So why isn't Minecraft on Steam?

[Jagos]

Here's the reason in a nutshell (http://notch.tumblr.com/post/9550850116/why-no-steam-notch)

There’s a certain inherent incompatibility between what we want to do and what they want to do.
It's odd, but with EA, I had the impression that EA is only doing this for monetary reasons. With Notch and Minecraft, it literally seems that he cares about how he's affecting the user base, splitting it up unnecessarily. Sure, you can add the game to your Steam games, but integrating it into the API naturally is an entirely different story.

While there's no big rift between Notch and Valve on this, it is rather telling that for all of the advantages Notch may have on Steam, he chooses to keep close to his customers with the system that works best for him and his company.

[Nikose Tyris]

"But Jagos, how does this really make Notch any different from EA? Stupid Notch Defense Force leaps to defend Notch's actions here after ripping into EA over it!"

"Except they're completely different reasons, and for no ulterior motives as in the case of EA."

[Professor Smarmiarty]

What is EA's ulterior motive? Cause their motive is to make money. Is their ulterior motive to summon the Dark Gods of Videogaming?

[Nikose Tyris]

Ulterior Motive(s) for EA: Make extra money through system glitches/iron grip on their ability to fuck you over in terms of redownloading previously puchased content or downloading such product in the first place, limit digital distribution options for their products to a piece of bloatware, slams steam for having restrictive TOS while it's own platform is significantly moreso.

Ulterior Motive(s) for Minecraft: Free maps/content, unified userbase, absolute control over sales/prices for random free weekends/giveaways that can be done spur of the moment instead of preplanned and submitted for approval, shared content sources without steam verification, less system resource consumption for end users.

Based only on openly demonstrated actions already done by said companies, all verifiable.

[Ramary]

Yet Minecraft is gonna be on Xbox360, and Microsoft is known for being harsh and restrictive with content on XBLA. Doh well.


EDIT: Not a slap against Notch not putting Minecraft on steam mind you, I seem to come off as the Super-Steam Fanboy in another thread. There is no reason for it to be on Steam, it is not on any other DD platform but his own, cause he basically gets free advertisement from word of mouth, and he has oodles of money already.

I rather slap Notch around for being one of the laziest game devs I have ever seen.

[Azisien]

The real reason is that Minecraft would crash EVEN MORE

[Marc v4.0]

Don't forget promoting Piracy with bloated, shitty DRM.

I've seen people apologize to Notch for pirating Minecraft, and then buying a legit copy or two because they had so much fun they felt bad.

EA? The justifications flow aplenty.

edit: As I hear it, MC on XBLA isn't going to be exactly like MC on PC, and MS is working on it with in-house programmers.

[Ramary]

Don't forget promoting Piracy with bloated, shitty DRM.

Even though it totally serves that purpose (among many others) a lot of people do not view Steam as DRM these days because of all the stuff valve improved on it.

And pirates pirate games for any reason anyway, I see people pirate games becasue the game itself "is not up to the standards for me to actually buy it".

Everyone's a critic.

[Marc v4.0]

It serves the purpose in a way beneficial to the consumer.

EA DRM serves the purpose in a way that is painful, overreaching, cost consuming, at times a direct hinderence and/or costly to the consumer.

It also doesn't serve its purpose any better then not having any DRM at all, which makes the shit worse. Eventually EA is going to solve the pirate problem by loading their games down so heavy there isn't anything to actually play.


TO COUNTER: PEOPLE Pirate games for any number of reasons, ranging from 'just because' to 'I refuse to actually pay money for this bullshit bloat they want to infect my PC with' and everywhere in between. There is no "Pirate" caste you can just point a finger to and just say "Yeah, all of them are pirates". Anyone could be a pirate and, with enough reason, everyone could be.

[Jagos]

Even though it totally serves that purpose (among many others) a lot of people do not view Steam as DRM these days because of all the stuff valve improved on it.

And pirates pirate games for any reason anyway, I see people pirate games becasue the game itself "is not up to the standards for me to actually buy it".

Everyone's a critic.

Piracy is mainly about two things. One, underserved customers? Valve works to eliminate that (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/valve-we-dont-really-worry-about-piracy/)

Two? The more legal places to play games, the less likely you need to pirate games. I would think our Brazilian gamers here could back me up since games are really over $100 USD for games that cost $60 here.

[Ramary]

Anyone could be a pirate

If I had just a tiny bit of art talent, I would totally draw a propaganda poster with that as the tagline.


ANYONE COULD BE A PIRATE!

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HARD DRIVES!

[Shyria Dracnoir]

Obligatory (http://youtu.be/bEBbu-wkKrs)

[akaSM]

This would be the best DRM ever (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up863eQKGUI)

It's got a sequel o_O (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUCyvw4w_yk&feature=related)

[Aerozord]

Don't forget promoting Piracy with bloated, shitty DRM.

