Poll: Steam Gaming

[Vigormortis]

Talk about major fanboism here. It is the fault of Valve. Valve should deliver the same game as you would get on CD, not one that requires the Steam client to be running. If they want to do it for their own games, that's their perogative, but requiring the client to be running is a problem in itself, and is also responsible for the problems with patching the game. 100% Valve's fault, as other content delivery services get it right.

So...me pointing out a significant flaw in one's complaint is fanboyism? You sir, are an epic hypocrite AND a dick. It's Valve's fault the companies making the games they host can't provide decent or consistent patches and updates? Are you desperate for excuses to hate Steam or are you just a moron? If you have a Sony tv, it's the equivalent of saying it's Sony's fault Fox's programing schedule sucks and that there's nothing on to watch.

If they didn't require integration, and provided steam as an optional matchmaking service, they wouldn't have to worry about patches nor instability. Still their fault for how they have the service set up in the first place. It's fine for their own games, and might turn out to be perfectly good on PS3 once they bring Steamworks in with Portal 2, but for PC gaming it has, serious, serious, issues.

Again, this is NOT Valve's fault. There are other services available and a company does NOT need to have their game hosted on Steam. It is possible to host on Steam AND do matchmaking through another service. If your particular 3rd party game doesn't do that, it's the developers fault for not bothering to get off their lazy asses and program those options in. Valve doesn't force them to do anything.

Who cares what the specific reason is? The fact is, it happens and it prevents you from playing a game you paid for, a problem that never occurs with Good Old Games.

This particular line of logic is utter bullshit. I've been gaming for over two solid decades, and I can say with absolute certainty that no game in history has never had flaws. The only reason we're all more aware of peoples issues is because of the internet and the communication between users using these online services. Games of old had bug problems. System imcompatiblity issues. You name it. That's why so many of the developers of those games had patches and bug fixes available for download on their own sites. The ONLY difference between then and today is we can get updates and patches as they become available without having to search for them.

Yeah, all the help is from users. Contact Valve customer support and they'll just quote the portion of the EULA that says they're not responsible for any problems. Cocks.

Yet another line of bullshit from an obvious Valve-hater. If they claimed to not "be responsible", then they'd not have bothered to setup a forum devoted to providing help for any number of problems. Even topics pertaining to software they didn't code. Also, "all" of the help is not from users. Users can post about issues at hand and can receive help from other users, but they have hundreds of stickied threads and an entire help directory of known problems and fixes all posted by Valve itself.

I'm starting to think you've either never really looked up anything on the help search or you're just an angry little prick looking to troll for the fun of it. Why am I not surprised you were suspended for an equally dick-ish comment on another thread? Grow up.

 

[Another]

I have never had an issue with steam in three years, barring a problem where my connection was being dumb and letting enough internets through for steam to detect an update for itself, but not being able to download it.

Of course that could have to do with my poor laptop's motherboard slowly transforming into liquid that particular week.

 

[Decagonapus]

PROBLEMS:

- Can't play games in offline mode.
- Steam client slows down bootup and operation of the entire computer not just the games.
- Downloading games sucks with slow internet.
- Game patches cause games to be unplayable while they download and then...
- Updating never works for me which completely breaks the game.
- DRM only hurts honest buyers.


EXAMPLE:

Day 1
1. Purchased "Lost Planet" CD from the store.
2. Installer required steam. Steam installs.
3. Game installation won't process until steam gets online. This requires a Steam client update.
4. The update fails twice so I uninstalled and downloaded it separately.
5. This download is still not completely current so it updates (again).
6. I need to create an account.
7. Steam crashes during this step until I researched and fixed a DLL dependency issue.

Day 2
8. I log into my account and proceed to install the game from CD.
9. I then link the cd key with my steam account so that steam will know I own it.
10. I try to start the game but steam must update the game itself.

