Hans-Christian Andersen
hans.andersen at phulse.com
Mon Jul 30 21:54:53 CDT 2012
Hi Shamil, No. I don't think that is what they were saying, but I agree that the article was a bit thin on the details. The problem for Steam and Blizzard are a mix of issues with what we know Windows 8 will deliver and also what they fear Microsoft will do in the future. While Windows 8 on Intel will not restrict users from accessing the desktop and installing their own applications, Windows 8 running on ARM will most certainly be restricted to the point that Valves' Steam business simply cannot exist on that platform. It will be the case that games can only be sold through the Windows store. This also creates the impression on companies like Valve and Blizzard that there might very well be a possibility that Microsoft will continue this trend and eventually be tempted to completely lock down Windows in future releases (or updates?). After all, Microsoft appears very keen to follow Apples model for many things and often to an extreme degree. After all, Microsoft is a public company with a fiduciary responsibility to maximize profits. Steam could very simply be seen as a middle man that doesn't need to be there and Microsoft has all the power to kill them off (which isn't something unusual for Microsoft - "DOS ain't done until Lotus won't run", right?). Which brings us to another reason, which is related to the previous one - an issue of principle, which is that PCs and Windows has always been seen as an open platform. That Microsoft produces an operating system on an open platform, which it is a fair playing field for anyone to produce software and no single entity has preferential treatment (remember when Microsoft got in trouble for making use of secret undocumented APIs for their own applications?). With Windows 8, Microsoft is effectively breaking this perception, which is why companies like Valve and such are now taking a closer look at Linux. And it is possible they are doing this merely as a public threat to Microsoft, but the issue is a real concern for many companies. Also, my understand is that Gabe Newell is not a big fan of the UI changes in Windows 8 - ie. Metro and etc, but I'm pretty sure the effect to his business model is much more important to him. Hans * * * * On 29 July 2012 05:22, Salakhetdinov Shamil <mcp2004 at mail.ru> wrote: > Hi Hans -- > > I have read the article you quoted: they state that gaming companies will > have to distribute their software for Win8 via Windows Store, but they > don't need to do that if they will continue developing games for the usual > Windows desktop not WinRT one? > > Thank you. > > Shamil > > -- Sent from WinPhone right out of the streets of melted by summer sun > St.Petersburg, Russia > > Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:32:20 -0700 от Hans-Christian Andersen < > hans.andersen at phulse.com>: > > > > Hi Shamil > > > > I imagine it is comforting to some that you and Gustav quite enjoy > Windows 8, > > but this issue extends a bit beyond user interface considerations. > Rather, it > > has more to do with that Windows is becoming a locked down platform. > Quoting > > what certain influential executives have to say about it verbatim is not > > dramatisation in any sense. > > > > Hans > > > > > > On 2012-07-29, at 12:13 AM, Salakhetdinov Shamil wrote: > > > > > Hi Hans -- > > > > > > There are good and bad news on coming Windows 8 release: > > > > > > Microsoft announces super-cheap Windows 8 upgrade promotion > > > > > > http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/pc/microsoft-announces-super-cheap-windows-8-upgrade-promotion-1087746 > > > Windows 8: the price is FIGHT! > > > > http://www.techradar.com/news/software/windows-8-the-price-is-fight-1087781 > > > > > > -- > > > > > > As I have written here already my personal experience with Windows 8 > Preview > > was positive. > > > As Gustav noted (and that was confirmed during my playing with Win8 > Preview) > > switching between Win8 'Metro' interface and classic MS Windows Win7 > interface > > can be done by pushing hot-keys... > > > > > > -- > > > > > > Don't dramatize the future.... > > > > > > Thank you. > > > > > > -- Shamil > > > > > > > > > Sat, 28 Jul 2012 23:33:36 -0700 от Hans-Christian Andersen > > <hans.andersen at phulse.com>: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Anyone who knows anything about video games knows that Valve and > Blizzard > > belong to a handful of highly influential and important gaming companies > and > > publishers out there. Lately they have become vocal about their views on > > Windows 8 and it has not been positive at all. > > > > > >> "I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space. I > think > > we'll lose some of the top-tier PC/OEMs, who will exit the market. I > think > > margins will be destroyed for a bunch of people. If that's true, then it > will > > be good to have alternatives to hedge against that eventuality," said > Newell > > according to an AllThingsD report. > > > > > >> Now that statement has been backed up by executive vice president of > game > > design at Blizzard Rob Pardo. "nice interview with Gabe Newell - "I think > > Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space* - not awesome > for > > Blizzard either," > > > > > > Source: > > > http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/10481/20120727/windows-8-pending-release-marred-blizzard-valve.htm > > > > > > The strength of Windows has long been due to video games and MS Office > > (although I would say video games has been disproportionately more > important). > > If a company like Valve is expending this much effort to bring their > platform > > to Linux, this is surely a clear sign that Windows 8 is in for a bumpy > ride - > > perhaps worse than what was with Vista. Microsoft is burning bridges > left and > > right these days. > > > > > > > > > - Hans > > > -- > > > AccessD mailing list > > > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > > > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > > > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > > > > -- > > > AccessD mailing list > > > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > > > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > > > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > > > > -- > > AccessD mailing list > > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >