Pro's and Con's of Steam

[linwolf]

snip

It rarely works for me, if I shut down my PC and steam is in off-line mode when I then start my PC back up with no internet it refuses to let me play until after I have got my internet back up and logged in. Steam have given a lot of people trouble with its off-line mode all in all. To state different is just wrong.

 

[Vault101]

if you have strict internet limits then you cant play a game because it requies a large download

at this point ill never be able to play left 4 dead 2 because aparently its a 10gb download

I better get portal 2 soon before they add 6gb worht of DLC

 

[mireko]

if you have strict internet limits then you cant play a game because it requies a large download

at this point ill never be able to play left 4 dead 2 because aparently its a 10gb download

I better get portal 2 soon before they add 6gb worht of DLC

Can't you just start the download and pause it before/after it hits the cap, then start it up again when you have access to more bandwidth? It's not like you have to download the whole thing in one go.

EDIT: Actually, you wouldn't need to pause it. Not sure why I suggested doing that. Sorry, sleepy.

[small](This is assuming you're referring to a bandwidth cap.)[/small]

 

[lacktheknack]

snip

It rarely works for me, if I shut down my PC and steam is in off-line mode when I then start my PC back up with no internet it refuses to let me play until after I have got my internet back up and logged in. Steam have given a lot of people trouble with its off-line mode all in all. To state different is just wrong.

I state different out of experience. I've used it error-free several times, and I never see complaints about it until this thread.

 

[Vault101]

if you have strict internet limits then you cant play a game because it requies a large download

at this point ill never be able to play left 4 dead 2 because aparently its a 10gb download

I better get portal 2 soon before they add 6gb worht of DLC

Can't you just start the download and pause it before/after it hits the cap, then start it up again when you have access to more bandwidth? It's not like you have to download the whole thing in one go.

EDIT: Actually, you wouldn't need to pause it. Not sure why I suggested doing that. Sorry, sleepy.

[small](This is assuming you're referring to a bandwidth cap.)[/small]

oh sure...it would take few months how ever plus it would be frustrating have to spend like half of a months worth of inernet over a game

 

[de5gravity]

I just wanted to say I had Steam in offline mode from January to April and it was FINE. There was no issue at all, I could play all my games.

 

[Choppaduel]

there aren't any serious cons right now, but it is possible that in 10 years Valve will fold and you won't be able to play any of the games you paid for.

EDITED for missing words.

 

[Kiardras]

I love steam, so many cheap bargain games from there.

The only complaint I've had is that sometimes I have issues logging in. My internet is connected fine, but it just sits there for 10 minutes then says it can't connect.

I should make sure my games are set for offline mode tbh, but I never remember to.

I'm getting to the point now where nearly anything I buy on PC will come through steam as its such a reliable service and I don't need to have discs.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Pros: - I can talk with friends, mostly while playing Dawn of War and Dawn of war II.

Cons: - ...DRM.

 

[SillyBear]

The only con to Steam is that you have to download the games. For those of us who have capped internet plans, that is. I can't download anymore than a certain amount of gigs per month so I have to be careful.

 

[tzimize]

Pros:
Big catalogue of games available
Frequent super-sales
No CD/DVD hassle
Automatic updates
Decent overlay for communicating with friends who got steam (even when they are in game, which is extremely useful for me at least)
Super easy invitation system for multiplayer games (at least some of them)
You can add your own games to the steam software for easy access
Easy access to forums of all games, so its no problem looking for help/reading up on stuff

Cons:
Er....

I guess I'm a steam fan...but there is a lot to be happy about with Steam.

 

[iLikeHippos]

Why hasn't anyone gotten quoting people yet for reference? HE NEEDS ARBITRARY REFERENCES!

"Yeah, Steam is all right I guess." -- Francis, Left 4 Dead.

Personally, I don't do Steam! Why? Because Blizzard games no need it, and that's all I got.

 

[Pirate1019]

Bro, Steam didn't get as big as it did because it's broken and shitty like Sony's PSN service. The only con is the long-term issue of what happens to all of your digital purchases if Valve goes under and has to shut down Steam. A problem you won't have to deal with if you're giving Sony a second chance.

 

[kelevra]

Pros:
All those mentioned above.

Cons:
Massive cyber/EMP/cable eating mutant rat attacks.
Not having a physical copy of the game.
Nice manuals... I miss those. Warcraft III, Arcanum, hell, even Red Alert had an entertaining manual...

 

[Phishfood]

Cons:
* Its an app that sits running all the time while you want to game and wants to run on startup
* The steam sales are very effective at emptying your wallet. Especially the christmas ones.
* Its heavy on the internet. Force unleashed was a 20GB download.

Pros:
* Compared to some DRM apps it doesn't rape your PC. It closes and uninstalls when you tell it
* Lots of bargains in the sales.
* Automated patching. Its nice to just load a game and have it up to date, not load a game, fail to connect, search for patch, have to register for patch, download patch from slow ass server...
* Lovely integrated friends list/server browser/IM client/VoIP client. One of my friends is playing a game I own? I can just click his name and join the match from steam.
* Can download the games to multiple PCs whenever you want.

I like steam. Sure, it functions as DRM but IMO the benefits from steam make it worth while. I am willing to trade some restrictions on what I can do for the convenience.

 

[Bobbity]

Bloody slow to start up, and it really pissed me off in my Empire Total War days, but I actually kind of like it now. Kind of.

 

[lapan]

Cons:
* It's almost entirely digital downloads. You have to have a good connection and there is a risk that you won't be able to play anymore in the far future if steam goes under.
* The steam support isn't very good, because many games are 3rd party games you often have to contact the developers instead of them. They also often use standart responses and it can be tiring to get to a real solution
* You have to have steam open at all times for most of their games.
* There is an offline mode, but you have to activate it manually before you need it.

Pros:

* Cheap games
* You can contact your steam friends easily even while playing
* automated patches