How do you feel about PC games that require Steam installed?

[Asehujiko]

I think the ?30 or more price cuts on games during the weekend deals(speaking of which, civ 4 complete is ?10 right now, go get it!)and midweek madness, along with the autopatching, download service, good troubleshooting help and the improved client(less then 1% cpu load idle, peak is 3%) more then makes up for the occasional hiccup, which seem to be left behind along with the year 2009 as it works flawlessly now.

 

[Bagaloo]

Don't mind at all; I love Steam and always have it installed anyway.

However, I am worried that other developers will create their own distribution platforms; I don't want to have to have a dozen programs installed to play different games.

 

[Triangulon]

The concept bothers me slightly. However I buy most games from steam now anyway.

 

[acosn]

Considering how steam stands out in an industry full of heavy handed DRM as both an effective measure of DRM, but also an easily accessible one that neither directly offends the gaming community, nor closes sales as a result I have to say I do very much like it.

 

[fix-the-spade]

For example, in order to play Modern Warfare 2 on the PC, you need to install Steam and link your game key code to your account. Apparently it means they can't sell it later.

Unfortunately it does, in MW2's case you don't really get anything back for your trouble either.

In principle I dislike that aspect of Steam, but I see it as a necessary evil, seeing as it keeps my games up to date autoamtically and works as a social network, not to mention that Valve's games at least come iwth shedloads of free stuff after you buy them.

I don't mind having to have Steam on a game, as most publishers are coming up with their own systems as well, which universally suck. So far Steam is the only one of these remote DRM dealies to actually have any payback to offer the player.

No resale is a downside to digital rights management (for us), on the other hand everything on Steam can be cracked including Steam if you really, really want to. So unlike Xbox Live you don't lose the ability to play the game should Steam shut down or the game stops being supported.

But I would rather just have the plus points of Steam.

 

[the_tramp]

I don't see the problem with Steam, the amount of times that I would say "hmm... I fancy playing x game when I get home today, oh wait I live at University so I don't have the storage space to keep my assortment of games so I've left the disc(s) back at home" would be numerous if Steam wasn't around.

Yes, they sometimes rip you off for buying new games but I tend to wait for the offers and stick them on the backburner so I have something to play when there aren't offers on or otherwise I like to have backups in case I lose my discs and/or I prefer playing games on my PC. Those Rockstar deals were a good example, despite myself owning GTA1, 3, Vice City, San Andreas, Max Payne 1 + 2 and Manhunt I waited throughout the week for each to be individually reduced so instead of spending £30 that included games that I had for my xbox360 (which I have at Uni) I picked up the previously mentioned games for a grand total of £7.98 that enabled me to play it on my device of choice whenever/wherever (provided I had an internet connection unless it was already installed) with the piece of mind of not having to remember if I have the discs.

I also talked my housemates into buying the L4D2 four-pack when it was on offer the other week so picked that up for £10.04 as well as getting that Hitman/Deus Ex pack for ~£10 a couple of months ago. That's given me 14 games to tide me over the Summer and future nostalgia playings whenever I have the urge because I can get them on demand

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I may use and like Steam, but I don't really like it. Even if it probably isn't going to happen anytime soon, what would happen if Steam croaked? Would I be unable to play any of these games I had gotten through Steam or required Steam registration to play?

Aside from that little bit, i've not no real problem.

Valve have already developed a patch that will disable the need for internet activation IF the company goes under. It's unlikely, but they won't just switch off and leave us in the dark.

Well, that's reassuring. Short of Fallout 3, virtually all of my good games have either been downloaded or needed a registration for Steam. That's reassuring

Well actually there is offline mode as well which means that you don't have to be online to play the game you just need it updated and you can play it offline no disk.

Actually, I was referring to a situation if Steam itself melted down sometime in the future, rather than my internet. Even so, i've always had trouble getting offline mode to work anyway. It pretty much means I play Fallout 3 or walk away whenever Steam isnt working on my computer for some reason.

I hope that things will remain secure.

Ok sorry I misread my bad I thought you meant if steam was generally unavailabe and not completely gone but I'd say they would give out a patch and maybe allow you to back to your games more properly.

 

[Lordmarkus]

I may use and like Steam, but I don't really like it. Even if it probably isn't going to happen anytime soon, what would happen if Steam croaked? Would I be unable to play any of these games I had gotten through Steam or required Steam registration to play?

