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Something that didn't go unnoticed was that Valve has removed the SteamPlay logo from Steam store pages.
This is interesting, as it was a partial source of confusion amongst SteamOS/Linux gamers. Plenty of us know how to easily identify games that have Linux support, but there was plenty who didn't. People were genuinely getting confused about it all and I don't blame them.
What the "SteamPlay" text meant was essentially: you buy that game once, and get it on any operating system that particular game supports on Steam. It did not mean Linux/SteamOS support, as that was identified originally by the Tux icon and now the SteamOS icon. People were so confused I was asked to write about it before.
It's still confusing though, since the SteamOS icon is just the Steam logo. It's a step in the right direction of course, as now people can't think SteamPlay suddenly means SteamOS, but it's still pretty ambiguous considering it really is just the Steam logo.
What is also interesting is the fact that this could open up more games requiring a purchase across multiple platforms (it has happened before: see CoD Mac edition). Valve haven't announced anything on it, so we don't know what their intentions are.
The more likely conclusion (and what I hope), is that Steam won't allow developers and publishers to separate game purchases by platform.
They haven't even updated their official SteamPlay page back from when they used the Linux "Tux" logo.
This situation is clear as mud. I still think the Tux icon needs to make a return, even if it's in addition to the SteamOS logo. The SteamOS logo would then have a real purpose, to showcase games that are properly tested for SteamOS. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
This is interesting, as it was a partial source of confusion amongst SteamOS/Linux gamers. Plenty of us know how to easily identify games that have Linux support, but there was plenty who didn't. People were genuinely getting confused about it all and I don't blame them.
What the "SteamPlay" text meant was essentially: you buy that game once, and get it on any operating system that particular game supports on Steam. It did not mean Linux/SteamOS support, as that was identified originally by the Tux icon and now the SteamOS icon. People were so confused I was asked to write about it before.
It's still confusing though, since the SteamOS icon is just the Steam logo. It's a step in the right direction of course, as now people can't think SteamPlay suddenly means SteamOS, but it's still pretty ambiguous considering it really is just the Steam logo.
What is also interesting is the fact that this could open up more games requiring a purchase across multiple platforms (it has happened before: see CoD Mac edition). Valve haven't announced anything on it, so we don't know what their intentions are.
The more likely conclusion (and what I hope), is that Steam won't allow developers and publishers to separate game purchases by platform.
They haven't even updated their official SteamPlay page back from when they used the Linux "Tux" logo.
This situation is clear as mud. I still think the Tux icon needs to make a return, even if it's in addition to the SteamOS logo. The SteamOS logo would then have a real purpose, to showcase games that are properly tested for SteamOS. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
slaapliedje Nov 29, 2016
For the love of the universe and all that is nature STOP with the goddamn "stylized" logos. This flat design is terrible! The icons on the stock Atari ST were terrible in 1985, and they are better than this new "stylized" crap.
Now, with that said...
I guess I do something really simple when choosing the games I buy. I pull up a list, and let my mouse hover over the image... and it'll show little icons of what system is supported. I never even knew what the SteamPlay thing was for, thought it had something to do with streaming support, but I always looked for the Tux, then the SteamOS icon.
Granted the real difference between Steam's icon and SteamOS is one is circular and one is square.
Also, Apple was a cooler company when their logo had color.
Now, with that said...
I guess I do something really simple when choosing the games I buy. I pull up a list, and let my mouse hover over the image... and it'll show little icons of what system is supported. I never even knew what the SteamPlay thing was for, thought it had something to do with streaming support, but I always looked for the Tux, then the SteamOS icon.
Granted the real difference between Steam's icon and SteamOS is one is circular and one is square.
Also, Apple was a cooler company when their logo had color.
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slaapliedje Nov 29, 2016
Quoting: oldrocker99I use Tux(the most recognizable drawing, with a joystick added (GIMP, of course)) for my avatar. I think it's obvious to anyone who looks at the three logos that the penguin <3 represents Linux.
YES! More of the Tux with Joystick please!
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Cheeseness Nov 29, 2016
Quoting: slaapliedjeGranted the real difference between Steam's icon and SteamOS is one is circular and one is square.Not anymore. The square logo is not present in the Valve's current branding guidelines, and has been retired in favour of the circular logo, which is now used for the entire Steam brand (with variants such as the Steam Machines and Steam VR logos differentiated by the addition of text).
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Quoting: slaapliedjeFor the love of the universe and all that is nature STOP with the goddamn "stylized" logos. This flat design is terrible! The icons on the stock Atari ST were terrible in 1985, and they are better than this new "stylized" crap.An effective logo for a brand is always relatively simple, and should work and be recognizable without color and in different sizes. Icons have similar requirements, but not every icon needs to work as a logo. Personally I prefer simple, symbolic icons in my system tray, simply because they're tiny and need to be easy to parse, but those 96px game launchers on my gaming desktop can be as colourful and detailed as they like.
In the end all art is subject to individual taste. It's hard to please everyone. Ask any artist.
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slaapliedje Nov 30, 2016
Quoting: SeeKQuoting: slaapliedjeFor the love of the universe and all that is nature STOP with the goddamn "stylized" logos. This flat design is terrible! The icons on the stock Atari ST were terrible in 1985, and they are better than this new "stylized" crap.
Ok, so 'stylized' means virtually nothing in terms of graphic art.
I will agree with the small scale simple icons in the system tray and color complex icons elsewhere, but the move toward black and white flat icons that looked fine on a VCR does not work on an operating system. Windows 10 is an inconsistent mess with depending on how you open the control panel, you may end up with the old color icons or with the crappy simple ones.
I tend to think the simple less than 4 color logo being better for marketing / recognizability was dreamed up in some lazy art/marketing class somewhere. Anyone on the planet would recognize the Android icon now, and it isn't a simple 'flat' image. Granted most would still recognize Commodore and Atari logos of they saw them, and they are simple. Even more simple are ones like IBM and SEGA
http://webneel.com/colorful-logo-design-inspiration
Some examples, wven saw a face in there. Ha, the 'Social Life' one looks eerily similar to Ubuntu's.
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As long as the logo is distinctive enough for people to understand that it's Linux then I don't care what the logo is. The Steam OS icon is just confusing, and misleading.
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