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I think at least some aspects of Steam are already on topic as per the existing proposal, and simple logic/common sense: Usage of Steam to run games (eg. Proton, updates, compatibility modes, ov...
Answer
#3: Post edited
- I think at least some aspects of Steam are already on topic as per the existing proposal, and simple logic/common sense:
- >Usage of Steam to run games (eg. Proton, updates, compatibility modes, overlay)
- This would fall under "game utilities".
- >Using SteamAPI to develop Steam-integrated games
- This would fall under game development.
- Also, because Steam Deck is on topic, Steam should also be on topic, otherwise it would be difficult to ask questions about the Deck since it uses Steam as the main UI.
- If not on Video Games, the next best place for Steam would be Power Users or Linux. However, it would be a niche tag for those, since most of their user base is not gamers nor care about games. Whereas on Video Games, Steam would probably be relevant to the majority of users.
- I'm not so hot on other aspects:
- >Buying games on Steam (eg. refund policies, regional pricing)
- >Selling games on Steam (also about policies)
- These come down to Valve's policies. I don't think there's a point in us having a Q&A section devoted to the policies of an individual company, even if it is a large one. Valve can run their own Codidact instance if they want :)
- More importantly, questions here will always be at a disadvantage vs. official Valve channels. Say a Codidact question claims you can get a refund on a game, and Valve refuses - well, they're not going to care what some random forum says about it, *they* make the rules. Also, when Valve *changes* policy, questions about them would become obsolete, and it might take time for the community to catch up and edit. Although then again, perhaps there would be enough activity to not have much lag.
- >Social media features (Steam forums, guides, messaging)
This really seems against the spirit of the Video Games site. It has very little to do with games and is very niche. Also, these products are bundled upsells, when ideally they should have been separate stand alone services. They are only included in Steam for ulterior, marketing purposes. *Had* they been standalone, they would obviously not be on topic for video games, for the same reason that Discord or GameFAQs are not on topic. Valve building them into their software should not change that.- But then again, I also don't want a hair splitting rule like "you can talk to X, Y features of this software but not Z feature". That just seems overcomplicated and petty somehow.
- I think at least some aspects of Steam are already on topic as per the existing proposal, and simple logic/common sense:
- >Usage of Steam to run games (eg. Proton, updates, compatibility modes, overlay)
- This would fall under "game utilities".
- >Using SteamAPI to develop Steam-integrated games
- This would fall under game development.
- Also, because Steam Deck is on topic, Steam should also be on topic, otherwise it would be difficult to ask questions about the Deck since it uses Steam as the main UI.
- If not on Video Games, the next best place for Steam would be Power Users or Linux. However, it would be a niche tag for those, since most of their user base is not gamers nor care about games. Whereas on Video Games, Steam would probably be relevant to the majority of users.
- I'm not so hot on other aspects:
- >Buying games on Steam (eg. refund policies, regional pricing)
- >Selling games on Steam (also about policies)
- These come down to Valve's policies. I don't think there's a point in us having a Q&A section devoted to the policies of an individual company, even if it is a large one. Valve can run their own Codidact instance if they want :)
- More importantly, questions here will always be at a disadvantage vs. official Valve channels. Say a Codidact question claims you can get a refund on a game, and Valve refuses - well, they're not going to care what some random forum says about it, *they* make the rules. Also, when Valve *changes* policy, questions about them would become obsolete, and it might take time for the community to catch up and edit. Although then again, perhaps there would be enough activity to not have much lag.
- >Social media features (Steam forums, guides, messaging)
- This really seems against the spirit of the Video Games site - like including XBox Live. It has very little to do with games and is very niche. Also, these products are bundled upsells, when ideally they should have been separate stand alone services. They are only included in Steam for ulterior, marketing purposes. *Had* they been standalone, they would obviously not be on topic for video games, for the same reason that Discord or GameFAQs are not on topic. Valve building them into their software should not change that.
- But then again, I also don't want a hair splitting rule like "you can talk to X, Y features of this software but not Z feature". That just seems overcomplicated and petty somehow.
#2: Post edited
- I think at least some aspects of Steam are already on topic as per the existing proposal, and simple logic/common sense:
- >Usage of Steam to run games (eg. Proton, updates, compatibility modes, overlay)
- This would fall under "game utilities".
- >Using SteamAPI to develop Steam-integrated games
- This would fall under game development.
- Also, because Steam Deck is on topic, Steam should also be on topic, otherwise it would be difficult to ask questions about the Deck since it uses Steam as the main UI.
- If not on Video Games, the next best place for Steam would be Power Users or Linux. However, it would be a niche tag for those, since most of their user base is not gamers nor care about games. Whereas on Video Games, Steam would probably be relevant to the majority of users.
