Like PC Gaming? Don't buy from Steam.

[Funyahns]

I am glad that you are so concerned about where and what my money on. You don't have to worry though, I am a big boy and can make my own choices. One of those choices is to look at sales prices and what they come with before I ever buy anything.

 

[AnthrSolidSnake]

Like many of you out there, I used to love going on to Steam every week to see what sales they were offering. However, I can safely say now that no one should buy from steam. On the 20th of September, Steam offered Fallout Classic Collection for sale on their homepage for $2.49, supposedly including Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics. It's sad to say, but this was simply a ruse to steal money from their customers while not giving the promised product. Indeed, those who purchased the package, believing that they were getting 3 games, instead were charged the full amount and received only Fallout 2. Now, this could just be passed by as a mistake, a simple oversight on Steam's part, however Steam has made no effort to respond to tickets on this issue. Simply criminal. Like PC gaming? Don't buy from Steam till they fix the way they treat customers!

I went to WalMart once and I bought some Draino--which is not inexpensive. However, when I got home I realized I was charged twice for the one bottle. I don't live far from there so I took it up with them, and they refunded me the difference.

It was a mistake, but that doesn't mean I'm going to never shop at WalMart again. You've demonstrated something wasn't programmed correctly, but that doesn't mean it was anything deliberate. And even then, as others pointed out, it would be the publisher's fault, not Steam's. Steam is just the store that houses the transactions, the publishers control the prices.

You've just reminded me of how I used to do that all the time up until a few months ago while at work. Our store has pathetically small amounts of counter space, and since a lot of people in my area treat our convenience store as a full blown grocery store, (and because people aren't competent enough to either slow down on their placing or at least taking the already bagged products off of the counter), there were plenty of times where I'd accidentally scan the same item twice, or hell, the scanner would scan whatever was nearby without me realizing it. (most times I do hear it, but when there are multiple registers running, sometimes it's a little hard to tell if it was mine). To give an idea of how much space each register counter has, imagine a standard pack of 6 roll toilet paper set long ways. Add three more toilet paper rolls and we're already out of space.

OT: But yes, a mistake is a mistake. Steam is a service with thousands of games with tons of publishers controlling their own prices. There's bound to be errors. Amazon has had errors as well, but I still get most of my more unique clothing from there, and technology.

 

[veloper]

What do you guys think of the new Steam interface?
Anyone else getting crappy personal recommendations on the front page? I think Valve need to start categorizing their products better for this to work at all.

 

[Snotnarok]

Uh, what? Steam is not always online and you just stated this in your own post. Always online means you cannot play a game unless your connection is ...always online. Machines can be off steam for quite a while before there's any kind of check in required, and that's all it is, a check in. I've had my Surface off steams network for over a month and I was able to access the games installed on there.

and then you had to log into the steam network to verify that you owned these games. Time windows aside, that is the same exact thing. Steam has a month-ish for a time window, and Xone had 24 hours. If you ignore the times, it is exactly the same.

That makes no sense...you can't say it's exactly like something, minus the thing that makes it exactly what it is. Always online DRM is what Diablo 3 is, what Ubisofts used to be, requiring online 100% of the time or your game will not function period. There's a massive difference between a monthly checkin and requiring a constant internet connection or your game will close out.

Steam also has that amazing game share feature that Xbox One was saying required the 100% always online for. That's right, authorize a friend/family member on your account and they can install and play any game on your library as long as you are not playing that specific game. This is without always online and if you decide to launch the game while a friend is playing your copy? It give them 5 minutes to save and drop out before shutting the game down.

That could be because it is way easier to trick consoles into running/downloading games from discs. I am not defending the Xone, but merely drawing contrasts between the two.

I'm only saying that a system that was actual always online DRM that said it required it to do something, Steam is doing without that always-on crap.

When has steam taken a game from someones account? I've got at least 3 games that have been removed from Steam and they were all always accessible from my library at any given point; as in even if they weren't installed I could download them easily and play. The games are now back, but you can find articles online of their removal: Crysis 2, Gattling Gears, Blade Kitten.

Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/12/30/steam-removes-game-order-of-war-challenge-from-user-libraries/
See, they have no qualms about taking games from your user library even IF you have purchased that game.

