I have a feeling that I don't like Steam.

[RejZoR]

I have never read so much misinformation on TPU in my whole life. This whole thread is a disgrace.

O rly? Then correct us with proper information.

 

[TheMailMan78]

O rly? Then correct us with proper information.

The first two replies summed everything up. All the other bitching is just fighting fact OR trollin' for attention. This thing should be locked IMO.

 

[erocker]

I don't see a problem with this discussion. Most of the thread actually seems civil and sticks to the topic. The only problems I see are people posting in the thread that it needs to be closed. That kind of discussion isn't needed and the reason there is a "report post" button. As long as the thread keeps civil and on topic there isn't a problem. If the thread goes bad, the members who made it bad will be dealt with.

Keep on topic please.

Thank you.

 

[Steevo]

Content anywhere, patches, you can run mods, big sales, one place to go for games.


If your don't have the resources to run steam 48MB for me right now, with GTA Lost & Damned running in the background you are newfag and need to learn to build a PC.


If you have issues with steam, just as they have said in interviews, you probably have infections, cracked games, or have damaged a actual game instead of the "steammods" games folder you use for........modded games!!!!

Each and every time I have had a issue with steam a quick restart of the PC or a simple fix corrected the problem. Once I had a unstable overclock and it was causing some file corruption. Was that Steams fault I was running a RAID array on a host based controller? Nope.

 

[ste2425]

i think steam is a great idea and a very useful and well built programme. Speak of crashes etc ive never had a steam game crash on me. The ability to buy nearly all games i want from the steam site, at very good prices if you get them on the many deals they have, install them all in one place and being able to back the whole thing up and put it on any computer i wish is great. No need to worry about limited installs. Just install steam loggin and download. Well thats my opinion

 

[trt740]

I love steam

 

[1Kurgan1]

If valve servers data brakes down or are severely hacked , you lost everything.
If Valve bankrupts , you lost everything.

Your really going out on a limb here, most of your reasons seem to be like "well if the world ended", well if the world ends the world ends, worry about that when it happens. If you buy a car and you drive it for we'll say 5,000 miles then it blows the motor, what do you do? You deal with it, it's part of life and the odds of that happening are much higher than having Steam just flat out close up shop. If valve bankrupts you still have all of your CD keys (remember you can see them fr each game).

Ahaha come on , just come on , that really far fetched speculation.

Whoever would buy them would turn into even to even more xbla-like.

Your saying that a house burning down is a far fetched speculation compared to yours of Steam going bankrupt....

If I wanted vendor lock-in I would play console games. Steam is nothing more than an elaborate DRM platform.

Lock in? DRM? I havent ever had any issues with DRM, and what do you mean by lock in, I buy my games and play them just like I do with any games on CD, only restriction is I can't sell them.

 

[Mussels]

But it's an exception that I am willing to make considering that the new version of Steam only takes up like 2MB of RAM when minimized in the System Tray/Notification Area.

i'm willing to bet that 2MB is less than Ubisofts always on DRM uses (and steam is more reliable). Hell, i'd bet its more resource friendly than most DRMs out there.


and yes, steam has had backup capabilities since it first came out. Its always required you to update your game,s but hell, so do most modern games. you cant play online without the latest patch, and why would you want to anyway? if you're on such restricted internet that you cant patch games, what the hell are you doing buying games that require online play/patches?

 

[DaveK]

Everywhere you go you're going to see forced updates. Xbox Live and PlayStation Network require updates before allowing you to play online. It's not a big deal unless the update messes up your crack or something, otherwise, what reason would a person have for not updating?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

It takes time and often it updates at an inconvinent time (like when you want to play). Requiring updates for online play makes sense but they do it for all games, online or not. It becomes an annoyance when you gotta wait 15 minutes to update when you were expecting to play the game for 15+ minutes.

 

[kid41212003]

It takes time and often it updates at an inconvinent time (like when you want to play).

You Steam hater! Period!

 

[FordGT90Concept]

i'm willing to bet that 2MB is less than Ubisofts always on DRM uses (and steam is more reliable). Hell, i'd bet its more resource friendly than most DRMs out there.

Tropico 3 just has a serial key. You can play it without the disk in the drive and nothing is running in the background (the game, and only the game).

I never checked how much resources the Assassin's Creed II Launcher takes up. I suspect not much but that's beside the point. The system resources really aren't a problem in an age where most computers have at least 2 GiB RAM. The problem is that it requires a virtually uninterruptable internet connection which most of the world doesn't have.

You Steam hater! Period!

I know.

 

[Mussels]

Tropico 3 just has a serial key. You can play it without the disk in the drive and nothing is running in the background (the game, and only the game).

