[jiggy2011]

I agree in principle certainly, I do prefer general openness (e.g even if your engine stays closed, allow a modding API or GPL the whole thing after X number of years ala id software) in games but I'm generally less concerned as long as the user experience is good (i.e not too dependant on third party services like "games for windows").

I guess though Richard would object on the principle that a closed source game can still do things that are "user hostile", for example DRM systems that have implications outside of the game playing (see the recent ubisoft vulnerability). You can also have places where the lines between "games" and "software" becomes murky (I guess minecraft might fit here, also graphics libraries like OpenGL that are primarily used for games but also have other uses).

There is also the issue that games can act as an attractive trojan horse to get people to use a closed platform (for example Xbox 360 exclusive games) and become used to closedness in software.

In theory Steam helps address the second problem, though from Richards point of view this could become a double edged sword. If Steam becomes too popular on Linux then it might become the preferred way for software vendors to package Linux software and popular programs stop bothering to offer standard .tgz or .deb versions and the platform as a whole starts to revolve around a closed source offering.