Did you not read to the end of the article you linked? They didn't remove the game, users can still play it easily, Valve removed the multiplayer which was always-online DRM by a 3rd party and not being supported anymore. Square-Enix the publisher dropped support for the DRM, steam had little to do with it except trying to avoid confusion when someone tries to boot a game and finds it 100% does not work.

That however is contrasted with XBL, PSN and VC who actually have removed games & DLC from their service for one reason or another and you cannot download them ever again, you would have to have made sure you downloaded the content prior to the removal.

The only cases of steam removing games from a users library is if they suspect foul play with credit card/gifting which makes sense.

I, once, bought Marble Blast Ultra from Xbox Live. They have since removed that game... Yet, I can still go into my purchase history and redownload it at any time that I want. I can do this with any game that I have purchased in the past.

[/quote]

That's lucky in that case, I've read Marvel vs Capcom 3 and all it's DLC, Grand Turismo 5's DLC (may have been 6's DLC) have all been removed, Wii's VC removed a game flat out saying you cannot play the game if you don't download it before it's removed. Maybe this has changed, no, hopefully it has because it's incredibly stupid to remove your ability to play your game. But the issue I'm seeing here is what happens when the PS3 is finally discontinued? With PC that's just not a thing, this whole thing with a device becoming obsolete is a real worry with all this digital content spent and no backward compatibility in the next systems.

Unlike the MP of the game on Steam these are games they one could still play, one could locally play Marvel vs Capcom 3 if the online went down or whatever. But according to an article I read here, unless you got the download prior, too bad.

I'm not trying to defend 1 service here, I'm on the same boat as you where I look at other services and get annoyed when they take things or whatever. Nintendos virtual console drives me nuts where you buy a game once and you have to rebuy the game if you want it portable for 3DS or 'upgrade' for the wiiU vs Sony who buy FFVII on one console, get it on all, install it on all.

The whole digital world needs to be sussed out, with actual laws that can defend people from bs.

 

[Bombiz]

the most recent case i can think of is Total War: Medieval 2 Kingdomes. which is really strange since it's multiplier still works.

This one [http://store.steampowered.com/app/4780/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_1]? Strange as it's both in the store and also in my library. Also, how recently was it removed? It doesn't seem to have happened between now and Wed Jul 18 20:38:09 2012 when I initially bought it.

@DoPo weird. cause when i bought it about a year ago and it got removed a little over a month ago. Apparently it's still their just that they combined it with Medieval II. which sucks now cause I have to fix my mods so that they can work with the steam launcher. that or just get the launcher app.

 

[Vigormortis]

Uh, what? Steam is not always online and you just stated this in your own post. Always online means you cannot play a game unless your connection is ...always online. Machines can be off steam for quite a while before there's any kind of check in required, and that's all it is, a check in. I've had my Surface off steams network for over a month and I was able to access the games installed on there.

Actually, you can keep Steam in offline mode indefinitely now. The whole weekly check-in thing was actually a bug that popped up over a year ago and lasted all of two months or so.

In fact, since Valve removed the antiquated '.blob' file function for storing the Steam login info, the offline mode has worked wonderfully. (certainly far better than it did)

When has steam taken a game from someones account? I've got at least 3 games that have been removed from Steam and they were all always accessible from my library at any given point; as in even if they weren't installed I could download them easily and play. The games are now back, but you can find articles online of their removal: Crysis 2, Gattling Gears, Blade Kitten.

And more than that, even if your account becomes banned, you can STILL connect to your Steam library to redownload and play any of the games you've purchased. The only thing you lose is access to the Storefront and the community features.

It actually takes an account lock to remove your ability to download your games. But that only occurs if you've been convicted of a felony against Valve, Steam, or a Steam user. (I.E. scamming, phishing, theft, embezzling, etc.) But then, if that be the case, I'm pretty sure not having access to your Steam copy of Skyrim is the least of your concerns at that point.

 

[Sanunes]

You encountered a common problem with Steam, they will show the wrong picture for what they are selling. Within the last year they were selling Dragon Age: Origins and put the picture of Dragon Age 2 up for the sale icon which is funny to me since you can't even buy Dragon Age 2 on Steam anymore because of two juggernauts not playing nice.

