Direct2Drive Refusing to Sell Modern Warfare 2
IGN's Direct2Drive is refusing to sell Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Oohhh dem's fightin' words! Online game retailer Direct2Drive, owned by the IGN Network, is calling rival platform Steam a "Trojan Horse." According to Kotaku, Direct2Drive is refusing to sell Activision's highly anticipated PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 because the game is embedded with Valve's Steamworks software.
Considering the immense popularity of the game, that's a rather bold move. However, Direct2Drive isn't alone: online retail outlets Impulse and Gamersgate are also refusing to sell the game for the very same reason. "We don't believe games should force the user to install a Trojan Horse," a spokesperson for Direct2Drive told Kotaku.
So what's the big deal? The popularity of the game should invite distributors to sign on with anticipated, sky-scraper-sized dollar signs in their eyes. After all, Modern Warfare 2's release is slated to be the biggest ever in gaming history. But despite the hype, all three outlets have expressed their dislike of Steamworks and the way it forces players to use Steam's storefront; the software's DRM and save-game management don't seem to be an issue.
Direct2Drive told Activision and other publishers that it will not sell digital versions of PC games bundled with Steamworks until Valve "decoupled its retail marketplace" from Steam's other services. The online retailer said that its beef is not with Activision, and to make up for lost revenue, the company is applying $5 coupons to select Activision titles.
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Wow, and i was hoping because they had the customer in mind. LOL. Anyway, I for one like Steam. Just have to keep an eye on them.
I can see their concern. Personally I think Steam has the best store for games.
This just in: Consumers refusing to buy Modern Warfare 2 due to lack of compelling features.
I was about to get all excited that a retailer was taking a stance against all the shit they did to the pc version of MW2, and refuse to sell it. Instead it is just complaining agaist steam.
Sad times
i personally like steam, and if valve want to keep there own offshute company steam, then that is up to them.
as for this reason i believe they are just being pathetic.
Heh yea I was hoping Direct2Drive was taking our side, that kind of commercial support might have made IW think twice about their decisions...
Wow, and i was hoping because they had the customer in mind. LOL. Anyway, I for one like Steam. Just have to keep an eye on them.
You like Steam? I mean, do not get me wrong, I use Steam to purchase some games. My problem is the fact that Steam believes that it has the right to tell customers they cannot resale their games. That is wrong on so many fronts and the Autodesk case proved that the customer owns the software they pay for.
It is this reason alone that I do not purchase more expensive titles through Steam. If Steam would accept the fact that we own what we(customers) pay for, then I would be open to purchase all of my games through them.
It makes sense since Steam is a competitor in online distribution. They don't want to sell a game that forces the customer to use a competing company's software and would then encourage the user to buy through Steam next time.
I love steam, but just like everything else that has grown large, big business is put in the forefront and eventually it rots. Especially in PC gaming where your audience is generally more educated about whats going on. We can only hope and pray steam doesn't lose its central focus towards its customers in favor of more dollars.
What if they were supporting our outcrys to IW by not selling the game lol, I dont know, but i never really liked digital download games.
gamersgate released Torchlight with SecuROM as the DRM just a few days ago I think... since when is SecuROM not a trojan horse?
Don't get me wrong, I agree with their stance, but I'm not sure how many people they're fooling with their reasons ~_~
Not like I was going to buy the game anyways. No dedicated server support, no console... just to name a few examples. Why should I have to dish out 60 bucks to purchase a game when these features come standard with other FPS games.
Great move I think!
It's just a logic move.
If you sale "MW2", you'll lose your next sale over "Steam" because the user'll buy it on "Steam".
Like Apple products. You're STUCK with iStore where Apple make all sale.
If you sale "MW2", you'll bankrupt someday because you'll unable to have sale over "Steam".
So you can REFUSE to sell some popular product because this one will cause you to "bankrupt". So I think it's great move!
