In my mind, Gearbox Software = Shitbox Software.

I got 3 additional and different reasons from this mod for closing the thread. And all seem like rather poor excuses to end inconvenient discussion.

After this experience I think GOG staff members moderating forums should get a raise. :P

Well, the post which got the thread locked was made by a newly created strawman account (http://forums.gearboxsoftware.com/users/robert_cpassovoy/activity) and was infact meant as provocation to the gog supporters (so that they start arguing piracy). Good thing is, no one of the gog supporters responded unreasonable here, but still was this provocative post with the intend to discredit the gog side successfully as the thread was locked. I think the correct response of the moderator (who just follows the policy) would have been the deletion of the strawman account and his post.

bye bye boxgear you didn't, don't and won't get a dime from me.

The thing is that the policy itself seem be flawed. When the thread was closed previously and I wrote to joekgbx, one of the guys responsible for other mods/complaints and this sort of things, he basically agreed with Psychichazard. He told that rules on piracy discussions are somewhat ambiguous to allow mods their discretion when addressing the issues. He also pointed out that the discussion almost immediately went off course and DRM-free provokes heated discussions. So it's not just this mod, it's more of a general approach.

Please people, stay calm... I think I nowhere read that Homeworld would be released as Steam exclusive title, I hope that the silence here gives some space for alternative solutions. I could believe that Gearbox has a deal with Steam like: "first week on Steam, then everywhere else"....like GOG.

I'm pretty sure that the gog guys not just waiting beside but are in contact with the relevant parties and try to achieve the best. So everyone, don't give up the hope already.

Yes and he is right. It makes no sense for us to discuss their policies. This is not our fight. So, we can and should present our position without touching piracy, as this is only indirectly linked and not at the heart of our concern. So, please , don't provoke them and question their policies! Follow their policy and use it for reopening of this thread, as the provocation and mentioning came NOT from the thread starter & gog supporters but from a newly registered user. (Gearbox moderators should be concerned about this misuse of their policy...)

AFAIK Valve has been very explicit that they never enter into exclusivity agreements with developers or publishers.

interesting, source for that? GabeN interview or policy link please?

*with consternated look on face* OK, mom...?

This appears to be from some IGN interview:

"This will also apply to third-party titles, Valve’s Anna Sweet told us. “Whenever we talk to third-party partners, we encourage them to put their games in as many places as possible, including not on our platforms," she said. "Because we think that customers are everywhere, and they want to put their games wherever customers are. That would go against our whole philosophy, to launch something that’s exclusive to SteamOS or Steam machines.”"

To me the quote seems to apply outside just Steam machines as she says: " including not on our platforms". Notice the plural.

I suppose they may have meant if Ironclad developed a Homeworld 3 eventually, but honestly I don't see how Ironclad could do worse than Gearbox in that regard.

They've started to now:
http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/10/splash-damage-plants-a-dirty-bomb-exclusively-on-steam/
"Publisher Nexon has announced an agreement with Valve Software to release team-based free-to-play shooter Dirty Bomb (formerly known as Extraction) exclusively through the Steam digital distribution platform."

;P

Either way, the thread is closed, the forums don't seem to be worth returning to if mods are so damn inflexible and don't allow meaningful discussions.

This is unfortunate. Someone "informed" this developer about their strategic mistake? Or someone has more information about this deal?