Steam is now offering movie rentals. Its similar to Amazon Prime or TV on demand. Not sure how I feel about this. Steam is my number 1 source for games and I'd like them to focus on that service. I don't want to deal with potential technical issues, bandwidth strain, liabilities, store page clutter, etc.
Thoughts? Is this good, bad? Are you indifferent?
guess they need another revenue stream since they are giving out more refunds! i personally wont use it but hopefully they have a separate server for movies so any technical issues wont affect my gaming.
That's why I have Xfinity and Netflix.
Steam needs to stick to games, but it's their choice. If this in any way affects my ability to game using Steam, I'll spend my money elsewhere.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 25, 2016, 01:24:03 PM
Steam is my number 1 source for games and I'd like them to focus on that service. I don't want to deal with potential technical issues, bandwidth strain, liabilities, store page clutter, etc.
Very much agree. Especially what you say about store page clutter. If Steam can keep its movie offerings totally sequestered to some tab that I never have to access -- so that the Steam I see is 100% games, which is what I want it for -- then I guess I have no problem with it. But if 'featured' content on the main page starts to blend games and movies -- that is going to suck.
Quote from: sandman2575 on April 25, 2016, 01:47:13 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 25, 2016, 01:24:03 PM
Steam is my number 1 source for games and I'd like them to focus on that service. I don't want to deal with potential technical issues, bandwidth strain, liabilities, store page clutter, etc.
Very much agree. Especially what you say about store page clutter. If Steam can keep its movie offerings totally sequestered to some tab that I never have to access -- so that the Steam I see is 100% games, which is what I want it for -- then I guess I have no problem with it. But if 'featured' content on the main page starts to blend games and movies -- that is going to suck.
Its already blending. Take a look at the top of the store page and then go to new releases. Movies are blended in with games. There may be a way to adjust this, but I haven't had a chance to look yet.
Wow. Prominent "Watch Lionsgate Movies Now On Steam" banner on storefront. I am not at all in favor of this.
Did they just launch this today? Did I somehow miss it before? Not logged into my acct. currently but please let there be some options to disable this......
Quote from: CptHowdy on April 25, 2016, 01:31:41 PM
guess they need another revenue stream since they are giving out more refunds! i personally wont use it but hopefully they have a separate server for movies so any technical issues wont affect my gaming.
Does Valve really need a new revenue stream?? My picture of Steam is that it is a mint that prints money for Gabe Newell and associates. I have no idea what their bottom line is, but man if Steam isn't hugely profitable just from the video game business -- well, I'd be very, very surprised.
Steam seems to be veering itself into being the ultimate entertainment platform.
So how long before we get adult movies there? :P
Well I think the writing was on the wall when they started carrying productivity software. They probably want a piece of digital distribution business period.
I'm OK with it as long as it does not increase their DRM and decrease bandwidth for gaming. If it affects the latter or increases the former I will be pissed. That said I already have a ton of money tied into the steam ecosystem.
I noticed this back a couple of months ago when Steam started offering all the Naruto movies and series eps for rental or purchase or whatever.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 25, 2016, 01:24:03 PM
Steam is now offering movie rentals. Its similar to Amazon Prime or TV on demand. Not sure how I feel about this. Steam is my number 1 source for games and I'd like them to focus on that service. I don't want to deal with potential technical issues, bandwidth strain, liabilities, store page clutter, etc.
Thoughts? Is this good, bad? Are you indifferent?
One word - diversification.
One phrase - don't keep all your eggs in one basket
I agree with your concerns and I share them...but diversification is (can) be a good thing for a company. How it will affect gamers, we'll have to see.
If they start delivering pizzas, I'm leaving. :-X
So long as they're able to do it with minimum disruption to my Steam PC-gaming experience, I have no problem with it. It's a business effort by them to diversify/expand their long-term revenue streams, and that's what I'd expect form any for-profit firm.
Whether that attempt at diversification works well for them or not will depend on a lot of factors. It's an approach that worked poorly for firms like Dell or Enron, but worked better for firms like General Electric, Charles Schwab, or Disney.
Freaking out because 10% of your screen real estate is dedicated to movies strikes me as future-tripping. Wait for bad stuff to happen before you actually jump up and down condemning it.
Justifying this as "diversifying" is nonsense. Stores that sell car parts don't "diversify" and sell toilet paper and mouthwash. Stores that sell furniture don't "diversify" and sell frozen food. There is such a thing as dedicated stores that actually strive to make profit by specializing in the sale of a singular class of product. Perhaps it's a more traditional approach, and digital media has permitted retailers to sell a wider range of products at minimal cost, but that doesn't mean it may not come with some risk or inconvenience to the customer.
Personally, I'm not "freaking" and I'm annoyed at the suggestion. Having the new release list cluttered with indie movies, productivity software, and even 20 year old games was annoying enough. Adding more crap to the list is a nuisance and one I could do without. It's ok to discuss concerns and potential problems that impact the hobby, now, before it becomes a real problem.
I do not mind them selling movies if it is not going to effect the gaming services. However as the store page is getting cluttered with those movies I think they should move any non gaming stuff to another tab/ page, just as they did with the utilities Software (I hope they do the same with those big titties anime story/ semi-games).