Question is can I opt out of the Steam install? If not, can I remove steam from the system and still have the game function? I have no issues with Valve and their Steam software. However there are points to be made here. There is nothing wrong with Steam, I just believe that is should be the consumers choice as to have it installed on their systems. Not that there will be a whole lot of PC versions sold.
wow. i would have supported em for not choosing to sell it cause iw is bitch slapping thier customers but if they are just doing it cause of steam its lame.
I like Steam as well, however, this seems to be rather shady business practices. Infinity Ward are just some crazy nutters aren't they? Won't be buying MW2, and I know most PC gamers won't either, this is probably going to turn out to be the biggest flop of the year PC wise. I doubt even many people will end up pirating this piece of trash.
Sure it'll sell well on the consoles, but they don't know what it's like to have decent ping, no auto aim, massive battles, and etc.
You like Steam? I mean, do not get me wrong, I use Steam to purchase some games. My problem is the fact that Steam believes that it has the right to tell customers they cannot resale their games. That is wrong on so many fronts and the Autodesk case proved that the customer owns the software they pay for.It is this reason alone that I do not purchase more expensive titles through Steam. If Steam would accept the fact that we own what we(customers) pay for, then I would be open to purchase all of my games through them.
@montezuma: as it stands, no one can resell PC games. Impulse won't, D2D 2 won't, GameStop won't, Best Buy won't, no one will. The only place you can resell PC games is on ebay or in local classifieds.
Companies don't like selling games that people can rip and return, and that's a lot harder with console games. It's not about Valve being jerks, it's about them being good businessmen.
I like Steam as well, however, this seems to be rather shady business practices. Infinity Ward are just some crazy nutters aren't they? Won't be buying MW2, and I know most PC gamers won't either, this is probably going to turn out to be the biggest flop of the year PC wise. I doubt even many people will end up pirating this piece of trash.Sure it'll sell well on the consoles, but they don't know what it's like to have decent ping, no auto aim, massive battles, and etc.
I doubt it's going to be a huge flop. It's still a CoD game, and... um, what exactly is there to complain about, other than the lack of dedicated servers? Oh yeah, the price point. Never mind that the thing's been hugely preordered for PC and all that.
Valve isn't being shady; you need the storefront to work for practically any platform. I dunno about D2D, but Impulse has its storefront in the same program as the game launcher, and GFWL is nothing BUT a storefront from what I can tell.
So D2D wont be selling MW2 because of a ideological difference.Wow,just wow,talk about pissing money away,I wouldnt want thier accountant anywhere near mine.I really dont see a problem with bundeling steam with the game .I mean they did it for Orange Box AND you needed it to run in order to play,no one was bitching then,hell thats what got me into Steam in the first place.The fact you cant sell stuff you buy to me personally it would be a nice feature but its not a deal breaker,dont get me wrong i wish i could sell my copy of The Last Remnant right now,but then again no one would buy it.I like the convienence to carry my games (and settings in some cases)where I go.
Despite my previous statement though im not getting this game,$60 for a standard edition PC game?Cmon this whole damn thing is a Activision money grab.
Question is can I opt out of the Steam install? If not, can I remove steam from the system and still have the game function? I have no issues with Valve and their Steam software. However there are points to be made here. There is nothing wrong with Steam, I just believe that is should be the consumers choice as to have it installed on their systems. Not that there will be a whole lot of PC versions sold.
No, you can't opt out. You will require Steam to play the game. Yes, there should be the option to install the game separately.
Yes, there is nothing wrong with Steam.
You like Steam? I mean, do not get me wrong, I use Steam to purchase some games. My problem is the fact that Steam believes that it has the right to tell customers they cannot resale their games. That is wrong on so many fronts and the Autodesk case proved that the customer owns the software they pay for.It is this reason alone that I do not purchase more expensive titles through Steam. If Steam would accept the fact that we own what we(customers) pay for, then I would be open to purchase all of my games through them.