Aside from that little bit, i've not no real problem.

Valve have already developed a patch that will disable the need for internet activation IF the company goes under. It's unlikely, but they won't just switch off and leave us in the dark.

Facts or it never happened. Though if it's true then I don't have to worry anymore.

OT: Sure steam is DRM but it's the only DRM that actually works and give people extra value for their bought product while protecting Valve's product. As it is supposed to be doing. It stings a bit that you can't re-sell your games but the only one I want to sell is MW2 so no harm done.

 

[Scumpernickle]

I don't mind. Steam is an awesome service with their discounts and their community tools.

 

[rex922]

I hate all froms of drm
because alot of them requires constant internet connection

PsRM is Satan

 

[captainwolfos]

I may use and like Steam, but I don't really like it. Even if it probably isn't going to happen anytime soon, what would happen if Steam croaked? Would I be unable to play any of these games I had gotten through Steam or required Steam registration to play?

Aside from that little bit, i've not no real problem.

Valve have already developed a patch that will disable the need for internet activation IF the company goes under. It's unlikely, but they won't just switch off and leave us in the dark.

Besides it's a lot more likely that they'd be bought by another company.

This is the main thing which worries me about Steam games. And I do much prefer having a hard copy of any game. The upside is, you won't have any discs to lose, but the downside being you can't sell it again after you either get bored of it or there is an inevitable upgrade to the game.

 

[Woodsey]

No, I love Steam.

I can see how even the 1-time online activation is still one time too many for some people, but just look at what you get in return.

I may use and like Steam, but I don't really like it. Even if it probably isn't going to happen anytime soon, what would happen if Steam croaked? Would I be unable to play any of these games I had gotten through Steam or required Steam registration to play?

Aside from that little bit, i've not no real problem.

Valve have already developed a patch that will disable the need for internet activation IF the company goes under. It's unlikely, but they won't just switch off and leave us in the dark.

Besides it's a lot more likely that they'd be bought by another company.

This is the main thing which worries me about Steam games. And I do much prefer having a hard copy of any game. The upside is, you won't have any discs to lose, but the downside being you can't sell it again after you either get bored of it or there is an inevitable upgrade to the game.

Yeah, but there's hardly a market for used PC games.

 

[SimuLord]

Well I use and love Steam, so I don't mind at all.

Bingo. I was initially resistant to Steam and held out for a fair while on digital distribution---but when my retail box copy of Empire: Total War required Steam for install, I grudgingly installed it, and 'twas a matter of a trip to the Steam store before I thought "holy shit, what have I been missing all this time?" Love at first sight.

Who knows---maybe Civ 5 will have the same effect on a PC gamer Steam holdout.

 

[henno13]

No, I wouldn't have a problem. I love Steam, even thought my first experience of it wasn't great.

 

[veloper]

I don't mind steam as such, but what I really hate this recent trend where retail games, nolonger have the game data on disc.

Not just a matter of waiting for the the patches to DL, but no, now you wait for 10 hour installs to finish aswell.

Most recent and worst example of this is the gold edition of DOW2. It's got the chaos expansion data on disc, but not the original DOW2. This confuses steam to the point where it will stall at 10kb/s and after a couple minutes actually crash.
You have to manually cancel all the DLs, delete all the DOW content and tell steam to DL only the first one first, to avoid this.

This is not so much a problem with the connection I got, but it's a completely unnecessary wait. I can imagine for gamers with a lesser provider, this will be a real pain in the ass and this crap should atleast be advertised on the box: includes only a CD-key for the game and a steam installer.

 

[Optimus Hagrid]

Meh. I'd prefer not to wait for Steam to load, but I don't really mind.

Facts or it never happened. Though if it's true then I don't have to worry anymore.

It's possible to load Steam and play games without connecting to the internet, just as long as they are fully patched.

 

[Auric]

Steams awesome, so i dont mind...

Though, it does bring to mind the "steam monopoly" thing.

Admittedly, i only used steam recently, beforehand i heard nothing but bad things about it, but as soon as i got it installed i realized what ive been missing

 

[rabidmidget]

I would probably buy it off steam anyway, so I don't really care, its benefits outweigh its faults.

 

[Auric]

There is the thought at the back of my head that steam could go under and we would all be screwed.