Poll: Does Steam look better after the Xbox One?

[Aircross]

- Steam's offline mode is limited too. You just get 2 weeks instead of 24 hours.

I went without internet for what must have been a good four months at home, and I was able to still use Steam offline.

Anyway, I buy games on Steam because I want to give Valve my money.

 

[Brotha Desmond]

I don't want a gaming PC because it is too much trouble. You fiddle with so much just to get the game settings just right for your computer while a console lets you just put in a disc and play.
I also don't like the control method. I am more comfortable with a controller than mouse and keyboard.
I will say, however, that I have been interested in the steam box for quite some time. I would like to see how that turns out.

 

[franconbean]

I've been using steam for a while. I really can't complain; I've had no memorable problems with the service and the sales! My god, the sales.

As for the new Xbox, I'm glad I gave up on consoles at the start of the current generation.

 

[NightHawk21]

Genuinely curious what barriers do you reprieve between you and your game on Steam?

Just the fact that I have to sign into an account to play my game even if I bought the game and have it I cant play it because I have to sign into an account, dosent matter that I have the game in my hand. Also no internet no games even though I have already bought them. I prefer the GOG model where you buy the games and then can do whatever the hell you want with them and play them however you want its just so much simpler.

Also first time I used steam it slowed down my already piece of shit laptop to a crawl making things extremely difficult in the end I had to uninstall it but then I couldnt finish my game, which was annoying. But yeah its just adds stuff that does not need to be there thats what annoys me and it forces itself on you and I wont stand for much of that which may lead to me quitting gaming altogether eventually but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

I also dont like the fact that they could in theory take all your games off you I know its unlikely but the potential is there and it shouldnt be.

I would say give it another try and keep an open mind. Most of the problems you list are problems with modern PC gaming (and even somewhat distant past PC gaming) rather than just steam.

The account issue is true, but you really only have to sign in once, then you can set steam to remember your credentials and its really just 1 extra button click to access your games. This still works even if you don't have it to start up on boot (which is something I would never recommend for any program).

Steam also has an offline mode. You simply have to be online to get the game and do any updates. I believe GOG uses a similar model where you have to download the game then you never need to go online again.

As for the performance issue, I would suggest you try again. I don't know what laptop you're using or when you tried it, but steam doesn't have too big an impact. For reference my laptop was like $500 at bestbuy 2 years ago and I don't notice any performance drops.

The fact that they could take all your games away, I total agree with, but I feel that's not exactly a problem with steam, but more with modern gaming in general. Nowadays with most games having an online component, companies can almost remotely shut off the whole or at least a significant portion of the game. Going back to GOG, it is possible too that they do the same thing as well. Envision a scenario where they don't meet profit margins and have to shut down. What happens to all the games you purchased? In all likelihood you would probably have a small window of time to download as many as possible before they become permanently unavailable. I believe steam said at one point they would do the same sort of thing, where they would open up all the games in your account for download, but that may have been a rumor as I didn't read an original credible source on that.

 

[Norix596]

I have been thinking about this for a while. I've been a console gamer in the past, most recently with the Xbox360, but in the past year or two I've been increasingly using Steam on my laptop (it's a perfectly fine computer but by no means a gaming PC - it has one of those virtual graphics cards instead of a virtual one). I've just been floored at how cheap everything is, I recently counted and the $100 Steam credit that I got for Christmas has bought me 24 games by my count so far- if I had been buying console games it would have been 2-3 at best. For bigger newer releases though, I've needed to use my 360 such as for Xcom and Bioshock Infinite. For these times I buy games on Amazon for usually about $40 shortly after it comes out. However, with all these new hoops that at being presented with the Xbox One, I might not be able to buy games for less that $60. Given all the other inconveniences with online requirements, and lack of backwards compatibility I've been toying with the idea of just not getting a new console and transitioning fully to PC gaming. I'll need to get a better computer to do so, but I'll need to spend hundreds of dollars at the very least to get the Xbox One anyway.

After the announcement conference I made my decision. Steam-ward ho!

 

[klaynexas3]

snip

I'm not a fan of that image, one of the parts about the Xbone(paying full price for a used game) isn't totally confirmed yet, and PC games never being capable of trade is a crock of shit, because back in the days when it was primarily disc based, you could trade them like you can with current consoles. Only when the online stores came along and the use of buying physical copies of PC games became obsolete did we lose the ability to trade our PC games with other people.

