News - Retailers may boycott videogames if publishers continue to use Steam

[HEXUS]

Retailers speak out against Steam's domination of the PC gaming sector.

Read more.

[kingpotnoodle]

All they will do is drive more publishers onto Steam and/or people will buy boxed games from other retailers... plenty to choose from!

Unless EVERY retailer stopped doing games then the only losers will be the retailers who do pull out.

Bunch of 'tards!

[Brewster0101]

Maybe if retailers pulled their socks up and move with the times and met the demands of the consumer, they would be a better position. Downloadable content is the way forwArd. Films, games, tv.

[Terbinator]

But who goes into a store and buys off the shelf anyway, especially PC gamers: game.co.uk> PC games - bobs your uncle.

In addition, if retailers did provide a rival service and then Steam kicked up a fuss and remove support in titles etc all thats going to do is fragment the user base, not revive/unite it.

Steam only comes into its worth when the deals are on, rest of the year its as much use as Anne Franks drum kit and a lot less likeable.

[Xenshin]

Seems these certain retailers are losing money and pointing the finger out of anger instead of trying to create a better service.

Personally I love steam though I must admit I tend to use steam a lot when it has deals and rarely when it does not. In the event I want a boxed PC game such as a collectors edition or just to add to my collection of boxed games, I turn to Amazon or other online retailers since they are usually much cheaper. It's been years since I have bought a PC game in store.

[mycarsavw]

Maybe if retailers pulled their socks up and move with the times and met the demands of the consumer, they would be a better position. Downloadable content is the way forwArd. Films, games, tv.

One has a long way to go in terms of connection speeds and download allowances before everything moves in this direction.

Two Steam games and some people's limits are reached.

It's the ISPs who need to pull up their socks first.

[Biscuit]

The fact of the matter is: Steam provides a service that the modern day gamer wants and needs, and it does so very well. No one else comes close.

Pretty much says it all for me!

Let them cry and threaten all they want, its another case similar to the postal strike and these BBC journalist strikes. No-one will give a crap because a perfectly decent service exists elsewhere.

If some of them screwed their heads in and thought about it they would buy up one of the smaller online distributors and start working on their service to make it more of a competitor.

What dont steam have that gamers want? A better offline gaming capability. There is the angle now gooooo.

[Percy1983]

Personnally I just go for the best deal for me, which is usually steam deals or a boxed copy from an online retailer.

Give me a better deal and I will pop in and buy from you, simply as that.

[kingpotnoodle]

I love steam and buy all my games on Steam now, it's just convenient with automatic updates etc. I've bought a lot of things on sale, very cheap (<£5)... I don't care about playing GameX day after release, in fact I'd rather wait for a few patches!

I have a 1.5-2Mb service (I had to promise Be I wouldn't complain about that, or they wouldn't connect me - I am a long cable from the exchange at the moment) and although I have to wait a long time for the downloads I still like Steam and it's still quicker than waiting for Amazon/Play/Game to stick it in the post.

5 Openreach vans in the road during the night though, fingers crossed this means they are cabling up the area for Infinity

[kalniel]

Let me see.. retailers cash in on second hand market and promote it, while refusing to give a dime to the publishers for reselling the games. Publishers think 'sod that, I'm off to Steam where I still get paid', and now the retailers are complaining that they're moving to Steam?

Retailers - talk to publishers and find a way of getting the second hand market to benefit both of you. Then you won't need to worry about Steam so much.

[Terbinator]

Let me see.. retailers cash in on second hand market and promote it, while refusing to give a dime to the publishers for reselling the games. Publishers think 'sod that, I'm off to Steam where I still get paid', and now the retailers are complaining that they're moving to Steam?

Retailers - talk to publishers and find a way of getting the second hand market to benefit both of you. Then you won't need to worry about Steam so much.

The second market is a lot smaller on PC, and arguably non-existent as some retailers don't let you trade in PC games.

[kalniel]

The second market is a lot smaller on PC, and arguably non-existent as some retailers don't let you trade in PC games.

It's the same publishers and retailers involved for the most part though. How much space to you see dedicated to a publishers PC games compared to second hand games in most stores these days?

[danroyle]

my local game and gamestation between them have a handful of pc games it's dire.The Xbox one selection of games is bigger in both stores.

And i tend to buy online anyway as its cheaper.

[kingpotnoodle]

What dont steam have that gamers want? A better offline gaming capability. There is the angle now gooooo.

This.

Only fault with Steam. Although as I'm always on at home the only problem I have is my laptop, so I just connect via phone/bluetooth to 3G, sign in and then it's fine.

[cheesemp]

my local game and gamestation between them have a handful of pc games it's dire.The Xbox one selection of games is bigger in both stores.

And i tend to buy online anyway as its cheaper.

Agreed 100%. I can't remember the last time I purchased from Game/Gamestation etc - They just aren't cheap except for the odd second hand xbox game. The PC game selection is now so poor I often don't even look.

I just want steam to sell games for the same price they are on major retailers i.e amazon and I will probably never buy another boxed game again. Take black ops - £40 on steam - £35 elsewhere!

[spac3d]

The retailers that want to boycott Steam are clearly just missing the whole point. The market has evolved and they don't seem to realise it. It's a needed step forward as its a incredible way of keeping the publishers and gamer in touch, with patches, updates, and balance changes. Trying to stop publishers use steam is a ridiculous idea and if they can't step up and keep prices on the high-street lower, people will go to steam and not leave the house.