it and not find a clause on line 432'678 of the license agreement that it's now completely legal that a Seattle Corp has pwned my computer.

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#78

Post by yuhong »

GauntletWizard wrote: post #45
cooldeal wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It failed for for me repeatedly without giving any reason until I found the same functionality within the "classic" Control Center where I had to allow the system to reboot in order to install the updates Wasn't this on the Beta product? Why is everyone talking as if it's on the RTM version?

Because when was the last time a Microsoft RTM version fixed any beta bugs?

I would not go that far.

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#79

Post by c0nfused »

sbierwagen wrote: post #65

Blogspam. Original post is https://allthingsd.com/20120725/valves-gabe-newell-on-the-fu...

It seems like sbierwagen's linked article makes this a bit clearer than the op.

I think that the fear he has of Windows 8 is not that Valve will have competition or that steam will lose market share. it already is fighting similar offerings from a few different angles. He seems concerned that windows 8 represents a step back from the open platform model of windows. That it signals an attempt from Microsoft to build their own walled garden to counteract Apple's. This would inevitably be bad for third parties who make their living in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Linux then solves the problem because the platform is open. Not in terms of cost but of access

Re: Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

#80

Post by nitrogen »

sakopov wrote: post #70

Back in my more involved gaming days, Steam was a catastrophe for PC gaming. Other than picking up a game at a good price and automatically getting game patches from Steam, there was really nothing great about it. They had virtually no support. Your best bet was the forums. Throttled downloads were really fun too. Especially when you download a 5-gig game pack and have to sit there and resume your download every 5 mi…

Throttled game updates? For as long as I've had my present Internet connection, I download updates from Steam with a median speed of 6 MB/s.
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