I've seen people apologize to Notch for pirating Minecraft, and then buying a legit copy or two because they had so much fun they felt bad.


basically yes, Notch hates DRM. Steam might not be all that invasive, but it is still DRM

Though if you choose you can connect Minecraft to your steam account if you so wish.

I dont really get how it cuts his user base though. Its a PC game, you can just go to Notch directly for the game. You dont have to use a third party system

[Jagos]

"I dont really get how it cuts his user base though. Its a PC game, you can just go to Notch directly for the game. "

As I said, he would have to make certain concessions to Valve to make it usable to what Valve requires of games. He might find a better system with the EC crew as I just posted recently.

[Aerozord]

"I dont really get how it cuts his user base though. Its a PC game, you can just go to Notch directly for the game. "

As I said, he would have to make certain concessions to Valve to make it usable to what Valve requires of games. He might find a better system with the EC crew as I just posted recently.

that doesn't answer my question at all. Releasing solely on steam would not expand his audience it would limit it, by doing it himself any PC, Mac, or even Linux user with internet connection on the planet, can get access to his game. You can have steam and get his game, you just dont have to use steam to get it. The main advantage to releasing on steam is simply to make it easier for people to be made aware of the game and Minecraft doesn't need that

[Jagos]

It would effectively split the Minecraft community into two parts, where only some of the players can access all of the weird content we want to add to the game.

It's the exact same argument that EA is making. They can't sell directly to customers because they have to use the new Valve system in place for F2P games. This oddity hasn't gone unnoticed.

[Gregness]

This would be the best DRM ever (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up863eQKGUI)

It's got a sequel o_O (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUCyvw4w_yk&feature=related)

I'll see you that and raise you some rocket sauce. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LkWKvMCzqA&feature=related)

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

If I had just a tiny bit of art talent, I would totally draw a propaganda poster with that as the tagline.


ANYONE COULD BE A PIRATE!

CHECK YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HARD DRIVES!

Not to derail the conversation or anything, but I'm gonna pull a Seil here since it all ties in some way or another.
Speaking of art, hard drives, and piracy. Now you too don't need one shred of artistic ability to bullshit the system and get away with it!. (http://www.soylentgreenismadeofpeople.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1383:art-the-5-million-dollar-hard-drive&catid=1:latest-news)

[Fifthfiend]

Like IDK why this is even a question. Why even put minecraft n steam in the first place? So ntch can get a foothold on the crucial market segment "people who play videogames on computers"? I have trouble seeing what steam adds frm anyone's persppective over the existing "buy it from minecraft.net" system.

[Ramary]

Like IDK why this is even a question. Why even put minecraft n steam in the first place? So ntch can get a foothold on the crucial market segment "people who play videogames on computers"? I have trouble seeing what steam adds frm anyone's persppective over the existing "buy it from minecraft.net" system.

Nothing really, the entire thing is a not-story really.

I am sure people want it on steam because it being on steam is more convenient for them (tracking how much you played it, friend list and server lists, overlay, but the overlay can be gained from adding non-steam games to steam) I know it does for me, but if you don't want your game on steam, fine.

[Aerozord]

Nothing really, the entire thing is a not-story really.

I am sure people want it on steam because it being on steam is more convenient for them (tracking how much you played it, friend list and server lists, overlay, but the overlay can be gained from adding non-steam games to steam) I know it does for me, but if you don't want your game on steam, fine.

but you can do that, I mean I've even gotten alerts when you guys hop on minecraft through steam. The only thing you cant do is buy it through steam

[Ramary]

but you can do that, I mean I've even gotten alerts when you guys hop on minecraft through steam. The only thing you cant do is buy it through steam

No servers though steam/can't join directly though friend's name in steam is what I meant more or less.

[EVILNess]

Obligatory (http://youtu.be/bEBbu-wkKrs)

You are doing it wrong. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5TXyJlEMc&list=FLn8hXbljkW5cLJ4YFcD3_4w)

Also, I think Fifth's o button is broken.

[Fifthfiend]

Also my P button which is why I need a new damn phone.

[Aerozord]

No servers though steam/can't join directly though friend's name in steam is what I meant more or less.

true, but does any non-valve game have that? seriously can you still do that? My only multiplayer games for steam are TF2 and L4D2, so I have no clue. I imagine being forced to work through their system would be a huge pain on the developers

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

true, but does any non-valve game have that? seriously can you still do that? My only multiplayer games for steam are TF2 and L4D2, so I have no clue. I imagine being forced to work through their system would be a huge pain on the developers

Supreme Commander 2, Killing Floor, Red Orchestra 2 at the least.
That's just the ones I frequently use though.