SEIV via Steam

[douglas]

I'm pretty sure Aaron stated when Fyron asked him about it that, as far as SEIV and SEV are concerned, Steam is a distribution channel and only a distribution channel. It will also be merely one of several distribution channels.

[DarkHorse]

Interesting Tom's Hardware editorial on Steam: article

[boran_blok]

Well I just bought ragdoll kungfu from steam (looked kinda neat and $15 is peanuts) and i'm quite happy with the shopping experience. so i'll prolly get SEV thru steam.

[Ragnarok-X]

wilhil said:

I know that if you live in a area where there is no broadband or fast internet then you will not benefit, and should be able to get a cd, or just so you can play solo.

There you go. Im not only against Steam on a moralic level, but im also waiting for DSL since February 2000. Up to now, im still using dial-up. I could potentially get ISDN, but still, downloading 1000 MB with 56k or 64k wont matter at all, considering it will still take douzens of hours. So there is yet another drawback, another reason for me to vote against Steam.
On a second note, i cant literally state how many times i have heard and read complains about steam. Connection-problems, authentification-problems, even bill-problems. I can say i will try to avoid steam, or any other online-distribution-platform as long as possible, until im basicly forced to use them.

If i think about it, its actually funny. I dont think half-life 2 was cheaper when downloading it, compared to buying it from steam. So to sum that up, its another way for companies to make money. They actually save costs for the medium and packaging (compared to the cost for the platform and traffic), but they dont give their advantage to the customers, interesting, isnt it ?
ADDTIONALLY, they can basicly save those millions of $$$ for copy-protection, which should have impact on the price as well.

In a direct choice, i dont understand why anyone would prefer virtually downloading something to physically buying it. There is just no advantage, no cover, no extras, no $$$ saved, it will probably even take a lot more time.
And i dont see someone stating "I dont have enough place for that tiny box", because that cant be an argument, can it ?

Actually, what exactly is the reason you are downloading something ? I dont see a single advantage, really..


edit: grammar

[geoschmo]

Ragnarok-X said:
Actually, what exactly is the reason you are downloading something ? I dont see a single advantage, really..


edit: grammar

How about "I WANT'T IT NOW!!!" That's the major advantage to the consumer I see for downloadable games.

[DarkHorse]

Ragnarok-X said:


Actually, what exactly is the reason you are downloading something ? I dont see a single advantage, really..

You also don't need a CD in the drive to play a downloaded game.

[Renegade 13]

geoschmo said:
How about "I WANT'T IT NOW!!!" That's the major advantage to the consumer I see for downloadable games.

True, but it's kinda sad if a person can't wait for a few days until the game can be shipped or until they can make it to the closest retailer.

DarkHorse said:
You also don't need a CD in the drive to play a downloaded game.

I don't need a CD in the drive to play SEIV either. Granted, many games you do, but why is this a big deal? Sure it's a bit of a pain switching CD's/DVD's out and in all the time, but enough to make someone willing to go with a method that leaves you with no physical backup or protection for the day the game is no longer supported?

[geoschmo]

Renegade 13 said:
True, but it's kinda sad if a person can't wait for a few days until the game can be shipped or until they can make it to the closest retailer.

You'd think it would be. But you were asking what's the advantage to the consumer. Now you are telling the consumer what to think. That's a whole nuther argument.

What if the store is out? Or what if you live somewhere that doesn't have a lot of stores? What if you just hate leaving the house?

Nobody ever got rich telling the customer to wait.

Renegade 13 said:I don't need a CD in the drive to play SEIV either. Granted, many games you do, but why is this a big deal? Sure it's a bit of a pain switching CD's/DVD's out and in all the time, but enough to make someone willing to go with a method that leaves you with no physical backup or protection for the day the game is no longer supported?

Most games don't have the long term replay value where this is even a concern. If you aren't going to want to play the game in six months, why do you care if the online support will quit working in twelve?

[Suicide Junkie]

Yeah, its fine for flash in the pan games... but those games are so overpriced compared to something like SE4.

[Phoenix-D]

Not "online support", though, Geo. If Steam goes down or stops supporting a game you can't even install it.