Topic: Valve's new publishing system: Steamworks. (Yes, D's new favorite topic)

[Pugnate]

I know some of you guys still hate STEAM, but it has reached a lot of popularity amongst most gamers. In fact I think just about every gamer aside from the ones on these froums seems to like STEAM.

There, I said it.

While STEAM can be a pain for anyone without a decent connection, I've been using it happily for the past few weeks. It has run pretty flawlessly, and from the podcasts from GFW, it looks like STEAM has become more accepted. In fact I'd go as far as to say this is the last place on the internet where people really seem to have a dislike for STEAM, and that surprises me.

I am not saying this as a criticism of people here, but rather it is just an observation on my part after hitting Kotaku, Gamasutra, Joystiq, Penny Arcade etc, I've come to realize people love STEAM, and are buying games off of it all the time.

Anyway:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=1011#...1011

Valve are rocking the boat in a really big way, especially for PC gaming piracy. They have just announced the release of a complete collection of publisher power, called Steamworks, available to developers and publishers completely free. Valve describe it as,

    “A complete suite of publishing and development tools - ranging from copy protection to social networking services to server browsing - now available free of charge to developers and publishers worldwide.”

What does this actually mean? Well, its extensive. The complete press-release is beneath the cut, as well as our explanation of what it means. And what it means could be huge.

What does it mean? It gives publishers and developers the ability to control their games in a brand new way, with Steam itself dropping in the final executable to get the game working, which could have a hefty impact on how we buy our games. And most importantly, no one’s paying Valve a penny, neither the publisher, nor the player.

The suite will allow developers to perform many of the tricks that have distinguished Valve, such as monitoring sales stats, hefty anti-piracy measures, automatic updating, voice chat, multiplayer matchmaking, social networking and even the ability to run beta testing. The possibilities this opens up for independent developers, and smaller publishing companies, could be enormous.

It’s a bit confusing what this will actually means, so here’s what we understand: A publisher can sell their game in the shops or distribute it digitally via their own system, customers install it, and then have Steam drop in the executable. It kills off day-one piracy in a single shot. Bam. Then updates will be delivered automatically for the game via Steam, and all the post-release stats and tools will be available, with Valve charging no one any money for this at all.

Does this give Valve more power? It certainly means more people will be installing Steam on their systems, and that isn’t going to hurt them. But since they won’t be responsible for distribution, nor handling money for these companies, the control seems to be firmly in the hands of each game’s publisher.

From the comments section, and the various internet communities, the response seems to be positive.

I know we all love to hate Valve, but if bastards weren't stealing games left and right to the point where it was hurting the industry, game developers wouldn't even be considering this.

[idolminds]

Oh goodie, more games I need to activate on Steam. Which has NEVER gone smoothly.

I *want* to like Steam. At its core its a great idea. Its just...some of its "features" are horrible.

[Ghandi]

My hate of Steam stems from a few bad personal experiences. I've only used it a few times but it *really* pissed me off those few times that I used it. I know a few other people on the forums had problems as well so I can't say that the negativity is unfounded.

[scottws]

My personal favorite was not being able to play HL2 single player after moving back to my parents house because I didn't have an Internet connection.  Apparently it was a bug in Steam that broke offline mode.  It was since fixed, but since I didn't have an Internet connection in the first place I couldn't update Steam.

That sucked.

But this seems like it could be a really good thing.  I bet it makes PC gaming even a little more hardcore like in the late 80's and early 90's when there were a ton of small developers.

[shock]

Steam is awesome.  And I love that they are choosing to endorse smaller companies that put out innovative, creative games in addition to the bigger bugdeted ones.

[MysterD]

Oh goodie, more games I need to activate on Steam.

I never had any activation issues, but I find it very annoying to have to "activate" a game I ALREADY purchased. It's like asking permission to play something I already own; feels more like a "subscription" than anything, to me. See on MP, this ain't so bad -- makes a little sense, since if you're going to play an "online only game", you'll need an Internet Connection to play in the first place.

MyD's Dislikes
I find it very annoying for me to have to "activate games" with SINGLE PLAYER portions. I feel that I shouldn't NEED to "activate" a game I want to play ALONE, in which you never really need an Internet connection for. Why the hell should I be forced to "Activate" a game that has no option of playing online with anybody?

