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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'

#81

Post by robryan »

Splines wrote: post #74
robryan wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 i…

Microsoft would have to get the community features right too. Also perception, Valve are well liked by gamers whereas Microsoft would have to work really hard to build that up.

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

#82

Post by estebank »

MartinCron wrote: post #59
ilaksh wrote: post #50

I use Linux. I am on Ubuntu right now. I just wish I could figure out how to get the Radeon/whatever graphics drivers right on this Lenovo Ideapad. I gave up. I am rooting for Linux, WebGL, and other stuff. Whatever can help take down Windows is great. If Windows can actually take down Windows, even better.

I just wish I could figure out how to get the Radeon/whatever graphics drivers right on this Lenovo Ideapad. I gave up The fact that things like this are still an issue makes me think that it will take more than just Steam to make desktop Linux more than a tiny niche in the gaming market.

Au contraire, having Steam available might be just enough to push for better driver support from nVidia and AMD.

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

#83

Post by cdcox »

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…

It's a convenient library of games on an application built specifically for that purpose. It keeps games updated and doesn't get angry about mods, it's also relatively easy to tell which games you have played and which you haven't. It also has superior sales to other places (such as Origin). People like having everything easy to find and in one place. Amazon's service is superior (in terms of DRM, sales, etc), but it's almost impossible to tell what games you have played/completed and the UI is not nearly as pretty. It looks like they took the order list and tried to update it for digital downloads.

Basically, Steam knows what product they are selling, they sell it cheaply, they sell more of it in one place than other (like GoG and GMG), they let you mount games that aren't Steam games into it to help keep it organized. Other services simply haven't caught up and gamers seem willing to accept limitation in exchange for convenience. It's an easy target for disruption, but no one has managed to yet, Amazon is working hard but their UI is not up to snuff.

Also, achievements, friends, and groups are a nice touch that doesn't exist elsewhere in the same quality or quantity.

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

#84

Post by reedlaw »

MartinCron wrote: post #59
ilaksh wrote: post #50

I use Linux. I am on Ubuntu right now. I just wish I could figure out how to get the Radeon/whatever graphics drivers right on this Lenovo Ideapad. I gave up. I am rooting for Linux, WebGL, and other stuff. Whatever can help take down Windows is great. If Windows can actually take down Windows, even better.

I just wish I could figure out how to get the Radeon/whatever graphics drivers right on this Lenovo Ideapad. I gave up The fact that things like this are still an issue makes me think that it will take more than just Steam to make desktop Linux more than a tiny niche in the gaming market.

With Steam on Linux there will be more pressure for GPU vendors to clean up their drivers mess.

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

#85

Post by mattvanhorn »

GlennS wrote: post #76
wtracy wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Definitely in my case - I play a lot of my Steam games on both platforms. Gaming PC at home, and Macbook Pro on the go.

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

#86

Post by petitmiam »

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…

I've never had an issue with throttled downloads. Doesn't your ISP have a Steam mirror?

Also, Counter-Strike: GO is being released on Aug 21. http://store.steampowered.com/app/1800/

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

#87

Post by beedogs »

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.

Pretty much everything MS buys gets ruined, so I'd rather that didn't happen.

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

#88

Post by vacri »

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…

There is no way to 'export' your 'purchases'.

Some games have license keys, which work if you do a manual install. Some games also work fine outside of steam if you activate the game executable from the filesystem (all of the admittedly few I've tried have worked this way)

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

#89

Post by viraptor »

farinasa wrote: post #26

Many people say that they have this or that application that keeps them clinging to windows and for me it has always been games. If it weren't for games, I would never use windows on any of my personal machines again, let alone purchase it. Linux distros don't even sell their products yet somehow are better thought out than any version of windows.

But they do sell the software. Either directly as a managed solutions to big companies, or very indirectly implement something per request or to solve an internal need. Or even offering support or getting some features sponsored. You may not give them money, but there are people / companies that do.

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

#90

Post by eagsalazar »

estebank wrote: post #82
MartinCron wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just wish I could figure out how to get the Radeon/whatever graphics drivers right on this Lenovo Ideapad. I gave up The fact that things like this are still an issue makes me think that it will take more than just Steam to make desktop Linux more than a tiny niche in the gaming market.

Au contraire, having Steam available might be just enough to push for better driver support from nVidia and AMD.

Your point is valid but the things that keep linux from widespread adoption go way way beyond drivers (and drivers are a big deal).

I really wonder how many people commending have used Linux as daily drivers on laptops for a long time? I've been using linux for over 10 years exclusively and I love the culture and the idea but I'll also be the first one to admit that the Linux desktop just plain sucks and is a buggy mess.

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