Serious Sam 3 Developer: "Gabe Newell did not Overreact on Windows 8"

http://www.ubuntuvibes.com/2012/11/serious-sam-3-developer-alen-ladavac.html

by vetler • 14 years ago

89 62 14 years ago

megaman8212• 14 years ago

So Gabe Newell did not overreact on Windows 8... because of what Microsoft might do in Windows 9.

That said, Steam right now is more of an open platform that the Microsoft App Store. Even if Microsoft put up big, scary warnings, they really should allow the side-loading of Metro apps or have a Control Panel option to allow for their installation.

lini• 14 years ago

You can sideload store apps in Windows 8 relatively easy. What you need is the .appx file for the app and powershell. Using the PS prompt you can sign up for a developer license (free, renewed each month) and deploy the .appx file containing the app. No store updates this way, but the app appears on the start menu and works normally.

Microsoft even provides a PowerShell script that automates this installation each time you build a Windows Store app in Visual Studio along with the .appx file.

dschep• 14 years ago

That's "easy" for development. Suggesting that it's something all end users of Steam should do is absurd.

jlgreco4• 14 years ago

Is Microsoft competing with Linux for unusability now? This sounds more involved than customizing GNOME, which is a feat...

icelancer• 14 years ago

>You can sideload store apps in Windows 8 relatively easy.

OK.

>What you need is the .appx file for the app and powershell

what

gergles• 14 years ago

> you can sign up for a developer license (free, renewed each month)

Great, my OS is now timebombed to permit me to only install what I want on it at Microsoft's pleasure.

How on earth is this "easy" compared to "compile it and you can run it forever" like Windows has been since Windows existed?

(Also: what happens when Windows 8 support is "sunset"? You just can't use that computer anymore? Jeez.)

sp332• 14 years ago

These restrictions are already in place on Windows RT like the MS Surface, right? You can't install apps that use the desktop, and you can't sideload any Metro apps.

CJefferson• 14 years ago

Steam is more an open platform than Microsoft App Store? Really? While I like Steam, it seems to me to be the most closed and opaque of all the various app stores around

Look at Steam Greenlight, which provides a very slim chance an indie game might get onto steam: http://steamcommunity.com/greenlight

Basically the rules seem to be lots of people apply, everyone pays, and you might get on if we like you, we will set your price and tell you the revenue split. In particular, a very small number of submitted apps get onto the store.

On the other hand, getting into the windows app store seems to have much more clearly defined rules, and Microsoft is trying everything they can to get more games on.

megaman8212• 14 years ago

Steam is open in the sense, that if you don't like their rules you can distribute outside of their ecosystem.

The Windows App Store is more inclusive, but there is no distribution outside of their ecosystem unless you have an enterprise license.

hhudolet• 14 years ago

But why is that a problem? You can install everything on Win8 classic (non-RT). Tablet version Win8RT is closed platform and marketplace, just like iOS Store, but desktop users can use Win8 like they're using all other win versions till now!

This whole 'marketplace' story is bad because

- it's not true. Steam is same thing like win store, or apple store (IMHO). Just money will now go to MS, not to Valve

- news portal editors should explain readers that you can install classic apps to Win8 (Pro), but Metro apps must go through Store. So, on PC+Win8 you can install everything.

- MS PR is responsible for this also, they should educate ppl more about this RT/Classic mess

shardling3• 14 years ago

Come on, the post explicitly addresses this -- he is convinced that this telegraphs the future lockdown of the regular desktop, and that alternate means of installing apps will be removed in later versions of Windows.

You might disagree, but don't pretend it wasn't mentioned.

dnglaze• 14 years ago

I'm not sold on this telegraphing the future for Microsoft, though. It seems rather odd that Microsoft would destroy one of the major reasons the OS has remained so prevalent and successful: backwards compatibility. This is much the same reason why Intel has never deprecated instructions from x86. If they bring out a new OS that makes it so we can't install our old apps because of the Windows Store, that just gives people more reason and time to consider a different option like Mac or Linux. I just don't think Microsoft would risk such a thing.

On the other hand, I'm not surprised to see the lockdown on mobile/tablet applications. People are already used to this and haven't yet been introduced to true freedom on their mobile devices (besides those of us who have rooted our phones). It'll be interesting to see what happens if some of the new Ultrabook/transformer devices take off.

In the end, we do need to make sure this issue is still raised. You never know, Microsoft might take this step and that would be bad for many developers and consumers.

trotsky2• 14 years ago

It's a problem because everyone can see the path we're on. You may very well need to jailbreak your pc in a few years just to run something the os vendor doesn't see eye to eye with you on. Or did we forget that we all went sue happy on microsoft just for bundling ie. My world is not improved by having to run a half assed port of my preferred browser on my phone just because the browser manufacturer doesn't get along with the phone manufacturer.

vlasta2• 14 years ago

You cannot really compare Windows Store with Steam. There is no Steam-only OS with a name that evokes that it is a successor to Windows 7.

