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Why no Steam, Notch?

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41–50 of 130 posts

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just because something is popular doesn't mean it's not stupid.

If it works, how's it stupid?

Public opinion is not always synonymous with right/moral/good/whatever.

So from a subjective point of view, I would agree that it is a stupid point of view. And I actually think that a poll of gamers, not just TF2 players, would give you the same answer.

However from a business point of view, certainly not a stupid view, since (as you said) it does actually work.

Depends what you're trying to judge, the concept for gamers or the concept as a business plan.

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In general, this is true, but some countries do not have a concept of public domain and so releasing it into the public domain would make it completely unusable to people in those countries. I've heard this in the past. Functionally, what's the issue with this? The person who placed it into the public domain seems unlikely to sue in a country that doesn't recognize the public domain status.

Maybe it's possible that some entity within that country could pick up the code, slap their own copyright on it, and claim to now own the code? Probably a long stretch but maybe that's the case.

Could we get a lawyer from one of those countries in here to answer this? I'm curious of the answer, as well.

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#43

Sounds like good reasons, to me. They're a company with on-the-edge games and they can't afford to be held back. I'm actually quite surprised that Valve has -any- say in what they do on their own website, or what they implement in the game. I could understand having to implement certain features (like not crashing with the Steam overlay) but to prevent features, marketing, non-game sales, or anything else that doesn'…

You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. Apple and XBLA have similar restrictions about interaction outside of their walled gardens. There are good reasons for this: Preventing fraud (they trust their credit card processing much more than some random app developer), filtering objectionable content for those under 18, ensuring a certain minimum standard of quality, etc. Also sorry, I…

Actually, I'm still pretty sure Apple and XBLA do that because they can make more money, not because they are trying to protect their image.

It's still the first time I've seen anyone say that physical goods based on the game were a problem. I really can't quite believe that.

In-game stuff, yeah, I can see it. Ratings and whatnot. But I don't think Mojang/Notch would have a problem on the ratings end of things, unless the ratings board was out of control. Still, I could see him not taking the chance.

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#44

Sounds like good reasons, to me. They're a company with on-the-edge games and they can't afford to be held back. I'm actually quite surprised that Valve has -any- say in what they do on their own website, or what they implement in the game. I could understand having to implement certain features (like not crashing with the Steam overlay) but to prevent features, marketing, non-game sales, or anything else that doesn'…

You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. Apple and XBLA have similar restrictions about interaction outside of their walled gardens. There are good reasons for this: Preventing fraud (they trust their credit card processing much more than some random app developer), filtering objectionable content for those under 18, ensuring a certain minimum standard of quality, etc. Also sorry, I…

Can someone please move those arrows farther apart? You could try this Stylebot style I made: http://stylebot.me/styles/248

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#45
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK a very restricted version of Minecraft is coming to the 360.

That's true, but then I'm not sure why a less restricted Minecraft on Steam on the PC is a problem... I'd actually buy it then. I do very little PC gaming these days, 100% of it via titles bought on Steam -- people can argue about the DRM issues with it all day long, but the cloud features of it that allow me to access my game library from whichever of my computers I am currently logged into is huge as is the central…

You can download minecraft from any computer here:

http://www.minecraft.net/download.jsp

The client is self-updating.

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#46
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK a very restricted version of Minecraft is coming to the 360.

That's true, but then I'm not sure why a less restricted Minecraft on Steam on the PC is a problem... I'd actually buy it then. I do very little PC gaming these days, 100% of it via titles bought on Steam -- people can argue about the DRM issues with it all day long, but the cloud features of it that allow me to access my game library from whichever of my computers I am currently logged into is huge as is the central…

What about Minecraft's distribution method makes you not want to use it? You buy the game and are given an account, then you can use that account anywhere and everywhere on any operating system. You just log in when you start the game.

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#47
post #26
post #18

I really hope Notch comes up with something more interesting than capes for the Minecraft market. I could see something like a robust world generator being extremely interesting, but premium hats and capes has to be one of the stupidest concepts in the history of gaming. I don't like DLC's either, but I guess I just don't like any games enough to care. What I'm trying to say is that I'd like minecraft to stay in it's…

The best and most unique TF2 hats sell for over a thousand dollars on the market.

[Citation wanted]. That blows me away.

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#48
Honest question from an iPhone developer...

I know many people on HN are rooting for walled gardens to fail (App Store) and for openness to triumph. Do these same people willingly use Steam and think it's great? Isn't Steam's delivery platform for games and the App Store's delivery platform for iOS apps pretty much the same concept? If someone is against the App Store on principle, shouldn't they also be against Steam and not use it?

Re: Why no Steam, Notch?

#49
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://www.minecraft.net/about.jsp > I'm not very happy with the draconian nature of (L)GPL

He's right that GPL is draconian and limits freedom. But I am not sure your point because you didn't state it. You have a drive by post where you post some cryptic excerpt that seems unrelated to the topic with no commentary. Are you a posting bot, or are you a person with a point? Speak clearly. Explain yourself. If the intent is to be critical of notch, I can't see any fault in his saying he hopes to release source…

I was just amused that someone praised for being so civil and respectful and mature would make a needlessly incendiary comment about the GPL on their website. Particularly as religious debates about open source licenses are quite stereotypical of disrespectful, immature, uncivilized nerds.
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