I got caught by this mistake once when buying Fallout: New Vegas and I thought I was buying the Ultimate Edition, but it was only the Standard Edition.

The other problem you are encountering is Steam Support or Steam Lack'o'Support. Once I had a problem that a game I bought wasn't properly activated on my account it was showing I bought it, but it was grayed out. It took them two weeks to give me my first response and another month to get it fixed.

I won't stop buying from Steam, but they aren't my first stop anymore either.

 

[Sanunes]

And more than that, even if your account becomes banned, you can STILL connect to your Steam library to redownload and play any of the games you've purchased. The only thing you lose is access to the Storefront and the community features.

It actually takes an account lock to remove your ability to download your games. But that only occurs if you've been convicted of a felony against Valve, Steam, or a Steam user. (I.E. scamming, phishing, theft, embezzling, etc.) But then, if that be the case, I'm pretty sure not having access to your Steam copy of Skyrim is the least of your concerns at that point.

I never had my account fully banned, but one time I was banned from the forums because I said "I didn't want to download the game again to fix my problem" and they took that as my wanting to pirate a game. I did try and appeal it, but never went back to their forums for years and when I did eventually go back my account was unlocked, but I haven't posted there since.

 

[Not Lord Atkin]

Steam actually lets you get your money back if you buy the wrong version of a game by mistake. All you need to do is quickly buy the version you wanted (before it goes off sale - they only let you do this within the same sale period) but instead of selecting 'purchase for myself', you need to buy it as a gift and store it in your inventory. If you then contact Steam Support, they will refund the accidental purchase and put the money in your steam wallet. They will remove the game from your library, at which point you can unpack the gift from your inventory and into your library.

That being said, steam support is absolute shite and the fact that valve still doesn't have a refund scheme is just laughable. It's one of the things that desperately need improvement but valve, having the dominant position on the market, doesn't seem to give much of a toss.

 

[MHR]

I still see the sale on the news page. The offer ended monday at 10AM pacific time. Did you buy it after? That would explain all of this. Check the prices of what you buy before you hit buy.

Clicking that link now brings you to the bundle store page where it's all priced together at normal store price.

 

[Rad Party God]

I bought the Fallout Collection a few years ago and it delivered exactly what was promised, Fallout 1, 2 and Tactics.

I'd recommend you to open a ticket to customer service if what you claim is true.

 

[Vigormortis]

I never had my account fully banned, but one time I was banned from the forums because I said "I didn't want to download the game again to fix my problem" and they took that as my wanting to pirate a game. I did try and appeal it, but never went back to their forums for years and when I did eventually go back my account was unlocked, but I haven't posted there since.

Your Steam forums account and your literal Steam account are separate entities. A forum banning doesn't block you from your Steam account.

When I was mentioning the community features, I meant things like the Friends list, community pages, Workshop, guides, etc.

But yes. The Steam Forums can be a brutal place. The mods there are pretty strict when it comes to potentially offensive or derogatory posts. Same goes for posts that suggest such things as hacking or scamming. (same as this forum, really)

 

[Snotnarok]

Uh, what? Steam is not always online and you just stated this in your own post. Always online means you cannot play a game unless your connection is ...always online. Machines can be off steam for quite a while before there's any kind of check in required, and that's all it is, a check in. I've had my Surface off steams network for over a month and I was able to access the games installed on there.

Actually, you can keep Steam in offline mode indefinitely now. The whole weekly check-in thing was actually a bug that popped up over a year ago and lasted all of two months or so.

In fact, since Valve removed the antiquated '.blob' file function for storing the Steam login info, the offline mode has worked wonderfully. (certainly far better than it did)

When has steam taken a game from someones account? I've got at least 3 games that have been removed from Steam and they were all always accessible from my library at any given point; as in even if they weren't installed I could download them easily and play. The games are now back, but you can find articles online of their removal: Crysis 2, Gattling Gears, Blade Kitten.

And more than that, even if your account becomes banned, you can STILL connect to your Steam library to redownload and play any of the games you've purchased. The only thing you lose is access to the Storefront and the community features.

