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[MrPing1000]

Steam isn't perfect, no refunds and it is overcharging. A game from a d2d service should not cost the same as a retail copy. You are paying for, you're paying for the bandwidth, theres no manufacturing involved. Of course Valve are taking a large chunk and retailers have to be kept happy (for now). Oh and you pay more depending on geographical location, which makes even less sense.

Anyway, all games full install these days, gone are the days of tiny installs streaming all sound n videos from the disk.

 

[Tim-E]

how's Direct 2 Drive? any good?

http://www.direct2drive.com/

is it me or does D2D have more games than Steam?

I prefer Steam, but I've used D2D once (to buy Spore), and I can't really complain about it.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

how's Direct 2 Drive? any good? http://www.direct2drive.com/ is it me or does D2D have more games than Steam?

d2d do x amount of activations though, just like metaboli. this is evil and retarded.

Steam's great. They even seem to allow multiple computers. I normally have everything on my computer, but installed some stuff on my laptop to take it with me while I'm away and set it to offline mode.

well yeah, the whole point is that it goes by which account you're logged in with, not what's on the computer. you can't be logged in with the same account twice though.

 

[Last Hope]

Steam is excellent and I would prefer it to the boxed copy.

No CD keys to document (at least in the games I have bought)
Patching is not a pain in the ass
You can redownload all your games once logged in so no lossing disks

 

[bdouble]

d2d do x amount of activations though, just like metaboli. this is evil and retarded.

No they don't. You can download it as many times as you want. Activations are only game specific and D2D doesn't do this its the publisher/developer.

 

[zoku88]

Steam isn't perfect, no refunds and it is overcharging. A game from a d2d service should not cost the same as a retail copy. You are paying for, you're paying for the bandwidth, theres no manufacturing involved. Of course Valve are taking a large chunk and retailers have to be kept happy (for now). Oh and you pay more depending on geographical location, which makes even less sense.

Anyway, all games full install these days, gone are the days of tiny installs streaming all sound n videos from the disk.

The boxing and the manufacturing of the discs, because of mass production, is minuscule to the cost of the actual game. If there was any price difference, it would be so little, hardly anyone would notice. Of course, then you could also make teh argument that paying for bandwidth could equal the cost of manufacturing.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

how's Direct 2 Drive? any good?

http://www.direct2drive.com/

is it me or does D2D have more games than Steam?

D2D is simply a digital method to sell games whereas with Steam, its to sell games, a LIVE like service with the community of matchmaking, mods, etc... Plus, Steam has really stepped it up in the last few months with new games. For a time in the summer they were coming out with nothing except a few indie games. All of a sudden they get Far Cry 2, Empire: Total War, Fallout 3, Prince of Persia, Saints Row 2, Dawn of War 2, and many others. For me its Steam or nothing.

Alan

 

[°°ToMmY°°]

D2D is simply a digital method to sell games whereas with Steam, its to sell games, a LIVE like service with the community of matchmaking, mods, etc... Plus, Steam has really stepped it up in the last few months with new games. For a time in the summer they were coming out with nothing except a few indie games. All of a sudden they get Far Cry 2, Empire: Total War, Fallout 3, Prince of Persia, Saints Row 2, Dawn of War 2, and many others. For me its Steam or nothing.

Alan

i started using steam not too long ago, it's really good.

 

[eshock]

Steam isn't perfect, no refunds and it is overcharging. A game from a d2d service should not cost the same as a retail copy. You are paying for, you're paying for the bandwidth, theres no manufacturing involved. Of course Valve are taking a large chunk and retailers have to be kept happy (for now). Oh and you pay more depending on geographical location, which makes even less sense.

Anyway, all games full install these days, gone are the days of tiny installs streaming all sound n videos from the disk.