How many non-programmers actually recognize the difference between full Windows 8 and Windows RT? They are both Windows, right? They are both new. Who cares about the details... until it is too late.

Windows RT is not really Windows in the sense it was understood in the past decades. It is a real disaster for every conscious Windows developer.

OriginalSyn• 14 years ago

> How many non-programmers actually recognize the difference between full Windows 8 and Windows RT?

Programmers are not immune to the confusion, I've had to explain the difference to multiple coworkers.

debacle2• 14 years ago

There is a huge trust bridge that has to be made for app store users, and I trust Valve more than I trust Google, Amazon, Apple, or Microsoft.

socialist_coder• 14 years ago

Is this even a big deal? Who is gonna stay in the Metro UI mode other than senior citizens and people who only play Solitaire and web games?

trotsky2• 14 years ago

the people who don't have a keyboard attached at the moment.

DGCA• 14 years ago

What? Why? If Steam releases touch games then just throw the steam icon on your desktop and launch it. If you don't have touch games then you wouldn't be playing without a keyboard and mouse.

AJ007• 14 years ago

I used a Windows Surface tablet a few days ago. It was clearly underpowered, but was far better than I expected. For the first time in years I thought, Microsoft may actually survive this mobile thing.

Windows has a massive selection of software. Their top priority should have been to make it as easy as possible for those legacy developers to add any level of metro support and integration to their existing applications.

Instead they chose to handicap themselves, as if they were producing a brand new operating system. Was the tradeoff of taking a cut of all software sales worth the effective action of starting with a software library the size of webOS's?

colmvp• 14 years ago

"I used a Windows Surface tablet a few days ago. It was clearly underpowered, but was far better than I expected. For the first time in years I thought, Microsoft may actually survive this mobile thing."

Same. I thought the flat interface was slick. Gestures on the edges of the tablet were smart. Keyboard selections (soft and hard thicker keys) were a nice features. Only thing I didn't appreciate were some of the Windows salespeople trying to convince me my gripes were unjustified. I typed faster than the keys were registered and he said it was because my stance was tense and I needed to relax.

pyre2• 14 years ago

When you buy it, there's an instructional DVD that helps you practice the correct stance for your Windows Phone. You'll get the hang of it after 2 or 3 20-minute sessions, though it might take a while to master it completely.

numo16• 14 years ago

> I typed faster than the keys were registered and he said it was because my stance was tense and I needed to relax.

If this happened while you were typing in Word, they may not have installed the update that fixed this issue (was reported in the comments of a surface article on here somewhere).

shardling3• 14 years ago

They probably want Metro apps to be available on RT.

chadzawistowski• 14 years ago

I agree with you - it should be a priority of Microsoft to make it easy for legacy developers to migrate to Metro. But at the same time, they can't hamstring their products for the sake of complete backwards compatibility.

I believe that WinRT is actually a relatively easy migration path from .Net. The biggest change is needing to use asynchrony in certain cases. You can even still link to your old C++ dlls! You do need to strip out disallowed API calls (Winsock, for example), but you are allowed to link against offending dlls during development. They only need to be removed for certification.

ltcoleman• 14 years ago

Microsoft is just doing what is profitable. I cannot blame them for this. Apple has already proven that this model works quite well. I HIGHLY doubt Microsoft will completely abandon the desktop experience in Windows 9. I also doubt that Apple will force everybody to only use the MAC app store in future OSX releases.

I do believe the gaming landscape is changing and maybe that means Linux is the winner for the next generation of awesome computer gaming titles.

Nevertheless, Microsoft is a company that is in the business in making money, and they are making a huge push for their new platform which is mimicking the most successful company in the world... Seems like they are making good decisions.

simbyotic• 14 years ago

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, and given the amount of high-profile backclash against Windows 8's policies I might, but the 'problem' seems to be that in order to use the Windows 8 tiles you have to sell your program through Windows Store, right?

In what way is it any different than selling an app through the Apple Store? If you want to add the extra functionality, you have to sell it through the Windows store, but no one is forcing you to use it in order for you costumers to use your program (lets face it, your games probably dont need the tiles) and if you do so choose to use their store, it isn't forcing you to remain exclusive to that store, you can sell it anywhere you want.

Right? If so, what is the fuss about?

shardling3• 14 years ago

No one involved here said they like the Apple store.

tikhonj• 14 years ago

I don't know if this is the core issue in the article, but this is my take:

I think the real issue is Microsoft's horribly Apple-esque policy on Windows 8 RT: you can only install software from the app store.

The core worry is that this is going to transcend ARM in future releases. Given the unified branding--both products are called "Windows 8"--I think this is a very real worry.

Even if it doesn't transcend onto x86 and desktop Windows 8, it's still every bit as bad Apple's policy and should not be condoned even only on RT.

