Gearbox's Randy Rant Part 2

*Hectic Glenn* · #1 06-11-2009, 11:39 PM

Gearbox president Randy Pitchford has hit out again at Valve and Steam. This time he has criticised Valve's approach to PS3 development and Steam (again). A selection of his comments include:

I read it the same way I read fanboys. Like there's a guy who brought the Sony platform and he's a Sony guy, so he decides he's going to spend a certain percentage of his time bashing Microsoft. And there's a guy on Microsoft doing the same thing. Those guys are childish and narrow minded; It's the same kind of thing.

Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform. It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam. It’s cool, it’s good, and they’re doing a good job but at the same time they’re reliant on the rest of the world.

They had to do that [Left 4 Dead] deal with EA. When I see the L4D ad on the television I don’t see a Valve logo, I see an EA logo, and when I bought it, I bought it at a store.

News source. Meanwhile Borderlands (a Gearbox title) ranks as the top seller this week on the awful digital distribution platform that is Steam. Odd way to thank Valve, Randy.

mortiz-Redux · #2 06-11-2009, 11:44 PM

Seriously, what's this guy's problem? Did Gabe sleep with his mother and not call her back?

*Yorick* · #3 06-11-2009, 11:53 PM

What a complete and utter moron.

ILIA(RUS) · #4 06-11-2009, 11:56 PM

"It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam."
what a fuking retard, that is EXACLY why steam and VALVe are so successful.
keep it up VALVe and dont listen to some rerards whining about their beloved market and psn pfffff

why doesnt he go do somthing useful like complain about shitty MW2 not having dedicated servers as that is a backstab for all PC gamers from infinity ward.

btw this guy reminds me of the australian politician that doesnt allow 18+ ratings

Noodle · #5 06-11-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hectic Glenn

Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform.

This is the way the most successful companies tend to operate. It's called Capitalism. Best product for best price wins. They need to quit whining about not being as competent as ValvE. Ironically, YOU are dependent upon THEM for a good amount of your sales. They created the platform to make the distribution of games much more efficient, and often cheaper.

Quit being jealous.

QUINTIX256 · #6 07-11-2009, 12:03 AM

Randy should just take his precious game off steam, the hypocrite.

Barnz · #7 07-11-2009, 12:08 AM

oh stupid fanboys, just bashing everyone who criticizes steam/valve

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILIA(RUS)

"It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam."
what a fuking retard, that is EXACLY why steam and VALVe are so successful.

learn to read

*Samon* · #8 07-11-2009, 12:17 AM

Randy Pitchford is a very whiney bitch. It's not a matter of blindly defending Valve and Steam in the face of (sometimes justified) criticism; it's a matter of being able to detect worthless criticism. For instance: Pitchford's.

*Hectic Glenn* · #9 07-11-2009, 12:23 AM

I'm not sure why he's so sandy. Borderlands is a really great game which I've played hours of and hope to dedicate many more. For a developer which should make a healthy profit out this title, they don't have much to upset about. Why not enjoy this period of success without dragging themselves down in a slagging match?

Rico · #10 07-11-2009, 12:29 AM

That is quite possibly the most retarded thing I have ever read. Steam has proven itself as a great platform time and time again. If he thinks that he is going to gain anything by bashing what is likely to be one of the key online distributors of the future, he's dead wrong.

My only problem with Steam has always been that since the middleman has been cut out of the equation, game prices should be slightly lower from the get-go. However, it is not unreasonable to assume that running the content servers and bandwidth could be taking up those costs, but I doubt that's the only reason.

Either way I would love a reason to ditch physical distribution entirely. However, there is something to be said for holding a physical box in your hands and unwrapping/reading a new game's manual. That is quite simply too hard to replace in my opinion.

So like I said, if we got more goodies when we bought online it would be perfect. Either that or a slight reduction in price.

Plissken · #11 07-11-2009, 12:53 AM

This, if nothing else, just seems like bad business to continue to rag on a platform that has sold oh so many units of their game, I mean hell, I bought mine off Steam to.

If nothing else, be a little more diplomatic about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

My only problem with Steam has always been that since the middleman has been cut out of the equation, game prices should be slightly lower from the get-go. However, it is not unreasonable to assume that running the content servers and bandwidth could be taking up those costs, but I doubt that's the only reason.

If I remember correctly, that goes all the way back to the very beginnings of Steam and Vivendi Universal's lawsuit. VAVLe weren't allowed to sell their game cheaper over digital distribution due to the myriad of business deals and contracts involved.

I think merchants would also threaten VALVe or any company using Steam that they wouldn't carry their game if the online distribution price was too low compared to the store price. Right now, software companies rely on both, so until things begin to tip further toward the side of digital distribution, the prices won't fall. The continued existence of retailers will keep it up.

Still VALVe continues to do some awesome sales over Steam. I mean, what was it, $2.50 for TF2 the other day? I got the entire Dark Forces/Jedi Knight series for $20 a month ago. I couldn't find a price that low even in the bin at Gamestop, and never for a game like TF2 that was that popular.

zombieturtle01 · #12 07-11-2009, 01:10 AM

There is definitely criticism to put up against Valve in certain areas. However, I don't really understand what he's complaining about, poor arguement.

It's practically like "Man, DAVE is going out with all the hot chicks. That's great and all, but I HATE Dave because he's going out with all the hot chicks"

xdrive · #13 07-11-2009, 01:21 AM

he is just jealous of steam

Farrowlesparrow · #14 07-11-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombieturtle01

There is definitely criticism to put up against Valve in certain areas. However, I don't really understand what he's complaining about, poor arguement.

It's practically like "Man, DAVE is going out with all the hot chicks. That's great and all, but I HATE Dave because he's going out with all the hot chicks"

And Dave's hot chick is still giving out favours to anyone who wants one.

PimpinPenguin · #15 07-11-2009, 01:49 AM

What this guy on. First Valve have the right to criticise the PS3 if they don't like developing for it, it doesn't make them "fanboys". Valve are not the only ones to criticise the PS3's complex architecture other notable devs have even some who lavished praise on the PS3 at the beginning.

Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform. It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam. It’s cool, it’s good, and they’re doing a good job but at the same time they’re reliant on the rest of the world.

As for this it makes no sense to me. If Valve didn't care about retail they simply wouldn't bother. Valve could if they wanted simply go Steam only and cut EA out, but they don't because they still care about retail. Valve are PC developers so it's only natural they would focus on Steam.