I *want* to like Steam. At its core its a great idea. Its just...some of its "features" are horrible.

I agree w/ this 100%.
 
I don't like the idea of forcing updates, either. B/c if you don't update your game, you really can't play your STEAM game until you do. Now, I can understand this for say MP games, since everybody on the MP side will need to be running the same damn MP version to play the game together and all -- but on the SP side, it's a joke.

For SP games, you don't really need to run the newest version of the game to play it alone, do you? No. You probably should update your game, but really -- do you need it forced down your throat so you can play the game?? Especially if say you're in the middle of a game and the new patch will break your saved game files in which you might be in the middle to somewhere very close to finishing your game??? If it was a long RPG-length type of game, that'd really suck. Now, if you're just starting out, losing your saves won't kill you. Yeah, exactly....

Oh, and there was a time when SP games in offline mode didn't work, period -- many had that issue. And if the STEAM server goes down, you're locked out of your game. Fortunately, I never hit that roadblock. Of course, the offline mode's been fixed and all...

MyD's Like Of STEAM
About small developers getting an easy way to distribute games digitally, it's very nice that they can get picked up by Valve via STEAM, when other publishers like EA and Atari might just snicker and overlook them.

I do like STEAM's "Friends" thing that it has built into it -- so you can easily chat to your friends over STEAM and whatnot; and maybe even play a game w/ your pals, too.

And I do like that you can purchase games over STEAM to download, even if you can't find a game -- especially if it's a much older game and nobody seems to have the darn thing.

MyD's Questions
What happens w/ STEAM, years down the line???
Say it goes away like the dodo bird.

Will my STEAM games be able to be played over STEAM Program w/out needing an account?
Will the STEAM program even run on future OS's?

Will the ties from STEAM finally be dropped and these STEAM games won't ever be protected anymore???

Or will I just have to go out buy a new copy of some games that are re-released w/out having any ties to STEAM???

[Ghandi]

MyD's Questions
What happens w/ STEAM, years down the line???
Say it goes away like the dodo bird.

People hunt it to extinction because it's delicious and dumb?

Will my STEAM games be able to be played over STEAM Program w/out needing an account?

Probably not

Will the STEAM program even run on future OS's?

Probably

Will the ties from STEAM finally be dropped and these STEAM games won't ever be protected anymore???
Or will I just have to go out buy a new copy of some games that are re-released w/out having any ties to STEAM???

Uh...what? *slaps forehead*

[Pugnate]

Yea that induces a new level of forehead slapping fun.

[gpw11]

I don't really have a problem with 90% of Steam at all.  In fact, I actually like the concept behind Steam and Windows LIVE.  The point where I get concerned is the amount of control they have over when I can and can not access my games.  Beyond that, I find the fact that people are buying games off Steam when you get less for the same or more somewhat disheartening.

I still see a fair amount of criticism for Steam, but those voices are usually drowned out.  What can I say, the internet gaming community is notoriously juvenile and somewhat idiotic.  People like Valve's games, so they'll get on their knees for them, just as they will for Nintendo, Square, and whoever else. 

[Quemaqua]

Valve and anybody who likes Steam can suck my massive cock and die.

 ... too far?

[gpw11]

No, not really, but the massive part was kind of funny.

[Cobra951]

Valve and anybody who likes Steam can suck my massive cock and die.

 ... too far?

See, it's your fault.  That was pretty close to my sentiment when the thread started, but I thought I'd restrain myself for once.  Maybe Steam's next game should be Lemmings.  It should become their signature offering.  Let's watch all the idiots march single-file to their doom.

[Quemaqua]

I'll bring the popcorn.

[Ghandi]

Maybe Steam's next game should be Lemmings.  It should become their signature offering.  Let's watch all the idiots march single-file to their doom.

Interesting fact: Lemmings do not actually commit suicide, this is a myth. Lemmings migrate in large numbers when population density becomes too great, often because of erratic mating cycles. Their need to press on often causes them to die of starvation or exhaustion. When local people saw many dead lemmings lying around, they naturally assumed that they committed suicide.

[Cobra951]

And that changes the analogy to the new gen of bent-over money-unconscious gamers . . . how?

