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Oh wow... Avatars don't mean someone doesn't have a point.
But if I buy DVDs in stores, they literally come with a digital code for a completely different platform? If I buy an apple product, I will have to use a different platform, which will be advertised on the packaging. If target sells me a soundtrack of a current movie, I bet there's gonna be a "now in cinemas" sign nearby.
I'm running out of silly analogies lol.
I'm fine with valve not allowing explicit advertising or even linking to different online game stores,I guess, but there's so much more going on. No console release trailers or news? No Crossplay information? What about being able to offer in-game currency as an mmo, for example? Gog is happily announcing whenever there are new games from their library on steam crossbuy or whatever it's called.
Idk man I find this all kinds of wrong, even if the general idea is understandable.
No Valve logo here. Am I allowed to post my opinion or should I go avatarless?
I mean, this is why the only reasonable reading is that Valve won't apply the rule equally - everything we know (and that they themselves have said) is that a) they try to be as loose as possible about rules and guidelines at first (to the detriment of devs who can't read Valve's mind), and b) because to apply the rule equally is a gross negative for both consumers and devs.
Yes, Valve do shitty things without realising, but the worst case scenario here is way way worse for everyone involved, so it seems unlikely they will do it. It would basically be a massive heel turn from the company.
Honestly this sucks for everyone except valve. So no, it's not "good" first page posters, Jesus christ.
I don't think much will change about that. Users can ostensibly still use the forum for questions, and if the developers are active there there's nothing written about them not being allowed to answer users. That's hardly promotion.
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They should just ban pedo games outright. Even if they don't have explicit sexual content as submitted to Steam, it's fairly obvious what these sorts of games are about.
A rule to prevent the breaking of another rule isn't really solving anything. It's like taping over a crack.
A rule to prevent the breaking of another rule isn't really solving anything. It's like taping over a crack.
You have a fire emblem avatar so ur obviously biased towards nintendo and aren't allowed to speak your opinion in pc threads soz bro thems the rules
/s
I wouldn't be surprised if this is the rule on consoles as well. Don't think I've seen a PS4 or XBO logo in promotional materials in eShop trailers or vice versa on the PS Store.
While I do think the rules could be a bit more specific, I get why this policy has changed, both in terms of the Bokuten case and similar situations as well as developers advertising the launch of the EGS version launch through the wishlists they've gotten on Steam. That's just questionable all-around.
Crying foul about not being able to use the views and clicks you've gotten through Steam's promotional tools in order to sell a copy elsewhere seems a bit much. Plus, developers are still free to use their social media to spread the word on whatever.
While I do think the rules could be a bit more specific, I get why this policy has changed, both in terms of the Bokuten case and similar situations as well as developers advertising the launch of the EGS version launch through the wishlists they've gotten on Steam. That's just questionable all-around.
Crying foul about not being able to use the views and clicks you've gotten through Steam's promotional tools in order to sell a copy elsewhere seems a bit much. Plus, developers are still free to use their social media to spread the word on whatever.
People are here either saying it's related to loli/under-18 content hosted offsite, or that other companies most likely do this. Let's not derail with Steam defense force accusations, when if Nintendo or Sony did this it would be just the same reaction. Because, honestly, whilst this could have bad ramifications, it is just business.
Valve like any other company is under no obligation to offer free marketing services to its competitors on its own store. From a business point of view, it makes sense and I don't see how anyone can see it differently to be honest.
I would never allow a product advertising itself inside my store as already available in another store while it's still 6 months away from coming into my store to begin with, what kind of moron says yes to that ?
I would never allow a product advertising itself inside my store as already available in another store while it's still 6 months away from coming into my store to begin with, what kind of moron says yes to that ?
Which other store allowed news and announcements about other competing platforms on their service? Xbox? PS? EGS? Nintendo?
Can you name one? Where is my news feed for ghost of tsushima on xbox, which is my news feed of Mario oddessy on the playstation?
Looks like to me bad actors among developers have poisoned the goodwill and now Valve has to close loopholes in their rules.
Well IF this stops EGS exclusive titles promotion then there's no reason why a regular STEAM user shouldn't be glad about this. Its not always about 'defending your favourite corporation'.
Ahh right, that makes sense. I forgot Steam actually allowed adult stuff now.
Idk if this is really that big of a loss for those devs considering they are getting cold hard cash in return. Valve will also realize this themselves and know this wont sway any would be Epic exclusive courters, this only really affects the people that try to circumvent the approval process.
I mean, this whole "stop EGS exclusive title promotion" is a bit stupid because Valve has told devs to keep the steam pages open if they went to EGS if they wanted. Mainly because SEO works on Valve side, so people googling the game will find the Steam page easily in the top 3 results. If they had wanted to go scorched earth they would have time ago. The context of the situation (aka, just after a whole mess with an "all ages VN" that contained "bad assets" and had an R18 patch outside) seems to point towards they being more worried about being liable for holding "bad assets".
How so? I mean, to the end user I guess it's one avenue they won't be advertised by but that is hardly a loss. There were so many games that had Epic Store versions but a Steam realease "coming soon" that was just used to support the Epic version which seems... good for the end user but makes no sense for Valve. Why should Valve offer a support forum for a game not on their store? Can I get a Discussion page for Animal Crossing? No? Huh... that isn't fair...
The issue as well with devs posting links to uncensored patches or 18+ mods for the games was also a sketchy as it skirts around the rating of the game and could cause legal trouble for Valve when someone buys a game that isn't rated 18 and then has easy access to an 18+ patch or mod right there on the store's official forum.
