quote:

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> Okay, but... um...
>
> Steam is written by Valve, distributed by Valve, and only used by Valve.
> Only Valve games are distributed on Steam. How are they going to take away
> the distribution rights of other developers and publishers? KOTOR, for
> example, was developed by BioWare and published by LucasArts. Halo was
> developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft. How, exactly, could Valve
> *force* LucasArts and Microsoft to distribute their cames through Steam as
> opposed to through retail? When it's Valve vs. Microsoft in a court of law
> (especially if Valve is trying to force Microsoft to do something, and not
> the other way around), I don't see Valve coming out on top in that fight.
> Without Valve being able to force other developers to publish games through
> their medium, I fail to see how they're going to be able to establish any
> kind of monopoly.
>
> I find your argument a little puzzling, that's all. I was certainly less
> than pleased when, after waiting for years for HL2, and buying it (on
> release day) and installing it, that I had to wait an additional day for
> Steam to work. I was not happy about that. On the other hand, I also
> understand that Steam is the first foray into this kind of distrubution, and
> that almost by definition, the first tries are going to have bugs and
> hiccups. I do *not* agree that Steam should be used as an anti-piracy
> system (forcing a single-user game to connect online doesn't seem to make
> sense), but as a publishing and distribution system, to me it's a good idea.
> Historically, many publishers have been responsible for weakening games by
> releasing games before they're ready; editing content; and restricting
> developers' freedom to develop games as they see fit. If a developer has
> the guts and the capacity to distribute a game without a big-name publisher,
> I say more power to 'em.
>
> *That* is the purpose publishers play -- Valve on its own is a comparatively
> small shop, and doesn't have the finances, muscle, or clout to buy space on
> retail shelves around the country. If they're going to ship actual physical
> boxes to stores, they need help to do it, and they have to pay for that
> help. That (fairly sizeable) chunk of the money that goes to the publisher
> does *not* (obviously) end up in the pockets of the developer, and therefore
> does *not* go toward developing future, better games. As an aspiring
> game-maker myself, I choose to side with the little guy.
>
> The first paragraph is all I'm really curious about, all you need to respond
> to: how is Valve going to force other developers and/or publishers to
> distribute their games through Steam?
>