Valve on Steam

[CSN NewsBot]

CVG recently got the skinny on Steam from Valve's Doug Lombardi. The interview in question covers the hopes and dreams of Valve when it comes to the Steam system, and asks the big questions. Questions much like the one that will follow the period at the end of this sentence.

What protection against piracy does Steam afford software released through it?



Doug Lombardi: Steam's encryption system has proven effective for both electronic and retail distribution. The holiday Half-Life 2 was released was a big year for new releases. And like many holidays, unfortunately, many of the titles released that year experienced "Day Zero" piracy - meaning the final product is available on the black market but the retail versions are still in replication. Half-Life 2 was a notable exception and the only title encrypted through Steam.

The interview has a lot more in store for you. I dare you to read it. No, I double dare you!

[washuplushie]

Steam: keeping cheapskates from playing CSS since 2002

[Diamond Dust]

Not much in the interview, at all. But I still like steam

[LeRaldo]

they're fooling themselves if they believe half-life 2 wasn't available for download illegally on the day of it's release. it was all over the place.

[acidsnow]

I wouldn't know I do not engage is such illegal activities. He should also refer to the "black market" as the "Informal economy" a lot less offensive.



p.s. anyone wanna get high?

[entRo]

HL2 was available on launch day, as was Episode 1. Episode 2 will be up there as well, and since it's a single player game, there isn't much incentive to buy it rather than download it.

[washuplushie]

entRo wrote..

HL2 was available on launch day, as was Episode 1. Episode 2 will be up there as well, and since it's a single player game, there isn't much incentive to buy it rather than download it.

other than, you know, being honest and supporting a good developer

[Gpig]

washuplushie wrote..

other than, you know, being honest and supporting a good developer

I'll support them through 1.6 ingame ads apparently. Also, he defined day 0 as meaning you could pirate it before real users could even buy it.

[Shadow]

acidsnow wrote..

I wouldn't know I do not engage is such illegal activities. He should also refer to the "black market" as the "Informal economy" a lot less offensive.



p.s. anyone wanna get high?

"African-American Trading Post" is the preferred nomenclature.

[Scanner]

acidsnow wrote..

He should also refer to the "black market" as the "Informal economy" a lot less offensive.

Maybe he takes great offense at people ripping off a game they worked hard to write and for which they catch nothing but grief 24/7. If I were in his shoes, perhaps I wouldn't worry about offending the sensibilities of thieves either?

[wolf8218]

damn racists.



im rich james bitches.



CHARLIE MURPHY!

[entRo]

washuplushie wrote..

other than, you know, being honest and supporting a good developer

I think they'll make enough money. Maybe when they start delivering on their promises of reduced prices through Steam, pirates will start paying.



I'll be buying Episode 2 because I want to play TF2, and Portal multiplayer if it exists.

[acidsnow]

Scanner wrote..

If I were in his shoes, perhaps I wouldn't worry about offending the sensibilities of thieves either?

acidsnow wrote..

I wouldn't know, I do not engage is such illegal activities.

l2read



There are also plenty of valve costumers that have not pirated their software, do they deserve to be offended?

[entRo]

acidsnow wrote..

There are also plenty of valve costumers that have not pirated their software, do they deserve to be offended?

If they find people talking about piracy offensive, then yes, they absolutely deserve it.

[azz0r]

Half Life 2 was not warezed by its launch date.



Episode one was.