Why are there no competitors to steam?

Rroff · 9 Nov 2014 at 18:50

I really don't want it to end up where each developer/publisher feels the need for their own steam alternative. Having to remember which game uses which client, passwords, the extra bloat especially as many want to start up with Windows and some install their own DRM/background processes which just increases the amount of stuff running and chances for incompatibility or instability and so on.

And that is assuming they are well written and your not dealing with extra hassle due to poorly conceived software which is a mishmash of abortive feature attempts.

elmuzzy66. · 9 Nov 2014 at 20:55

Steam/valve have carried on making good games and haven't sold out in the sense that they haven't milked their ip's like EA, Activison/blizzard whatever they are called etc. We don't even have hl3 yet. With ea we would have had number 2million by now. Not saying they are not in it for the money but at least they use lube.
So far steam hasn't left me with a bad experience so far. Can't say that about other platforms.

o531 · 9 Nov 2014 at 21:23

elmuzzy66. said:
Steam/valve have carried on making good games and haven't sold out in the sense that they haven't milked their ip's like EA, Activison/blizzard whatever they are called etc. We don't even have hl3 yet. With ea we would have had number 2million by now. Not saying they are not in it for the money but at least they use lube.
So far steam hasn't left me with a bad experience so far. Can't say that about other platforms.

You could, however, argue that while Valve hasn't 'milked' it's IPs, it has completely exploited the Steam client itself and turned it into something that is as bad as the App/Android stores in the shear number of absolute garbage and shovelware titles on there.

The quality from Steam has largely gone now that it's opened up to pretty much everyone.

StriderX · 9 Nov 2014 at 23:52

We suffered a splintered community before and Gabe & Co recognized the market he could keep if he just focused on creating one.

mark43 · 10 Nov 2014 at 06:32

o531 said:
You could, however, argue that while Valve hasn't 'milked' it's IPs, it has completely exploited the Steam client itself and turned it into something that is as bad as the App/Android stores in the shear number of absolute garbage and shovelware titles on there.

The quality from Steam has largely gone now that it's opened up to pretty much everyone.

That's fine with me, I'm not looking for them to carry out quality control and decide which games they feel are good enough, just to sell everything available.