The reason why you should NOT buy Steam games

[willow925]

Just one of many reasons.
Digital Distribution is not to be trusted.
Valve is not to be trusted.
Therefore steam is not to be trusted.

First of all, he bought the game in a store, so he had an error with the physical copy.

 

[Sexbad]

This is why you go console!

I've heard of region-locking cases with consoles as well.

 

[Irridium]

Whats worse is the "this game is unavailable, please try again later" messages.

THE GAME IS NOT UNAVAILABLE! ITS RIGHT FUCKING THERE YOU ASSHOLES!! LET ME PLAY!

 

[Kortney]

Yeah that happened to me once I think. If you move from PAL to another area it most likely won't work.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

This is why you go console!

even then different disc formats will screw you over (did you know that NTSC is not the only disc format? creepy)

but since i don't travel, console games it is then! so i don't have to sink 1000 dollars into something that may or may not work when and how i want it to

My PC was only $500, and I play Crysis on 40 FPS. I've also never had compatibility issues on games that I've bought. The only times I've had problems installing games in on the rare occasion where I pirate something. And even then, I can't really complain. I'm doing something illegal.

One thing you have to note is that a gaming PC is also... a PC. Most homes nowadays have at least one computer, which costs at least $300. So a console that will last at an average of 5 years plus a computer costs roughly $750. But, you then have to buy an entirely new console 5 years later, for another $500. With your PC all you have to do is make a $100-$200 upgrade.

If anything, PC's can be the cheaper choice.

here we go again with the "my PC was X amount less than what you mentioned and it can run [insert PC gaming buzz game here]"

honestly, not everyone has the spare cash and time to make the investment on a PC gaming computer, plus it saves both time AND money to just go console

and again with the "most homes have PCs" true, but if those PCs are not built EXACTLY to certain specifications then how are they going to get their fix of Saints Row 2? Crackdown? Gears of War? Grand Theft Auto 4? Red Dead Redemption? Mass Effect? Halo: Reach?

it's stupid to assume that just because someone has a PC it means they can become a PC gamer with some "simple" instructions (i've looked into making a gaming PC, and really, on my income, it's not gonna happen. between a fiance, moving out, college, and bills, that leaves me with... what? 10 dollars a month? so i can have a gaming PC by the time i'm too old to bother with games anymore? yeah. not helping. not everyone has the budget and time expected of them to create this "all powerful" device)

plus there are all those different chips and processors and certain types of RAM and different kinds of memory associated with different parts of the computer that you have to learn to do it all correctly, and even then knowing WHERE to acquire the parts is a pain in the ass.

so as far as a time investment along with money?

i could get a PS3 and 5 games to supplement it (or a 360 and 10 games to supplement it) for the amount of money it would take to just build the PC itself.

and besides, the new console will probably cost 400 dollars (at worst) and 250 dollars (at best), and a lot of games will be forward-compatible, so no need to worry about extra expenditure there.

PC is too needy and leaves no room for error when making it, plus, the community is extremely unfriendly to newcomers when it comes to asking questions or just talking about it. A console is just easier all around. At least then the developer is forced to make a game tailor-made to your needs rather than having to tailor-make your gaming platform to THEIR needs

 

[Jake Lewis Clayton]

i once had a copy of mafia on cd, as an avid steam user i decided when i wanted to play it again, that i would check if it worked on my laptop, if it did i would purchase it from the steam store so i could put the box and disc in the attic.

it worked to my relief, so i uninstalled and deleted the game data before purchasing the steam version, the steam version wouldn't start, i even patched it to the same patches as my previous version, i complained and they wouldn't refund and said it was the publishers fault, when i pointed out that a retail copy with the same patches works and their version did not on the same system within hours of each other, they stopped replying to my messages.

 

[Vault101]

You see, this is why I buy Valve games from retail. Don't have an internet connection? Good thing I have this install disc handy. Hey! I has internetz naow!!1! Let Steam bring me my games.

actually any valve game is going to run on steam, its still pretty much the same ,only thing different is the disk makes the download a little faster (yeah alot of the time you still have to download some of the bloody thing, especially if its a few years old, and its it a steam game with the current updates...well if your on a low internet plan (or live in australia) then you are somwhat screwed, I cant play left 4 dead 2 because I hear its a 10gb download)

and alot of other games tend use to use steam as their DRM as well, I mean as I just said above usually its not so bad, unless its a relitivley ols steam game

 

[Kaymish]

plus on consoles there is more than 1 pal format also DVD's have region locks too i am in region 4 for DVD's pal 2 for console games and many physical media PC games also but steam lets me play every game i buy with their service and i have never had a problem even when i travel around for business

 

[Hiphophippo]

It would appear Steam seems to think you don't actually own games you buy

No.

It would appear that the entire gaming / software industry thinks this. Read a EULA sometime in the manual that comes with the game. Hope you agree with it, because legally you did as soon as you broke the shrinkwrap.

