Affinity products on Steam

[Chelovek]

Hello, I have been thinking, that it would be a good idea, that all Affinity products, would be also available on Steam, since they are on Microsoft Store as well - why not have them on Steam also? I believe, this option might make Affinity Products more accesible to people, who are new or old to photo editing.

What do you guys think?

[Pšenda]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Affinity+products+on+Steam+site:forum.affinity.serif.com

 

[Ron P.]

I think this should have been posted in the Feature Request/Suggestions forum. I don't know which one of those forums, and actually by looking at the Steam website, it clearly is not one that fits. It's for Gaming software. I didn't see any that were editing programs.

As one of the posts in the search result link provided by Psenda, Serif offers it's applications on three major outlets, there own being the best.

https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/52-feature-requests-suggestions/

[emmrecs01]

I wholly agree with @Ron P..

Steam is predominantly a site for Gaming Software.  There are some non-gaming apps available there but they are (almost) always NOT the latest versions.  Why would Serif want to "sell" any "older" versions?

Jeff

[Pšenda]

45 minutes ago, Ron P. said:

I think this should have been posted in the Feature Request/Suggestions forum.

No need, it was requested a long time ago.

 

[Chelovek]

On 1/1/2022 at 11:35 AM, emmrecs01 said:

I wholly agree with @Ron P..

Steam is predominantly a site for Gaming Software.  There are some non-gaming apps available there but they are (almost) always NOT the latest versions.  Why would Serif want to "sell" any "older" versions?

Jeff

Hi there, I am sorry for a late answer.

I do not agree with you, the reason is that Affinity can update their software, if they would like to, on Steam. Just probably their shop/site will be between the first to get an update, I would not care, if I would get an update a few days later on Steam. 

And as said before, it will be a lot more accesible.

[Chelovek]

I have made a new post in suggestions.

[Pšenda]

51 minutes ago, Chelovek said:

I have made a new post in suggestions.

Why?
It is clear from the previous post / link that this requirement already exists, and it is therefore desirable not to re-create identical requirements in accordance with the rules of the forum.

[PaulEC]

On 1/1/2022 at 12:55 AM, Chelovek said:

I believe, this option might make Affinity Products more accesible to people, who are new or old to photo editing.

Well, being "new or old" seems to cover most people! But I'm not sure what is "inaccessible" about apps that are already available directly from Serif and also on the Microsoft and Mac stores respectively. 😕

[Chelovek]

7 hours ago, PaulEC said:

Well, being "new or old" seems to cover most people! But I'm not sure what is "inaccessible" about apps that are already available directly from Serif and also on the Microsoft and Mac stores respectively. 😕

I like to have everything at one place as well, not too many accounts, everything on one account.

[R C-R]

3 hours ago, Chelovek said:

I like to have everything at one place as well, not too many accounts, everything on one account.

But even if the Affinity apps were available through Steam, how many others you might want to buy would be as well?

Also, I am not very familiar with getting apps through Steam but are there provisions for separate purchases for Mac & Windows versions or must one purchase provide app versions that run on both platforms?

[Chelovek]

12 hours ago, R C-R said:

But even if the Affinity apps were available through Steam, how many others you might want to buy would be as well?

Also, I am not very familiar with getting apps through Steam but are there provisions for separate purchases for Mac & Windows versions or must one purchase provide app versions that run on both platforms?

Well, it is not mandatory to put a game/software for all types of OS', although, once you purchase it, that one purchase does provide app versions that run on some/all platforms.

[Ron P.]

5 minutes ago, Chelovek said:

Well, it is not mandatory to put a game/software for all types of OS', although, once you purchase it, that one purchase does provide app versions that run on some/all platforms.

Therein lies the problem. Serif's policy is that we must purchase separate apps (license) for each supported platform.

[R C-R]

4 hours ago, Chelovek said:

Well, it is not mandatory to put a game/software for all types of OS', although, once you purchase it, that one purchase does provide app versions that run on some/all platforms.

