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Sessler's Soapbox: EA vs. Valve

Posted: July 12, 2011
Sessler's Soapbox: EA vs. Valve
http://www.g4tv.com/videos/54123/sesslers-soapbox-ea-vs-valve/
http://images.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/277421_LGST/soapbox-7-12-11.jpg
Video_54123
Adam discusses the controversy about EA removing some games from Steam after announcing their own digital distribution platform.

Tags:

Crysis 2, PC, Action, Shooter, PlayStation 3

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  • mrsappho

    I personally use steam a lot. They have some crazy cheap games, and special offers. TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST DD. Let me ask you this: Do you prefer your iPod/mp3 player, or would you rather keep track of hundreds of CD's? The same concept applies with games, and I bet you future consoles will not be using media devices anymore.

    Posted: July 13, 2011 8:33 AM
    mrsappho
  • DCT

    I honestly don't see EA's Origin service really being a major threat to steam, if anything I can see it ending up more like Blizzard's new Battle.net where it's just for EA games but nothing else as I doubt EA is going to convince alot of other companies to jump over to their service especially when Microsoft barely could do it with Games for windows live(which is basically dead/merged with Xbox live) and the money they threw at these companies. Plus I doubt EA will be reasonable with their fees either.

    Also I doubt EA will be able to do the type of sales and deals Steam has which lead to a big chunk of Steam installation base.

    Posted: July 13, 2011 8:16 AM
    DCT
  • AngelsandDemons

    Dude.....slow down...

    Posted: July 13, 2011 7:41 AM
    AngelsandDemons
  • Crimson_Apothecary

    First off, STEAM has been around for over a decade now. They've got a well established fan base and user base. Second is the fact that I don't know about you guys but I REALLY don't want to have to install any more software than necessary on my PC to play the games I want to play. I think all of us gamers know the more we have running in the background on our machines (no matter how little resources it takes up) is going to affect us in 2 ways. First I'd assume that the EA version would have a messenger of some sort similar to Valve's messenger. This will nibble not only from system resources (and we ALL know what kind of a hog some messenger programs can be *cough cough* AOL *Cough cough*) but it will also take up just that much more bandwidth.

    Now I know most of you are saying "So what, it'll only use what a bajillionth of what you have available?" ok how about you start adding up everything running. 1% for STEAM, 1% for EA, 1% for GameStop, 1% for Activision, 1% for Yahoo, 1% for AOL, 1% for MSN, 1% for ICQ, 1%for WotC, we're up to 9% right there. I'm sure other publishers will want to jump on the bandwagon as well in order to increase profits and reduce overhead.

    So all in all, I think since I already have a steam account and REALLY don't care to clutter my desktop or taskbar with numerous random icons just to play some games, I'll stick with STEAM and any games that aren't on STEAM if I REALLY want to play them I'll get on PS3 or XBox. Otherwise I just won't play them.

    The other down side to the digital download content is the fact that I can't turn these games in. I regularly go to Gamestop and turn in my old games for money down on new games coming out. With the slow but deliberate elimination of game media, I'm having less and less to return and if I pay for a craptastic game on STEAM I'm stuck with a horrendously craptastic game instead of being able to give it SOME redeemable value in the form on trade-in. This is one of the biggest reasons I've been against digital media.

    The other big reason is that I like to have something for the money I spend. I know it may not seem like much but my parents always asked "And what do you have to show for the money you spent?" When I look at the digital downloads there's nothing really to show other than words on the screen. At least a disk I can say "HERE'S WHAT I HAVE for my hard earned cash!".

    Posted: July 13, 2011 7:26 AM
  • rightiknow

    It's funny that he's saying he doesn't understand how digital distribution is going to manifest. It already has manifested. It's called Steam. They are the only digital distribution service that matters. I won't buy a game that isn't on steam. Not going to happen. I own over 300 games on their platform.

    Posted: July 13, 2011 7:08 AM
    rightiknow
  • permanent_nirvana

    Apparently I wasn't the only one who was distracted by Portal 2 the whole time. Had to watch it a second time.

    Basically it boils down to EA vs. Valve at this point. Although Gamestop is going to throw their hat into the ring at some point.

    I think we really need to see what Origin is all about before we rush to judgement on the subject. For all we know, it could be superior to Steam (highly unlikely), or it could be a carbon copy. Either way, I don't think Valve is too worried about it.

    Posted: July 13, 2011 5:31 AM
    permanent_nirvana
  • cs22

    Competition is good. Think about it. If Steam was the only service that distributed games digitally, and discs went away, all of a sudden, you have to pay whatever Valve wants because they have a monopoly. Is that really desirable?

    Ideally, you wouldn't just want multiple distributors, but multiple ways that games are distributed, through multiple distributors. In retail, this works well - if Gamestop is overcharging for a game, you can check Walmart or Best Buy, as well as online stores like Amazon. For digital games, why not have multiple download distributors for most games, and create competition for Steam to get your business over EA's Origin, or a potential Amazon Digital, etc.? It can only keep prices low, due to the benefits of the free market.

