All the posts I see here profiling Valve as greedy are starting to really hit home with me...I used to think that Valve was one of the good guys. But, my experience with Steam (my first with HL2) and this litigation leads me to believe Valve is on a quiet crusade to essentially control and dictate when and how we can experience their "product". Okay, granted this product is highly susceptible to copyright infringement, but trying to get cybercafes to buck up for providing LICENSED copies of their products to play is a bit much.

This reminds me of a story I heard from someone who told me that, I think it was HBO, was essentially going around to bars essentially trying to extort them by telling them they could not broadcast the Sopranos or Sex and the City without paying additional revenues...

The question here is...WHEN DOES THIS END? Do we get to the point where every time a business establishment that wants to provide a certain amenity or service to its customer as part of its value differentiator has to pay some sort of "usage fee" or "subscription fee" if they want to make it available to more than one "household"?

Will bars and niteclubs have to fork over more money just to have the radio playing or the TV on?????? Will we have to pay per flush? Shoot the power company could get in on the action too! THey could charge all businesses MORE because they are providing heat and light to more than just one "household"! Yea, lets all get our greedy little fucking fingers in everyone elses pockets!!!!

Valve, you make great games....

Your business philosophy and public relations strategy leave a HELLUVA lot to be desired.

Considering the bullshit I had to go through to get HL2 retail up and running, I am leaning towards it being the LAST Valve product I buy...

There will be PLENTY of other games out there that dont sniff my computer before they decide to let me install and run their little software application.

Sling