I never checked how much resources the Assassin's Creed II Launcher takes up. I suspect not much but that's beside the point. The system resources really aren't a problem in an age where most computers have at least 2 GiB RAM. The problem is that it requires a virtually uninterruptable internet connection which most of the world doesn't have.



I know.

steam does not require an uninteruptable connection. if it loses net, most of the time your game plays just fine (unless you were in an online game, in which case DUH you lost net)

i play company of heroes with a friend who has dodgy internet, and his steam constantly signs in and out - his game however, does not (it pauses/lags often, but resumes fine regardless of his steam status)

in comparison to the AC II/Ubi DRM, i know which one i prefer.


oh and as to the arguments abouit the old DRM remaning in steam, i give you two versions where it does not.

Company of heroes requires a disk for offline play in the retail version, whereas it doesnt in steam when steam is offline.
Bad company 2 had its securom DRM removed in the steam version as well, albeit after launch. From what i hear that is a requirement due to EU laws, where they cant sell a game on retail shelves without it having a no-CD check/anti piracy measure, so they include that in the 1.0 version and remove it later to get around the requirements.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

steam does not require an uninteruptable connection. if it loses net, most of the time your game plays just fine

I was talking about Ubisoft's DRM. Steam's fault is it is running at the same time regardless if it is needed just for DRM sake. Ubisoft commits the greater evil but what Steam is doing is an evil nonetheless.

Company of heroes requires a disk for offline play in the retail version, whereas it doesnt in steam when steam is offline.

Steam is still required to run the game (unless it is one of those lucky few that don't, like Dirt2) regardless if it is on or offline. It's no different in behavior than a Sony Rootkit in practice (something is on your computer to "verify" the game is legal). The only difference is they aren't doing it behind your back.

 

[Mussels]

I was talking about Ubisoft's DRM. Steam's fault is it is running at the same time regardless if it is needed just for DRM sake. Ubisoft commits the greater evil but what Steam is doing is an evil nonetheless.



Steam is still required to run the game (unless it is one of those lucky few that don't, like Dirt2) regardless if it is on or offline. It's no different in behavior than a Sony Rootkit in practice (something is on your computer to "verify" the game is legal). The only difference is they aren't doing it behind your back.

i wasnt disagreeing with you, i was adding my two cents, as the saying goes.

steam is required when you start CoH, but nothing past that. many steam games behave like this.

the part about it not running behind your back is exactly why i approve. When you quit steam you cant start your steam games - but its not running in the background, eating resources or conflicting with anything either.

 

[JC316]

Negatives:
Forced Auto-Updating
Useless Valve Anti Cheat
Steam needs to be running to play the game
Steam needs to connect to it's servers to play the game
Steam-specific patches and support versions required
The games installs into the freaking Program filesshadedshu)
Steam integration into the game which you can't disable.
More game stability issues with Steam version (freezes,crashes)

Positives:
-Friend chat and communities (I don't need msn-like chat and i have other better programs for that, plus you have sites for communities, Valve doesn't need to monitor the communities)
-Cheaper games (weekly discounts)

And what's more, there are a lot of crap games up there without dedicated servers, mod tools ... etc

You have valid points. I highly dislike certain things about steam, but the deals they have are undeniable. I have a policy that keeps me happy with steam, I never pay over $20 for a game from them.

The auto updating I don't mind at all, I like it. The VAC is worthless, but better than punkbuster. Steam being on I used to dislike when I had 56K, but broadband is fine, sucks when the internet goes out though. You can pick the folder that it installs to, I have it in my games folder. Stability issues are usually the games fault, not steam and it still beats the crap out of starforce or securerom.

My number one gripe with steam is the fact that you can't sell or transfer your account. That REALLY annoys me because I like to get games, play them and sell em.

 

[Fatal]

I was about to make my first purchase from steam but now am having second thoughts. I dont like the idea of adding software to run a game that bums me out. I guess I will be better off buying the game from a store. Thanks for the info every one

 

[1Kurgan1]

I was talking about Ubisoft's DRM. Steam's fault is it is running at the same time regardless if it is needed just for DRM sake. Ubisoft commits the greater evil but what Steam is doing is an evil nonetheless.

Steam is still required to run the game (unless it is one of those lucky few that don't, like Dirt2) regardless if it is on or offline. It's no different in behavior than a Sony Rootkit in practice (something is on your computer to "verify" the game is legal). The only difference is they aren't doing it behind your back.

who cares if Steam is required to play a game or if it isn't, it's not that stressful. And it allows you to stay connected with friends. And if it's in Offline mode, once again who cares, it's not crushing your system. The instant I start worrying about minor processes slowing down my comp is when I know something is wrong with my hardware.

