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General discussion (archive)Steam...???(119 posts)(119 posts)
(119 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted June 25, 2011
Yes it's nice living under a rock, thank you!!
But seriously, now that GOG made me change my mind about digital games purchases, I'm thinking about using Steam.
So I thought, this is the perfect place to ask about this, since GOG community is not a single minded community that hates or loves, Digital Distributors.

So to cut to the chase.
What do you guys think about Steam and how many of you are using it??
Posted June 25, 2011
Inb4 controversy.
I guess a lot of us use it, we even have a group... Although attitudes about it seem to range from enthusiasm to dislike.

In short - if you're looking for new games, like hunting for bargains, don't mind being cut off when offline and can accept a client always running in the background - Steam is the way to go. Check out Team Fortress 2 while you're there, since it went Free2Play yesterday or so...
Post edited June 25, 2011 by Vestin
Posted June 25, 2011
I use it, but I don't buy games from it anymore. Can't really remember the last time I bought a third party (non Valve) game (except Crysis Warhead few weeks ago, but I activated that on Origin and installed it from there).

Just checked, the most money I've spend at Steam is for Counter Strike Source: 3.75 EUR.

That's about the service... The actual client, that thing is a disaster.
Post edited June 25, 2011 by KavazovAngel
Posted June 25, 2011
I'm okay with it for most of the parts.

I don't have any negative or positive thoughts about steam. To me, it's just service.

But I'm definitely GoG fanboy myself.
Posted June 25, 2011
I like steam

this thread is probably gonna be ugly
Posted June 25, 2011
I use it.
Pros:
- Good for multiplayer games.
- Good for automatically keeping your games up to date.
- After reinstalling Windows you need only reinstall Steam to regain the ability to play all the games you had installed before (as long as you have Steam installed on a separate drive like any sane person)
- Good for community stuff like game groups and organizing matches.
- Official support for mods and DLC. meaning it's very easy to expand your base game.

Cons:
- Nearly all games need Steam client to run.
- All games tied to your account. Account can be suspended if Valve suspect fraud. So DO NOT use a credit card with Steam for that reason.
- Despite there being an offline mode, you will need internet access from time to time.
- You 'subscribe' to games. There's no pretence of ownership.

Not many cons. But they're significant ones.
Posted June 25, 2011
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TheEvilAlex: Yes it's nice living under a rock, thank you!!
But seriously, now that GOG made me change my mind about digital games purchases, I'm thinking about using Steam.
So I thought, this is the perfect place to ask about this, since GOG community is not a single minded community that hates or loves, Digital Distributors.

So to cut to the chase.
What do you guys think about Steam and how many of you are using it??
Lol, you'll find a LOT of people here filled with vitriol about steam actually since they consider it an undesirable form of DRM. It has to run while you're playing your games and many people here are extremely anti-drm. If you don't mind the running part steam has a really good selection of games, a lot of good sales (standard prices suck though, always wait for sales which can be anywhere from average to spectabuawesome), it has a nice range of community features etc.

I love steam personally, but I know a lot of people *here especially*, do not. If you want to get into Steam, the Summer sale is 'rumored' to start in the next week or so, so that would be a good time to check in and get a bunch of games for very cheap.
Post edited June 25, 2011 by Pheace
Posted June 25, 2011
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Navagon: I use it.
Pros:
- Good for multiplayer games.
- Good for automatically keeping your games up to date.
- After reinstalling Windows you need only reinstall Steam to regain the ability to play all the games you had installed before (as long as you have Steam installed on a separate drive like any sane person)
- Good for community stuff like game groups and organizing matches.
- Official support for mods and DLC. meaning it's very easy to expand your base game.

Cons:
- Nearly all games need Steam client to run.
- All games tied to your account. Account can be suspended if Valve suspect fraud. So DO NOT use a credit card with Steam for that reason.
- Despite there being an offline mode, you will need internet access from time to time.
- You 'subscribe' to games. There's no pretence of ownership.

Not many cons. But they're significant ones.
"After reinstalling Windows you need only reinstall Steam to regain the ability to play all the games you had installed before (as long as you have Steam installed on a separate drive like any sane person)"
But I can re download any game that I purchased because it's mine, right??

"All games tied to your account. Account can be suspended if Valve suspect fraud. So DO NOT use a credit card with Steam for that reason."
What do you mean fraud, and if I don't use my Credit Card how will I be able to purchase games??
Posted June 25, 2011
I like it for more modern games. Older games (even if they aren't on GOG) don't have any sort of compatibility support so they don't always work.

Also keep in mind that you should wait for their sales unless there's a specific game that you REALLY want to play right now. I personally have ~150 games on Steam.
Posted June 25, 2011
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TheEvilAlex: But I can re download any game that I purchased because it's mine, right??

"All games tied to your account. Account can be suspended if Valve suspect fraud. So DO NOT use a credit card with Steam for that reason."
What do you mean fraud, and if I don't use my Credit Card how will I be able to purchase games??
Yes you can re-download the games you purchased on any computer as long as you're logged into your own account on which you purchased them.

The fraud thing is a bit overstated in that sense I think. It's more that if for some reason your payment service backcharges their payment, then Steam will disable the whole account rather than just the game until it's resolved.

In case of severe fraud this can mean the whole account is disabled.
Posted June 25, 2011
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TheEvilAlex: But I can re download any game that I purchased because it's mine, right??

"All games tied to your account. Account can be suspended if Valve suspect fraud. So DO NOT use a credit card with Steam for that reason."
What do you mean fraud, and if I don't use my Credit Card how will I be able to purchase games??
avatar
Pheace: Yes you can re-download the games you purchased on any computer as long as you're logged into your own account on which you purchased them.

The fraud thing is a bit overstated in that sense I think. It's more that if for some reason your payment service backcharges their payment, then Steam will disable the whole account rather than just the game until it's resolved.

In case of severe fraud this can mean the whole account is disabled.
That's kind of scary...
Posted June 25, 2011
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TheEvilAlex: That's kind of scary...
It is.

I've never known anyone to have this happen to them though.
Posted June 25, 2011
I use it. I tend to like them but their client is slow and boggy and downloads from them take longer than GoG or GamersGate.
Posted June 25, 2011
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TheEvilAlex: But I can re download any game that I purchased because it's mine, right??
They are not yours, you just bought a temporary "subscription" to them, the duration of this "subscription" is left purely at Valve discretion, it could be as long as Steam exists but it also means that it tomorrow they want to cut you access to all or some of your games they can.
Posted June 25, 2011
I use both
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Steam...???(119 posts)(119 posts)
(119 posts)