Are you saying that Steam's policy is that one purchase from its store must be able to run on all platforms or do they permit sellers to limit the purchase to just one platform?

Either way, unless you can convince every maker of every app you want to use to sell through Steam, you will need to have separate accounts at various stores to buy them.

[Chelovek]

27 minutes ago, R C-R said:

Are you saying that Steam's policy is that one purchase from its store must be able to run on all platforms or do they permit sellers to limit the purchase to just one platform?

Either way, unless you can convince every maker of every app you want to use to sell through Steam, you will need to have separate accounts at various stores to buy them.

If you buy the game/software on Steam, Mac or Linux is not available at the time of purchase, but after some time they give out an update, that it is available, sign-in to Steam on those OS' and you can install it with no additional cost. You cannot make the software being paid again for other types of OS'. It has to be in that one purchase. I hope you can understand me now, since I do not know how to explain it more.

[walt.farrell]

Just now, Chelovek said:

If you buy the game/software on Steam, Mac or Linux is not available at the time of purchase, but after some time they give out an update, that it is available, sign-in to Steam on those OS' and you can install it with no additional cost. You cannot make the software being paid again for other types of OS'. It has to be in that one purchase. I hope you can understand me now, since I do not know how to explain it more.

That is not an acceptable model for the Affinity products. They are licensed individually, by OS.

If Steam really requires that 1 purchase covers all the OSes, then either:

1. Each Affinity product would need to cost twice as much; or
2. There would need to be separate Affinity products on Steam for each OS, such that purchasing "Affinity Photo for Windows" did not give you rights to "Affinity Photo for Mac", and similarly for Designer and Publisher.

[R C-R]

43 minutes ago, Chelovek said:

You cannot make the software being paid again for other types of OS'. It has to be in that one purchase.

As others have pointed out, the Affinity app licenses are not compatible with that requirement -- the Affinity app licenses are sold to individuals only on a one platform per license basis. There is no Linux version & no plans to offer one. Two of the three Affinity apps are sold separately for three platforms (Mac, Windows, iPadOS). Currently Affinity Publisher is available only for Mac & Windows, but there may eventually be an iPad version as well.

[Chelovek]

1 hour ago, R C-R said:

As others have pointed out, the Affinity app licenses are not compatible with that requirement -- the Affinity app licenses are sold to individuals only on a one platform per license basis. There is no Linux version & no plans to offer one. Two of the three Affinity apps are sold separately for three platforms (Mac, Windows, iPadOS). Currently Affinity Publisher is available only for Mac & Windows, but there may eventually be an iPad version as well.

Ah, I see. Well then, the only idea that comes to my mind is to re-release the Windows version on Steam, although, that one is already on Microsoft Store.

[R C-R]

Just now, Chelovek said:

Ah, I see. Well then, the only idea that comes to my mind is to re-release the Windows version on Steam, although, that one is already on Microsoft Store.

I am confused. Didn't you just say that on Steam sellers cannot make buyers pay again for software on another platform if/when it is available for one platform?

Wouldn't that mean that anyone who bought the Windows version could get the Mac version for free?

[Chelovek]

On 1/6/2022 at 9:23 PM, R C-R said:

I am confused. Didn't you just say that on Steam sellers cannot make buyers pay again for software on another platform if/when it is available for one platform?

Wouldn't that mean that anyone who bought the Windows version could get the Mac version for free?

Oh, there was a misunderstanding. I meant it the way, that Steam does not allow to pay for game/software for another OS platform, again, if you buy a game, and it will have a port for Linux or Mac, it will have to be under that one payment, they will not allow to buy the same game again, just for another OS platform, do you understand me now?

[Ron P.]

49 minutes ago, Chelovek said:

Steam does not allow to pay for game/software for another OS platform, again

This is still very confusing. It does not allow purchasing (pay) for software, for another OS platform, again?

• So if I purchased a program for Windows, would I be allowed to purchase the same program for Mac? (or vice-versa).

