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UnashamedWeeb: link
https://vietnamnet.vn/nen-tang-steam-phat-hanh-game-khong-phep-vao-viet-nam-2271136.html

Google Translate of the Vietnamese article:

Steam is Valve's video game distribution service launched in 2003 as a software application that automatically delivers games and was expanded to distribute third-party titles.

Talking to VietNamNet, many domestic game publishers believe that they are being treated unfairly, when the Steam platform is releasing more than 100,000 unlicensed computer (PC) games into the Vietnamese market.
gamebaoluc.jpg

“Steam is releasing games freely into Vietnam, including violent games, adult games... but without having to ask for permission. This is an injustice to domestic publishers. This requires authorities to take management measures with this cross-border platform, otherwise, domestic game publishers will die," a representative of a game publisher shared.

According to PV VietNamNet's research, Steam is Valve's video game distribution service launched in 2003 as a software application, automatically providing games and expanded to distribute game titles. of third parties from the end of 2005 until now.

Steam offers a variety of features such as technical management, game server connection with Valve Anti-Cheat anti-hacking solution, social networks and Streaming services. Besides, Steam's application also automatically updates games, cloud storage, community features...

Steam is released globally, currently has more than 100,000 games distributed (including paid and free) as well as updating 6,000 - 8,000 games each year. This platform supports up to 24 languages ​​and is easily accessible to all users around the world. According to VGC, 2023 has seen a series of games distributed on Steam, with 14,535 new games, an increase of nearly 2,000 games compared to 2022.

[...]

As noted, a lot of shooting games are being released on Steam, which still leave the effect (red blood) intact. In Vietnam, games of the same genre must be edited, due to the violent nature that affects the players' psychology. In addition, on this platform there are also games with adult content with revealing images, sexual intercourse...

In 2021, the Steam Global version was officially "banned" in the Chinese market, replaced by a Steam version specifically for China. The game library on this platform has just over 100 titles, most of which are Chinese games. Players can find some famous games like Dota 2, CSGO... but will not be able to find games rated 18+ which are very popular on Steam.

In addition to lacking about 110,000 game titles compared to the Global version, Steam China is also not allowed to have any community features, does not support Workshop, does not allow selling trading cards on the Community Market, and does not have a forum to Gamers communicate and support each other,...

New games that want to appear on this platform will also be strictly censored. Specifically, games released in China are not allowed to have blood, are not allowed to show images of "skulls and bones" and images that can hurt gamers.

According to sources from the management agency, with no contact point in Vietnam, the authorities are looking for solutions to prevent illegal cross-border services from being provided to Vietnamese users in the future. next time.
Reactions

https://reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/1cmbrjd/steam_has_been_blocked_in_vietnam/
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/4362376335340911703/

Today, May 7th 2024, I learn that Steam has been blocked by Vietnamese ISPs.

[...]

Steam is already on shaky legal ground in Vietnam, due to the company not having a local office here. Which means lost tax revenue and no content policing in accordance with local regulation. To make things worse, the platform is getting popular, causing domestic publishers anxiety. I've already figured that one day, the platform would be blocked in Vietnam. I just didn't think that it would happen this quickly, and suddenly.
Whether the Vietnamese gov't banned it because of censorship, to protect their domestic publishers, or because Valve isn't collecting sales tax on its Vietnamese users, this is an interesting case study similar to when Indonesia blocked Steam because it wasn't collecting sales tax back in Aug 2022.

I think users still have access to their libraries, but they can no longer access the store. But it goes to show how important DRM-free is in case Valve, gov'ts, ISPs, and other entities do block people from their libraries. Also would be interesting if GOG seized an opportunity to capture this market before Valve can respond.
Post edited May 08, 2024 by UnashamedWeeb
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UnashamedWeeb: Also would be interesting if GOG seized an opportunity to capture this market before Valve can respond.
Yeah, fortunately GOG doesn't have adult games or violent games with red blood, and does have an office in Vietnam. :)

What are these "Vietnamese game publishers" who feel anxiety and stress due to Steam? Why can't they release their games on Steam, or do they object the idea of Vietname gamers being able to play non-Vietnamese games, ie. competition on gamers' souls?

God damn it. Where is Rambo when you need him the most?
Post edited May 08, 2024 by timppu
And you really think GOG is going to swing to the fences to service the absurdly small Vietnamese audience here on GOG?
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UnashamedWeeb: Also would be interesting if GOG seized an opportunity to capture this market before Valve can respond.
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
- Some GOG employee right now, probably.
Post edited May 08, 2024 by Breja
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dnovraD: And you really think GOG is going to swing to the fences to service the absurdly small Vietnamese audience here on GOG?
Nah, I just gave some random commentary to tie some relevance here. But it would be interesting.

IIRC, Newzoo has been mentioning SE Asia as an growing region in the game market especially with Chinese gov't restrictions on gaming in recent years. In 2019, SEA had $4.4B USD revenues. 70% of that is mobile and we assume 50% of that remaining are PC players (kinda reasonable since ~70% of their urban online population play on PC). Their eSports scene is getting more popular too.

