Steam vs PC?

[kingcom]

Steam downloads force updates in such a way so as to make games unplayable while they are being downloaded, tends to break if your offline and links games to a single account, meaning that if the account is lost your games are lost.

Boxed games on the PC are much like boxed games on the PS3, you got a game disc, put it in your computer, install and play.

As you can clearly see, I was absent when god decided to make everyone a steam fanboy. It is a shit system and I wouldn't reccommend it to anyone who didn't have a kickass internet connection (if you, like me, are Australian, this is a NO).

Actually other australians have zero problems with steam connection and in fact get the best speeds through steam than any other program. You need average internet at best.

 

[MurderousToaster]

I'd have to say Steam, to be honest. I love it, being able to just download and play games is fantastic.

 

[NoNameMcgee]

False. Just look at the huge debacle 2K games had with their DRM and people who downloaded Bioshock over Steam. I still don't know if they ever found a workaround for the 3 install limit.

A no-cd crack pretty much fixes that I believe.

 

[alinos]

The big differance is that when you buy a PC game in a store you get a disc in hand with the game on it, you now basically OWN that game. Unless your disc is broken or lost or whatever it's yours. 15, 20 years from now you can dust off your old computer, install, and play your game if you have a hankering to. You also typically get a player manual with instructions to play the game. While most games involve a tutorial having a manual to refer to at times can be a lifesaver.

i have 2 points here

A) the last game i had with a manual that was worth a damn was demons souls but that we less of a manual and more of the friggen guidebook to the game most games have pathetic manuals now days tho normally the keys are all the same on PC

B) 15 - 20 years from now why the hell would you still have a computer from now these games will be the equivilant of java games by then

 

[ERadical]

Meh they are both pretty good.. I'd rather not have MW2 running through steam but its not that big a deal..

Unfortunately buying games through Steam can limit modding/console capabilities RE: Torchlight..

 

[Rickyvantof]

The Orange Box CD downloads the game off of Steam for you, so it's really a very redundant step, buying the CD. Honestly though I actually prefer buying my games in a store, so I have the booklet and something physical.

 

[Socius]

Steam kid, Steam! and if youre going to buy the box and only play Half life2 and portal you miss out on some serious entertainment. Team Fortress 2 is genious!

 

[NoNameMcgee]

The big differance is that when you buy a PC game in a store you get a disc in hand with the game on it, you now basically OWN that game. Unless your disc is broken or lost or whatever it's yours. 15, 20 years from now you can dust off your old computer, install, and play your game if you have a hankering to. You also typically get a player manual with instructions to play the game. While most games involve a tutorial having a manual to refer to at times can be a lifesaver.

You will be able to play any game 15, 20 years from now that you bought on steam, assuming steam is still around, and I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't be (seriously). Valve have also stated that if they ever shut down the company they will release a tool which can make all games from steam playable without steam, at which point all you'd have to do is backup your games (burn them to disk and they're essentially the same as a retail game.. the backups even come with an autorun designed for disks) and use the tool when you want to install them. They've already tested ideas such as this and reported it works.

And who needs manuals? Manuals have become redundant since the internet. Everything you need to know is right there on the net, usually on the official game website.

Also, it depends what country you're in, but personally for us in Australia the price of a new game can be halfed on steam compared with what it costs for us to buy it in stores.

I do like a nice DVD box and everything, but its a worthwhile sacrifice.

 

[Sacman]

Steam is great it's easy, has a wide selection and always has good deals...

 

[Ushario]

Steam downloads force updates in such a way so as to make games unplayable while they are being downloaded, tends to break if your offline and links games to a single account, meaning that if the account is lost your games are lost.

Boxed games on the PC are much like boxed games on the PS3, you got a game disc, put it in your computer, install and play.

As you can clearly see, I was absent when god decided to make everyone a steam fanboy. It is a shit system and I wouldn't reccommend it to anyone who didn't have a kickass internet connection (if you, like me, are Australian, this is a NO).

I get all my downloads from steam off cap, I downloaded GTA 4 last night which is 16gb and I'm Australian.

I love steam, I really don't understand the complaint about 'forced' updates, you can still play your other games while updating and you wouldn't be able to play any game if you were patching it.

You link your account to your email so its actually fairly easy to recover unless you have Alzheimer's.

 

[Rogue of Hearts]

If you can avoid it, I would say stay away from steam as much as possible. I love the convenience it brings in terms of not having to manage a hundred different game discs but that idea that I would not be able to play the game once the service is discontinued, whether is likely or not, still nags at me. Steam is good however for trying out demos of games and connecting you with your friends. Some of the deals they have are pretty good too, but I would never purchase a game for full price on Steam vs. the boxed version of the game at a Brick 'n Mortar store for the following reasons:
- my connection is fairly slow and downloads can take longer than a few hours, during which I could have walked down to the nearest store, bought it, returned home, installed it and played it for an hour or two.
- I don't get the box and a manual and an actual disc if I download it off of Steam, especially if it's the same price as the one at the store.
- I don't like how some games seem dependent on steam to function properly. On first glance it looks as if you couldn't play with your friends without Steam. I don't know if it's even possible.

Steam is good for what it does, but I don't want to see it killing off retail copies and PC DVDs of games.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Even though I am a console centered guy, I play some PC, and Steam is awesome! It makes online gaming easier and buying games cheaper and simpler.

 

[Skizle]

Their are a few problems I have with Steam.
1: You have to be connected to the internet in order to PLAY games and if your on the road with a laptop your shit out of luck.

2: Valve will NOT lower the price of their games no matter how old they are (I still thought $7 for HL1 was a rip off)

3: Why the built in internet browser?

4: if the game originated on disk then you cant lend the disk out to others in order to try it out before they buy it.

5: You can't regulate the speed at which you download, you can only pause it.

 

[Triangulon]

I tend to buy new games as a hard copy and older games from steam if they are on offer. Also publisher pack. Also new games if I can't be arsed to go and get it. I think I have about 87 games on steam at the moment. I do get annoyed when he service mucks up though. I believe the trick is to have full internet connection or no internet connection. Either be online or offline (for playing not downloading obv). If you have a crummy connection you tend to get stuck in a kind of limbo where it gets stuck trying to connect and update.

 

[Booze Zombie]

The only real issue with Steam is peak times (where downloads are slow due to a massive influx of other people downloading) and the fact that Steam may not be around forever.

 

[Weaver]

It's unfortunate you missed the steam holiday sales, mass effect was just on for $5.

 

[Wrann]

Their are a few problems I have with Steam.
1: You have to be connected to the internet in order to PLAY games and if your on the road with a laptop your shit out of luck.

2: Valve will NOT lower the price of their games no matter how old they are (I still thought $7 for HL1 was a rip off)

3: Why the built in internet browser?

4: if the game originated on disk then you cant lend the disk out to others in order to try it out before they buy it.

5: You can't regulate the speed at which you download, you can only pause it.

1. You can play games in offline mode just not online games like TF2

2.Were you paying attention the last few days they were having a TON of sales including there own games

3.Cuz... thats not really a problem

4.Don't most games have a CD key so you can only have it on 1 computer at a time anyway.

5.Not really much of a problem. I dont know why you would want to slow down the DL speed.

OT:Steam is amazing and worth having unless having the physical disk is a MUST for you.

 

[zauxz]

I dont like steam. I only used it once and it was annoying.