Jarhead, I get your concern, and didn't mean to impugn anybody else's response. I just am not going to worry about it until it materially compromises my gaming experience. So far, it hasn't.
I gave up on getting more than a smidge of value off the Steam front page a while back, for all the reasons you specify. To those who might still be getting more value out of the front page, I can see where this intro might be more worrisome.
You can disagree with the value proposition behind Steam's diversifying. I tend to agree with you that it'll do more harm than good to their customers and their business model, but I'm not the one making the decision.
I think it is "diversifying" and I don't think it's nonsense to call it that at all. It's a business move that might or might not work. If they do it right, it'll work. If they do it wrong, it won't.
Diversifying can often be very successful. To jump off from the question you posed, I can name you a book store that sells frozen food. Amazon. It worked pretty well for them. If Steam is 1/50th that successful, I'll be very surprised.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 25, 2016, 11:03:15 PM
Justifying this as "diversifying" is nonsense. Stores that sell car parts don't "diversify" and sell toilet paper and mouthwash. Stores that sell furniture don't "diversify" and sell frozen food. There is such a thing as dedicated stores that actually strive to make profit by specializing in the sale of a singular class of product. Perhaps it's a more traditional approach, and digital media has permitted retailers to sell a wider range of products at minimal cost, but that doesn't mean it may not come with some risk or inconvenience to the customer.
Personally, I'm not "freaking" and I'm annoyed at the suggestion. Having the new release list cluttered with indie movies, productivity software, and even 20 year old games was annoying enough. Adding more crap to the list is a nuisance and one I could do without. It's ok to discuss concerns and potential problems that impact the hobby, now, before it becomes a real problem.
So you ask for thoughts and I get "Nonsense"?
Jesus - I only said diversification and it
is (can) be good. I also said I shared your concerns
Quote from: sandman2575 on April 25, 2016, 01:47:13 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 25, 2016, 01:24:03 PM
Steam is my number 1 source for games and I'd like them to focus on that service. I don't want to deal with potential technical issues, bandwidth strain, liabilities, store page clutter, etc.
Very much agree. Especially what you say about store page clutter. If Steam can keep its movie offerings totally sequestered to some tab that I never have to access -- so that the Steam I see is 100% games, which is what I want it for -- then I guess I have no problem with it. But if 'featured' content on the main page starts to blend games and movies -- that is going to suck.
Select the "All New Releases" button, below the latest releases area of the front page.
Then check the box labeled "Games" in the filter list on the right. It will also sort out DLC.
Quote from: JudgeDredd on April 26, 2016, 01:14:22 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 25, 2016, 11:03:15 PM
Justifying this as "diversifying" is nonsense. Stores that sell car parts don't "diversify" and sell toilet paper and mouthwash. Stores that sell furniture don't "diversify" and sell frozen food. There is such a thing as dedicated stores that actually strive to make profit by specializing in the sale of a singular class of product. Perhaps it's a more traditional approach, and digital media has permitted retailers to sell a wider range of products at minimal cost, but that doesn't mean it may not come with some risk or inconvenience to the customer.
Personally, I'm not "freaking" and I'm annoyed at the suggestion. Having the new release list cluttered with indie movies, productivity software, and even 20 year old games was annoying enough. Adding more crap to the list is a nuisance and one I could do without. It's ok to discuss concerns and potential problems that impact the hobby, now, before it becomes a real problem.
So you ask for thoughts and I get "Nonsense"?
Jesus - I only said diversification and it is (can) be good. I also said I shared your concerns
I wasnt talking to you. Sorry you got caught in the crossfire. It happens. Forum combat is hell. Corpsman up!!!
Yes, they are clearly trying to expand the content they sell, or in this stupid case, rent. I'm not saying that this fact is nonsense. It's obvious. I'm saying justifying it from the perspective of the consumer is nonsense.
For me, navigating the main page, the new releases and upcoming titles pages is very important. I would say only a small percentage of my purchases are big highly anticipated releases. The majority of my purchases are games or DLCs, many early access, that I had no idea were in development or even existed. I discover them by searching through the all new releases and upcoming releases lists. Adding more "fluff"' has already impacted this experience by making navigation of these pages more time consuming and irritating. It's like having to wade through women's underwear in order to find the kind of games I may be interested in.
Now, I do see several filter options on the right side of the screen. I've never really found it necessary to tinker with these, but I guess now I will.
I don't think it's that much of a stretch between movies and games...both are digital entertainment. Games are obviously more immersive and movies are more passive, but I see a direct relationship there. And using the filters can make whatever you want to become invisible to you disappear.
Bandwidth issues are another thing. I can see that being a potential problem.
Quote from: Nefaro on April 26, 2016, 01:19:58 AM
Select the "All New Releases" button, below the latest releases area of the front page.
Then check the box labeled "Games" in the filter list on the right. It will also sort out DLC.
Thank you, good sir.
The "Lionsgate" banner on Steam is like the ads that show up on my iphone apps. Distracting and annoying.