Valve: We wont charge for downloads

[bingo83]

"You buy the product, you get the content,"

In a move that is sure to surprise more than a few people, Valve have stated that once you buy into their products you will be treated to updates, maps and content for free as they become available.

"You buy the product, you get the content," Team Fortress 2 designer Robin Walker insists. "We make more money because more people buy it, not because we try and nickel-and-dime the same customers."

With Valve recently tying up a distribution deal with EA this is not an announcement that I would have thought would be forthcoming.

Hopefully he wasnt just referring to the PC as Valve have Half Life 2, Episode 1 & 2 and Team Fortress all in the pipeline for the 360 and PS3.

Source (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=25208)

[damien©]

Why are you hoping he wasn't referring to the Xbox 360 or PS3?

As what he's saying is a good thing, they are letting people pay the initial price then the extra content is to keep people playing it, which will have a constant effect on it's sales.

This is a good thing, hell it would be a good thing if they said they weren't going to charge the High Prices of some others.

[Tobes]

Valve have never charged for anything extra in a game I don't think. They charge for games and chapters, but not maps etc because its user generated content most of the time. So I wont be expecting to pay for maps, weapons etc when the games come to the 360.

[gashead]

Good News, but doesn't make up for the fact that they stupidly canned the Black Box.

[phatmuther]

Why are you hoping he wasn't referring to the Xbox 360 or PS3?


He isnt, read it again ;)


Hopefully he wasnt just referring to the PC as Valve have Half Life 2, Episode 1 & 2 and Team Fortress all in the pipeline for the 360 and PS3.

Source (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=25208)

[damien©]

He isnt, read it again ;)

Shut Up :p ... lol

No Cheers, My Mistake Bingo for ever doubting your intentions.

[HotFish]

Please Valve just hurry the 'uck up and get the Orange Box out

:)

[extreme wussy]

sounds gd bout time sum1 did this so hopefully others will follow to keep up the pace

[Sean]

Why can't MS catch onto this idea? Free content. It would help them sell alot more.

[Tobes]

Why can't MS catch onto this idea? Free content. It would help them sell alot more.

Dont think it would. I dont not buy a game because it will have downloadable content which you have to pay for.

[Sean]

Double Negative, Tusk Tusk.

Yer I suppose. It's too expensive though :(

[Jimex]

Microsoft do a fair job in my opinion when you put it into perspective as there is quite a lot of free downloadable content and the large majority of premium stuff does become free after a few months. Take the new Gears maps as example. Those maps are highly detailed, complex and obviously cost money to employ the staff to make them plus come september they'll be made available for free.

On the other hand if i could draw your attention to the $10 'Garry's mod 10' for HL2 which is practically a 'YOU HAVE TO BUY' because 90% of the mods and maps etc can only be run on it. Now, if you don't know already, Garrys Mod 1,2,3...9 were all completely free and created by a mod community, therefore there is no justification for charging $10 for the new version other than to rip customers off. You may think that $10 isn't alot, i agree, but when you consider the thousands and thousands of people who have bought it, Valve are sitting very happy. Finally, i would happily pay $10 to the actual creators but the fact its released on steam and valve get a percentage profit, i don't agree with.

[bingo83]

Finally, i would happily pay $10 to the actual creators but the fact its released on steam and valve get a percentage profit, i don't agree with.

Valve have to run the Steam servers, that much bandwidth doesnt come cheaply.

Steam have 13 million users at present and that equestes to 13 million customers who wont be buying at a retail outlet which will generate more money for the developers as they dont have to pay retail costs or produce expensive packaging etc.