Altogether, that's still a $660M USD market to tap into that any non-Steam platform can get a start chipping away at using Vietnam as a foothold with this Steam void in the market.

https://newzoo.com/resources/blog/southeast-asia-games-market-esports-game-streaming-spending-playing-engagement
https://theinvestor.vn/vietnams-game-market-potential-to-be-unlocked-d9006.html
According to that article, GOG would have the exact same problems that Steam has. As would any other storefront, really.

Edit: Wait. GOG is already available in Vietnam. Might they be banned next?
Post edited May 08, 2024 by GilesHabibula
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UnashamedWeeb: As noted, a lot of shooting games are being released on Steam, which still leave the effect (red blood) intact. In Vietnam, games of the same genre must be edited, due to the violent nature that affects the players' psychology.
As a German I really feel for my fellow Vietnamese gamers. Our Government had the very same retarded attitude way to long and many games of that era are still censored if not banned outright. It went so far, that media didn't dare to call these games by their name because it could be considered advertisement. So called them "Steinwolf" (Wolfenstein) MOOD (DOOM), or just "indexed game from id software".

It also makes me sad that every time the customers are about to benefit from globalization as opposed to the big companies the Government goes out of its way to prevent it. If you manufacture your goods for minimum wages in some 3rd world country that is good for the economy but god forbid you want to purchase something from outside your geographical distribution area you filthy criminal...
HIHIHI... looks like some no steam no buy users are getting a cold shower.

I'll throw here Gabe's famous quote: "piracy is a service problem"
Post edited May 08, 2024 by 00063
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UnashamedWeeb: As noted, a lot of shooting games are being released on Steam, which still leave the effect (red blood) intact. In Vietnam, games of the same genre must be edited, due to the violent nature that affects the players' psychology.
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hmcpretender: As a German I really feel for my fellow Vietnamese gamers. Our Government had the very same retarded attitude way to long and many games of that era are still censored if not banned outright. It went so far, that media didn't dare to call these games by their name because it could be considered advertisement. So called them "Steinwolf" (Wolfenstein) MOOD (DOOM), or just "indexed game from id software".

It also makes me sad that every time the customers are about to benefit from globalization as opposed to the big companies the Government goes out of its way to prevent it. If you manufacture your goods for minimum wages in some 3rd world country that is good for the economy but god forbid you want to purchase something from outside your geographical distribution area you filthy criminal...
But like everything else, people will almost always find ways to circumvent the restrictions put in place. It happened with CD, DVD, and Blu Ray region lockouts, and it still happens with software.
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00063: HIHIHI... looks like some no steam no buy users are getting a cold shower.

I'll throw here Gabe's famous quote: "piracy is a service problem"
Well, he's not wrong. This isn't VALVe's fault, this is the fault of an overly controlling government trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Basically, the government is saying Vietnamese game developers are bad, and can't survive in a market where their games aren't the only game in town.
Now I am intrigued to see some Vietnamese games. What are they, japanese-style visual novels, RPGs, shooters where you shoot the evil Americans (Rambo is the end-boss) with green blood, etc.?

Any on GOG? Why not?
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timppu: Now I am intrigued to see some Vietnamese games. What are they, japanese-style visual novels, RPGs, shooters where you shoot the evil Americans (Rambo is the end-boss) with green blood, etc.?

Any on GOG? Why not?
Here you go: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Video_games_developed_in_Vietnam
Post edited May 08, 2024 by ssling
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timppu: Now I am intrigued to see some Vietnamese games. What are they, japanese-style visual novels, RPGs, shooters where you shoot the evil Americans (Rambo is the end-boss) with green blood, etc.?

Any on GOG? Why not?
Flappy Bird is probably the most well-known Vietnamese developed video game.
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timppu: Now I am intrigued to see some Vietnamese games. What are they, japanese-style visual novels, RPGs, shooters where you shoot the evil Americans (Rambo is the end-boss) with green blood, etc.?

Any on GOG? Why not?
This is the only game I can think from them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7554
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timppu: Now I am intrigued to see some Vietnamese games. What are they, japanese-style visual novels, RPGs, shooters where you shoot the evil Americans (Rambo is the end-boss) with green blood, etc.?

Any on GOG? Why not?
They're mostly mobile game devs as per the market shares above.

But here's a list of PC games curated by Virtual SEA:
- https://store.steampowered.com/curator/25278687-Virtual-SEA-Games-from-Southea/
- https://store.steampowered.com/curator/25278687-Virtual-SEA-Games-from-SEAsia/list/37982/

More popular titles:

- https://www.gog.com/en/game/beautiful_mystic_survivors
- https://www.gog.com/en/game/hoa

Seems like their Devotion-esque horror games are some of their more popular ones:

- https://store.steampowered.com/app/2456350/The_Scourge__Tai_ng/
- https://quasarartstudio.itch.io/dong-co-lau
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/1673000/Blood_Field__C_Mu/

I'd say most aren't on GOG because they haven't heard of it. Which again, makes the idea of breaking into Vietnamese market an idea GOG can be considering.
Post edited May 09, 2024 by UnashamedWeeb