49 minutes ago, Chelovek said:

it will have a port for Linux or Mac

Is that a requirement, that the software must be ported to Linux?

Are you trying to use that as a comparison, so substitute Windows instead of Linux, it reads it will have a port for Windows or Mac?

If Steam requires the software to be ported to Linux, Serif's software would not be allowed. There's no Linux versions, and will not be a Linux version according to Serif.

 

This is just my opinion, trying to decipher all this. Steam is a convenient hosting platform to circumvent producers like, Serif, that require purchasing separate licenses for each platform.  Again that appears what this is about. Of course Serif would not entertain offering their products on such a site. Think of the revenue they'd be loosing.

EDIT

I just done a cursory look through the Steam, which is part of Valve Corp, their terms of service, et-al. I can find nothing that would remotely serve editing software such as Serif's Affinity programs. It's all designed for Games, game streaming over the internet. Some of the terms would be worrisome for those creating content. Valve claims they would own such content that is uploaded to their platforms. I don't think anyone would willingly, knowingly forfeit their rights to their creations, without just compensation.

@Chelovek, your suggestion of Steam is just not even close to a third-party vendor for the types of software Serif produces.

[R C-R]

1 hour ago, Chelovek said:

Oh, there was a misunderstanding. I meant it the way, that Steam does not allow to pay for game/software for another OS platform, again, if you buy a game, and it will have a port for Linux or Mac, it will have to be under that one payment, they will not allow to buy the same game again, just for another OS platform, do you understand me now?

No, it still isn't clear what you mean or how it would apply to the Affinity apps. Serif sells the Affinity app licenses separately for Mac & Windows, so there are only two possibilities:

1. Steam would permit Serif to sell separate licenses, each one only good for Macs or Windows but not both, or
2. Steam would require Serif to sell one license good for both Macs & Windows.

Which is it?

[Chelovek]

Let me explain, again. 

It is not mandatory to make a game/software available for all types of OS' out there (Windows, Linux, Mac).

Imagine, you buy a game/software, which is only available on Windows. 
After some time, they will make it available for Mac OS, they CANNOT sell the software again, as a MacOS version. You will own it under that one payment you have made.
So, after they will release a MacOS version, you go on a computer, which runs Mac OS, you sign-in to Steam and you can install it, with no additional cost.
And no, you can release the software only on MacOS & Windows, if you want to. I just stated that, Steam supports Proton & Wine, so you can use the Windows version on Linux.
Do you understand now? 

 

3 hours ago, Ron P. said:

I just done a cursory look through the Steam, which is part of Valve Corp, their terms of service, et-al. I can find nothing that would remotely serve editing software such as Serif's Affinity programs. It's all designed for Games, game streaming over the internet. Some of the terms would be worrisome for those creating content. Valve claims they would own such content that is uploaded to their platforms. I don't think anyone would willingly, knowingly forfeit their rights to their creations, without just compensation.

Take a look at Vegas, for example, they have their video edit or music tools on Steam, you have Blender, Soundpad, Wallpaper Engine and many more on Steam, which is software, not games. 

[walt.farrell]

3 minutes ago, Chelovek said:

Do you understand now

Yes. And that would not be acceptable to Serif. They charge separately for  Windows licenses and Mac licenses.

To sell on Steam they would have to double the application price.

Would you prefer to purchase on a different platform, or pay twice as much?

[Chelovek]

4 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

Yes. And that would not be acceptable to Serif. They charge separately for  Windows licenses and Mac licenses.

To sell on Steam they would have to double the application price.

Would you prefer to purchase on a different platform, or pay twice as much?

Well, logically, not. Although, I might be wrong about the platform licensing, it is just, I have never seen a different platform version for sale separately.
And if it is like that, perhaps, they could make a deal with Valve to sell the versions separately.

Although, I would not mind if it was only the Windows version, to be honest. I would rather buy it on Steam, rather than on Microsoft Store.