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

[-Samurai-]

I think having Steam shouldn't be required. Who are they to tell me what I have to have on my computer? If I buy a game in store, I expect it to work without being forced to get something I don't want.

 

[Kaymish]

i have no problem with it i admit i was a bit concerned when i bought empire total war and it made me install steam and so far i have only had one issue with steam and that was my fault and it was fixed in a few hours most of it i was playing games while waiting on stuff to download

tho concerns about steam disappearing are unfounded as far as i can see it has an offline mode that works and there are loads of pirates out there that will probably crack the DRM not long after valve cuts support

and the capacity for gamers to put up with being shat on by the publishing companies is amazing so nothing surprises me anymore

 

[Trebort]

I hate steam. I hate everything about it. I never, ever buy games that use/come with steam, I just can't stand it.

 

[Tony2077]

i like steam its useful and I'd hate to miss out on good games that only use it

 

[Arawn.Chernobog]

STEAM is always running on my PC, I barely notice it...

So... no issues

 

[brighteye]

I have no problem with that at all, since Steam is awesome. Yes, it does stop reselling, but in return you get a disc free launcher without the need for an active internet connection (only once needed per PC to download and authenticate), you can install it on multiple PCs at once, and it is auto-updated.

Many DRM schemes suck, but Steam actually adds value and does not punish the customer.

That sums it up quite nicely, i am a little bummed out for the same price at release either you have a digital copy or a shelf copy, but we all knew that the price didnt have anything to do with actual costs ,right ?

 

[Petromir]

I really like Steam, except for one thing, is that when you have the disk in front of you, with all the data on it, it still downloads it off the internet. That's my only problem.

However, everything else about it is great, the digital distribution, the community, the game management, the deals, all very good. So I don't mind hearing it's on a game at all.

DRM done well, as I see it.

It should install from the disc, if its dowloading, its either decided the discs damaged, or is patching, or very ocassionally its forgotten its got a disc.

I think having Steam shouldn't be required. Who are they to tell me what I have to have on my computer? If I buy a game in store, I expect it to work without being forced to get something I don't want.

It generally says it does, they have every right to decide how to make their game and what tools to use. If you don't liek those choices then don't buy it.

Steam offers alot more than DRM and distribution.

 

[Guffe]

Well steam is free and you can play your games on any computer with steam as long as the computer is good enough for the game to work. Also everytime you login you get to see what new games or demos have been released and can buy them easily from steam. Nothing wrong with that according to me.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

and there are loads of pirates out there that will probably crack the DRM not long after valve cuts support

Or, you know, have already cracked the living fuck out of it.


If Valve were to disappear off the face of the Earth tomorrow all that would happen is a lot of nerd angst, a run on google for steam cracks and Brad Wardell going "Now it's Zoidberg's turn to be the popular one!"

 

[SenseOfTumour]

My main concern is this new steam thing they're putting in games which makes them Steam only, I think a monopoly is nearly always bad, and cutting out the competition is an unfair business practice. I LIKE Steam, and I think it's an excellent service, but don't think they should be pulling stuff like this to cut out D2D and the like completely.

 

[gxs]

I hated Steam because Valve forced me to create an account when I bought HL2. Man was I wrong.
Steam is great and now I don't have to search for my games because they're all in one place.

And I don't have to search for patches when I install a game (plus the install process is really simple, just download and play).

 

[SonicKoala]

Well, since Steam is the only place I get my PC games from, then that is just fine with me. I'm not a big PC gamer, anyway. But really, getting PC games from elsewhere is becoming increasingly difficult - I was awestruck (as was a friend of mine) when we discovered that there were absoloutely no PC games in the EB we were in.

 

[Xanadu84]

1) Steam adds a bunch of things that makes playing games easier, even after you buy and download them. Steam was the only reason I could tolerate MW2 Multiplayer.

2) You can't resell the game? I mean, maybe if your peddling games to close friends, who in all likelihood you would just lend the game too, selling PC games is kind of like selling used gum. Someone out there has already registered the game, used the key, etc.

3) Steam is not that intrusive.

Personally, I hope more games require steam, because it gives some standardization to a platform that desperately needs it to stay competitive.

 

[AlphaOmega]

I love steam, anybody bothering to check out my profile would know that.
However, It is mostly due to the current management at ValvE

 

[Eleima]

I used to be incredibly bothered by this, but I've been using it a lot lately. Don't know why, but I guess it grew on me. It has incredibly useful little features. Of course, the downside is that I routinely have to weather temptation as Steam often dangles incredible deals (that's how I got the Guild Trilogy at half price). But, it's not the huge evil I thought it was. That, or I guess I went over to the Dark Side.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

I always hat problems with steam. so i did'nt start to use it. And probably won't

 

[Davrel]

Doesn't bother me - now that they've sorted out the offline mode, I have grown to love Steam.