New Game Distributor Company?

[Major Dan]

Manifesto Games (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/38847)

He aims to increase awareness and distribution for PC games which otherwise would have little or no chance of seeing a successful retail release. With companies such as Valve pursuing similar goals through Steam and digital distribution becoming something of a popular topic in general lately, it's looking like an endeavor that might have a chance. Costikyan plans to document the entire endeavor (save some inevitable financial bits his investors request stay confidential) on his blog.

Thank Shacknews. This sounds like a good thing for the game world. There are many games that don't make it to retail and are a bit hard to find out about that I would like see sold. If one or few sites were really active in collecting and distributing these games, the industry might grow! I know this is mainly for the PC but this might be something that could be done with XBox live? :)

[Varsity]

This looks extremely interesting. Will dissect and post (http://varsity_uk.blogspot.com/) ASAP.

[XxSATANxX]

Okay everybody getting that DEATH TO RETAIL vibe.

Sounds great but in reality we end up with something like STEAM.

I'm not sure why but I'm not ready to give up my box yet. I gave up my music CD's
back in 1997 and went 100% digital. Guess that free thing helped spur me on a bit. :p

[Thumper]

I was against Steam and other "alternate distribution methods" at first. I just love having the box. But I read something over at gamespy (I think it was an article from the game developers conference), and now I think i would be a great idea.

Companies like EA don't really need it, but if something like Steam became a popular method of purchasing games, smaller developers would have a much better way of getting products out there. Basically a (non-blockbuster) game has a window of about 1 week to stay on the shelf and make back ALL of it's cost before being chucked into the bargain bin. A different way of distributing would (I'd assume) give them more time to get customers. I mean, if its anything like steam... I've been thinking of buying Opposing Force for months just because it stares me in the face every time I wanna play CS.

Of course, it might just get flooded with EA and Activision titles, who knows?

*edit*

Sounds great but in reality we end up with something like STEAM.

:eek:
way to ruin my entire post. asshole. :mad:

Seriously though, Steam may have its faults, but it's not ALL bad. I haven't had (m)any problems with it at least. And if it was being constantly updated with games from different companies, hell, I'd run out of money in a hurry. The only thing that keeps me from buying games all the time is the walk to the mall (or, alternatively, to my car).

[MadHiro]

Okay everybody getting that DEATH TO RETAIL vibe.

Sounds great but in reality we end up with something like STEAM.

I'm not sure why but I'm not ready to give up my box yet. I gave up my music CD's
back in 1997 and went 100% digital. Guess that free thing helped spur me on a bit. :p

What is the matter with Steam, beyond that it seems that you have a pathological need to type the name in all caps?

In any event, if we could have something like Steam for more games, I'd only be too happy. I have a CD binder just for games that I can't play anymore because I don't have the original box/cases, so I don't have the serials, so I don't have their use.

[Varsity]

The 'problem' with Steam is that it was used in retail HL2. Every other issue comes way down in the charts.

[Nesta]

I've purchased 3 games through Steam and haven't had any problems. The last being DoD on Monday. I was up and playing by 3:15pm, found a good server by 4pm and played the night away.

I don't get what makes people so anti-Steam...? Can someone please explain this to a dumbass like myself?

[mister_slim]

Interesting plan. Doesn't seem very thought out or funded at this point. Good luck to them. I'd love to see an Image in the games industry, but I think the profits/costs are too high at this point.

[Varsity]

I've purchased 3 games through Steam and haven't had any problems. The last being DoD on Monday. I was up and playing by 3:15pm, found a good server by 4pm and played the night away.

I don't get what makes people so anti-Steam...? Can someone please explain this to a dumbass like myself?
It took you 3/4 of an hour to find a server? :eek:

In order of numbers: a huge proportion of those who dislike Steam feel that way because it was required for HL2 retail, which is a) single-player and b) on store shelves: they had to connect to the internet, even if they never intended to play online. Then there are DRM dissidents (has a nice ring to it) who disliked it before they even knew what it was; next down the list are pirates and cheaters, who should be self-explanatory; and last and least, there are the people who have had tangible problems with it or simply can't adjust to change.

[XxSATANxX]

Then there are DRM dissidents (has a nice ring to it) who disliked it before they even knew what it was; next down the list are pirates and cheaters, who should be self-explanatory; and last and least, there are the people who have had tangible problems with it or simply can't adjust to change.


Varisty summed it up pretty well. I fall in the old guy who can't change catagory. Unlike everyone here at EA I had many problems with STEAM.

All of those problems have been solved in large part due the information I got here at EA. I just reinstalled HL2 and am having a blast. :D

I'm also a DRM dissident (Man that might make a geat T-shirt!) Seems the only folks who get punished by DRM are in fact the paying customers. I cheer VALVE for HL2. If I can own their games STEAM free I plan on being a customer. If someone can distribute games as easily as I download music
I'll spend a small fortune online.

[H.Bogard]

this is awesome, whoever is doing this has`nt even acheived anyting yet and yet theyve earned my respect.

[Worldcrafter]

Greg Costikyan, the man making this move, is also the one who recently wrote a two part article for The Escapist titled "Death to the Game Industry: Long Live Games". In it, he rails against large publishers (such as EA, Ubisoft, VU) who take and take from developers, all in an effort to earn more money. He proposed doing away with large publishers, and using a system for marketing and selling games that is within the developer's control.

Most of the negative comments I heard from that article consisted of, "That's a great idea, but who is going to actually do it?", or "Who is this guy? How can he claim to be an industry insider when he hasn't produced any big games?" Well, it looks like he listened, and has decided to take the triple-dog-double-dare. I wish him luck.

[NoName]

After reading his blog (with it's pink color :confused: ) I'm definately interested in what he's doing. I hope that this venture is successful, it may open up a whole new world of fun and cheap games (though they would assumingly be smaller).

[Abdiel]

Anyone else think that this might be the way to GoD right?

Kudos to the relatively old-schoolers who get the reference.

[Klade]

I know this is mainly for the PC but this might be something that could be done with XBox live?[/I] :)

Sorry but it will never happen for the consoles. Mainly because it costs a lot of seed money to develop for them. Microsoft and the others don't like giving out their dev tools or kits.

[Kelegacy]

I'm all for electronic distribution IF the game was priced lower than retain bullcrap. HL2 on Steam basically saved you nothing. With the price of packaging, the middleman, shipping, and everything else GONE, there should be a significant decrease in price. But no.

I also like to have the box, but oh well. If a game is noticeably cheaper as a result, I can live with that.

[Worldcrafter]

I don't really require a box if all it means having one is the publisher has been paid more money than the developer. Plus, then I have extra trash, or add it to my pile of game boxes in the basement.

[TheKeck]

I don't really require a box if all it means having one is the publisher has been paid more money than the developer. Plus, then I have extra trash, or add it to my pile of game boxes in the basement.

I don't care so much about the box as a little booklet. I love me a little booklet! :D

(Actually, I almost always DO read the instructions that come with a game.... AFTER I've played it for the first night. It's not like I need the instructions, I'm just excited about my new toy.)

On the bright side, at least if you don't have any CDs you won't need a no-cd crack.

[RMan]

HL2 on Steam basically saved you nothing. With the price of packaging, the middleman, shipping, and everything else GONE, there should be a significant decrease in price. But no.
I agree, but keep in mind that in this case it was online and retail, and I'll assure you that the contract with the retail distributor did not allow Valve to undercut their prices. It's entirely possible it would have been lower if it was entirely Valves choice, but only they would know.