Day 3
11. After letting the game patch download all night (slow internet & 700MB patch) I see the update bar has frozen on 100%.
12. I restart my PC and try again after another 5hr download. It proceeds to tell me that there is yet another patch which i must also install.

Day 4
12. The game has successfully patched itself and will start.
13. The game crashes after opening cinematic 3 times. Goggling reveals that this problem is the fault of the steam client.
14. I fix this issue and the game works.

Day 5
13. I have no access to the internet today but figure the game works now so I will play it.
14. Steam starts when I click the games shortcut. I can't login because I don't have the internet and "offline mode" refuses to start.

Day 6
15. I get the no-steam cracked executable and uninstall every hint of this cursed client from my machine.


ALTERNATIVES:

Direct2Drive or Impulse or
Buy straight from the devs to give them as much of the profit as possible.

 

[Delusibeta]

PROBLEMS:

- Can't play games in offline mode.
- Steam client slows down bootup and operation of the entire computer not just the games.
- Downloading games sucks with slow internet.
- Game patches cause games to be unplayable while they download and then...
- Updating never works for me which completely breaks the game.
- DRM only hurts honest buyers.

1) Yes you can. It's still a little touchy, but it now works 99% of the time if you remember to disconnect from any network before you start up and you remember to save your password on your machine.
2) Bootup granted, but if your entire computer slows down because of it, you have a poor computer.
3) Granted, but then again you'll have the same problem with any other digital distributor.
4) Granted.
5) Bug at your end, presumably something to do with your poor computer.
6) Except when it's multiplayer, 'cause this DRM does have excellent multiplayer services (compared to, say, Games for Windows Live).

 

[Emergent System]

Why do I get only once choice above "decent" but 6 different choices of "worse than decent"? I wouldn't call it awesome but it's better than just decent, so I guess I have to.

 

[JWRosser]

Generally for me it has been really good.
Though I bought L4D2 from Amazon and when I installed it it went straight to Steam...so I assumed all games did this. I then bought Bioshock 2 but alas, I have to play that through Games for Windows Live...which I guess isn't too bad because I can log in using my XBL profile.
However I did buy DMC3 last night. Bit of a waste of money. Not only does it not recognise my Xbox controller I have plugged in (makes games like the aforementioned L4D2 a lot easier in my opinion), but I can't even play it full screen. I can still use the Xbox controller but the buttons are messed up. I have to use the right joystick to move and can't change it... However whether this is Steam's fault or just bad publishing I'm not sure. Either way, it's kind of like playing the game on an emulator...which is a shame because it was awesome on PS2.

 

[Delusibeta]

Generally for me it has been really good.
Though I bought L4D2 from Amazon and when I installed it it went straight to Steam...so I assumed all games did this. I then bought Bioshock 2 but alas, I have to play that through Games for Windows Live...which I guess isn't too bad because I can log in using my XBL profile.
However I did buy DMC3 last night. Bit of a waste of money. Not only does it not recognise my Xbox controller I have plugged in (makes games like the aforementioned L4D2 a lot easier in my opinion), but I can't even play it full screen. I can still use the Xbox controller but the buttons are messed up. I have to use the right joystick to move and can't change it... However whether this is Steam's fault or just bad publishing I'm not sure. Either way, it's kind of like playing the game on an emulator...which is a shame because it was awesome on PS2.

Probably Capcom's fault for not supporting a controller released a few years after the game... wait.

For everything else, use Xpadder (or similar). Also:

(makes games like the aforementioned L4D2 a lot easier in my opinion)

*insert rage about how controllers are rubbish at FPSes and how WASD + Mouse is better here*

 

[XzarTheMad]

I'm a fan of Steam.

