I am worried about steam.

[Nalbis]

I'm a massive fan of Steam, I've never had a problem with it and these days its just getting better and better.

I am trying to avoid Origin for as long as possible though, which isn't going to be very long as I plan on getting SWTOR and BF3. I will be getting ME3 for the xbox though as I played the previous games on console.

 

[Something Amyss]

the pro's outweigh the cons

You keep doing that. Why do you put an apostrophe in one and not the other? It's just weird. It should be both or neither. In this case, it should specifically be neither.

Do you (assuming steam user) wish that all the games were on steam?

If I'm going to install DRM on my computer, especially a constantly running platform, I'd rather stick to one, so sort of, I guess.

Fortunately, with the lack of interest I have in EA games, I find the odds that I'll EVER even need to install Origin to be very low. I mean, I'm primarily a console gamer, but it doesn't mean I don't have a fair number of PC titles. It does help limit my need to use Origin, but moreso does my lack of interest in the stuff they put out.

Is Origin particularly bad? It's mostly hated because EA is the Devil and Valve is saintly, pure and altruistic. There aren't a lot of "pros and cons" to it.

Note 1: If you hate steam (and origin) and all these forms it's not really necessary to post that here. This thread in not about the pro's and cons of the systems as a whole but rather the individual ones. If all you have to say is steam/origin/gamespy sucks for this and this reason you are not contributing. You are allowed to put your opinion as to which is better in your post for the sake of clarification but I don't want this to become a console war on the PC.

I think it's adorable that you can separate the two concepts.

Edit: New question: Should people just be complacent and buy the damn games, I mean distribution does not change that much...right? (/question)

I for one am sick of discerning consumers. The role of gamers is to be a wallet with legs.

 

[Drake666]

Note that while i do like steam, i didn't like it at the state it was when it came out, for the obvious reasons of it not being convenient, clunky, and simply not working well. Origin suffers the same faults as Steam did when it came out, with the addition of it being spyware, and there being several working & comfortable competing products out there. Lastly EA's idea of launching games (origin->web->game) is crap.

This is totally my point of view. Steam was kinda shitty when it first came out and it made me wait before trying HL2. So, right now, I won't buy any "Origin-only" EA games, even if I really really want some of their future releases (ME3, SWTOR, Dragon Age 3... yeah, I love bioware games).

The problem with Origin (other then "it's malware" and "shitty initial design") is that Steam does it better. Why ? Because they have more experience. It's the World of Warcraft problem, once again.

 

[Phishfood]

I totally wish all my games were on steam. Currently I have Steam, Origin and Gamestop installed on my PC. Putting aside the "spyware" element to Origin, I have no problem with Origin. What bothers me most is having my games in 3 places.

I've said before, I'd like to see the system go the way ebooks have. Heres how it works.
1) Every company has their own storefront - for ebooks its waterstones, WHsmith etc. In games its valve, EA etc.

2) All games are downloaded via a license file.

3) This file is authorised by a central piece of software - For ebooks Adobe Digital Editions.

4) The file is then managed by the software of your choice.

That way we could buy direct from EA to keep them happy, but install the game to steam at our end to keep us happy and not have to clog up our PCs with 50 bits of software we don't want.

 

[Sylvine]

Why would anyone hate Steam?

Because 1$ =|= 1?, for example?

I do use steam, but I don't have to love it

~Sylv

 

[LordFisheh]

That's why I dislike Origin. Not the fact it's EA or the privacy hysteria (honestly, as if anyone cares what's on your hard drive), but the fact that it forces me to split my games. Steam came first, so that's where my stuff is, and I'd be a lot happier keeping all my PC gaming stuff on one platform.

 

[Lost In The Void]

I personally hope that Good Old Games tries to integrate newer games into its system like it plans to and then just use them for my games. Screw Steam and Origin, GOG means no DRM and that's what I want in my games.

 

[Zantos]

Why would anyone hate Steam?

Because 1$ =|= 1?, for example?

I do use steam, but I don't have to love it

~Sylv

That's unusual, do you not get currency localisation? My Steam displays everything in pounds. Although on other digidis platforms it's all in dollars, I understand why it gets annoying.

Incidentally, do you remember when one dollar did equal one euro? Or was it one euro equalled one pound? Ah, good times.

 

[JustOrdinary]

I think the main problem here that EA's practices have been rather... suspicious lately. And in some cases alarming.

It could be a case of the media distorting truth with bias and all that but truth is that steam simply doesn't have that same kind of stigma attached with it. I'm happy using steam because Valve have given statements in the past that even if their business were to shutdown, they'd still provide a means to let people obtain their games one last time or something as such. EA on the other hand... they've made a point to delete inactive accounts. And that kind of behavior scares me.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who owns a ton of games but only plays a few of them at a time. Sure, I might pick up an awesome sale here and there, but doesn't mean I'm going to get aroudn to it immediately. I like taking my time sometimes, and given my career of choice, I'm not always going to have the free time for gaming. That guarentee, knowing I'll be able to retain my stuff now that it's digital, that kinda feels good.

And that's why I won't use origin. As much as I love ME, nope.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I wish all games were on steam. Its my hub and is so much easier than having to open up Origin. I HATE Origin, its a very crappily put together system.

 

[Sylvine]

That's unusual, do you not get currency localisation? My Steam displays everything in pounds. Although on other digidis platforms it's all in dollars, I understand why it gets annoying.

Incidentally, do you remember when one dollar did equal one euro? Or was it one euro equalled one pound? Ah, good times.

