Why do PC Gamers Prefer their Games to be on Steam

[00slash00]

This is something I've been seeing a lot of lately. People saying they wasted money because they bought a pc game and didnt realize it didnt use steam to run. people who say that they only pirated a game because it wasnt sold on steam. I always figured people preferred to use steam just because the prices were usually better but it seems like a lot of pc gamers these days just refuse to use anything but steam, no matter what. Why do pc gamers, these days, seem to want all their games to be on steam? why does it matter so much to people, to the point where they are willing to steal any games that arent on steam?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I really like Steam.

The service hasn't done me wrong and their games are priced very reasonably.

I like having all my stuff in one place, that's why you won't see me using Origin any time soon (apart from the fact that EA are terrible).

 

[Alien Mole]

For me it's convenience (ease of access as they're all in one place), social integration (chat) and the whole 'collector's' appeal of seeing this massive games library you have access to just by opening a window. i'm sure there's some interesting social processes behind the collector's appeal that make Steam as successful as it is (and make me have a gargantuan backlog), but then again I'm pretty much by definition unaware of my subconscious thought processes.

 

[Windcaler]

For a lot of PC gamers its not thats its on Steam that matters, its the convienance of having all your games on one digital distribution platform. If I have games spread out on Steam, origin, GoG, desura, and impulse it becomes far more inconvienent for me to have access to all of them.

I actually prefer to get my games from GoG because DRM doesnt get in the way of my game. Problem is most developers only put their games on one digital distribution platform instead of all of them.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I don't "prefer" having games on Steam, but if they are connected to an online service, Steam is the only one I really use.

 

[votemarvel]

I don't prefer them to be on Steam. In fact I loath Steam and how it's convinced people that DRM is okay.

Problem is, and I fully admit I am a hypocrite, I buy a decent amount of stuff off of Steam simply because of the incredible sales they have.

I hate DRM and how it only affects the genuine customers. But at least Valve sell me the stuff cheaply before thinking I've stole it.

 

[R.Nevermore]

The collector in me likes to have all my games on a single list.

 

[Weaver]

I buy them on GOG if they're available. However, steam just offers a better experience I guess to everything else.

 

[sanquin]

If a game uses Origin or WFWL or something similar instead of steam, then I too would decline to buy the game. Steam is better than all of them to me, and if it needs to be on such a platform I want it on steam. That, and I hate 'needing' several different usernames and passwords for several different platforms that all basically do the same.

That being said, I'd rather not have ANY digital online platform for my games. Especially the single player games. They don't need anything that almost requires you to always be online like steam does. So I want them to not have it either. Online platforms are nothing but an annoyance when it comes to single player games, to me.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Well, I'm the opposite. I hate Steam. The only reason I even have it is because certain games (Mount & Blade, Skyrim) require it to run. I buy all my games retail and would much rather just install them normally and play them normally without Steam. The reasons for this, is my dislike of purchasing digital media. I buy physical albums, I buy physical books and I buy physical video games. Something about spending real money on flimsy digital files rubs me up the wrong way, so I don't do that. It also doesn't help when Steam broke my Skyrim for downloading a patch without me asking for it (even when I told it not to update automatically).

Furthermore, if my internet was to go down (I live in a rural area, so it's possible), then I wouldn't be able to play the games I should otherwise be able to play.

So yeah, I'm a PC gamer that does not like Steam. Simple as that.

 

[xDarc]

I'm also against Steam. In 2004, it was a complete joke and avoided it at all costs. This worked for a while, but eventually, I found that even if I bought a game in the store like CoD Blackops, It wanted me to register on Steam. I was pretty pissed off about it.

I've been a PC gamer since the early 90's. I have a closet full of those old small cereal box sized software boxes. Here's my Steam games list:

Spoiler

I imagine that eventually a scroll bar shows up on the left hand side...

As far as OP's question goes, probably because games on Steam are more user friendly, easier to update, manage, etc. This is not a concern for someone who's been doing this for a long time, but I will admit Steam makes it easy to manage installs/updates/etc.

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

I don't, to be honest.
I'm alright with Valve games, but not other games.

But I suppose if it would have to be through an online service, I'd pick steam. But I hate the fact that every game company thinks they have to put games on online services.

If I want a game on steam, I'll buy it on steam. If I want a game on disk, I want to play it without being connected to the internet. Simple as that.

 

[Tom_green_day]

I don't like Steam. It takes a long time to load every time I simply want to play a game, and in that time my computer is unusable as it freezes for a few minutes. It also makes my computer take about half a minute longer to turn on, even when I don't want to play a game at all. In a choice between Steam and a Steamless game, I'd choose the Steamless game. I only use it because it's so goddamn cheap!

 

[StarFleet86]

It is probably because of Steam sales, or because it is easily organizable.

 

[DoPo]

This is something I've been seeing a lot of lately.

I haven't as much.

People saying they wasted money because they bought a pc game and didnt realize it didnt use steam to run.

Never heard of that.

people who say that they only pirated a game because it wasnt sold on steam.

NEVER heard of that.

Why do pc gamers, these days, seem to want all their games to be on steam?

They don't. Some people do. Notice the quantifier and notice the label. You should have also addressed your question to the people you described before, if you really want a meaningful answer. ...or, you know "an answer" since, I doubt it'd make much sense, much less have "a meaning".

 

[deathzero021]

for me it's all about organization. since i have built up quite a large steam library, i just prefer to have all my games in the same convenient location. Sure, you can insert shortcuts into steam but it's a really half-assed feature that doesn't integrate non-steam games into the Steam. Also Steam offers a lot of great services for the games, like the community hub, achievements, built-in leader-boards (for games that use it), and other good stuff.

 

[JEBWrench]

To be on Steam in general? I don't. I prefer digital distribution to my locally non-existent retail market, though.
As for why, because I've had far too many physical copies destroyed or lost in various ways over the years, and I'm tired of the hassle.

 

[templar1138a]

First, I prefer digital games for the following reasons.
1. Digital is much more convenient than buying discs.
2. No sales tax.

Now, here's why I prefer Steam.
1. Frequent sales.
2. Non-invasive terms of use (looking at you, Origin).
3. The Workshop encourages the making and distribution of mods.
4. Greenlight is good for the Indie side of the industry (though I've down-voted most of the games that come up on my queue).
5. It doesn't pester me with advertisements while I'm playing games.

 

[sethisjimmy]

I don't prefer it. I'd prefer to have my games totally DRM free. However it's worth it in some cases, such as when they have great deals or when the best way to play multiplayer is through Steam.

But yeah. If there's a choice and no difference in price, I'll go for the DRM free version.