I think Vista might do this to games. 1. It helps consolize PC's, and sales are much better because of that. 2. It's all a part of Microsoft's business plan, which is to make money(like other business's). I don't know if anyone realized, but I have to wonder myself, how many more OS's can Microsoft make? I really don't know how much more we need in an OS. There going to need different revenue streams in the not to distance future, and I think there planning on controlling the platforms for playing your games. I understand why Gabe is upset by this, after all, Steam could very well get a huge shaft when Microsoft decides to limit games on Windows as downloaded by their servers only. At this time, I believe Mircosoft will continue to support all indie games and allow anyone who self made and self funded there game load it up on there servers. If they don't and pick and choose, a fair amount of people will shift to alternatives, but once Mircosoft releases Halo, Gears of War, and 5 other games exclusively on windows, all done by the game studios they'll buy through the years, many will shift back. We now have PC wars, fanboys attack!

The majority of games will eventually all be digitally distributed one day... Publishers will continue to buy out studios, when this day comes, they will survive on their studios.

What does this mean for the small developer? Sorta similar to the music industry, publishers/distribution wont mean as much. You'll just need the biggest portal for downloading games to put you up, get your name out there. I bet Microsoft will be one of them(check out xbox live already), and perhaps Steam to a lesser extent. I guess these still count as publishers, but you'll get a much better percentage of your games profits via download. I think this will help indies, Steam should be an indication of this(more fair playing ground). And there is much less risk.