Quote:
Originally Posted by AstralWanderer
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foodstamp
In the United States at least they would not be able to do that...
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Why not? There's plenty of precedence for changing contracts and charging regular fees (certain credit cards being a clear example) and Section 2-209 of the Uniform Commercial Code specifically allows for such amendments. In Steam's case, there wouldn't even need to be a change - section 4B of the Steam Agreement includes the following:
" ...Valve reserves the right to change our fees or billing methods at any time and Valve will provide notice of any such change at least thirty (30) days advance. All changes will be posted as amendments to this Agreement or in the Rules of Use and...you are responsible for reviewing the billing section of Steam to obtain timely notice of such changes."
Now whether Valve will go down this route is purely conjecture, I'll agree. But it would be immensely profitable for them (the only downside is deterring new customers, which could be countered by having more "Steam-exclusives") which in the world of business makes it a "when" rather than an "if".
As Mount and Blade has its own online activation system too, this means that it will almost surely die if Taleworlds shuts down also. |
I didn't say they couldn't change their billing scheme. I said they can't hold your purchased content for ransom.
And there is no way it would be profitable. Steam has several near competitors that would be the ones to reap the benefits of such a change. It would take more than just some Steam exclusive content to make people want to pay a monthly fee, it would take A LOT of content, and that content would need to be premium and would be expensive to negotiate exclusive rights to.
What you guys are suggesting sounds less like business and more like evil conspiracy that goes against making profit and more into the realm "Lets screw our customers".
No business is in the business to piss off customers. Or they won't be in business for long.