Report: Steam Has a Monopoly Over PC Gaming
The eventual release of Steam for Mac has apparently stirred up a little controversy.
The idea of Steam launching on Apple iMacs this month apparently has conspiracy theorists all in an uproar. After all, Valve Software's beloved PC gaming client has been around for ages, however the move to Mac has caused many to question its overall presence in the PC gaming scene. Namely, there's indication that an unfair monopoly over PC gaming is in play, and fingers are all pointing to Steam.
But various voices are coming to Steam's defense, saying that the service dominates the market because no other company has offered gamers anything better in terms of value. "The fact that Valve was there waiting for the switch [to digital downloads] isn't their fault--it shows they are savvy," said MCV's Michael French.
Naturally, rival services are quick to swoop in and cry anti-competitive. One unnamed source told TechRadar that the matchmaking system isn't open and thus feeds people back to Steam. "Even [Valve] being a developer and a publisher at the same time means that other developers feel like they could be second-rate citizens (or at best, on the same level as all the indie games on the service)," the unnamed source said.
TechRadar's entire article offers many different views on Steam, some of which point to its early entry into the market with Counter-Strike and Half-Life at hand. There's also an analysis on why Games for Windows failed, with EDGE magazine blaming the failure on the company's need to tackle piracy by locking saved games to online accounts.
Does Valve really have a monopoly on the PC market? Probably not. Eventually it boils down to content, presentation, and accessibility. Valve has spent many years perfecting the service, has amassed a wide user-base since its launch seven years ago. Of course, its popularity may be as simple as familiarity: PC gamers are familiar with Left 4 Dead 2, Half-Life, and the Valve brand. Will that still hold true ten years from now? Maybe not.
Does Steam have an unfair monopoly of digital distribution?
Second, Steam is a very useful tool to use for digital distribution and management. It has a nice interface, good download speeds, awesome deals. And while at launch it's prices are generally just MSRP, with no ~$10 sales you get at Best Buy or some other places, their weekend and midweek deals are often amazing. My backlog of games has tripled since I started using Steam (near exclusively, now).
I don't think they have an unfair monopoly, and even if they do, it's completely the result of no one else stepping up to the plate. Granted, I think Impulse will take off in a few years (which'll be great), it's just not on the same level as Steam (yet).
Oh, and Direct2Drive lost my interest completely since I can't use my Oblivion mods with it.
Second, Steam is a very useful tool to use for digital distribution and management. It has a nice interface, good download speeds, awesome deals. And while at launch it's prices are generally just MSRP, with no ~$10 sales you get at Best Buy or some other places, their weekend and midweek deals are often amazing. My backlog of games has tripled since I started using Steam (near exclusively, now).
I don't think they have an unfair monopoly, and even if they do, it's completely the result of no one else stepping up to the plate. Granted, I think Impulse will take off in a few years (which'll be great), it's just not on the same level as Steam (yet).
Oh, and Direct2Drive lost my interest completely since I can't use my Oblivion mods with it.
Most, if not all steam games being released come on CD as well if a user wishes to go to the store and get one. People buy games from steam because they download fast, have no securom, links up with current friends, can buy gifts for friends, etc. They aren't forcing anyone to install steam on hardly anything (orange box is possibly the exception). On top of that, they have killer deals over the holidays and there are specials nearly every week that someone wouldn't find on direct2drive or at the store. IMO, using the word "monopoly" implies they are using bad practice to get the advantage and they are not.
"Even [Valve] being a developer and a publisher at the same time means that other developers feel like they could be second-rate citizens"
only 2/10 of the top ten are valve games currently. thats the same kind of bs that the borderlands guy said yet his own game was on the top ten on steam for months and it was even on sale this past weekend!! like joel said. there's amazon, gamestop, D2D. you can purchase your games through retail or straight from the publisher.
d2d could make a similar but better content delivery system. steam has a lot of issues. but they're just going to talk smack instead of improving their own service.
Pretty fail logic--for example, this doesn't mean they they aren't acting in a monopolistic and uncompetitive way and need to be split into two different companies to promote competition and drive prices down.
That being said, although Steam may have a monopoly on the digital download market for games, they certainly haven't done anything unfair or anti-competitive--it's not like Steam has outrageous fees or something. If you want to complain about an unfair monopoly, look at Ticketmaster/Live Nation.
Another point about steam is when I was looking over the games I noticed that for the newer titles they pretty much were the same price as where I would buy a full boxed version with DVD media content. Ummm if you buy digital content with no media shouldn't the price be set somewhat lower I mean your not getting physical media just a file on your drive.
If they were to abuse their stature, like some of the largest monopolies in the world (no need to name names now is there?), there would have been a reason to complain. But so far, Valve seems to play nice with everybody.
In fact, I wish more companies tried to find a better balance between their basic aim (and need) to make money and fair business conduct.
Speaking of digital distribution systems and playing nice, I like what GOG has done so far.
I still play my old games. Even Starflight, Begins, and other ancient games. They all still work. That's how it should be.
I fear you youngers may all have to learn a hard lesson in another decade, (or sooner), when you lose all your Steam games due to someone else overshadowing then crushing Steam. Hope I'm wrong...but you should be thinking about it.
itunes =/= best. D:
As for steam, screw it. Yes, steam will be/is synonymous with PC gaming at some/this point, but does anyone except rival companies really care? Monopolies are evil because they practice anti-competitive practices, are ultimately bad for the consumer, and treat their employees like ass. Steam does none of that.
But honestly. They stop selling games in stores in a boxed version, and are now complaining that there is not enough digital distribution services and the ones that do exist control the market. Guess what, that tends to happen when a company already has a client base. In order to prevent it, you need to offer something that the current services do not offer.