Comments on: Steam faces retail opposition as rival digital distributors eye the market

By: micrapple

micrapple — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:07:21 +0000

I was able to download installed and play the game I bought from 10yrs ago with just a few clicks. I can’t do that if I buy a disc because I usually lose/break them.

By: Ewdison Then

Ewdison Then — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:45:57 +0000

I love steam, and I get all my games from Steam now instead of retailer. The last time I bought a game from retailer was 2008

By: ImperfectLink

ImperfectLink — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:30:57 +0000

I’m a fan of Gamestop and physical media, but I don’t usually go there for new games. I like the idea of purchasing used titles mostly for the fact of saving money. If I were buying a piece of paper with license info, I’d be just as happy.

By: George

George — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:21:33 +0000

The retailers are pissed because they can’t compete because they suck. Like so many other industries that are moving to a download model (music, video, books) the old players are dying off and being replaced.

So they have a hissy fit and threaten not to carry physical goods any more. Which just proves how stupid they are, and why they’re in the position they’re in. The digital market explodes, a smart company (Valve, Apple, etc.) capture 80-90% of the market because the physical stores were retards and did nothing because this whole download thing is just a fad.

Now it’s too late so they threaten to stop selling physical goods after the fact most people have already moved onto downloaded goods.

I hope the publishers tell the retailers to fuck off and die. Probably some crap stores like HMV and Game. Who goes there these days anyway?

By: ImperfectLink

ImperfectLink — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:13:23 +0000

Buying a valve game in the store is like buying a CD. Inevitably you want to be able to play it without the disc so you have to go fully digital. Updates have to be downloaded for any PC game. Fact of the matter is, Valve gives you more value for the money, once you buy the game, you own it on digital or physical. I bought the Orange Box for PC ages ago and when they released it for Mac, my account had it automatically available for both platforms. I don’t see the reasoning behind precluding Valve games from retail.

By: Don

Don — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:11:08 +0000

Isn’t this kind of illegal?

By: David Reyna

David Reyna — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:10:17 +0000

Good luck with that. With more and more games going digital, Steam has more leverage than the retailers. It’s no wonder the publishers are hesitant.