To those that complaint that you can't resell the games you buy through Steam, you can sell your account instead. A little extreme, but there are advantages:
1-Since technically the games aren't "used", you can sell them for full retail price. No scratched disks, or torn up boxes and game manuals. As long as your VAC status is good (in case you want to sell valve made games, that are VAC secured).
2- Therefore, you win back all the money you expended. Even more if you bought packs or special discounts like weekend deals.
3- Then you can buy again any games that you didn't want to sell when you originally sold the account.
I've spent almost $400 purchasing games in Steam this year alone. Actually, make that 200. I saved a bunch with packages and deals. I don't regret it, Valve made an awesome job with this service.
Its okay I won't be buying it anyways :]
Whatever the reason is. No one should buy this game. They screwed their fan base over and admitted they dont care.
Guess someone doesn't like the sale of their game bringing them directly into their largest competitor's store.... an excellent store. Of course they are worried.
It's an immature and misleading to call Steam a trojan horse, though. Certainly they imply it in the sense of the Steamworks service carrying a retail store inside of it, but they intentionally use the phrase to reflect poorly on Valve's service and software quality.
hmm ima have to look up activision games and d/l them on direct to drive if they have a coupon, thank you steam for being arseholes at least something good may come out of it
Steam is a virus that entices me to spend money and makes patching easy. Steam makes playing PC games easy.
Just a couple weeks ago I logged in to play a game and the "Steam News" news pops up and see I can purchase the FPS Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising for $10 off. Well, I'm not going to pass this up. I hit the "Purchase for myself" button and I own the game. I didn't even have to enter credit card information. It was already saved in my profile. Way to easy. The best part is I will never have to worry about patching the game to the latest version cause the Steam will always update my game to the latest version. And since I have Steam installed on all three of my computers it automatically updates the games on those games too and I can play on all of them too without ever worrying about activating software.
Long live Steam!
This is completely understandable.
It would be like Microsoft selling windows, and when windows boots up you see a giant Mac ad staring back at you each time.
I couldn't care less about the lack of dedicated servers. That is pointless to me, I'd rather play with a much more broad amount of people than just the same people in the same server, I think the way the consoles work is just fine. As far as not being able to configure you're console in game, now that pisses me off. I like to customize my games so that they are and work the best for me. If I buy this game, it'll be for PS3, since more people will be playing it there. But either way, these people should still sell it. Damn babies.
And by the way, Quake Live has no dedicated server support atm and it is thriving. DEAL WITH IT IDIOTS.
(Many of you are using the no dedicated server support as a lame excuse to pirate the game)
@montezuma: as it stands, no one can resell PC games. Impulse won't, D2D 2 won't, GameStop won't, Best Buy won't, no one will. The only place you can resell PC games is on ebay or in local classifieds.Companies don't like selling games that people can rip and return, and that's a lot harder with console games. It's not about Valve being jerks, it's about them being good businessmen.
It is actually just as easy to rip console games as it is to rip PC games. Torrents for console games are everywhere now. I have said it many times before, CoD:MW2 was available as a torrent for console before it was for PCs. Pirates have been migrating to consoles because it is easier to get away with playing them on the console now.
I doubt it's going to be a huge flop. It's still a CoD game, and... um, what exactly is there to complain about, other than the lack of dedicated servers? Oh yeah, the price point. Never mind that the thing's been hugely preordered for PC and all that.Valve isn't being shady; you need the storefront to work for practically any platform. I dunno about D2D, but Impulse has its storefront in the same program as the game launcher, and GFWL is nothing BUT a storefront from what I can tell.
There have also been massive amounts of cancellations on pre-orders but we shall see. It's not just loss of dedicated server support, this is a checklist comparing MW and MW2 that was posted on another news article. Perhaps you should take a look.
http://undead.mygameclan.com/user/ [...] atures.jpg
There....I fixed it.