Digital Distributers Refuse to Sell Modern Warfare 2

[DoctorFinger]

In what has to be considered the opening salvo of an all out digital distribution war, Direct2Drive has announced that it will not sell the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 because of the game's integration with rival Valve's Steamworks system.

The IGN-owned digital retailer is protesting the title's use of the Steamworks - a suite of tools which handle updates, patches and authentication of the game. To use a Steamworks-integrated game, the user has to install Steam, regardless of which digital storefront it was purchased from. This of course does not sit well with Steam competitors, who feel they're being forced to support a rival in these sales, with Direct2Drive going so far as to call Steamworks a "Trojan Horse."

Gamers Gate and Impulse are also similarly refusing to sell Steamworks-integrated titles. Modern Warfare 2 is the most high profile game to date which uses Steamworks, and it's expected to do record breaking sales numbers upon it's release next week. Of course this comes on the heels of numerous controversies surrounding the game, in particular the PC release. Either way, this is likely only the first volley in what will likely be an extensive war between the industry leading Steam and the rest of the digital game storefronts over Steamworks integration.

Source - Gamasutra.

[muddi900]

I don't know about other DD sites, but Direct2Drive have no issue with Dawn Of War 2, why do they have a problem MW2.

[Adam Blue]

D2D has a point. And with some titles, Steam requires you to buy a game and DLC separately, whereas D2D will have it bundled and cheaper. As it works, Steam makes more money by having its own DLC distribution.

[Telefrog]

Originally Posted by muddi900

I don't know about other DD sites, but Direct2Drive have no issue with Dawn Of War 2, why do they have a problem MW2.

Actually, they did have a problem with it. If you read the response Kotaku got back from them on this, they admitted that they had been evaluating the issue since DoW2 and Empire: Total War. Conclusion? They don't like it.

[muddi900]

Well its kinda a raw deal. Even if they do buy the game from you, they'll have the other guy's store right in their customer's face, come DLC time.

But how about GFW live, the reason they give should also exclude all titles that require Games for windows.

[Telefrog]

Originally Posted by muddi900

But how about GFW live, the reason they give should also exclude all titles that require Games for windows.

I think the big difference is that GFWL doesn't offer full games for sale through their service. Obviously, the "Trojan Horse" comment is just hyperbole to gamers, but to any competing DD service, Steam integration is exactly that.

[roboninja]

This one is a little more understandable. However, why does the game itself even handle this? I would think it would be up to the digital distributor to handle all updates to the game. Of course, then they hold a greater responsibility to the customer if something does not work right. Might be a case of "careful what you wish for".

EDIT: Do retail copies of the game require the user to install Steam as well? I can see that being a real pisser, too. Imagine a consumer that hates Steam, maybe even DD in general. He buys his retail game, then finds out he has to install Steam just to patch his game.

[Telefrog]

Originally Posted by roboninja

EDIT: Do retail copies of the game require the user to install Steam as well? I can see that being a real pisser, too. Imagine a consumer that hates Steam, maybe even DD in general. He buys his retail game, then finds out he has to install Steam just to patch his game.

Yes. Retail copies will also include Steam just like DoW2 and E:TW.

[Dukefrukem]

I've never purchased anything of D2D. Is it worth it? Does it update games like steam does automatically?

[total]

Originally Posted by roboninja

EDIT: Do retail copies of the game require the user to install Steam as well? I can see that being a real pisser, too. Imagine a consumer that hates Steam, maybe even DD in general. He buys his retail game, then finds out he has to install Steam just to patch his game.

Umm this has been happening since Half Life 2. No not just with steam games.

[menage]

Half Life 2 is a Valve game, so that's understandable.

[CappinCanuck]

Originally Posted by Dukefrukem

I've never purchased anything of D2D. Is it worth it? Does it update games like steam does automatically?

No, but on par it's cheaper. Also, yes, it is downloaded but it's still often a stand alone. So, D2D isn't a client like Impulse and Steam, it's just a download source. So for people wanting to get Dig. Distrib. and not necessarily a client with DRM, then D2D is a good choice.

Oh, and I wish GoGamer had gotten into the boycott as well.

[Wilkz07]

so steam is going to make a lot more money? who the fuck cares, or did i miss the point of the article. still i stand by my comment. good for steam to make more money.

[Cit Phil Cit]

There is a reason why I have a over a hundred games on Steam. Compared to the other DD sites or services, Steam in my opinion offers the best value.

Valve is a successful developer and a publisher, and it is privately owned: there is no board of directors or stockholders that can force the company to be sold to another company for the pure motivation of profit. Granted, it could be sold at some future point, but, the company itself is well-funded and has managed itself for years. It is a solid foundation.

And I like Steam, that helps. The other DD sites certainly have a right to complain if they see the largest of their kind getting special treatment, but, it's business.

[Cyndair]

I love Steam but I can see D2D's argument here. Still.... they stand to lose a lot of money that they would earn on the sales of MW2 if they boycott it. Customers aren't going to not buy the game just because they can't get it on D2D. They'll go elsewhere.

[crazyD]

Steam should stop selling games that use Gamespy. Fairs fair. The overall trojan issue isn't a bad thing for consumers so much as it is for D2D. Fuck 'em.

[Spectre-7]

Originally Posted by total

Umm this has been happening since Half Life 2. No not just with steam games.

Originally Posted by Wilkz07

so steam is going to make a lot more money? who the fuck cares, or did i miss the point of the article. still i stand by my comment. good for steam to make more money.

Well, seems my sentiments have mostly been covered already.

It feels like gaming sites are trying to make a big deal out of it, but it's a perfectly rational decision for the digital distributors to make, and my first reaction last night was a big, "So what?"

[Esquilax1138]

D2D = QQ
Steam = Pew Pew

Welcome to Capitalism, go cry some more!

[CappinCanuck]

Originally Posted by Cit Phil Cit

There is a reason why I have a over a hundred games on Steam. Compared to the other DD sites or services, Steam in my opinion offers the best value.

Valve is a successful developer and a publisher, and it is privately owned: there is no board of directors or stockholders that can force the company to be sold to another company for the pure motivation of profit. Granted, it could be sold at some future point, but, the company itself is well-funded and has managed itself for years. It is a solid foundation.

And I like Steam, that helps. The other DD sites certainly have a right to complain if they see the largest of their kind getting special treatment, but, it's business.

None of those things mean that Steam has to be built into the game though. I'd like to keep the choice as I can with most games. I think that's more the issue. Nobody is arguing that Steam is a bad service or that they wouldn't prefer to buy it on Steam if they had the choice.

I'm more worried about the consumer side of it. If publishers start building in some clients over others, they could effectively carve out the market for certain games and we wouldn't have the competition therein.

Originally Posted by Esquilax1138

D2D = QQ
Steam = Pew Pew

Welcome to Capitalism, go cry some more!

True, to a degree. It's getting closer and closer to anti-competitive behaviour though. I always worry when companies use their market share to get ahead instead of actually doing good business and offering good service.

[rein]

Steam is fine and all but it's going to suck if other digital content distributors get squeezed out. Competition in a market place, digital or not, is a good thing.