Apocryphon• 14 years ago

OS X doesn't mandate that you sell software through the Apple Store.

v21• 14 years ago

Although increasingly you have to sign your apps (and thus be a registered Apple developer), or else teach end users to disable Gatekeeper.

powertower5• 14 years ago

> So, it is a vicious circle. And not an accidental one. This one was carefully designed to be that way.

It's quite simple...

Metro - for consumers. Mostly for touch-based tablets. Internet, Facebook, Twitter, simple games and apps.

Desktop - for producers. Keyboard and PC (everything from a $600 Dell to a powerful $5000 WorkStation). Large games, VS.NET, Office, etc. And also everthing to do with the non-consumer/enterprise market.

Do you have any idea how many situations, work-flows, and applications NEED the desktop?

Microsoft is not getting rid of the Desktop. The Desktop is here to stay. In Windows 8, in 9, and every other version. Including the Server versions.

Half of their revenues depend on the Desktop situations, work-flows, and applications.

They'll get rid of the Desktop when computers start reading your thoughts or everyone in the world becomes a thoughtless consumer that spends his/her entire time buying useless crap (like in the move Idiocracy).

SquareWheel3• 14 years ago

I don't think they'll get rid of the desktop, I just think more and more consumers will choose ARM devices. Regular people do little more than chat on Facebook, check their email, and do light internet browsing. If they can do it from a tablet device for half the cost, they will.

powertower5• 14 years ago

And that's exactly who Metro is for. The Windows Desktop still remains for the rest of us, including ones that want a beefy setup, or to run productive applications such as VS.NET, or to isntall and play games that require a bit more than a slow ARM processor.

The author is suggesting at the end of the article that there is a grand conspiracy at Microsoft to lock all games and apps out of Windows eventually unless they go through the App Store (in Windows 9 specifically). I'd like some proof to this because it just does not make sense.

icebraining• 14 years ago

But the point is that games are sold to consumers, and if they only have Metro, you're forced to go through the Store. Whether the developers will have access to Desktop is mostly irrelevant to his argument.

powertower5• 14 years ago

You mean ... if they only have a lower powered ARM device, with Windows RT, they are forced to go through the store... Or if they can't figure out how to get to the Desktop with their Windows 8 device by clicking an icon/tile.

At some point you're going to have to make a choice whether you need a Desktop/PC, a tablet with Windows 8, or a tablet with Windows RT for whatever it is you need Windows for.

sixothree• 14 years ago

They're not Metro apps, they're "Windows 8 Store applications".

kibibu• 14 years ago

Forgive me, but:

> Microsoft is not getting rid of MS-DOS. MS-DOS is here to stay. In Windows 3.1, in 95, and every other version.

There was a time that everything to do with the non-consumer/enterprise market was done in DOS. Soon enough Metro apps will be first class citizens and desktop apps will be second class. If locking down the most important user-facing UI elements to only those apps certified by MS doesn't cause you some trepidation then you might want to examine history a little closer.

breakyerself• 14 years ago

They could decide to separate consumer and business customers in windows 9. No desktop for consumers and no tiles for business. The effect would be similar. Walled garden for consumers. No market for mature games, or home brewed software because business's have become the only pc users still capable. Don't underestimate balmers jealousy of apple.

cincinnatus• 14 years ago

Disappointing to see such FUD in today's landscape. What MS is doing is in almost every way an improvement for the vast majority of the population.

jlgreco4• 14 years ago

To be clear, are you saying that he is wrong, or that what he thinks is not important?

stcredzero5• 14 years ago

I wonder if now isn't the time for a billionaire to start backing something akin to Ubuntu but based on a Windows clone like ReactOS? The goal would be to capture a user base that's disenchanted with the Windows 8 direction and just wants to hold onto the Windows 7 experience? One could even base this on WINE and Linux with the plentiful open source programs for Windows and some tweaks to automate installation of things like MS Office.

jccodez• 14 years ago

I use classic shell with win8. It gives me everything I was use to and I can boot to desktop mode. I think they will bring back some of what they took out in order to cater to businesses. They know businesses will not touch win8 as is and need to reincorporate what was removed during the refactor of win8. There is still support for god mode as well

stcredzero5• 14 years ago

The above would also be free and FOSS. A desktop OS that can run Microsoft Office just fine could be a compelling competitor.

emehrkay• 14 years ago

Wait, he says that you cannot download an application from the internet and run it on your computer, but earlier says that you simply cannot add non-app store apps to the Metro tiled interface. Which one is it? I would assume that you can still install applications from the internet (non-app store), and I'm certain that you can have tiles for those apps. What exactly is the problem?

goggles99• 14 years ago

So don't use the Metro interface then... Sheesh

Microsoft set things up this way because they want the Surface and Win8 metro to be similar.

Serious Sam 3 Developer: "Gabe Newell did not Overreact on Windows 8"

Related Stories