This is usually because of an agreement with the Publisher/Retailers. If the game is $50 at Best Buy and $20 online, nobody's going to buy the retail version, and the retail stores know this. Part of the reason Valve left their last contract with Vivendi (EA now publishes Valve games at retail) was a stipulation that the Steam versions couldn't cost any less than the retail version. (I'm pretty sure they get around this now since only OB-style collections are published at retail--HL2 standalone is like 10-20 bucks standalone on steam.)

 

[Philanthropist]

I find myself liking to get digital copies of my games, and by that I mean genuine ones. Even though I find Steam expensive, I've bought a few games already from them and I prefer it over having the physical copy. I also love buying games from PSN and it's awesome to have Burnout Paradise installed on the HDD.

Steam:

+ never lose or scratch your disk
+ 1 click install (including download)
+ hardcopy backup
+ automatic patching
+ cheaper (sometimes at least)
+ easy repair of corrupt files
+ community features

Agreed.

- slower install (needs to download)

Compensates by far the fact that by downloading a game I get to play it sooner than when I have the opportunity to buy the physical copy. At least with the games I have.

- eats a bit of your ram

Not a problem to me.

- no hardcopy manual (unless you print your own)

I rarely read them other than to check the controls, so I don't care anymore in most cases.

- loose your username and password, and you're fucked (I guess they have some recover features though)

This is something I have to be careful about, but it shouldn't be an issue. Even less in the case of PSN.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

No they don't. You can download it as many times as you want. Activations are only game specific and D2D doesn't do this its the publisher/developer.

really? they've had it on all the games I've looked at. maybe I'll revise my stance on d2d. metaboli is still crap.

 

[Susurrus]

As far as the download meaning it "takes longer to install", I could of sword I read about Steam allowing you to play the game while it downloads (albeit with hiccups here and there where it downloads files)...

Never tried this myself, though.

 

[arstal]

The thing I don't like about Steam is that their DRM makes the games take longer to load up by a good bit. TF can take up to a minute sometimes and it's all from connecting to Steam, the game itself only takes about 10 secs of that time.

For a DD service Impulse or Gamersgate is loads better, except for amount of games, which they're working on.

 

[SapientWolf]

pff. it's a fucking hassle. have you ever downloaded a game from stardock impulse or gamersgate?

Impulse doesn't play nicely with my Vista install (lots of crashes) and I could have sworn I saw something about a 3 install limit for Demigod (which is the only Stardock game I have). But maybe these issues have been resolved already. I don't use the service that often.

 

[Slavik81]

As far as the download meaning it "takes longer to install", I could of sword I read about Steam allowing you to play the game while it downloads (albeit with hiccups here and there where it downloads files)...

Never tried this myself, though.

That is not the case. You cannot play the game until it's fully downloaded.

However, they do allow you to download most of the game before it releases. You might only have to download a few megabytes after the game is released. Then it unlocks the game and you can play.

Because of that, it's actually potentially faster to get the game online than to drive to the store, come back and install it. Maybe even faster than just plain installing it from the disk too.

 

[Somnid]

PC games usually go on sale quite frequently, Steam's sales are never as good as retail sales so I find it better to find boxed copies. The feature set of steam is nice though, but then again it's a pain in the ass to start it up everytime I want to play.

Valve's games are the best of both worlds though since a disc copy is also usable with Steam.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

For a DD service Impulse or Gamersgate is loads better, except for amount of games, which they're working on.

I love gamersgate's release scheduling policy. Except for big deals they've made on upcoming releases with an actual releasedate they just dump everything they get from publishers out onto the site as soon as possible. Awesome. The sword of the stars expansion that came out a month or so ago even got released a week earlier than expected. That's hot. Also, I wouldn't say gamersgate's got few games, quite a lot of stuff on there. Good stuff I mean heh.

Only annoyance right now is the big 1C games keep getting pushed back :'(

 

[YYZ]

There's no advantage to having disc-based games anymore if it's on Steam. If it's on console, maybe because the future isn't definite for your accessibility to those games.

 

[Mrbob]

I <3 steam, but many times I wait for weekend sales to buy product.

