Steam is pretty underwhelming

[Pr0d1gy]

The constant disadvantage with any digital gaming distro is that if their company fails you never really bought the game so good luck reinstalling it if you need to down the road.

 

[thedosbox]

The constant disadvantage with any digital gaming distro is that if their company fails you never really bought the game so good luck reinstalling it if you need to down the road.

Considering that I paid less than $20 for 95% of the games on my steam list, that's a risk I'm willing to take.

 

[PuppettMaster001]

For me, Steam is a godsend. I have a desktop and laptop in which I game one. No CDs/DVDs to carry around, Steam Cloud saves (for some games), and Steam sales. Those are reasons enough to buy games on Steam.

 

[Barfo]

The constant disadvantage with any digital gaming distro is that if their company fails you never really bought the game so good luck reinstalling it if you need to down the road.

For what it's worth, Gabe said they'll flip a switch to let people play their games without Steam if it ever goes under. Also I don't even know if this is true cause I just heard it somewhere.

 

[Zargon]

its steams fault that pc games dont do demos much anymore?

damn them!

 

[shortylickens]

its steams fault that pc games dont do demos much anymore?

damn them!

One of the journalists on The Escapist suggested that if a small fraction of the people who pirated instead chose to write letters demanding demos, shit would turn around real fast. I agree.

I recommend everyone in this thread do just that.

 

[simonizor]

Steam is ok, but I'll never buy another game that uses that windows live drm bullshit again.

Not Steam's fault. You'd get the same bullshit with a hard copy.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

In an ideal world, Steam/Valve would require a demo for every game they sell through their service, like XBL (Sony still doesn't which is just dumb).

I don't think Valve has quite that much clout tho, and a lot of publishers just wouldn't just them if that happened.

I know when they release the demo for Just Cause 2 on Steam tho, the pre-orders for that game on Steam went through the roof, so there's a lot to be said for giving PC gamers a taste of a great game. Unfortunately, a lot of PC games these days aren't great and are plagued with the issues that a game hastily ported from a console version are going to have, and that's why I think we don't see many demos anymore PC side.

Which is why I won't be pre-ordering Bulletstorm on the PC.

 

[shortylickens]

Not Steam's fault. You'd get the same bullshit with a hard copy.

I think the point he was trying to make (and many of us have been trying to make but no one fucking gets) is that if Steam is going to sell games they shouldnt have ones with ADDITIONAL DRM which is just freakin annoying.

 

[simonizor]

I think the point he was trying to make (and many of us have been trying to make but no one fucking gets) is that if Steam is going to sell games they shouldnt have ones with ADDITIONAL DRM which is just freakin annoying.

Like I said, it's not their fault. They have absolutely no choice in the matter. The publisher wants all versions of the game to ship with their stupid DRM, so it's going to happen whether Steam likes it or not. It comes down to whether you want the game to be on Steam or not because the publisher isn't going to allow the game to be on Steam without the DRM. This is the point that Steam is trying to make (and that no one fucking gets).

 

[shortylickens]

Like I said, it's not their fault. They have absolutely no choice in the matter. The publisher wants all versions of the game to ship with their stupid DRM, so it's going to happen whether Steam likes it or not. It comes down to whether you want the game to be on Steam or not because the publisher isn't going to allow the game to be on Steam without the DRM.

Ummm like I just said, they need to not carry games with additional DRM.
They do have choice. They have all the choice in the world. And they are at the point they can play hardball.

 

[simonizor]

Ummm like I just said, they need to not carry games with additional DRM.
They do have choice. They have all the choice in the world.

You are an idiot if you think that they would not do something that would make them profit just because of the DRM software the publisher pushes. That's like saying that NO ONE should carry the game because of the DRM. That's just not going to happen. It's your job as the consumer to not buy that shit and let the publishers know that you didn't because of the DRM that they're forcing down your throat.

 

[Texashiker]

Steam is Xfire + overpriced game store + DRM in one.

I dont guess you check the twice a week sales?

So what exactly is so good about it that I am not seeing?

Friends list
Community pages, mine for example - http://steamcommunity.com/id/old-school-player

Steam is more the "just" a game delivery system, its a social networking site, instant messenger, game management program - steam keeps your games up to date with the most recent patches and updates,,,,,,,.

Once you get some people added to your friends list, Steam really starts to show its colors.

One of the problems with Steam - people overlook the social networking side. You can post comments on friends profiles, look at their stats, what games other people like to play. If you do not use the social networking side of steam, your missing out on a lot.

