Yea, thats sort of what I had been thinking, but then I realized no one else ever lets you do that. So I understand what you are thinking, but it seems like you missed the next step.
Really, Steam? I get *both* versions?!
- Thread starter Catalyst6
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teh_pwning_dude said:
Everyone seems to have missed my point. Yes, you have to buy it twice for PS3 because the systems that handle them are entirely different in interface and style, publishing-wise. You can't pop a blu-ray disk in a 360 and say "go".guardian001 said:
However, Steam has made it so that the aforementioned blu-ray *could* go into something else, while using the same "disk". Yes, PCs and Macs use different coding, but they are still bound by the same service, Steam. I was just saying that it seemed odd that they would advertise that you could play it on both systems, which seems like it should be a given. I mean, they let you play it on different computers just like that, yes?
Don't get me wrong, I use Steam for everything except MMOs. TF2, L4D2, I even bought Splinter Cell: Conviction over it not too long ago (unfortunately... stealth-a-way). So I don't hate Steam.
Direct2Drive and Gamers gate force you to buy the Mac & PC versions of Games separately, even if the retail version supports both.
This is why Steam is advertising as they are, its a way to say "Look, we are better than the competition by treating our customers fairly, buy more games from us, you don't need Direct2Drive!"
This is why Steam is advertising as they are, its a way to say "Look, we are better than the competition by treating our customers fairly, buy more games from us, you don't need Direct2Drive!"
While the baseline hardware arcitecture of the average modern PC and the average Mac are identical, the problem is games do not talk directly to the hardware. In fact, in both cases the design of the OS is such that even if a programmer wanted they can't write code at that level in anything approaching a convenient fashion. Instead, you have several layers of software in between your program and the hardware itself acting as an intermediary, and unfortunately for all, these are far from identical.Catalyst6 said:
The result is simple - in order to make a product that works on both platforms requires a substantial duplication of effort. The end result is, naturally enough, because it takes extra work to make a different version it is packaged as a different product. To assume that purchase of one particular instance of a product automatically means you get another is folley at best. Purchase of a PC game does not net you the 360 version in spite of the similarities in hardware and interfaces. Purchasing a hot new graphic manipulation program for a Mac does not entitle the user to the PC version. Indeed, you will be hard pressed to find examples where the purchase of a product for one platform automatically entitles you to the version for another.
I don't know what you're complaining about here. They did the obvious and not made you buy the game twice just to play it on a different OS. Sure, some other companies would have charged you, but you should still be glad VALVe didn't.
Wow. Not only did Valve port Steam and some rather good games over to the Mac platform (a woefully neglected one, I might state) but they made Portal, one of the best games released so far this decade, totally FREE for them AND the PC.
Those bastards!
Those bastards!
ITT: How an incredibly minor complaint about Valve can still make the legions of fanboys pissed off.
Seriously, they're gonna take over the world some day.
(now watch someone respond with something like, "Well, at least if Valve took over the world, they would only make you toil in the salt mines for 20 hours a day! Activision or EA would make you work all 24! Valve at least cares about their slaves!")
Seriously, they're gonna take over the world some day.
(now watch someone respond with something like, "Well, at least if Valve took over the world, they would only make you toil in the salt mines for 20 hours a day! Activision or EA would make you work all 24! Valve at least cares about their slaves!")
Well, they are the superior form of game distrubution.Anticitizen_Two said:
And yes, to the rest of you. I understand that a lot of work goes into making a PC game into a Mac game. But you already *bought* the game. I've just been saying that it seems like a purchase would be universal, regardless of what the status quo is for such things. Anyways, that's my opinion.