The forced integration of the PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with Valve’s Steamworks platform has turned off other digital game distribution services.
IGN-owned Direct2Drive has opted not to offer MW2 on its service reports Gamasutra, calling the forced use of Steam a “Trojan Horse.” The company will offer $5 off other Activision games as compensation. From a statement on Direct2Drive’s website:
At Direct2Drive, we believe strongly that when you buy a game from us, you shouldn't be forced to install and run a 3rd party software client to be able to play the game you purchased.
Meanwhile, VoodooExtreme received confirmation from both Stardock and GamersGate that neither of those two services will sell MW2 either. Stardock elaborated to VE on the reasoning for not selling MW2 through their Impulse service:
We share some of the same concerns as Direct2Drive over the bundling of the Steam client with the game. The most obvious issue is the forced inclusion of a competitor's store that blocks us from carrying the game.
Our issues with the game are solely with the Steamworks bundling. We enjoy a great relationship with Activision and would love to sell the title, but not with Steam.
GP: A commenter on the Gamasutra story noted that Direct2Drive offers other games that require a Steam install, such as Zeno Clash. Of course that game will not move nearly the amount of copies MW2 will, so it appears in this case that IGN/Direct2Drive is just being selective in its stand against Steam.
Comments
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Wow, MW2 uses Steamworks? I love Steam and it's nice to have deeper integration with Steam.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
"Man, I love Steam."
"Eh, Steam is alright."
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Yea, Steam is really, So'kay. Don't like the idea of every time I double click on Half Life 2, or Overlord 2, or Warhammer Dawn of War 2, Steam has to launch.
Ooohhh yea, when I got Dawn of War 2. I could of sworn I paid for a disc? No. I paid for the right to use that disc (A DUAL LAYER DVD AT THAT!) to install Steam, and to DOWNLOAD the game, from Steam, and damn right IGNORE the DVD. yea... That took, what? A couple hours? With what should of only taken, 30 minutes?!
But the article is good. It tells me. "As much as you like IW2. Don't bother with it. It'll be like Dawn of War 2, only it will take FOUR hours."
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Many of the games I have for Steam are for online play as is- I'd need an internet connection either way.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
So i guess sec-u-rom low level drivers and other 3rd party software that acts as DRM protection schemes don't count, but steam does? Newsflash d2d, I buy games from d2d and steam.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
So... wait...
They don't want to sell MW2 because they believe you shouldn't have to run 3rd-party software to play the game you bought...
... yet they still sell The Sims series and Spore?
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
I can understand why the competitors don't wish to have this game in their service. It's going to sell huge numbers and competitors don't want to increase Steam's install base with this game.
This game has its own matchmaking service and everything. The only thing that is Valve owned is the VAC system. Instead of using the tried, tested and annoying PunkBuster they've decided to use VAC.
That's it.
"God, is that you?"
"No! It's a me, Mario!"
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
There are WAY better reasons to boycott this POS game.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
If they really wanted to be taken seriously they could make more of a stand about all the other games they carry that come with arguably worse DRM pack-ins. But then they wouldn't have many games left to sell. (Partial credit to Stardock for not having DRM in their own games but still...)
On the other hand, Valve might want to consider shipping some standalone libraries for Steamworks. Cause it is fair for other stores to not want to promote a competetor's product (they just shouldn't act all moral-high-ground over it) and this might make other companies think twice before considering using Steamworks as a solution.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Like how Bioshock was supposed to have had SecuROM removed from it, yet when I bought the game from D2D during their $5 5-year anniversary sale it installed SecuROM on my system, which then forced me to do a reformat because I could no longer burn ANY CDs or DVDs? Yea. That's right.
But no, Steam is definitely a bigger problem than selling what amounts to legalized malware. Yup. Much bigger.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Considering that steamworks integration is done by the developer...
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
they have a few games that use steam as the DRM and D2D still sells it, I think its more to do that the game was knackered down for consoles so much they decided not to even bother selling it.
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
D2D doesn't care one bit about the fact that the game is essentially just a console port.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
I think they do and thus not touching it.
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
---
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Yeah right. Beause that's far more likely than them not wanting to distribute the client of a direct competitor. So, how is life out there outside of reality?
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Blissfull *licklick* ^^
They do that all the time tho IE sell games with compitors crap in them, one exsample
http://www.direct2drive.com/1302/product/Buy-Dark-Messiah-of-Might-and-M...
I for a fact the online play is via stream, http://www.direct2drive.com/5559/product/Buy-Alpha-Prime-Download
the US version uses steam as its DRM/activation I am pretty sure, but my point is they do it all the time and this move is mroe arbatraty than anythign else...
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
---
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
It's simply them not wanting a competitor to exist, nothing more. Steam is required to play the game because steam is the match making service: they're hardly standing up for their principles.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
I don't think so. Why should they be required to sell a product that contains their direct competition to be installed to even work? I know I sure as hell wouldn't sell anything that gave direct access to my competitor, it would make no sense.
Its not that they don't want the competition, its that they don't want to be required to take part in diseminating that competition. I totally symphathize with that view point. I have Steam, it is an ok service with some benefits and some drawbacks. Steam has everyright to operate, sell games how it wants, etc. That doesn't mean that I should be forced to use it with a non-Valve game that I bought at a retail outlet.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
They shouldn't be required, and they aren't. They aren't selling it. I just take offense to them sweet talking it to make it sound like they're TAKING A STAND AGAINST EVIL and standing up for their principles, when that's hardly the case. True competition wouldn't want to silence another one, and instead want to praise their service as being superior and showing that off. That they would prevent people from using their service simply because it gives access to another clearly shows that they are not confident in their own and that it as such not worth using. Their loss.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
one good reason is IIRC they already sell games that require steam to work (Empire total war? from the D2D page for the game "This game uses Steam for DRM")
they even sell L4D strategy guides! nothing says competition like selling guides to games your competitor sells!
so yeah.. that excuse of theirs... doesn't work.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Steam is not the matchmaking service, Infinity Ward have developed some proprietary software as the matchmaking service for the PC. Steam (or more accurately, Steamworks) just added the achievements for the PC version, and something else I can't remember right now.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Non-Steam Digital Deliverers Uninterested in Selling MW2
Sorry, matchmaking service wasn't correct. It is however the account you use to be put IN the matchmaking service. Your steam account IS your Modern Warfare 2 online account.