Your problems are not with Steam. Your problems are with the industry. Lay blame where it is deserved, now where it is convenient.

Fun fact: Outside of very few indie games, you don't own a single game you've bought.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Here's a question for you. If it's denying your license, what good will the disc do?

 

[Garrett Richey]

I have no problem with anything I've purchased in traveling between the U.S. and Aus. so it's likely due to a regulatory body someone and not Valve just trying to screw you over. On that note try moving around the world with console games or DVDs, you'll be told you can't do it.

 

[DasDestroyer]

You see, this is why I buy Valve games from retail. Don't have an internet connection? Good thing I have this install disc handy. Hey! I has internetz naow!!1! Let Steam bring me my games.

I have the same problem as the OP - I got L4D2 in Russia, then I moved to Canada,and brought my computer with me. And although L4D2 was already installed, it wouldn't let me play it.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

God, Steam is horrible. One time, they sold Team Fortress 2 for $2. Or the other time they gave Portal away for free.

It's all part of Steam's new security measures. It happens, and I am disappointed that they are unwilling to help your dilema, but I'm staying Steam for a long time.

 

[Zabriskie Point]

here we go again with the "my PC was X amount less than what you mentioned and it can run [insert PC gaming buzz game here]"

First, why do you seem so angry? I was just expressing my opinion about PC gaming, you don't have to get so defensive.

honestly, not everyone has the spare cash and time to make the investment on a PC gaming computer, plus it saves both time AND money to just go console

I just explained the it can potentially save you money to use a PC for gaming.

and again with the "most homes have PCs" true, but if those PCs are not built EXACTLY to certain specifications then how are they going to get their fix of Saints Row 2? Crackdown? Gears of War? Grand Theft Auto 4? Red Dead Redemption? Mass Effect? Halo: Reach?

I don't think you understand my point. My point is that most households are already spending a good amount of money on a PC, and adding a console to that could potentially cost more than just buying a powerful gaming rig. Where are console-only gamers going to get World of Warcraft? Minecraft? Starcraft? Free DLC? Free Updates? Amnesia? Civilization V? Bringing up exclusives is useless. Every platform has exclusives.

Note: PC has more 2011 exclusives than box 360, and around the same amount of PS3.

it's stupid to assume that just because someone has a PC it means they can become a PC gamer with some "simple" instructions (i've looked into making a gaming PC, and really, on my income, it's not gonna happen. between a fiance, moving out, college, and bills, that leaves me with... what? 10 dollars a month? so i can have a gaming PC by the time i'm too old to bother with games anymore? yeah. not helping. not everyone has the budget and time expected of them to create this "all powerful" device)

plus there are all those different chips and processors and certain types of RAM and different kinds of memory associated with different parts of the computer that you have to learn to do it all correctly, and even then knowing WHERE to acquire the parts is a pain in the ass.

I just got into PC gaming after Christmas. I was a console-only gamer, and knew nothing about RAM or CPU's or GPU's. I watched a couple youtube videos, went to Newegg.com, and then built myself a computer. It's really that simple. It's not nearly as difficult as some people say it is.

so as far as a time investment along with money?

i could get a PS3 and 5 games to supplement it (or a 360 and 10 games to supplement it) for the amount of money it would take to just build the PC itself.

Once again, I already stated that you can build a computer that can run modern games for less than it would cost to buy a console + average PC. (Which most households do)

and besides, the new console will probably cost 400 dollars (at worst) and 250 dollars (at best), and a lot of games will be forward-compatible, so no need to worry about extra expenditure there.

I'm sorry, but this is just plain wrong. You're not going to get any new consoles for $250. The 360 was $400 on release day. PS3 was $500-$600. You're simply wrong here.

PC is too needy and leaves no room for error when making it, plus, the community is extremely unfriendly to newcomers when it comes to asking questions or just talking about it. A console is just easier all around. At least then the developer is forced to make a game tailor-made to your needs rather than having to tailor-make your gaming platform to THEIR needs

The PC community loves newcomers. They love to see people convert to PC. I asked tons of questions when I converted to PC gaming, and everybody I talked to about it was super friendly.

Do you think developers make games using an Xbox controller? No, they make games on a PC.

When developers make a console game, they're restricted by either Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony. With PC gaming, the developers run everything, eliminating a money-hungry middleman.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

Quoted for attention

You know what might be a good idea? Contact them. Send them an email, go on the forums, GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM! They did this for a reason. There was a thread a few months back about how some guy made a shit ton of money from buying games on sale in America and gifting them to people in other countries. This fucks with taxes and Valve didn't want to deal with that shit, so they locked each game to the region you buy it in. If you explain your predicament, they should be okay with it.

The Witcher was $10. I bought the frick out of it.

No bearing on the topic, but look at your post number, one more to go.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I like Steam alot although it very compulsive to buy cheap games

EA Download Manager

*Screams the scream of a thousand dying universes*

The Sims 3 players should get hardcore gaming status just from having to deal with that piece of crap software.