It actually takes an account lock to remove your ability to download your games. But that only occurs if you've been convicted of a felony against Valve, Steam, or a Steam user. (I.E. scamming, phishing, theft, embezzling, etc.) But then, if that be the case, I'm pretty sure not having access to your Steam copy of Skyrim is the least of your concerns at that point.

Ah, well there ya go thank you for clearing that up. I've never had issue with offline mode and such. Seems steam ..and Origin are full of myths that haven't been right.

 

[Vigormortis]

Ah, well there ya go thank you for clearing that up. I've never had issue with offline mode and such. Seems steam ..and Origin are full of myths that haven't been right.

Yeah. Unfortunately, there are near constant smear campaigns running throughout the gaming community that perpetuate misinformation on Steam, Origin, Uplay, GoG, etc. I personally know some people that still think Steam requires a constant internet connection to function at all.

It seems, as is often the case with the internet, it's easier to just assume the worse and preach it as true rather than do the research and see how things actually are. Such a shame so many still think such patently false things about any one of those platforms. Even this very forum sees the same old half-truths and untruths being perpetuated.

Glad I could clear it up a bit for you, though.

 

[Summerstorm]

Sounds more like a bug.

Really, Valve aren't conspiring against you.

"Sir, i have coded this into our store: The Fallout Trilogy will be priced 2,50?, but when somebody buys it... ONLY Fallout 2 will be in their games-folder"

"Muhahaha, good...good. Soon our evil masterplan will come to fruition... LAUGH WITH ME!"

 

[JohnZ117]

Jade Empire is pretty infamous on Steam. Many people who have bought it including myself have had problems with it and Valve hasn't really done anything to fix it. I decided to buy it through Good Old Games and it works perfectly. I feel if you're going to sell an older game you should make sure it runs on modern PC's before selling it.

Now I buy older games exclusively from Good Old Games and only newer games through Steam.

Does it work on Vista, and do they have a compatible version of V:tM Blodlines as well?

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

OP you made a mistake, the classic fallout collection was NEVER worth $2.50, its worth $5, you bought Fallout 2 alone by mistake

 

[Bat Vader]

Jade Empire is pretty infamous on Steam. Many people who have bought it including myself have had problems with it and Valve hasn't really done anything to fix it. I decided to buy it through Good Old Games and it works perfectly. I feel if you're going to sell an older game you should make sure it runs on modern PC's before selling it.

Now I buy older games exclusively from Good Old Games and only newer games through Steam.

Does it work on Vista, and do they have a compatible version of V:tM Blodlines as well?

Not sure, I am using Windows 7. They should both work. Good Old Games is really good at getting older games to work on modern and newer systems.

 

[DoPo]

Jade Empire is pretty infamous on Steam. Many people who have bought it including myself have had problems with it and Valve hasn't really done anything to fix it. I decided to buy it through Good Old Games and it works perfectly. I feel if you're going to sell an older game you should make sure it runs on modern PC's before selling it.

Now I buy older games exclusively from Good Old Games and only newer games through Steam.

Does it work on Vista, and do they have a compatible version of V:tM Blodlines as well?

GOG guarantee support for Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8) on all their games. They don't have Bloodlines, though. Also, nobody offers a version of Bloodlines that works (well, out of the box and on relatively modern machines, that is). You can thank Activision for that.

 

[SmugFrog]

I find it extremely funny that most, if not all, of you were up in arms and extremely angry over the Xbox One always online DRM thing.... While Steam does this (though they offer that offline mode for more than 24 hours) and you all laugh and let them continue it. Steam can Take Games directly from your steam library. They've done so in the past.

People tend to praise Steam as this great thing. I call it the Great Steam DRM Machine. There have always been reasons to not use steam... but what happened was a bug and isn't one of those reasons.

Difference is when I'm deployed overseas I can take my laptop and all of my games with me. Xbox One, by it's design, wouldn't have worked for me at all out to sea. So... yeah, no, it's not even close to the same thing. Also, Microsoft was claiming that this "always online" thing was to help games be more amazing by using cloud processing - such as what Simcity was claiming it did (and lied, because it was only for DRM). My question is, where are those games? Were they in development and just cancelled? No, it was clearly a DRM issue and that's just insane. I can keep Steam offline forever and "own" the games I have bought with no problem.