    Posted: July 13, 2011 4:28 AM
  • CoZmicShReddeR

    This something we have talked about many many times via our TeamSpeak server... Most of our guys buy tons and tons of games whenever they are on sale via Steam Store and we believe as it is the only other true playing in the field will be Steam. EA can dip in and out of it but the best thing to do is for them to create an EA section via Steam sort of Partner with them.

    The main thing I want to see is not to harm EA but to see a common gamer ID so we can Authenticate our players on our servers from all multiplayer games... I think this one ID thing like Steam has to offer along with VAC will make it easier for server owners to BAN people over a plethora of game servers they host rather then having to goto different screens or folders to add their IP address or some kind...

    I think the only other option for me as a Game server host that I could want is for EA and Steam to share the Steam ID's for users for their games in the future other then that they could sell their games any way they want...

    Posted: July 13, 2011 4:22 AM
  • hoof_hearted4

    i wish these were longer

    Posted: July 13, 2011 12:26 AM
    hoof_hearted4
  • soldojo

    First of all, Sess, the Soapbox is always amazing. Through thick and thin I can count on your ability to get to an issue and talk it out in about 3 to 5.

    Now onto the issue, I have posted this on the Origin forum, they really need to not make their games Origin exclusives. Having their own digital distribution service is one thing, but, having their games be exclusive to that service is a bad idea. Unless Origins really makes a name for itself, then the sales will suffer.

    Steam is extremely popular with a massive crowd of gamers who don't keep up with this kind of stuff. EA can't just expect the whole world to wake up one day and go, "Oh ! EA Origins came out ! Btter go see the newest deals from EA !" If they EVER get there, it will be as Sess says, YEARS from now. Until then, their sales suffer greatly, and what then, when the Origin service never takes off? Well, then you cannibalized your own sales.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 11:44 PM
    soldojo
  • kings_legacy

    I don't think EA will offer games 75%- 50% off for any of there games any time soon like Steam does on regular bases

    I love steam for their amazing deals and staying with them.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 11:06 PM
    kings_legacy
  • TheStranger110

    i take the side of valve is the simple answer

    Posted: July 12, 2011 10:48 PM
    TheStranger110
  • That_Dan_Guy

    I like how the time on this video is exactly 303. That's the room where Trinity is at the beginning of the Matrix. ;-)

    Posted: July 12, 2011 10:33 PM
  • gclhoutx

    What some people fail to realize is that Origin is an optional service. You don't have to install it on your PC. The only time you need to install it is if you plan to purchase anything from EA's online store. If you purchase the physical software box Origin will not be installed like it is if you by a Valve product. Heck Crysis 2 didn't even install the Origin service yet it installed steam. So in essence you can still use steam if you want to.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 10:24 PM
  • McWendell

    I don't understand all the hate for Origin when it hasn't even launched yet. Did everyone hate on Android before it came out after the iPhone? Steam has a wonderful reputation and that will keep it around for a long time. Just because someone else is trying to capitalize on a great idea, then they are money grubbing pigs? Welcome to capitalism my friends. Just because Netflix is super popular can no other company try to emulate their business model? Should we hate Google+ because it is a social networking site and trying to take away from Facebook, which took away from MySpace. Guess what, companies want money. Your money. And they will find out how you spend it and then do what it takes to have you spend it on their stuff. Sess is right, it may be a cluster-cuss in the next few years trying to figure out the best way to do DD, but we can't expect companies being willing to sit back and let others take their potential profit. You wouldn't if it was your money. Should we expect all car models to be sold at just one place? Nope, you want a Nissan then you go to their dealership. Just because you like Steam doesn't mean Origin is the worst thing to happen to PC gaming.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 10:16 PM
    McWendell
  • hihi100202

    So this means we will be having hard drives in the terabyte someday, but how much will that cost? People who play a lot of games will need HUGE hard drives, not just 250 GB anymore.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 9:31 PM
    hihi100202
  • beinaido

    I would hate to have 4 accounts to download games! Steam is working so well now! It's easy to get games there. Why do companies have to be so greedy? Let us have it easy because I'm not getting another steam-type app on my pc. So they will not have my money!

    Posted: July 12, 2011 9:00 PM
  • Goddhand

    I would have liked to hear more on this. Kinda didn't go anywhere on the topic.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 8:57 PM
    Goddhand
  • TheOneBearded

    I hope that Adam will do a video on Senate bill S. 978 in the near future. I would like to hear his opinion on the situation.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 8:20 PM
    TheOneBearded
  • IWSTUTNISB

    I had to restart the video because I was too busy watching a chimpanzee try to play Portal 2.

    Oh, and to anyone saying you have more ownership of a game when you own the hard copy; you're wrong.
    All you own is the disc and the piece of plastic it came in, as far as companies care now-a-days you're only renting the content of that disc.

    Posted: July 12, 2011 7:28 PM
    IWSTUTNISB

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