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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.