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Valve Chief Opens Floodgates of Criticism Against Windows 8
Speaking
the Casual Connect game conference in Seattle this week, Gabe Newell, chief executive and cofounder
Valve, had some harsh
about Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system.
The award-
game publisher is also the creator of the Steam digital distribution service
games, and Newell seemed rather "steamed" himself
what Microsoft's new OS could mean
the PC market.
During
interview conducted by Ed Fries, the former head of Microsoft Games Studio, Newell suggested that Windows 8 would
"a catastrophe" for PC users.
Strong words from someone
actually owes his fortunes and success to his
at Microsoft. Newell, who reportedly was a producer
the first three releases of Windows, left Microsoft to found Valve
1996, which in
developed Steam as a way to combat piracy and provide a distribution tool
games from large publishers as well
independent developers.
Steam could thus be
as leveling the playing field, something Windows 8 could likely disrupt.
"My suspicion is that he's
talking about the OS but the balance of
in the mobile and desktop marketing space," said Scott Steinberg, analyst
TechSavvy Global. "He's worried that publishers and developers will cede a
of power to Microsoft."
Valve and Microsoft did not respond to our requests to
for this story.
Newell's
point of contention with Windows 8 is that it could drive some top-
PC/OEMs to exit the market, which would destroy margins.
It would be a good idea to hedge
this possibility with alternatives, he suggested.
This could very much explain
desire to bring Steam to Linux,
was announced last week. But is this
reasonable reaction?
"Until now, interoperability was the death knell
the open source OS, but with more work, data and processes moving
the Web -- and vested pushes
Google, with their Linux-based Chrome OS and related devices -- workers and consumers
becoming more device-agnostic on the desktop
of things," said Chris Silva, industry analyst at the Altimeter Group. "Obviously, Windows has never
an open system."
Moreover, with Windows 8, Microsoft is
things the way Microsoft has always done it. Whether it works
is yet to be seen.
"Windows licensing still clings
its byzantine structure while the mobile world has begun to train users
upgrades are one contiguous set of features at
single price," Silva told TechNewsWorld. "And there are many 'flavors' of the same software,
is in stark contrast
the other models. Microsoft is mired with an obsession
choice, but it is really about giving confusion
the consumer."
Adapted and abridged from: Technewsworld, July 26, 2012.
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