[wccrawford]

Sounds like good reasons, to me. They're a company with on-the-edge games and they can't afford to be held back.

I'm actually quite surprised that Valve has -any- say in what they do on their own website, or what they implement in the game. I could understand having to implement certain features (like not crashing with the Steam overlay) but to prevent features, marketing, non-game sales, or anything else that doesn't directly affect Valve?

Inconceivable.

[AngryParsley]

You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Apple and XBLA have similar restrictions about interaction outside of their walled gardens. There are good reasons for this: Preventing fraud (they trust their credit card processing much more than some random app developer), filtering objectionable content for those under 18, ensuring a certain minimum standard of quality, etc.

Also sorry, I accidentally downvoted you when I meant to upvote you. (Can someone please move those arrows farther apart?)

[wccrawford]

Actually, I'm still pretty sure Apple and XBLA do that because they can make more money, not because they are trying to protect their image.

It's still the first time I've seen anyone say that physical goods based on the game were a problem. I really can't quite believe that.

In-game stuff, yeah, I can see it. Ratings and whatnot. But I don't think Mojang/Notch would have a problem on the ratings end of things, unless the ratings board was out of control. Still, I could see him not taking the chance.

[mambodog]

Can someone please move those arrows farther apart? You could try this Stylebot style I made: http://stylebot.me/styles/248