Valve Flagrantly Violates Sherman Antitrust Act

[Bilge_Rat]

STEAM may demand it, but to what extent can they enforce it?

For example, I was shopping for "Brave New World", the last expansion pack to Civilization 5. STEAM is charging $30, but it is easy to find online resellers selling STEAM keys for as little as $10.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

STEAM may demand it, but to what extent can they enforce it?

For example, I was shopping for "Brave New World", the last expansion pack to Civilization 5. STEAM is charging $30, but it is easy to find online resellers selling STEAM keys for as little as $10.

Brave New World isn't Early Access title. What Valve is doing here is making sure no one can ask higher price for an Early Access key than what it is listed on Steam.

As for enforcing, Early Access is their service, they can enforce it anyway they like. But if the same title is sold on some other type of service other than Early Access, the price can be set to anything the devs/publishers want.

PS. Did I use bold enough to make everyone realize this is about EARLY ACCESS titles ONLY. So, no, Valve is still not the evil overlord and Gabe Newell still doesnt eat newborn babies for breakfast.

PPS. Coldfront, good luck with the DoJ.

[ColdFront]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Brave New World isn't Early Access title. What Valve is doing here is making sure no one can ask higher price for an Early Access key than what it is listed on Steam.

No, they are not. Way to misread what Valve said.

As for enforcing, Early Access is their service, they can enforce it anyway they like. But if the same title is sold on some other type of service other than Early Access, the price can be set to anything the devs/publishers want.

And lose access to ~80% of PC gaming? I don't think they can.

PS. Did I use bold enough to make everyone realize this is about EARLY ACCESS titles ONLY. So, no, Valve is still not the evil overlord and Gabe Newell still doesnt eat newborn babies for breakfast.

PPS. Coldfront, good luck with the DoJ.

You've never heard of Order of War: Challenge, have you? That's because the tech press suppressed Valve's rape of a multiplayer community.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by ColdFront

Valve fanboy?

Your argument is a good one. There is no need to use insults to support it.

[ColdFront]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Your argument is a good one. There is no need to use insults to support it.

Thanks. I'll remove the insult.

[ikalugin]

What do you think is a better alternative to Steam service?

[ColdFront]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

What do you think is a better alternative to Steam service?

As of now, none. No one can match Steam's library. Heard nothing but bad about Uplay. I've heard Origin has far better customer support than Steam, but everyone has such a ingrained anti-EA bias for no legitimate reason that it's only just hanging on due to compelling exclusives. GOG only has old games and is struggling to catch up.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by ColdFront

No, they are not. Way to misread what Valve said.

Sorry, that was my mistake. Brain said one thing, fingers did something else.

So, Valve is asking for Early Access developers to not price their Steam price higher than available on other places.

[ColdFront]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

I think that Origin behaving like a malware may be one of the reasons why people hate it.

Yet when Steam is accused of the same thing, all Gaben has to do is say "we don't care what porn you watch", and everyone forgets all about allegations of Steam spying on users.

Originally Posted by Dowly

Sorry, that was my mistake. Brain said one thing, fingers did something else.

So, Valve is asking for Early Access developers to not price their Steam price higher than available on other places.

Good to see you understand. You've got it.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by ColdFront

Good to see you understand. You've got it.

I understand what Valve is saying, but I don't understand why you have such a big problem with it.

[ColdFront]

Originally Posted by Dowly

I understand what Valve is saying, but I don't understand why you have such a big problem with it.

The problem is that if another site is selling the early access game for less than Steam, then that means Steam is selling it for higher, which Valve is prohibiting in its new Early Access policy. So this new policy bans other websites from competing with Steam on price.