easytarget Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 disliked steam myself when it first came out gotten to like it though, quite a lot actually no going to the store, hated that no updates to keep track of, automatic, hated that even more no loss of games when the HD crashed, it did, new drive installed O/S, downloaded steam again, viola, games all all available for download and just today i was reminded of yet another reason it makes the end user happy, i was offered The World of Goo, critically acclaimed indie darlie i hadn't bothered to buy because even at 20 bucks i just couldn't see bothering with it, today, i log into steam, and lo and behold it's 5 bucks, i mean jesus, i spent more than that on a hamburger at lunch 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnergoz Posted March 7, 2009 Author Share Posted March 7, 2009 Well, I appreciate the positive comments being made too. I guess I'm just a reactionary: I like having the game on my drive and not having the computer sending info out of my PC about what I'm doing. "They" already know too damn much already...why do I have to be logged on? OK - the EULA says I don't own it - but they don't own my PC either. Guess I'm going to miss out on a lot of games if this crap keeps being popular with developers. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrocles Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 I have a couple of STEAM games. I think the service is nice, but maybe I'm a luddite in that I do like having the official CDs/DVDs. One service I do like is the GOG.com that carries older games that are completely DRM-free (and they state they update the games to work on Windows XP and Vista)! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
__Yossarian0815[jby] Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I don't get the steam bashing either.I wasn't a big fan when it first came out.All this game updating bollocks and the like seemed like spying to me. But after seeing x box live and how good that is i now understand more what steam is trying to do. I like the games being kept up to date.I like the friends side of it and knowing who is online.I like seeing what game they are playing and being able to invite people into a game(Left 4 dead).It saves trying to find which server they are on. Its not perfect but its getting better and better.in fact i can see most games going this way as its becoming a way of life for me online.the instant contact side of it is brilliant.the fact you can set up and join like minded groups. In fact i don't even think about the fact that steam fires up when i launch a game.its just the way it is. I agree with you as far as online games are concerned. with a 95% single player game like empire, I just don´t see why I shouldn´t be able to play my game if it´s installed and been activated by code just becvause the steam servers are in a temporary funk. it should be the other way round, if they can´t guarantee service they´re copy protection should deactivate for thatb time span. anyhow empire is working now, can´t say whether steam or sega is to blame. turned out that the first install from the dvd didn´t work (over half of the game was missing , according to steam it was 100% installed, doh). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stikkypixie Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I only own one steam game and it's still works when I'm not connected to the internet. Maybe they do it on a game per game basis. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeatEtr Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 It's like this, Steam is an acquired taste, give it time. Pretty much everybody hates Steam at first, I know I did. It's like a fungus that grows on you over time. I think it's great now with gaming groups/clans, buddy lists, and IMing. A great way to stay connected with gaming buddies, it's similar to Xfire. They also have really good sales too, I got Bioshock for only 5 bucks and Left 4 Dead for half off. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALthered Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I too was shocked when i realised steam was needed to run this game. I had already ordered it from Amazon so decided to proceed. To be fair the crappy demo ran ok and steam client seems fairly stable. Installing the full game and activation was smooth but i was shocked to find the demo had automatically been removed , WHO OWNS THIS RIG ? .I can uninstall my own demos thankyou ! .On a plus side ,games previously owned such as Half Life 2 showed up and were available for d/l , so i did enjoy a few nights of nostalgia.... However , i strongly disagree with the differant versions of the game which involves dishing out more money for some "Elite" units . The price differance on amazon is quite staggering , eg I payed £24 for a version with 1 extra unit (exclusive to amazon),yet a "special forces" edition gives you 6 more units at £33 ! . This is a worrying feature which i hope doesnt catch on . Are we to buy glorified Demos then have to pay for extra features? .I agree with Moon, the e-licence is the way forward . Allen 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pak_43 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 If you want to get organised with your mates online, get them into the game your playing with the minimum of fuss and have a chat / voice at the same time then Steam rocks, it's much more than an e-license system and that should be recognised here I feel... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeatEtr Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I just came across this article about Steam. It's about pretty much everything from the beginning of it to now. http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/the-age-steam?page=0%2C0 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I just came across this article about Steam. It's about pretty much everything from the beginning of it to now. http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/the-age-steam?page=0%2C0 Doesn't seem to answer the online/offline question. It seems that publishers can decide on a game-by-game basis whether it works offline, but I'd like to see confirmation. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orwell Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I respect Steam for what it does, but the system resources it consumes on my older computer, plus simply using it in the first place means that it adds anywhere between 5-10 minutes between me running steam, and actively playing my game. It's great for a multiplayer game, but if you want to play single player, it's nothing but punishment for being a horrible horrible pira- consumer. Had I known the hard verison of E:TW when I ordered it would require steam activation, I probably wouldn't have ordered it at all. It's nice to be able to download games whereever and play them, but gamersgate offers the same thing and is FAR less intrusive. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnergoz Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 I respect Steam for what it does, but the system resources it consumes on my older computer, plus simply using it in the first place means that it adds anywhere between 5-10 minutes between me running steam, and actively playing my game. It's great for a multiplayer game, but if you want to play single player, it's nothing but punishment for being a horrible horrible pira- consumer. Had I known the hard verison of E:TW when I ordered it would require steam activation, I probably wouldn't have ordered it at all. It's nice to be able to download games whereever and play them, but gamersgate offers the same thing and is FAR less intrusive. Hear, hear! I'm also hearing from other sources that some players are managing to unlock the "special" extra-cost units, without having purchased the "upgraded" version of the game. That's going to boil someone's cabbage, if true. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 In my personal opinion, Steam has "sweet-packaged" a pretty intrusive DRM system by putting the "community features" in front and keeping the rest in the background. That makes it easier to swallow for the customer, which is ok I guess, but it still remains pretty intrusive overall, and for people like me without a cable connection in fact very hard if not impossible to deal with. That's one of the reasons why we opted against it (cost and some other technical issues, plus of course the "loss of identity" thing of being independent being the other) as a publisher, and why I am not using it myself, as a customer, and probably never will. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pak_43 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 "In my personal opinion, Steam has "sweet-packaged" a pretty intrusive DRM system by putting the "community features" in front and keeping the rest in the background." I'm not sure about "sweet packaged", it's a rational choice for me, I'll trade some DRM for the ability to play with my mates quickly and easily any day... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnergoz Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 "In my personal opinion, Steam has "sweet-packaged" a pretty intrusive DRM system by putting the "community features" in front and keeping the rest in the background." I'm not sure about "sweet packaged", it's a rational choice for me, I'll trade some DRM for the ability to play with my mates quickly and easily any day... Yeah, that's fine for online multi-players, but it does nothing for the likes of me who don't play anything except the AI. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gautrek Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Yeah, that's fine for online multi-players, but it does nothing for the likes of me who don't play anything except the AI. what a "Billy no mates" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gautrek Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 but it still remains pretty intrusive overall, and for people like me without a cable connection in fact very hard if not impossible to deal with. . I just set it to only come on when need it.As i only need it when i'm gaming then i can't see the problem.If i'm not gaming its off.Unless i want to chat to a mate while i'm downloading porn which in that case i'll turn it on. But i will put up with its faults for the ease of meeting fellow gamers. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnergoz Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 what a "Billy no mates" Got lots o' mates, just no game-mates! Never acquired the taste for all that multiplayer stuff. Bah! Humbug! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melnibone Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I've been using Steam for years across several PCs- since Half Life 2 - no issues for me and it keeps improving. They also have some great weekend deals. I wish all my games were on it - the updating mechanism makes my life easier. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSColonel_131st Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 The insanity continues: http://wwiaircombat.com/articles/rise-of-flight-interview-demo-confirmed Rise of Flight, which looks to be the best WW1 Aircombat Simulation ever, will require an internet connection even for offline play, EVERY TIME you want to play. If your ISP is giving you troubles, or their servers are down due to technical problems, you won't even be able to launch a single player mission. So much for "buying" a game - we are soon going to be "renting". 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrocles Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Thats a shame about the latest game all requiring STEAM. The STEAM works fine, but it doesn't allow me to sell or pass on my games without a fee (is it still a fee of $10 to sell or give me STEAM games to someone else? I need to check that out). :mad: Until that day comes I doubt that I will buy any STEAM games for the forseeable future...unless CMN is on STEAM! lol 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Just so that everybody knows what Steam is about: Steam isn't about string copy protection. It doesn't do strong copy protection. What Steam does what game publishers also want is eliminate the market for second-hand games, aka people selling used games. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I couldn't get past Steam's captcha hurdle despite multiple tries. Soon humans will be locked out of web as only AI routines can figure those things out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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