If the Xbone was entirely digital, while it still would need some tweaks, it would be a hell of a lot more acceptable. Allowing other people to play games on your library is an amazing feature(for a digital store) that I would love online stores like steam to implement. However, because it is still a physically based console(you still use discs for your games, though that's dropped somewhat as a requirement thanks to the last generation), these are faults for it. The console was supposed to be for the accessibility, now the Xbone is losing that accessibility. If the gaming community can stamp that our here, we'll still keep consoles the way they are, allowing for it to be great on its own.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

I don't want a gaming PC because it is too much trouble. You fiddle with so much just to get the game settings just right for your computer while a console lets you just put in a disc and play.
I also don't like the control method. I am more comfortable with a controller than mouse and keyboard.
I will say, however, that I have been interested in the steam box for quite some time. I would like to see how that turns out.

The fiddling thing is becoming less and less true by the day, particularly with new games on steam. I'm using a medium range laptop (Intel I5 3210M, Nvidia gtx 650m) and I've never had to do anything to make a steam game work, the newest PC games I own on steam being Bioshock infinite, Dishonored, Borderlands 2 and Xcom: enemy unknown.

All worked excellently without me having to do anything, just as easy as putting a disc in a console. Some older games may require google fixes but it's almost always extremely easy and these are games you can't play on modern consoles most of the time anyway because of a lack of backwards compatibility.

Hell, Nvidia are even making software that sets the graphics settings of games to an appropriate level for your machine, saving you 30 seconds when you boot up a new game! Overkill to be honest but it works pretty well for me.

As for the controller thing, you can play literally any PC game with an xbox controller if you're willing to get some other software (Xpadder springs to mind) but new games have native controller support most of the time- I played through almost all of bioshock infinite on my tv with a controller because it looked so damn good on the big screen. Steam is constantly being updated and will tell you if a game has full controller support (from hitting play to closing the thing) or partial controller support (can play with a controller, but may require M/KB to start up / menus) Steam itself can now be fully navigated with a controller and has much better messaging / friends features than xbox live any day.

Sorry for the extended rant, but it really is not hard to play PC games and I don't know how that's become such a big thing.


OT (finally): Steam is good because it has a functional offline mode (at least for me, YMMV and all that) and has games far cheaper than consoles because of the nature of digital distribution. I see it the same as GOG, I sign in once to get a game up to date and then can (and do) play it offline for extended periods of time. With my spotty internet connection, steam is fine. Daily checkups would not be. That said, GOG is amazing and Heroes 3 is one of the greatest things I have ever played, thank you GOG.

 

[Anezay]

Never had a problem with Steam, myself. Xbone isn't making Steam look better so much as making me more interested in PS4.

 

[Tayh]

No.
They're both anti-consumer methods meant to give the publishers/owners control over when and what you're allowed to play, and to disable your games if your internet is out.

 

[Maximum Bert]

*snip*

I would say give it another try and keep an open mind. Most of the problems you list are problems with modern PC gaming (and even somewhat distant past PC gaming) rather than just steam.

The account issue is true, but you really only have to sign in once, then you can set steam to remember your credentials and its really just 1 extra button click to access your games. This still works even if you don't have it to start up on boot (which is something I would never recommend for any program).

Steam also has an offline mode. You simply have to be online to get the game and do any updates. I believe GOG uses a similar model where you have to download the game then you never need to go online again.

As for the performance issue, I would suggest you try again. I don't know what laptop you're using or when you tried it, but steam doesn't have too big an impact. For reference my laptop was like $500 at bestbuy 2 years ago and I don't notice any performance drops.

The fact that they could take all your games away, I total agree with, but I feel that's not exactly a problem with steam, but more with modern gaming in general. Nowadays with most games having an online component, companies can almost remotely shut off the whole or at least a significant portion of the game. Going back to GOG, it is possible too that they do the same thing as well. Envision a scenario where they don't meet profit margins and have to shut down. What happens to all the games you purchased? In all likelihood you would probably have a small window of time to download as many as possible before they become permanently unavailable. I believe steam said at one point they would do the same sort of thing, where they would open up all the games in your account for download, but that may have been a rumor as I didn't read an original credible source on that.

What you say makes a lot of sense and my friends have said similar things I am tempted to give it another go because they do occasionally do some great deals.

Its just the whole DRM thing dosent sit well with me I just hate having to jump through hoops to enjoy what I have purchased to the extent that in most cases I would rather not purchase it at all. Yes steam may make it relatively painless but if it wasnt there it would be even better and require less work on their part.

