D2D, Gamersgate and Impulse Say "NO!" to Steamworks Games, Modern Warfare 2

[NarcissistZero]

http://kotaku.com/5398259/online-ret...dern-warfare-2

I thought they would have done this long ago.

[JasonPC]

What I don't get is direct2drive already sells some games that require Steam to play. They may not use "steamworks" but they still require the program to be installed to play. So why do they suddenly start making a big deal about it now? Are they trying to jump on negative press about the game? I don't understand their motive. Maybe it's to discourage other large developers from using Steamworks?

[NarcissistZero]

If you read the article they say they have come to this conclusion after evaluating their previous Steamworks products. Their main beef seems to be the Steam storefront launching with the game.

[Mr. Hunt]

Just waiting for the flood of people proclaiming these second rate alternatives as FAR SUPERIOR to Steam.

[JasonPC]

I don't see that happening as people <3 steam no matter if the 'scourge' that is MW2 is attached to it or not Now maybe if steam were as unpopular as when it first launched it would be a different story.

It just seems like a weird time (week before MW2 launches) to start "evaluating" past games that used Steam as they are far from recent.

[nutcrackr]

I think this is pretty cool actually, stand up for themselves. I wonder if Activision cares about that at all. Probably given low PC sales anyway they don't but maybe it's food for thought for them.

[Kaguya]

One of the points D2D made was that they didn't like games installing the Trojan Horse, Steam. That seems pretty small-minded... and while I understand what they're saying, they really didn't need to say it like that. That being said, several D2D games come with SecureRom, and I'm certain there are people that would consider it a Trojan as well.

People complaining about Valve and Steam being one-in-the-same doesn't work here either as even if Valve and Steam separated, I'm sure Steamworks would still require Steam to be running... that's the point of Steam.

To be honest I'm more surprised that IW went with Steam as their main DRM source... not sure if this will give Steamworks more legitimacy, or if this is just a fluke... but that prospect is far more interesting to me than other DD service's decisions to pull up stakes.

Originally Posted by NarcissistZero

http://kotaku.com/5398259/online-ret...dern-warfare-2

I thought they would have done this long ago.

Dude they are not carrying the game because of no dedicated servers and how IW is abandoning the PC Market... it has nothing to do with steam!

[bacon12]

Did you even read it mang? It directly competes with their business by forcing steam to be installed, and the default steam store page being there every time someone starts it. I totally understand this, but they are just gonna have to face the fact that steam is a better service.

D2D also told Kotaku that, having evaluated some Steamworks titles earlier in the year (such as Empire: Total War and Dawn of War II) and finding the forced inclusion of Steam's storefront (offering automatic competition to D2D's own services) not to their liking, told publishers that they'd stop selling games bundled in such a manner until Valve "decoupled its retail marketplace" from Steam's other services

Originally Posted by bacon12

Did you even read it mang? It directly competes with their business by forcing steam to be installed, and the default steam store page being there every time someone starts it. I totally understand this, but they are just gonna have to face the fact that steam is a better service.

sigh

[LurkerLito]

I completely agree with D2D, Impulse and GamersGate. It would be foolish of them to sell any games that uses Steam. Selling games that also install your competitor's proprietary store front end along with the game is like playing Russian Roulette with your business, eventually the bullet will be there.

It's not really surprising that they came to this conclusion with MW2. It is expected to sell a lot of copies and if you were a digital game distributor would you want to put your competitor's store on more of your customer's PCs?

Just waiting for the flood of people proclaiming these second rate alternatives as FAR SUPERIOR to Steam.

I like Steam and Impulse and can tolerate D2D if the price is right, I don't find any of them far superior to either one. Though IMO the most superior DD service is GoG. DRM Free is the only way to be!

[Noriega]

PC is open platforn I find exclusivity/monopol is not apricieated here.