I've been using it for, granted, just over a year now, but I've only experiences maybe two instances of downtime, and I'm pretty sure they were both scheduled to improve the system. As far as versions go, I haven't felt this at all. I have Borderlands on Steam, and I can play with my buddies who have it outside of Steam, no problem. Same with a couple other games. Overall, I love Steam for the way it can download my games anywhere, so I don't require a disc. I also like it as a social network, and I've made some pretty good friends through Steam alone. Lastly, it automatically updates your game. Seriously, once you've tried installing NeverWinter Nights from the disc (I don't think NWN is on Steam, but that's not my point) and spent two hours downloading patches for expansions you don't even have (no shit), you start appreciating that everything just gets done at once. So yeah, I like steam. I've bought about 80 games on it now, and paid in total just about half of what I normally would, thanks to their incredible sales. And as far as it being DRM goes, I don't see the problem. I buy it for my own account, and I can play it for as long as I want. Sure, there's the risk they close my account, but I don't deal in sub-percentage risks. Sure, they might shut down the service, but not for another five years at least, and by then I'll have had my share of fun, by far, for the amount of cash I've paid.

 

[Triviumaddicted]

I'm ok with steam. I only have it because when I got home after buying Killing Floor it tells me I need steam to play. I'm grateful it doesn't cost anything to have steam and it's been useful so far but I still don't download games much but the option is nice, and their bundle deals are amazing

 

[Riddle78]

It's pretty good to me...Or was. Before my account got hacked,I enjoyed every game I had on Steam,and the only things I hated were griefing mingebags.

 

[Super Toast]

I love it. I can find anything I want and it's dirt cheap, at least compared to Australian retail prices. One good example is Dead Rising 2. In EB Games it costs $90-$100. On Steam? $40.

 

[Delusibeta]

I love it. I can find anything I want and it's dirt cheap, at least compared to Australian retail prices. One good example is Dead Rising 2. In EB Games it costs $90-$100. On Steam? $40.

You're probably been the first Austrailian to applaud Steam over pricing. Most Australians seem to be whining over why their games are US$80, while retail over there it's priced similarly.

 

[veloper]

The special offers are nice. There's also some cheap, good indie stuff like Misadventures of P.B.Winterbottom.

For the rest it just works, but so does mailorder.

 

[Super Toast]

I love it. I can find anything I want and it's dirt cheap, at least compared to Australian retail prices. One good example is Dead Rising 2. In EB Games it costs $90-$100. On Steam? $40.

You're probably been the first Austrailian to applaud Steam over pricing. Most Australians seem to be whining over why their games are US$80, while retail over there it's priced similarly.

I've only been using Steam for the past month, so you may be right. That being said, the value of the Australian and US dollar is almost the same. Even if a game costs $80, it's still better than $100.

 

[Cazza]

Steam works well. I do hate how when a game wants to update you can't play it until it's updated so when I run out of bandwidth I can't play it until the next month which sucks. Also when your playing and your steam friends keep interrupting. They are the only problems I have with steam.

 

[Decagonapus]

1) Yes you can. It's still a little touchy, but it now works 99% of the time if you remember to disconnect from any network before you start up and you remember to save your password on your machine.
2) Bootup granted, but if your entire computer slows down because of it, you have a poor computer.
3) Granted, but then again you'll have the same problem with any other digital distributor.
4) Granted.
5) Bug at your end, presumably something to do with your poor computer.
6) Except when it's multiplayer, 'cause this DRM does have excellent multiplayer services (compared to, say, Games for Windows Live).

1- Fair enough, this may have been solved since I gave up on them. Still a lot of extra work to start a game that shouldn't require steam.
2- While Steam bootup can be turned off, I still don't want it extending the load time of the game and wasting CPU cycles and ram while I'm playing.
3- With other update methods I can download the update while I play and can update when I'm ready, not when Steam tells me I must.
5- I'm a hardware engineer, and while I don't claim to know everything, I do know how to put together a usable machine. (specs at time of incident: 3GHz Quad, 4GB, 8800 GTX, 10k RPM SATA)
6- Fair enough. I rarely use online multiplayer as I prefer to play with people within punching distance of me. I will never side with a pro-DRM argument at least not the way its handled today. (I am 100% in support of dev's being paid for their work.)

