[Bf-committers] Steam Greenligth

[Sean Olson]

Hi Guys,
Basically steam is an "app store" like the apple app store or the ubuntu
software center.  The profit model I believe is a revenue sharing system
like you stated Ton.  It's main market in the past has been games, but they
have recently expanded into software - mostly starting with game
development tools.  (http://store.steampowered.com/software/)  They are
currently expanding into linux to offset risk with the deployment of the
window 8 app center. (http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/linux/).

Politically this is a big deal as Valve, creators of Steam and many game
franchises are one of the top developers in the cutthroat game industry and
it is hoped that bringing steam to linux will bring many users to the OS.
 It's been shown that gaming drives 30% of PC sales.  That of course is 30%
of people using Windows that have only one reason to use windows...it's the
only viable gaming platform.

Politics aside - There are pros and cons to putting Blender on the steam
store - Pros include visibility, ease of installation, possible integration
with their cloud settings storage.  (Usually used for saved game state,
 Play at work->continue at home)

Cons - This would take a little developer time, you would have to make a
steam-blender that integrates with steam API and installs into their folder
structure.  You would have to look into legal and OSS on the store - I'm
pretty sure it is much more open than the appstore, but I can't say how
much more open.  Also, somebody would need to spend time navigating Blender
through the "Greenlight" process - basically it's a democratic way to
greenlight games/software.  Software is voted through by users.

It is possible that they may actually want Blender on steam because they
have been encouraging it's use in their Dota2 art competitions and in
creation of assets for Team Fortress.  They have a system where game
artists can make assets for their games and sell them within the game world
for real cash.  This is then profit shared as well.  Having a free tool
that expands this artist base would only be good for them.

Anyway, Hope this little crash course on the land of Valve/Steam gives a
more rounded view of what it is so you can make an educated decision on
where to go with this idea!

-Enjoy!
-Sean










On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 4:47 AM, Peter K.H. Gragert <pkhgragert at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi Ton,
> agreed ;-)
>
> 2012/11/2 Ton Roosendaal <ton at blender.org>
>
> > Hi Peter,
> >
> > At a quick glance, this Greenlight system appears to me a
> > revenue-splitting funding mechanism for game makers - probably meant for
> > closed/non-free distribution of work via Steam later.
> >
> > That's all fine for indie game makers, but I wouldn't know a benefit for
> > Blender to be there. I also don't see what kind of distribution problem
> > this would solve even...
> >
> > Or do I miss something?
> >
> > -Ton-
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Ton Roosendaal  Blender Foundation   ton at blender.org    www.blender.org
> > Blender Institute   Entrepotdok 57A  1018AD Amsterdam   The Netherlands
> >
> > On 1 Nov, 2012, at 13:41, Peter K.H. Gragert wrote:
> >
> > > The conditions are 'horrible', at least nothing for me.
> > >
> > > 2012/11/1 Jeremias Boos <Jeremias.boos at gmx.de>
> > >
> > >> I Hope I am at the right place to make this suggestion.
> > >> Steam has now since some Time Opened up there Platform for people and
> > >> Normal Software.
> > >>
> > >> So has anyone considered to Send Blender to Greenligth?
> > >> http://steamcommunity.com/greenlight/
> > >>
> > >> I think it would be a great Opportunity to distribute Blender over
> > Steam.
> > >>
> > >> Sincerely
> > >> Jeremias Boos
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