STEAM.....ing pile of poo.

[twinrider1]

I really need to defend the planet from UFOs right now.

So Steam is down right now. I was having the cloud vs. hard copy discussion with my daughter just yesterday. Call me a caveman, but I still prefer owning a physical product.

So I buy a game, a one-time fee, but Steam has to provide service forever. How does a company make that business model work?

 

[lxskllr]

How does a company make that business model work?

Fools. There's an endless supply of fools, with an endless supply of money. Any online component for a single player game is bullshit, and that's not even getting into the digital restrictions management and spyware.

 

[HeXen]

Offline mode.

 

[gorcorps]

There's an offline mode button, did you try it?

 

[Number1]

Fools. There's an endless supply of fools, with an endless supply of money. Any online component for a single player game is bullshit, and that's not even getting into the digital restrictions management and spyware.

Go smoke another one.

 

[lxskllr]

Go smoke another one.

Go fuck yourself nancy boy

Dial it back.
admin allisolm

 

[Number1]

Go fuck yourself nancy boy

LOL.

Got you going didn't I.


Like I said, light up another one, sounds like you need it.

 

[Number1]

Are you OK?

 

[twinrider1]

It's back up. Many UFOs eradicated, the war continues. Psi research continues.

Steam wouldn't come up at all. Couldn't get to an offline option.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

In an attempt to put perspective to this discussion. Steam does have on offline button. Yes it would be great to have a CD and not need anything else provided you didn't misplace or damage or lose the game key. Reality is people who make games need some level if protection against piracy, so far steam is amongst the least intrusive and hassle.

Nobody is going to put 25,50,100 million down to make a game and watch everyone "trade" it for free on the internet.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Meh origin went down again last night keeping me from fighting the Russians in BF3 for about an hour. Both services have issues but steam has been the most consistent performer by far and at least they've got integrated communications across their games. A third party communications app is required in origin if you want to talk to teammates during a game.

 

[HeXen]

I expect consoles to go that route eventually, I'm sure they want to for sure but probably not most of the consumers since many of them are not conditioned to the idea too well...like that MS xbox one intiial release fiasco

 

[John Connor]

I remember when my Bro installed this so-called "STEAM" back in circa '08 and immediately thought it would be the absolute worst way to game. For one, I HATE having to depend on an Internet connection to play a game, then to suck up resources, RAM, etc with having to use their software every time you just want to play a game.

It is a steaming pile of shit. I want my optical disk!

Not only are movies going this way, but so is music. Are people this dumb? I want a physical copy! I bought it!

 

[shortylickens]

First World Problems:
When things are so easy you have nothing left to complain about.

 

[Kaido]

First World Problems:
When things are so easy you have nothing left to complain about.

Meanwhile after the last Steam sale...

 

[yuchai]

On the other hand I tried the streaming feature recently and it worked pretty well. Allowed me to turn off the A/C on the floor that the desktop is located to save some electricity.

 

[jlee]

I remember when my Bro installed this so-called "STEAM" back in circa '08 and immediately thought it would be the absolute worst way to game. For one, I HATE having to depend on an Internet connection to play a game, then to suck up resources, RAM, etc with having to use their software every time you just want to play a game.

It is a steaming pile of shit. I want my optical disk!

Not only are movies going this way, but so is music. Are people this dumb? I want a physical copy! I bought it!

RAM is practically free. Anybody who notices the overhead of running Steam is so far behind the times they really need to just start over entirely.

 

[John Connor]

I knew someone would say this. Yeah, it's cheap, but why should I need to have all these damn processes running just to play a damn game? The added heat, power consuption, etc. It's all one big grabass.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I run steam and origin at the same time along with whatever else I'm doing LOL. I run them with large spreadsheets open and other office documents plastered across my screen.

 

[destrekor]

In an attempt to put perspective to this discussion. Steam does have on offline button. Yes it would be great to have a CD and not need anything else provided you didn't misplace or damage or lose the game key. Reality is people who make games need some level if protection against piracy, so far steam is amongst the least intrusive and hassle.

Nobody is going to put 25,50,100 million down to make a game and watch everyone "trade" it for free on the internet.

Actually, there have been a few very expensive games that bucked the DRM trend.

GOG.com is loaded with DRM-free downloads.


The idea of DRM isn't as effective as the industry would like it to be. It still gets cracked, it still gets spread all over the internet. And the ones that happen to have some of the strongest DRM that isn't cracked, likely aren't selling as well as they could.

I am one person who likes to sample things before I buy. Not always, I buy a lot without doing so, but sometimes it helps me make a go/no go decision. If I don't like the product enough, I don't buy it, if I like it enough, I love to support the developer or creator. And that is FAR more common in the pirate world that many like to initially believe.

 

[John Connor]

I run steam and origin at the same time along with whatever else I'm doing LOL. I run them with large spreadsheets open and other office documents plastered across my screen.

Origin is another bitch that can suck it.

 

[gorcorps]

Actually, there have been a few very expensive games that bucked the DRM trend.

GOG.com is loaded with DRM-free downloads.


The idea of DRM isn't as effective as the industry would like it to be. It still gets cracked, it still gets spread all over the internet. And the ones that happen to have some of the strongest DRM that isn't cracked, likely aren't selling as well as they could.

I am one person who likes to sample things before I buy. Not always, I buy a lot without doing so, but sometimes it helps me make a go/no go decision. If I don't like the product enough, I don't buy it, if I like it enough, I love to support the developer or creator. And that is FAR more common in the pirate world that many like to initially believe.

Agreed

A good chunk of piracy could probably be taken care of if everyone didn't stop making demos.

 

[renz20003]

Agreed

A good chunk of piracy could probably be taken care of if everyone didn't stop making demos.

I miss demos... I usually wait to buy games until they are 1/2 off and no game breaking bugs.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I am a huge fan of Steam. Its advantages got me back into PC gaming as opposed to console gaming.

Advantage One: Deals and Keys. Just through Steam sales and Humble Bundles I have built a larger library than I can ever play. Even on sale CD games always cost like $20, but Humble Bundles are ready every couple of weeks for a couple of bucks and I get a pile of games.

Advantage Two: Big Picture Mode. In Big Picture Mode your Steam PC is basically a console. I have my HTPC only load Steam in Big Picture Mode and given all the ports lately my Windows PC now feels like a Xbox One that has to buy magnum condoms.

Huge fan of Steam, I don't like to buy games (even DRM free ones) outside of it (so I avoid EA games for example).