 

[Vigormortis]

Most of the hate I've seen on here reminds me of this guy:

Spoiler

Grant you, this guys a complete moron, but many of his complaints are the same I hear often from others.

People going in wanting to hate it or not knowing how it works who then rage about it. Even going so far as to complain about not being able to get their 'free' game.

However, follow this guy's "review" with the following response vid and you get my stance on the whole thing.

Spoiler

1- Fair enough, this may have been solved since I gave up on them. Still a lot of extra work to start a game that shouldn't require steam.
2- While Steam bootup can be turned off, I still don't want it extending the load time of the game and wasting CPU cycles and ram while I'm playing.
3- With other update methods I can download the update while I play and can update when I'm ready, not when Steam tells me I must.
5- I'm a hardware engineer, and while I don't claim to know everything, I do know how to put together a usable machine. (specs at time of incident: 3GHz Quad, 4GB, 8800 GTX, 10k RPM SATA)
6- Fair enough. I rarely use online multiplayer as I prefer to play with people within punching distance of me. I will never side with a pro-DRM argument at least not the way its handled today. (I am 100% in support of dev's being paid for their work.)

2: It extends the loadup time? How so? As far as I've ever seen, it's never been any faster or slower. Hell, even when I load non-steam games trough my library list they still load and run just as fast as before.

3: You can easily turn off automatic updating for any or all of your Steam games. Thus, allowing you to play update free until you're ready to download one. So, in the end it's no different than updating any non-Steam game. Well, except it's easier since you don't have to search for the update and you're guaranteed to get the latest patch.

5: If you were having issues running Steam with those kinds of system specs, the machine was either assembled incorrectly (which I'm highly doubting. especially if you really are a hardware engineer.) or there's another issue with your system. Fact is, as I've sated before, Steam uses as much, if not fewer, system resources as any give media player does. Upon startup, yes, it uses a fair bit. However, once open, and especially while playing a game, it's CPU load drops significantly. So if you're still having slow performance, then it's a problem with the game or your system. I can run Left 4 Dead 2 and Team Fortress 2 with little to no performance issues on a machine built in early 2005.

6: This last part is something I actually agree with. To a degree. I loathe DRM. However, when a DRM system is in place that has pros that FAR outweigh the cons associated with DRM, then I can learn to accept it.

 

[migo]

So...me pointing out a significant flaw in one's complaint is fanboyism?

You're not pointing out a flaw, you're saying that the problem Valve creates with how they handle things is not their fault. It bloody is their fault despite the fact that the only thing their support staff does is quote the part of the EULA that says it isn't.

You sir, are an epic hypocrite AND a dick. It's Valve's fault the companies making the games they host can't provide decent or consistent patches and updates? Are you desperate for excuses to hate Steam or are you just a moron? If you have a Sony tv, it's the equivalent of saying it's Sony's fault Fox's programing schedule sucks and that there's nothing on to watch.

No, the better analogy is if Sony has buggy HDCP decoding in the TV that doesn't display actually legit content. Which is exactly like Steam not playing games that were legitimately purchased. It's their fault, as the problem doesn't appear with other services.

Again, this is NOT Valve's fault. There are other services available and a company does NOT need to have their game hosted on Steam. It is possible to host on Steam AND do matchmaking through another service. If your particular 3rd party game doesn't do that, it's the developers fault for not bothering to get off their lazy asses and program those options in. Valve doesn't force them to do anything.

Exactly, they don't need to host it on steam, and they work on other services without problem. It's only a problem on Steam so it is Valve's fault.

This particular line of logic is utter bullshit. I've been gaming for over two solid decades,

Good Old Games is a content delivery service. I'm not even bothering to read the rest of what you've written, it's a waste of time since you clearly don't know what's being talked about.