There seems to be a lot of noise about Valve these days. Some examples: the "Windows 8 is going to be a catastrophe" thing; the "we're hiring super elite Linux developers" thing; the "our engine is faster on Linux?!" thing; and now this navel-gazing self-congratulatory gobbledygook.
Sudden Clarity Clarence asks, "Is Windows 8 going to have an app store? Could that be a threat to Steam? Is all this noise just saber-rattling?"
"Valve's statements about Windows 8 usability were mirrored by Blizzard."
Might Blizzard not feel similarly threatened by Windows 8?
"So It's an OpenGL vs Direct3D debate"
I slightly misspoke, but the example still holds: an attack on Direct3D is an attack on Microsoft. (Do I need to back that up? Could anyone conceivably disagree?)
"All this noise is branding/promotion of the Valve brand, and would likely be going on even without Windows 8."
Good point, and I agree. But what would it be like if Windows wasn't pushing an app store? Would they still be calling their main platform a "catastrophe"? (Maybe, maybe not.)
So I guess I should have asked, "How much does Valve fear a Windows app store?" And also, "Doesn't it kinda seem like Valve is attacking Microsoft?"
Sometimes it seems like "Hooray for Valve/Steam/Gabe" are three of the internet's favorite topics. I get the impression that the Venn diagram of people who love memes and people who love Valve probably looks like a circle.
How does Valve manage to get so much love from the internet? Sometimes I think they must have a small team dedicated to feeding social news sites. For example, "Hey look guys, a new Team Fortress comic!" Or, "Here's some fancy talk about how enlightened we are! P.S.: Give us your money."
Aren't there better-loved companies that receive much less internet-love?
According to the internet, Valve is not just a company, it's a hero. And Valve clearly feeds this idea. For example, this very article. Valve doesn't just want your money, it wants your love.
Is this dangerous? Is this effective? How much does internet-love translate to real dollars?
There seems to be a lot of noise about Valve these days. Some examples: the "Windows 8 is going to be a catastrophe" thing; the "we're hiring super elite Linux developers" thing; the "our engine is faster on Linux?!" thing; and now this navel-gazing self-congratulatory gobbledygook.
Sudden Clarity Clarence asks, "Is Windows 8 going to have an app store? Could that be a threat to Steam? Is all this noise just saber-rattling?"