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Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

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Re: Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

#231
post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It only works with Steam, it can't work on a desktop OS without it I was very curious about this, No video I saw even said anything about the Steam Software being needed, and is extremely disappointing, on my computer I make a point that I only have steam running if I am playing a steam game. If I am not it is not running and it does not auto start. Now if it works with steam closed, I am slightly more ok with it b…

This is a windows issue, not a hardware issue.

[deleted]

Re: Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

#232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A 70% take would have blown the minds of developers pre-Steam. Retailers took 40% and were ruthless about shelf space and inventory. Distributors took 20%. Plus you had to actually make a box/CD/etc. They were lucky to keep 30% not pay it. This doesn't mean Valve is perfect but if a developer is "suffering" because of a 30% cut they probably need to improve their pricing/game/community/etc.

The economy is not static. A good deal in the past is not necessarily a good deal in the present.

It still is a damn good deal. Steam abstracts a whole lot of messes. In ye olde times you as a game developer had to acquire a publisher for each country you'd plan on selling your game to deal with local distribution structures and laws, taxes, payments, update distributions, DRM and anti-cheat, user management...

Steam conveniently abstracts all of that for you. One stop shop. No complex deals just to deal with getting paid for your game (or additional content), barely any chargeback fraud, you don't even have to deal with stuff such as Germany's highly complex age rating because Steam abstracts that with a questionnaire. Steam claimed to recognize and support 237 countries [1], although that list includes disputed countries, so take it with a grain of salt, but in general I'd say unless a country is affected by US sanctions (i.e. North Korea, Iran, Russia, Belarus) or has its own restrictions (i.e. China), chances are 99% you as a publisher can sell your game in this country with everything being taken care of.

And on top of that, gamers likely will already have a Steam account with payment already set up, which means far, far less friction than the likes of Epic Games impose.

That definitely is worth a cut.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40263518

Re: Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

#233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re ignoring how much of a role the TF2 hats played in pushing microtransaction skins. Steam came out in 2003. TF2 hats came out in 2009. It’s lived in the world of micro transactions way longer than it lived in the before times.

I think you are blaming Valve for forces way beyond Valve's control. Valve isn't perfect, but it is a way better steward for PC gaming and PC gamers than any other American tech company would be.

It's harder to say that when they invented loot crates. Sure everyone's doing it now, and someone else would've done it eventually, but Valve pioneered it.

I suppose, yeah, some things would be a lot worse without Steam, so there's that.

Re: Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

#234
post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a windows issue, not a hardware issue.

I don't buy that argument completely, nothing would be stoping them from just not bundling the drivers with Steam and also not requiring that I launch games through steam (if that is true). While we could argue about the state of Windows, Steam also did not have to engineer it this way and the requirement of launching through Steam feels deliberate. From what I can find, as others have mentioned, the 8BitDo controlle…

On both macOS and Windows I have used borrowed PS4 and 8BitDo controllers and I can confirm that you do not need a Sony/8BitDo user account or any of their software running in the background for the controller to work.

Re: Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

#236
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We let kids gamble so much money in games that they don't have to nickel and dime the adults.

to be fair, every gaming company nowadays is also doing this and still choosing go nickel and dime the adults and not do anything positive for the community Steam lets you trade your items with others. with all the copycats that came out, im not sure any of them allow for you to trade things you bought with other players within the same game, let alone letting them buy it off you for virtual currency you could use to…

To be fair, the trading feature is part of what enables the gambling system to work (i.e. selling weapon skins). Most game companies will explicitly try to not have a trading system on any items that are obtained by random chance because, well, gambling.

Re: Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

#238
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Going a step further, imagine hardware manufacturers noticing specific defects, then publishing new updated CAD files for a part that lasts better than the last, for customers who already have 3D printers to print their own upgrades/"patches".

That can work, but 3d printing doesn't in general make for strong parts (layers). Most of the time you want some form of molding or CNC subtractive machining (either plastic of metal) - while some hobbyists have this, 3d printing is far more common. (and often easier)

FDM in PLA/PETG sure, although recent advances have improved on this via things like brick layers.

Resin based printers are a whole different story though. They can make really durable parts. And even FDM with more advanced filaments have gotten competitive.

Re: Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license

#239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also nickel and dime the adults, but only the ones who make the games. It's fine though, because they're nice to players and they've brainwashed them into giving their money to Valve instead of to the developers who actually make the games they fucking play.

Without steam, I'd still be playing my CD version of Homeworld 2. I have paid $10 for every $1 of game I play, perhaps as high as $100:$1. A 30% cut of that seems totally reasonable. I have hundreds of games I keep just in case, and have played 10s of games I'd never have considered because they dont appear in Game Informer, PC Gamer, GoG, Twitch, Youtube, or other channels. They just are magically brought to me by s…

> I have hundreds of games

You do not have hundreds of games. You have a non-transferable license to play those games while they are made available by Valve and while your account is not banned.

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