The lights are on
Valve recently updated its Steam Subscriber Agreement that blocks users from bringing class action lawsuits against the company. Valve joins Sony, Microsoft and other companies where customers can now only bring individual claims against them.
"We considered this change very carefully," Valve explains. "It’s clear to us that in some situations, class actions have real benefits to customers. In far too many cases however, class actions don’t provide any real benefit to users and instead impose unnecessary expense and delay, and are often designed to benefit the class action lawyers who craft and litigate these claims.
"Class actions like these do not benefit us or our communities."
Valve also introduced a new dispute resolution process for customers who are unhappy with their Steam purchases. If a situation can't be resolved through normal customer support Valve will use an arbitration or small claims court.
"Valve will reimburse your costs of the arbitration for claims under a certain amount," says Valve. "Reimbursement by Valve is provided regardless of the arbitrator’s decision, provided that the arbitrator does not determine the claim to be frivolous or the costs unreasonable."
[Source: Valve]
I'd be tired and would want to prevent a bunch of greedy people taking away from my company so I'm okay with this. Everyone can blame the few who ruined it for everyone else. They said if it's like a reimbursement thing they will pay you. They just don't want to pay someone 10 billions dollars for some dumb accusation.
Valve has brainwashed its community a long time ago into thinking it's a "good" company. My experiences with Steam and Steamworks games are nearly 1000 times worse than EA. My biggest issue is their greed. If you buy a steamworks game, for example: Empire Total War, you are not allowed to (according to their agreement) resell that game to anybody. If you do decide to resell it, the buyer will not be able to install the game and play it because of the CD code. YOU CAN'T BUY A USED STEAM GAME. IF YOU SWITCH OR LOSE YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU LOSE YOUR ENTIRE STEAM COLLECTION. YOU OWN THE DISC, BUT STEAM WILL NOT LET YOU PLAY IT WITHOUT INTERNET AND A BRAND NEW PRODUCT KEY. That's f**king greed.
Will someone please think of the class-actions lawyers! /ridiculousness.
I understand Valves feelings on this. I wish things like this were not needed. It sucks on the consumer end though. I guess I am saying I have no strong opinion one way or the other. Too Neutral?