Game lending coming to steam

[MrPopo]

And yet Microsoft wanted to do the exact same thing and you treated that as "the death of gaming as we know it".

The sheer hypocrisy is astounding.

[Hobie-wan]

And yet Microsoft wanted to do the exact same thing and you treated that as "the death of gaming as we know it".

The sheer hypocrisy is astounding.

Well, to play devil's advocate, the perspective is different. Unless you're letting someone log in as you sometimes, you've never been able to lend games or trade them on Steam. So being able to do so is adding a feature. With console games, you've always been able to lend games and trade them freely. So this is actually a limitation of functionality.

[MrPopo]

The existence of Steam was taking away functionality. You cannot be happy with Steam and be upset about what was proposed for the Xbox One without being a massive hypocrite.

[dsheinem]

The existence of Steam was taking away functionality. You cannot be happy with Steam and be upset about what was proposed for the Xbox One without being a massive hypocrite.

yup

[BoneSnapDeez]

What? Apples and oranges here. The Xbone is a console, Steam is a digital distributor. If Valve had previously developed two DRM-free consoles then maybe the comparison would be valid.

[AppleQueso]

With the Xbone DRM, the only way to play Xbone games would be to abide by that business model.

Steam, on the other hand, is only one distribution platform of many on the PC. Don't like Steam? There's GoG, there's Indie stuff, etc.

[Ack]

The existence of Steam was taking away functionality. You cannot be happy with Steam and be upset about what was proposed for the Xbox One without being a massive hypocrite.

You do realize that much of the criticism about with the Xbox One isn't solely based around the game trade system, right?

Also, a lot of folks did complain about Steam when it first appeared because it was so limiting. Over time, we have grown to accept it, and Valve has introduced new features to expand upon its limitations. Online sales, major holiday events spread across multiple games, a workshop for the mod community, the chance to vote in indy games, the ability to attach non-Steam games to show in Steam so we can benefit from the communication tools while playing something not on its network, etc.

That's not to say that we wouldn't have gotten these with Microsoft eventually (well...maybe not the mod workshop). But there would be a lot of changes made to the console market. And let's face it, while many gamers appreciate Steam, many others don't, and even though I enjoy using it, I can also see its devastation on the physical PC game market. Do you know many stores which carry an up-to-date selection of PC games anymore? And the second-hand market for modern PC games is almost nonexistant.

Also, aren't you a Microsoft employee, MrPopo?

[fastbilly1]

The existence of Steam was taking away functionality. You cannot be happy with Steam and be upset about what was proposed for the Xbox One without being a massive hypocrite.

I agree and disagree. PC gaming is a different beast, and has been for a long time. While the games are similar, or the same, the way to play them is different. DRM is somewhat needed in PC games because of the ease of copying (I firmly believe in the CD Projekt Red idea that DRM is needed PRESALE only). I mean you would be hard pressed to find someone who went to school in the 90s who didnt have a floppy of Raptor or Sim City with photocopies of the code cards. Steam standardized alot of that into itself. Honestly, Ive never really seen anyone lend PC games the same way as they lend console ones. The only time I ever lent someone a PC game is back when we use to play Red Alert 2 alot and one copy let two people play.

The reason people are more acceptable to Steam is simple and two fold:
1. They simplified PC gaming.
2. Atleast twice a year they put damn near everything on sale for stupid prices.

While the first is not needed for console gaming, the second is needed before they make a move to full Digital Distribution. But case in point, The Cave is 1200 points on XBLA, and has been since launch (to my knowledge). I bought it on Steam last month for $3 through Amazon. Sadly my favorite company, Nintendo, will never do this.

[MrPopo]

With the Xbone DRM, the only way to play Xbone games would be to abide by that business model.

Steam, on the other hand, is only one distribution platform of many on the PC. Don't like Steam? There's GoG, there's Indie stuff, etc.

Don't like Xbox? There's Nintendo and Sony. The only way to play Steam games is to have Steam.

You do realize that much of the criticism about with the Xbox One isn't solely based around the game trade system, right?

The majority of the criticism is in two parts:

1. Always on Kinect watching you masturbate
2. Games being tied to an account like how Steam works

I totally agree with the complaint in 1, and as I mentioned 2 is Steam.

Also, aren't you a Microsoft employee, MrPopo?

Yes, but I'm on Windows, so the first I hear of any Xbox stuff is the same way all of you guys do. I think we've done a piss poor job on our messaging for this console. The 360 was my console of last resort last gen because I feel like paying for multiplayer is asinine, so anything multiplatform was purchased on PS3 if it was a console genre and PC if it was a PC genre. Now with PS3 going the same route I have no idea which platform I'm going to favor. It might come down to whoever's controller I like the feel of better.

[Hobie-wan]

With the Xbone DRM, the only way to play Xbone games would be to abide by that business model.

Steam, on the other hand, is only one distribution platform of many on the PC. Don't like Steam? There's GoG, there's Indie stuff, etc.

Don't like Xbox? There's Nintendo and Sony. The only way to play Steam games is to have Steam.

The only way to play XBone exclusives will be on XBone. The only way to play PS4 exclusives will be on PS4. The only way to play WiiU exclusives will be on WiiU. The only way to play Steam exclusives will be on Steam. That argument doesn't help any position.