 

[Bill Brasky]

OP is pretty underwhelming. I finally got around to reading it expecting to be blown away, wasn't at all. The comparison to XBL, where you have to pay $60/year a lot of times to download the demo the day it comes out is beyond mediocre, I guess I'm just used to not having to pay to play demos. So what exactly is the point of this thread that I'm not seeing?

Also, I guess an almost 9000 post record doesn't automatically guarantee that someone won't troll bait.

It's too bad AT doesn't have a rep system. Five stars to you, sir!

 

[waggy]

the thing that makes steam so nice is the sales. getting Left for dead 1-2 for $19? well worht it

 

[Morphine06]

Steam Cloud is pretty awesome, as long as the game supports it.

The sales they have are amazing.

I really can't live without the steam overlay now that I'm so used to it.

Steam updates all my games for me. I believe it can also keep your gfx driver up to date as well... I'd have to verify that though.

I have my steam installed on a separate drive with all my games. When/if I need to reinstall windows I just install to the same path and all my games are instantly reinstalled.

PSN has better games for casual gaming (you mentioned browsing the cheaper games), but for playing and managing your larger games it's nearly unbeatable. Just remember steam is more than just a store.

 

[ahenkel]

They keep your video card updated you are correct sir. I just wish all the games I bought activated on steam. So much less of a hassle.

 

[Tom]

btw, this weekend a pretty cool rts/rpg hybrid is only $2.99 on Steam. King Arthur.

 

[Texashiker]

the thing that makes steam so nice is the sales. getting Left for dead 1-2 for $19? well worht it

A couple of months ago steam had left 4 dead 1 & 2 both for $9.99 - not $9.99 each, but both for $9.99.

Then there is the big holiday sales where just about everything is 50%. Some big titles were 75% off. I think the entire Valve collection as something like $49.

 

[StinkyPinky]

What is GFWL anyway? I first struck it in GTA 4 and was baffled by it. What is it? Is it DRM?? Why do I need to log in to this shit thing every time I want to play?

I then struck it again with Bioshock 2. I logged in, it wanted to update. So it took 5 minutes to update. I had to restart the game. I logged in again...it wanted another update. It took 5 minutes to update. I had to restart the game. I logged in again...it wanted to update. So it took 5 minutes to update and I had to restart the game. By then I'd lost interest and watched porn instead. Nice one GFWL. Driving a man to porn.

 

[ImpulsE69]

It surprises me with all the GFWL hate they still use it. It really does nothing. But then, MS does what MS wants.

 

[shortylickens]

What is GFWL anyway? I first struck it in GTA 4 and was baffled by it. What is it? Is it DRM?? Why do I need to log in to this shit thing every time I want to play?

I then struck it again with Bioshock 2. I logged in, it wanted to update. So it took 5 minutes to update. I had to restart the game. I logged in again...it wanted another update. It took 5 minutes to update. I had to restart the game. I logged in again...it wanted to update. So it took 5 minutes to update and I had to restart the game. By then I'd lost interest and watched porn instead. Nice one GFWL. Driving a man to porn.

Its invasive DRM and matchmaking and I think also stat tracking. Its annoying as hell to use at all, even more so on top of Steam or other DRM. I wish Valve would require publishers to strip it if they wanna use Steam to sell games, but no such luck.
And my boycotts dont do much because so many other people dont seem bothered by it.

 

[Powermoloch]

I vote with my wallet, I just support publisher who just use a simple CD check. And if steam goes under...I am not in the lost because most of my games are physical. I don't have to worry about any internet connection, just put in disc, install patch, play.

win :thumbsup:

 

[DaveSimmons]

Steam had almost $1 billion in sales last year so the risk of it going under any time soon is low.

CDs and DVDs become unreadable, and publishers rarely offer free replacement discs after 30-90 days. What happens when CD #2 of 4 has a read error?

 

[Texashiker]

I vote with my wallet, I just support publisher who just use a simple CD check. And if steam goes under...I am not in the lost because most of my games are physical. I don't have to worry about any internet connection, just put in disc, install patch, play.

Every game released by Valve since Half-Life 2 (November 2004) requires Steam to be installed. So regardless if you have the disk or not, you still have to have steam installed.

I had a difficult time overcoming the mindset that I "had" to have the disk, but times change, and so do the way games are delivered.

I still hold onto my cds, but like my Diablo II disk, one little scratch and its useless. I have had to rebuy Diablo II - 3 or 4 times over 6 or 7 years.

How many times have I had to rebuy half-life 2, counter-strike, counter-strike:source, left 4 dead, tf2, portal, left 4 dead 2, borderlands, stalker,,,,??? Zero times.