Now, if this impacts ACTUAL fixes, like an old unsupported game with fan mods that fix or enhance the game, or something like the RE4HD project THEN it'd be bad. But I don't think that's the case?
Are R18 patches still common? I thought they were from before Steam just let you have straight up porn games.
There are R18 patches for games that Steam wouldnt allow the R18 version on (because of non-allowed content such as lolicon). Devs put a sanitized "all-ages" version on Steam and then offer an unlock-patch in their page (or just sell the R18 version in their own store, such as Mangagamer).
For instance, the likeliest reason for this whole thing to happen was Bokuten, which had an all-ages version on Steam, but Mangagamer had a patch to add R18 content. When creating the all-ages version, Mangagamer forgot to delete some of the problematic scenes which were later discovered by Valve and caused the game to be temporarily banned (while they cleaned it).
Irc, the whole rule of "cant promote R18 patches on Steam" was a soft rule (aka, Valve told devs not to do it or be banned) but wasnt really written down,
As restrictions get lifted the edge cases and red lines shift, now the r18 patches are for prohibited content like underaged-characters in those VNs
Kinda. It makes it possible for people to see the game if they have adult stuff OFF in their preferences and the game doesn't get the adult rating.
As a consumer i don't want more ads or promotional material thrown my way.
I complained when Steam added their News section in my library and with the same mindset i am all for less ads.
It is also good that racist or pedo or whatever else similar content has less ways to circumvent the rules.
So how is in not good for me?
The its just business part takes place in all discussions. Some ppl tell them why would they care if it's just business if they (the consumer) don't profit from it. The tone in the valve threads are always the same. Some ppl blind love for the company and some blind hate. But every critique against valve is basically hate in the eyes of the lovers so what do I know.
And you seem to see arguments in favor as blind love so that makes you no different then.
This kind of talk never gets anywhere, if you have a specific argument about a topic then it is best to make your point and not post vague accusations.
There is preferential treatment for Valve in these matters because they have not given reason to not trust them with these kind of things, as mentioned they have rules that they don't enforce at all.
It seems to me that every store should have the rule that we are talking about to cover themselves in all sorts of cases whether it is circumventing censorship rules or promoting a competing platform like EGS while being an exclusive. If we find that Valve forces devs to remove any mention of other platforms in patch notes or similar situations then the attitude towards Valve will certainly change from a lot of people.
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Considering your post history concerning Valve, the talk about bias is hysterical.
Perhaps, but anything to get people to realize that a 12% cut like Epic charges gets you an extremely barebones service compared to Steam's is a good thing in my opinion. I don't see a reason why they can't co-exist, but I know I'll always take the more feature rich platform.
[Jim Sterling] Steam's Reluctance to Approve Hong-Kong Themed Games Raises Suspicions of China Bootlicking.
In this video, Jim argues that Valve's (Steam) reluctance to approve two pro Hong Kong themed games on their store front suggests China Bootlicking. Argues that many games, even ones that are literally broken - some even revolving around hate speech, can get approved within 5 days. But two...
www.resetera.com
Just as a example. Never got any traction. #goodguyvalve.
I'm guessing that this is just a blanket sort of thing and if does relate to EGS, that Epic would call out Valve for being bias and all of that. I did like how devs could promote their games on consoles since that would also give some of these games attention.
Something nice would be buying an indie game on Steam, a year later they announce that game on N/S and because it has cloud save support you can carry over your progress. Boom double dip.
Something nice would be buying an indie game on Steam, a year later they announce that game on N/S and because it has cloud save support you can carry over your progress. Boom double dip.
I mean, you're one of the few in this thread throwing terms like love and hate around. Maybe your prior experience of Valve threads is showing through as bias, because most here are very clear-eyed about what Valve are doing.
This is how they act in every Valve thread.
It has to do with valve having a better more consumer facing store and doing more for gaming/the consumer then all the big 3 console makers combined.
[Jim Sterling] Steam's Reluctance to Approve Hong-Kong Themed Games Raises Suspicions of China Bootlicking.
In this video, Jim argues that Valve's (Steam) reluctance to approve two pro Hong Kong themed games on their store front suggests China Bootlicking. Argues that many games, even ones that are literally broken - some even revolving around hate speech, can get approved within 5 days. But two...
Just as a example. Never got any traction. #goodguyvalve.
How is that relevant to what we are discussing?
I didn't say Valve can do no wrong lol, i am talking strictly about the topic ITT when i say people give them the benefit of a doubt.
I still remember the day valve added paid mods and everyone were happy and no backlash to be seen.
This would be like Amazon telling people they can't advertise their other social media, and places to see other content of their, like youtube, on their Twitch channel page.
Which game dev is putting their non steam game on the front page of Steam Store for advertising? That said I still believe that there's way better ways to let their community know about stuff than Steam Forums, so this shouldn't be hard on any developer. Just let people know on the game's subreddit, in game, twitter, etc. It's so easy these days, thousands would show up to a somewhat popular game developer's random stream on twitch.
In the past, I have considered linking to our studio's itch.io storefront from Steam. The platform fees are less on itch.io, which is a plus for us, and we distribute Steam keys with itch.io purchases, so it's a better deal for the player too. The only issue is that we have almost zero traffic on itch.io, especially compared to Steam, so linking to it from Steam could have helped, in theory. It's a pity, but I understand why Valve would do this.
This has epic written all over it. Sucks because this is going to hurt console games that support cross save.
Not being able to promote does not mean they're making developers stop working on crossplay/save or anything like that.