Valve have updated the developer guidelines for releasing a game on Steam, making it clear that the scourge of mobile gaming advertising-based business models are not going to work on Steam.
Everyone is acting like this is purely for good intentions, but I’ll point out they make most of their money from taking a cut of the sale price from games. Ad money probably would not go to them at all. This is almost certainly purely a business decision, not because they fundamentally don’t like the concept or want to protect you from it.
I honestly don’t really care about Valve’s motivations. It’s a good decision. This kind of trash can take over and ruin an entire marketplace if you let it.
Of course everything a company does is in the best interest of the company. Even as simple as “let’s make excellent products with lifetime warrantees” benefits them by making people want to shop there.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good thing when companies realise the customers best interest are also their best interest. We should encourage that, not scoff at it.
Of course everything a company does is in the best interest of the company.
That is not true, but that is part of the problem and also why Steam is at least a little better for us customers. Most companies only do what is good for the stakeholders short term, Valve does what is good for the company/single owner long term. And happy customers are good long-term, but not so important short-term.
It is still capitalism, and thus still terrible. But a tiny bit less terrible.
OP didn’t seem “happy”… in fact, they seemed mad people were happy and not outraged this one good step was here because it may have been made out of a business decision and not just Valve falling on its own sword (that’s why I made the comment)
Removing choices to the consumer isn’t good. It may sound like they’re doing a good thing, but if a racing game can include non-intrusive ads and either make the game cheaper or make more content without harming the experience, that’s good for the consumer. If a company makes a shitty ad ladden game, you can always just not buy it. They aren’t defending you. They’re defending their method of making money and ensuring you can’t make money without paying them, while removing options for the consumer.
the state of current gaming should be enough prove for you that no, people cannot just choose not to buy them… same as you can probably not avoid AI in anything new you buy, they put it everywhere and you either eat it or give up X thing you loved
Everyone is acting like this is purely for good intentions, but I’ll point out they make most of their money from taking a cut of the sale price from games. Ad money probably would not go to them at all. This is almost certainly purely a business decision, not because they fundamentally don’t like the concept or want to protect you from it.
I honestly don’t really care about Valve’s motivations. It’s a good decision. This kind of trash can take over and ruin an entire marketplace if you let it.
Of course everything a company does is in the best interest of the company. Even as simple as “let’s make excellent products with lifetime warrantees” benefits them by making people want to shop there.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good thing when companies realise the customers best interest are also their best interest. We should encourage that, not scoff at it.
That is not true, but that is part of the problem and also why Steam is at least a little better for us customers. Most companies only do what is good for the stakeholders short term, Valve does what is good for the company/single owner long term. And happy customers are good long-term, but not so important short-term.
It is still capitalism, and thus still terrible. But a tiny bit less terrible.
Yes, when something half good finally happens, let’s complain it probably didn’t happen for better reasons
Why are we never happy again?
You can be happy about a decision while still understanding the business rational behind it.
OP didn’t seem “happy”… in fact, they seemed mad people were happy and not outraged this one good step was here because it may have been made out of a business decision and not just Valve falling on its own sword (that’s why I made the comment)
Removing choices to the consumer isn’t good. It may sound like they’re doing a good thing, but if a racing game can include non-intrusive ads and either make the game cheaper or make more content without harming the experience, that’s good for the consumer. If a company makes a shitty ad ladden game, you can always just not buy it. They aren’t defending you. They’re defending their method of making money and ensuring you can’t make money without paying them, while removing options for the consumer.
the state of current gaming should be enough prove for you that no, people cannot just choose not to buy them… same as you can probably not avoid AI in anything new you buy, they put it everywhere and you either eat it or give up X thing you loved
Maybe the look at the shitshow that is mobile gaming and they want to stay away from it. Good intention in my book.
a good thing done for a shitty reason is still a good thing.
Also known as free market capitalism 100% working as it should.