It launches only on x64 right? ARM comes later if I recall correctly the rumors.

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Quoting: kuhpunktEven if true - it still has nothing to do with your claim that Valve lowered the fees for big publishers. They didn't. They still have a 30%/70% share.

Fine. I'm out.

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Oh come on. Don't point the exception to the rule and call it the norm. :D

I'm not saying that indies can't sell millions. Most of those who did I bought a copy as well so I know (including stardew). But they are not consistent. It's a combination of having a good game, healthy PR and be a little lucky with network effect. But just a 0.0x% of all of them makes it. They win the lottery.

While for big publishers it's the opposite. They run commercials everywhere and they sell millions even with a broken or boring game. Then they might call "underperforming title" and in extreme cases not even recoup the costs of the commercials. But to not hit the threshold is just a 0.0x% of all the titles they publish. Publishers are consistent, because that's how all business survives the "natural selection".

Lowering the fees for low sales titles would mean that more indies can have another shot to the moon or can have a less hard life while they try their best to make somethign good. Lowering fees for big sales titles may benefit the occasional Barone out there (and I'm happy for him, he deserves), but mostly help investors in large publishers. I don't think I have to come here and enumerate how many exceptional launches of AAA games resulted in mass burnouts and firings in the ranks in the last years.

And I say this with candid honesty. I too work with professionalism (hoping to not burnout or be fired after doing all I can to meet deadlines) and I too invest my little savings (in hope of largest return as possible). I'd hate to be exploited as a worker as much as being exploited as an investor.

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Quoting: kuhpunkt

Quoting: MalBut when Epic arrived they felt the pressure to even lowered fees for large publishers. That closes any possible claim of monopoly in front of any court.

Valve never lowered the fees for large publishers. They lowered the fees for EVERYBODY who made a certain amount of money - and that was announced before the EGS was announced. Maybe they heard some industry chatter, but there were no signs of that.

"EVERYBODY who made a certain amount of money" doesn't make it large publishers? Without mass investments into commercials it's hard to consistently make "certain amount of money" in any business. Let alone a overcrowded business like VGs. And that is essentially publishers business and role in the industry.

I remembered that EGS was not open but already announced. I might be wrong. But if they did it before EGS was announced, that would make a monopoly case even weaker: there was already enough competition to put them under pressure even before Tim crusade. Now it might not even be worth considering.

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Quoting: kuhpunktSteam is getting 20 years old soon. Has Valve ever exploited their situation? Did they ever raise the cut they demand? Did they ever make it worse for customers? No, they improved.

Because they have a philosophy that works and makes sense. They understand that this is a symbiotic relationship... and that's good.

If I understand something of USA laws, had they rised their cut over the years that would have indeed resulted into an illegal monopoly case right away. But when Epic arrived they felt the pressure to even lowered fees for large publishers. That closes any possible claim of monopoly in front of any court.

Though I would have much preferred if they instead walked the irreverent Apple way. Reduce indeed the fees but only for small indies.

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Quoting: GuestI know so many linux users don't like a bad word said about Valve but their market power should concern everyone

Nah. Most of the people, linux or not, share the same fears in the long run. What will happen to Valve if Gaben has a car accident? Will the new boss be still a gamer or a businessman first?
Nobody is happy if GOG struggles. Healthy alternatives are sorely needed. And their no drm model is added value to PC gaming, even if not necessarily linux and despite recent missteps. It's just that the only other -financially- credible competitor is already the worst there can possibly be. So it makes no sense to "detach" from Steam by fearing that in the future it turn in the very dystopian service that its direct competitor today already is.

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Nobody could have anticipated that. :whistle:

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Quoting: zen_xeno

Quoting: Mal

Quoting: randylThe only big drawback to the current base Xbox controller for Windows is that it uses AA batteries instead of a self-contained rechargeable.

Odd. That's the main reason why I don't like ds.

You mean you don't prefer a proprietary offer for something that already has a standardized solution? I for one don't want to be able to go to my nearest store to solve the most common problem in all of consumer electronics, I want to order a special product™. But even better would be if the battery is sealed inside the device, then all I need to do is throw the whole thing away and order a new one!

LOL seriously, I love that Valve used AA batteries in the Steam controller - I order a 20 pack of AA rechargeable every few years. Its just a fact of life that rechargeable batteries wear out over time, why would anyone want to use a proprietary power source instead of a standard one? Makes no sense.

I'm glad its been indicated that the power pack in the Deck should be replaceable, with a little effort.

Also that, it's true.

The other reason is that when they are empty you can simply pause, swap the batteries in the controller with those in the recharger, unpause and go back to your game. With integrated batteries you have to use the cable.

Then on PC that's most often not possible, since most of the controller API won't dynamically detect controllers but only once at startup so you necessarily have to restart the game. It's another one of the little things that consoles have right but devs on PC can't be make to care. It won't even be a feature needed for the deck mark of quality since controller is integrated in the deck.

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https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2409578462 [External Link]

Anyone tried this already? It replaces pops abstraction with absolute numbers. And removes all performance issues in the process. I want to try it next time I start a game.

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Quoting: randylThe only big drawback to the current base Xbox controller for Windows is that it uses AA batteries instead of a self-contained rechargeable.

Odd. That's the main reason why I don't like ds.

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