I think You misunderstood me. Steam does get currency "localisation", but it's a matter of just changing the denomination. As in, games that cost $5 on an american steam client cost 5? in europe. Should be more like 3.80?.

Well, to be honet, it at least used to be that way. I'm not sure if they still do it. But it was really bad PR for Steam.

~Sylv

 

[shado_temple]

No. EA's origin is spyware as specifically stated in the user agreement. For someone to install this program is to expressly allow harmful software to be installed and operate unhindered. People have to stand up for their right or be shorn like a sheep of their identity.

See, I keep hearing this from people who I assume have legitimate, up to date sources, but then I see things like this [http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/7804065.page?ClickID=annw0wzlw5znaz5wv0ot5pa59s0550yvksrn] simply refuting this argument, and now I just don't know who to believe. In any case...

OT: I have Steam. I also have Origin. I've purchased games from D2D, GoG, Impulse, Blizzard's whatever Digital Dist. system, and do so primarily on price, and exclusivity of games. Why? Because I want to play the games that they offer. I hold no hatred for Steam (it's my DDS of choice, mostly), but if I find a game that I want to play that it can't match in price or availability, I'm fully willing to use a different system. If that makes me a sheep, so be it.

 

[Zantos]

That's unusual, do you not get currency localisation? My Steam displays everything in pounds. Although on other digidis platforms it's all in dollars, I understand why it gets annoying.

Incidentally, do you remember when one dollar did equal one euro? Or was it one euro equalled one pound? Ah, good times.

I think You misunderstood me. Steam does get currency "localisation", but it's a matter of just changing the denomination. As in, games that cost $5 on an american steam client cost 5? in europe. Should be more like 3.80?.

Well, to be honet, it at least used to be that way. I'm not sure if they still do it. But it was really bad PR for Steam.

~Sylv

Ah, I understand. That's pretty bad, surely someone kicked up a fuss?

 

[JustOrdinary]

No. EA's origin is spyware as specifically stated in the user agreement. For someone to install this program is to expressly allow harmful software to be installed and operate unhindered. People have to stand up for their right or be shorn like a sheep of their identity.

See, I keep hearing this from people who I assume have legitimate, up to date sources, but then I see things like this [http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/7804065.page?ClickID=annw0wzlw5znaz5wv0ot5pa59s0550yvksrn] simply refuting this argument, and now I just don't know who to believe. In any case...

OT: I have Steam. I also have Origin. I've purchased games from D2D, GoG, Impulse, Blizzard's whatever Digital Dist. system, and do so primarily on price, and exclusivity of games. Why? Because I want to play the games that they offer. I hold no hatred for Steam (it's my DDS of choice, mostly), but if I find a game that I want to play that it can't match in price or availability, I'm fully willing to use a different system. If that makes me a sheep, so be it.

ORIGINAL POST HAS BEEN EDITED OUT


I TOTALLY misread your post there, my bad. Ignore this please! ... Mods, is it possible to remove this post? Cause I don't see a delete button anywhere and this kind of feels like spam now >>.

 

[Lono Shrugged]

I have re-bought some of my favorite games on steam because it is such a handy service. Between the im service, groups, easy multiplayer set up, sales and fast download speed. (I have a generally slow connection but steam always downloads relatively fast.) What I love about steam is that it's a pretty slim system. I have one program I use for all my regular games and I know it's not going to obnoxious shove ads or spam at me. Steam rewards it's customers. Origin punishes it's customers.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

That's unusual, do you not get currency localisation? My Steam displays everything in pounds. Although on other digidis platforms it's all in dollars, I understand why it gets annoying.

Incidentally, do you remember when one dollar did equal one euro? Or was it one euro equalled one pound? Ah, good times.

I think You misunderstood me. Steam does get currency "localisation", but it's a matter of just changing the denomination. As in, games that cost $5 on an american steam client cost 5? in europe. Should be more like 3.80?.

Well, to be honet, it at least used to be that way. I'm not sure if they still do it. But it was really bad PR for Steam.

~Sylv

Ah, I understand. That's pretty bad, surely someone kicked up a fuss?

American gamers started buying and gifting games non profit to gamers who wanted them as long as the buying cost was exactly covered. They were shut down and banned.

I love steam, i dont really care about a few pounds, i mean hell the above is a bit scummy but no service is 100% likable.

Steam works
Steam is free
Steam is fast
Steam saves me money overall

Theres a bit not to like but hell, ill take it.

 

[White_Lama]

I'm a console gamer and don't play many games on the PC, but I really hate the fact that if I were to buy a new game today, I would be forced into getting Steam or Origin.

All I want to buy is the damn game, not get some extra shit.

 

[Sylvine]

Ah, I understand. That's pretty bad, surely someone kicked up a fuss?

There's a pretty huge (26 000) steam community [http://steamcommunity.com/groups/1e1us] that used to make quite a lot of fuss about it - it's how I got to know that there's an issue in the first place, as suddenly, the [1$ =|= 1?] tags started to pop up everywhere.

Granted, I'm not quite sure whether it's steam that does the currency conversion or the companies that name their prices. Like I said, it was just bad PR overall, and left me with a bit of a bad impression

~Sylv

 

[Ruwrak]

Why would anyone hate Steam?

Because 1$ =|= 1?, for example?

I do use steam, but I don't have to love it

~Sylv

Funny. Steamprices match the store prices in the Netherlands (meaning we're getting ripped off anyway. Skyrim colletors edition 150$ and 150?. Le que? And that is IN The store...)

But steam has alot of sales and generally tends to me desires.