I know Steam has an offline mode but I believe my games are still played through Steam is that correct? which I see no need for games that dont have online modes i.e single player games.

I like GOG because I purchase my game and then thats it similar to going into a store I buy it I can run it how I want its just has the added bonus of Steam that I dont have to worry about losing it as long as I have my account also if for some bizzare reason they decided to ban my account I would still be able to play all the games I bought and downloaded so unless I had a load of games bought and not installed I wouldnt lose anything.

As for my previous laptop it was a huge pile of shit my new one is much better and I would likely not have the same issues.

It all just comes down to me hating things being put in the way of me and the game that dont have to be there consoles have built in DRM in that stop me easily copying their games and playing it on other systems and thats fine thats all it needs but no Microsoft want more barriers and that dosent sit well with me. Same deal with Steam I prefer what they provide over the Xbox One but its still something that exists because they want more control over people its entire purpose is to restrict people not enhance experiences.

I am not sure I could abandon gaming altogether so if push really does come to shove I may have to sparingly use Steam or just hope GOG keeps expanding. Console wise Microsoft have really pissed me off now, TBH it doesnt matter about the games now and I have just seen a couple of exclusives I would really like there is just no way I am buying into their frankly disgusting business model and giving them more money towards destroying something I love.

If Sony do the same they are also out and I suppose it will be Nintendo and GOG for me which is surprising for me as Nintendo didnt impress me much last gen and I am not really a retro gamer.

 

[Snotnarok]

snip

I'm not a fan of that image, one of the parts about the Xbone(paying full price for a used game) isn't totally confirmed yet, and PC games never being capable of trade is a crock of shit, because back in the days when it was primarily disc based, you could trade them like you can with current consoles. Only when the online stores came along and the use of buying physical copies of PC games became obsolete did we lose the ability to trade our PC games with other people.

If the Xbone was entirely digital, while it still would need some tweaks, it would be a hell of a lot more acceptable. Allowing other people to play games on your library is an amazing feature(for a digital store) that I would love online stores like steam to implement. However, because it is still a physically based console(you still use discs for your games, though that's dropped somewhat as a requirement thanks to the last generation), these are faults for it. The console was supposed to be for the accessibility, now the Xbone is losing that accessibility. If the gaming community can stamp that our here, we'll still keep consoles the way they are, allowing for it to be great on its own.

PC games not being able to trade in is right, back when SWAT 3 was brand new the trade in price was 2 dollars Solder of Fortune: $5, so if you consider that trading in at any sort of value then that's you. With games like Warcraft 3 you would break the EULA and they could ban your account ending the ability for you to play. There is a note at the bottom stating the info is subject to change and it's dated so not sure what else you want to be done there.

You ..can let other people play your steam account if you're willing enough to lend out your user and password, then you could have them switch to offline mode and play the games offline. You're not going to see shared account playing unless they implement the same DRM as the Xbone: home console can play 24 hours offline, friends console with your game 1 hour checkins required, that's how they make sure you're not all playing the same game and not paying. So there's no tweaking there unless they remove the feature and then allow no checkins.

I already know people on FB who are caving to the Xbone, I already called this in a previous post how everyone will whine about the DRM, but in the end a lot will wind up with one saying "Oh the DRM isn't so bad..." not realizing they don't own the games and are basically letting them implement more and more DRM.

 

[secretkeeper12]

All this Xbox fiasco has proven with regards to Steam, is that a large proportion of PC gamers are utter raging hypocrites.

How are the two in any way comparable? As has been stated many times, the only similarity is that both are DRM, but are handled so differently that you really can't draw parallels with them. Steam constantly puts games on sale, allows offline access for practically forever, and is completely free. Xbone requires a purchase to grant "features" (such as used game lending) that are usually expected of a gaming console.

 

[DoPo]

Aside from the minor details, the fundamentals of the Xbox and Steam problem are the same.

They...both distribute games? Yeah, That is findamentally the same. On a similar note, a monkey and a dog are also fundamentally they same. Because by "minor details" you seem to mean stuff like market share. How many people using a PC use Steam? Well, a lot, obviously - there is a large userbase, but "a lot" suffeces for now. Compare it with the market share of Xbox One on the Xbox platform. That's not "a lot", that's going to be 100%. Literally. But apparently that's a minor detail. Same with the dog being a canine and the monkey not - just something we shouldn't concern ourselves with.