 

[AphexDreamer]

Steam is like PSN or Xbox live with out being like PSN or XBOX live. IDK if that made sense but that how it is lol. I like steam its never messed up on me on account for the two times my account got stolen but I got it back both times so yeah Steam is great

 

[Mr McC]

I was about to make my first purchase from steam but now am having second thoughts. I dont like the idea of adding software to run a game that bums me out. I guess I will be better off buying the game from a store. Thanks for the info every one

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a store that stocks all the latest titles, at least where I am. I think you have come away from the thread with the wrong impression. Steam is by no means perfect and there are certainly a number of legitimate gripes; however, given the sales, the ablility to download your games to any computer, the more or less painless operation and the fact that you no longer need to worry about patching everything, it is probably as user-friendly as DRM is going to get. Make no mistake, DRM is going nowhere, I mean, people are still buying Ubisoft titles, so there is little point waiting for consumer pressure to deliver any changes. Steam, as it stands, seems like an acceptable compromise that offers a number of advantages over other forms of DRM. My only real complaint, as I stated above, is the inclusion of other third-party DRM on certain titles and a failure to disclose the inclusion of said DRM in all cases. Then again, if DRM is a concern, you would probably investigate the protection on any given title before purchase anyway.

 

[MoonPig]

I don't get this. Steam has been amazing to me. The ability to get new games for stupdily cheap prices and download them is awesome. Some of my favourite things about Steam:

Library - All your games, everywhere, when you want them. Just click and download.

Updates - Every game, if you want, can be kept up-to-date so you don't have to search the net.

Prices - Borderlands for £6, Bioshock2 for £10, GTAIV for £5, Unreal Pack for £7.... my god.

Friends - Easy to view games and join friends.

Background - Allows you to use the internet/talk without alt+tabing. Also takes up next to no space when running.

Speeds - I get a constant 850kb/s when downloading, thats higher than torrents for me...

As far as DRM goes, Steam is great. It's not some crapping EA DRM that forces no fun and entering of Keys. It's simple, effective and by far the best platform i've ever used for games.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

You have valid points. I highly dislike certain things about steam, but the deals they have are undeniable. I have a policy that keeps me happy with steam, I never pay over $20 for a game from them.

I agree. All my Steam games were free except one: Saints Row II, which I bought (DVD-Version) for like $10. It sucks that Saints Row II requires Steam but there's no way to play the game on PC without it (major sucks). That and the major performance issues were probably why its sales on PC were pathetic.

who cares if Steam is required to play a game or if it isn't, it's not that stressful. And it allows you to stay connected with friends. And if it's in Offline mode, once again who cares, it's not crushing your system. The instant I start worrying about minor processes slowing down my comp is when I know something is wrong with my hardware.

I do. I want to play a game, not run Steam to play a game. Even GFWL starts after the game is started--far more logical.

Ventrilo is for staying connected with friends.

 

[hat]

Why do you have such a hard time with running Steam? I think Steam is great... no messing around with physical discs, the Steam community, the prices, fast downloads (as fast as my connection cap will allow anyways)... I can only think of 3 valid complaints for Steam:

1. Downloading a bunch of games, say after a reformat, is painful.

2. Some games don't have patches, and you can't manually install patches. Stalker Shadow of Chernobyl is stuck at v1.0005, for example.

3. It would be nice if you could allow Steam to continue downloading games after you start a game through Steam, and if there was a bandwidth control system... I can download at 200KB/s and still play online comfortably, so why shouldn't I if I have a bunch of games to download?

 

[entropy13]

Prices - Steam prices are good but there is no way they can accept cash.

Speeds - Useless when it's the local infrastructure that hampers you, not the servers.

About the auto-update: so it can be turned off with the games, but how about Steam itself? I tried installing the Steam installer that came bundled in something else I got which isn't a game. Done with installation but the "Updating Steam" takes a lot of time. So I just uninstalled it.

2. Some games don't have patches, and you can't manually install patches. Stalker Shadow of Chernobyl is stuck at v1.0005, for example.

Just checked the Steam list and Neverwinter Nights 2 isn't there, one of the reasons is most probably because it would be a PITA to patch "automatically" (besides the obvious reason of Bioware not being a "partner"). There would be the Main Campaign-only versions of the patches, then the Main Campaign+MoTB versions of the patches, and then the Main Campaign+SoZ versions of the patches. There are also the Main Campaign+MoTB+SoZ versions of the patches. Then there are the Languages patches, with their own different versions for different main patches as well.

 

[Nick89]

You have the games on steam FOREVER. and dont have to worry about loosing disks.