[Ghandi]

Listen. You can take it or leave it. I thought that it was an interesting fact.

Ass.

[Cobra951]

 

[Pugnate]

Get a room.

[idolminds]

Q&A

Yup, sounds like more games that are going to require Steam to operate. Huzzah.

Their "zero day" piracy prevention seems to do a good job. Can't play if a vital piece has to be downloaded from their servers. But has it ever gone smoothly? HL2, EP1, Orange Box...every time it was slow, timed out, crashed, etc when trying to decrypt my files and download whatever it was supposed to be downloading. What happens when enough companies make use of this and you have 2-3 games release on the same day that needs Steam? Servers melt and no one can play anything?

[scottws]

I just thought: this is definitely gaming related... moved.

[MysterD]

Q&A

Yup, sounds like more games that are going to require Steam to operate. Huzzah.

Bleh.

Their "zero day" piracy prevention seems to do a good job. Can't play if a vital piece has to be downloaded from their servers.

Can't argue that.

But has it ever gone smoothly? HL2, EP1, Orange Box...every time it was slow, timed out, crashed, etc when trying to decrypt my files and download whatever it was supposed to be downloading.

Good thing I wait to buy most of my STEAM games....just b/c I find STEAM to be such a pain in the ass.

The only game I had trouble w/ was Bioshock (Securom-DVD protected version w/ Internet check, no STEAM at all), when it came to the validation thing. Day of release. Took me a few tries before the damn thing would take my serial code -- which I entered correctly a few times already!

What happens when enough companies make use of this and you have 2-3 games release on the same day that needs Steam? Servers melt and no one can play anything?

Oh, man -- given the troubles STEAM has had before, that'll really be a freakin' nightmare...

[Quemaqua]

Also, when the US economy goes belly-up (which it will -- when the government is giving people free money hoping to postpone the inevitable, you know you're fucked), prepare to enter the nightmare of Valve and Steam ceasing to exist and all your games getting fucked up.

[MysterD]

Also, when the US economy goes belly-up (which it will -- when the government is giving people free money hoping to postpone the inevitable, you know you're fucked), prepare to enter the nightmare of Valve and Steam ceasing to exist and all your games getting fucked up.

See, that's my biggest concern w/ Steam and Steamworks....the aftermath, when something happens to Valve. Valve is pulling everyone's strings here.

So, once Valve's gone, who's to say what Valve's gonna (or not gonna) let you do w/ your 90,000 STEAM games??? Will they let you live w/ the fact you're locked out of them, since they've already made their money and ran??? Yeah, you don't own the game anymore -- you basically just paid a subscription fee for X amount of years to play their game over their distribution product.

Now -- here's another things, with them 3rd party dev's using Steam and Steamworks. Will the developers of some game X that is using Steam and/or Steamworks, once the game has hit a low-point in selling and just not selling for a good amount of time, just remove the copy-protection from the game and make the game able to work on its own merits without the need of Steam and your Steam-account information???

See, this is why I respect Id and companies that always seem to decide, after the game has sold well enough to suit them, to pull the protection and other bullshit away from the actual game when it no longer needs it surrounding it.

[scottws]

Steam sucks and all, but if Valve went belly-up, someone would make a patch for Steam that permanently unlocks everything.  Do I know this for certain?  No.  But I'd put money on it.

[idolminds]

Valve said thats what they would do. Of course we wont know for sure unless they do go belly up.

Though that raises its own question. The easiest action for Valve to take would be to release an updated client that just gives the OK in offline mode to run the games. That would cover every game on Steam with the least amount of effort.

That would lead to mass piracy. If the client gives the go ahead for whatever, you just need to hit a torrent with the Steam cache of whatever game you'd want and you're in business. So I guess more effort would be needed in converting games individually.

They'd also have to email you your CD keys, so you could still play stuff online. Just because Steam is down doesn't mean the games on it stop needing CD keys to play online.

Hope you've kept backups of your data, or hope people take the most recent Steam cache and put them up for download.

I'd hope Valve has actually talked about this and have a plan in place. It would be nice if they came out and talked about what would happen. They won't, but it would be a nice thing to know that, no, you won't be screwed in the future if you buy games on Steam.