- I'm not so hot on other aspects:
- >Buying games on Steam (eg. refund policies, regional pricing)
- >Selling games on Steam (also about policies)
- These come down to Valve's policies. I don't think there's a point in us having a Q&A section devoted to the policies of an individual company, even if it is a large one. Valve can run their own Codidact instance if they want :)
- More importantly, questions here will always be at a disadvantage vs. official Valve channels. Say a Codidact question claims you can get a refund on a game, and Valve refuses - well, they're not going to care what some random forum says about it, *they* make the rules. Also, when Valve *changes* policy, questions about them would become obsolete, and it might take time for the community to catch up and edit. Although then again, perhaps there would be enough activity to not have much lag.
- >Social media features (Steam forums, guides, messaging)
This really seems against the spirit of the Video Games site. It has very little to do with games and is very niche. Also, these products are bundled upsells, when ideally they should have been separate stand alone services. They are only included in Steam for ulterior, marketing purposes. *Had* they been standalone, they would obviously not be on topic for video games, for the same reason that Discord or GameFAQs are not on topic. Valve building them into their software should not change that.
- I think at least some aspects of Steam are already on topic as per the existing proposal, and simple logic/common sense:
- >Usage of Steam to run games (eg. Proton, updates, compatibility modes, overlay)
- This would fall under "game utilities".
- >Using SteamAPI to develop Steam-integrated games
- This would fall under game development.
- Also, because Steam Deck is on topic, Steam should also be on topic, otherwise it would be difficult to ask questions about the Deck since it uses Steam as the main UI.
- If not on Video Games, the next best place for Steam would be Power Users or Linux. However, it would be a niche tag for those, since most of their user base is not gamers nor care about games. Whereas on Video Games, Steam would probably be relevant to the majority of users.
- I'm not so hot on other aspects:
- >Buying games on Steam (eg. refund policies, regional pricing)
- >Selling games on Steam (also about policies)
- These come down to Valve's policies. I don't think there's a point in us having a Q&A section devoted to the policies of an individual company, even if it is a large one. Valve can run their own Codidact instance if they want :)
- More importantly, questions here will always be at a disadvantage vs. official Valve channels. Say a Codidact question claims you can get a refund on a game, and Valve refuses - well, they're not going to care what some random forum says about it, *they* make the rules. Also, when Valve *changes* policy, questions about them would become obsolete, and it might take time for the community to catch up and edit. Although then again, perhaps there would be enough activity to not have much lag.
- >Social media features (Steam forums, guides, messaging)
- This really seems against the spirit of the Video Games site. It has very little to do with games and is very niche. Also, these products are bundled upsells, when ideally they should have been separate stand alone services. They are only included in Steam for ulterior, marketing purposes. *Had* they been standalone, they would obviously not be on topic for video games, for the same reason that Discord or GameFAQs are not on topic. Valve building them into their software should not change that.
- But then again, I also don't want a hair splitting rule like "you can talk to X, Y features of this software but not Z feature". That just seems overcomplicated and petty somehow.
#1: Initial revision
I think at least some aspects of Steam are already on topic as per the existing proposal, and simple logic/common sense: >Usage of Steam to run games (eg. Proton, updates, compatibility modes, overlay) This would fall under "game utilities". >Using SteamAPI to develop Steam-integrated games This would fall under game development. Also, because Steam Deck is on topic, Steam should also be on topic, otherwise it would be difficult to ask questions about the Deck since it uses Steam as the main UI. If not on Video Games, the next best place for Steam would be Power Users or Linux. However, it would be a niche tag for those, since most of their user base is not gamers nor care about games. Whereas on Video Games, Steam would probably be relevant to the majority of users. I'm not so hot on other aspects: >Buying games on Steam (eg. refund policies, regional pricing) >Selling games on Steam (also about policies) These come down to Valve's policies. I don't think there's a point in us having a Q&A section devoted to the policies of an individual company, even if it is a large one. Valve can run their own Codidact instance if they want :) More importantly, questions here will always be at a disadvantage vs. official Valve channels. Say a Codidact question claims you can get a refund on a game, and Valve refuses - well, they're not going to care what some random forum says about it, *they* make the rules. Also, when Valve *changes* policy, questions about them would become obsolete, and it might take time for the community to catch up and edit. Although then again, perhaps there would be enough activity to not have much lag. >Social media features (Steam forums, guides, messaging) This really seems against the spirit of the Video Games site. It has very little to do with games and is very niche. Also, these products are bundled upsells, when ideally they should have been separate stand alone services. They are only included in Steam for ulterior, marketing purposes. *Had* they been standalone, they would obviously not be on topic for video games, for the same reason that Discord or GameFAQs are not on topic. Valve building them into their software should not change that.