I wouldn't have imagined that Steam with its DRM would be very copy-left compatible, but I know the GPL engined Steel Storm is on there for one and all the old DOS games running in the GPL DOSBox, so I guess that's optional.

If you do not intend to, or do not have the rights to, sell your game on Steam you are not allowed to put it up on Greenlight.

"Greenlight is not meant as an advertisement service" -Steam

Keep in mind that an awful lot of people are complete idiots and don't understand what it means when they check "I have the rights to sell this game".

So right now Greenlight is full of games submitted by people who have no rights to said game, because people think it's some kind of "I want this game on steam, so I'll upload it! Lol!11one"

On the other hand, everyone has the rights to sell GPLed software, so I don't see where that's a problem.  THe question is whether there would be something in Steam's license that would conflict with the requirements of the GPL.

From the Greenlight submit page:

Steam Greenlight is only for games that you have created yourself or are legally authorized to represent.

If you are considering posting someone elses’ game as a joke, don’t. Go suggest it in the discussions or contact the original developer and suggest that they post their game on Steam Greenlight themselves.

Please read the FAQ before posting to Steam Greenlight.

From the Greenlight FAQ:

I know of a game that should be here. What do I do?
Go contact the game developer and suggest that they submit their game here for consideration.

So, to sum it up:
-If you do not want your game on Steam, don't submit it.
-If it's not a game you made, don't submit it.
-If you make a free game that you do want on Steam then by all means, submit it!

There's no requirement that a game must cost money to be put on Steam, see their Free section.

And no, you can't submit GPL games that someone else made unless you are a legal representative of the developer/license holder.

But, Jattenalle, the GPL legally grants anyone the right to redistribute the Program, as long as they make the source code available.  So my guess would be that, for purposes of redistribution, we're all legal representatives.

Only as long as you don't missrepresent the software as being your creation. Which you would be doing by putting it on Greenlight.

Really, why are people so hell-bent on gaming the system? If you didn't make it, don't put it up there, contact the author instead!

I was replying to bart regarding GPL.

My previous posts should've answered your question, I hope.

This is an old thread and I don't wish to be seen as resurrecting it but this is related:

http://opengameart.org/forumtopic/anti-drm-waiver

Let me ask a follow up, has anyone on OGA submitted something to Steam Greenlight?

Any luck getting a game actually into the Steam store?  Any thoughts on the process, pro or con?

Working on a cross-platform title and wondering what the best avenue for releasing the PC version is.  Main conern would be reacing the widest possible audience.

All I know about Steam is that it's where you go when you already have a big enough following to get greenlit by your fanbase alone.  It's not somewhere to go to get that fanbase in the first place.  Maybe Big Fish or JayIsGames?

BTW, I'm not really a game creator, I've just picked some stuff up from hanging around a bunch of them all the time, so it's all second hand information.

@capbros: Yes.
It's a nice process, if people like your game, you get in.
Just don't fall into the "idiot trap" of whining if people downvote something you've submitted, the market has spoken! ;)

Steam has by far the widest PC audience, and given that it has Windows, Mac, and Linux it welcomes cross-platform.

Free-to-play games, or even completely free games, can also make it onto Steam just fine.

@Sharm: You do not need a big following to get on Steam. Putting your game on Greenlight has the benefit of instant exposure, from there it quickly spreads via friends lists, "collections", and whatnot.

My game gets a few thousand views/votes per day.

@Everyone:
If you submit to Steam Greenlight, keep in mind that you need to do frequent update posts on there, preferrably with screenshots and/or videos. If your game isn't ready for that, then don't rush it!

thanks for the infos!

since you have a game on greenlight, one more follow-up question, does going on greenlight restrict you from distributing the game through any other channels/services?  

> My game gets a few thousand views/votes per day. 

that's pretty impressive!  I was thinking anything past 2 digits would be huge for my game. 

Going on greenlight does not restrict you from also using other distribution channels.

Keep in mind that some distributors want exclusive deals, and having your game already on Greenlight may deter them.

I had never heard of greenlight before. you are all evil and made me waste 3 hours going through all the games.