Sacred 2 is $49.99 on steam, but gogamer has it on 48 hour weekend sale for 32.90. I love steam, but I'm not spending 17 more dollars to get a digital copy.

 

[arstal]

I know the Vista/Impulse issues were fixed. They've done a lot of fixing on Impulse- which did start off kinda rough, but so did steam.

My one issue with Gamersgate is that they'll allow SECUrom titles on there, but so does Steam.

 

[C.Dark.DN]

virgin steam users. how cute.

I rather have the box and disc for collection, and input the cdkey into steam and download/uninstall as many times as i want through it.

 

[DrXym]

I'll say up front I own about 3 full price games and about 3 casual titles on steam but I find the service a mixed blessing. In using steam you gaining convenience of download and play but you are sacrificing physical media, packaging, and the freedom to lend or resell your game on.

For impulse purchases, casual games and some full price titles it works great. For other titles its not great at all. Some games are too expensive and others inflict their own copy protection on top of steam's. People go digital to avoid shit like Securom but now they get the worst of both worlds. All the DRM pisses me off no end.

Prices in general are the same or higher as physical for no reason whatsoever. Digital titles have minimal distribution costs compared to physical where manufacturing, packaging, distribution, returns or middle man all hike the price. And users are forfeiting the right to lend or sell their games on afterwards. Yet the price is the same? Where is the difference going? It's not just steam - PSN is another culprit of selling something like GT5P for *more* than it sold for in stores.

Still, the PC game scene is so desperate that it needs all the distribution points it can get. Personally I still favour physical distribution since obnoxious copy protection schemes are usually cracked in days. Steam would get my vote if they started discounting their games and cracked down on stupid protection schemes. Steam's protection is good enough, it doesn't need another.

 

[Susurrus]

virgin steam users. how cute.

I rather have the box and disc for collection, and input the cdkey into steam and download/uninstall as many times as i want through it.

With the exception of Valve games, and like 5 or so other games, this doesn't work....

I couldn't register any of my games onto Steam even if they're games you'd normally have on Steam w/ the exception of my Half LifeGame of the Year edition and Orange Box (which are both Valve of course, as well as the same base game...)

 

[Nikorasu]

I like steam as a social gaming system and easy updates. I buy all valve games and the occasional indie game over it, but I don't think I will ever buy a game from another publisher.
Quite simply, I do not trust them. I don't like the idea that my ability to play what I paid for could be rendered null if I move to another country or any number of technical or legal problems that could arise. It is simply too damned easy for them to flip a switch and take it all away.

I like the fact that I can still pick up my magic carpet or crusader or freespace or tomb raider or fallout or whatever cds and pop them in whenever I feel like, wherever I am. I have nothing against digital downloading, if the price is right and it's not tethered to arbitrary restrictions. GOG.com is great, and even stuff like BCRearmed was great because i get to keep the installers, back them up, run them whenever.

It all comes down to peace of mind for me. Also I like pretty boxes and things (I just wish PC pubs would start putting out thinner dvd cases. I have so many of these goddamned stackpacks on my shelf it's ridiculous wasted space).

 

[marwan]

is it my copy of Steam that takes a while to start? i'm running a core 2 extreme 3Ghz with 4GB RAM and it takes steam around 20-30 seconds to start.....sometimes it even has to go through this stupid updating steam crap before it boot up, i just feel like steam is heavy on resources and takes a while to start. is that normal?

 

[Scipius]

I couldn't register any of my games onto Steam even if they're games you'd normally have on Steam w/ the exception of my Half Life 2 25th Anniversary and Orange Box (which are both Valve of course, as well as the same base game...)

Hmmm?

(I just wish PC pubs would start putting out thinner dvd cases. I have so many of these goddamned stackpacks on my shelf it's ridiculous wasted space).

All PC games come in normal DVD cases in Europe. Why do they still have boxes in the US?

is it my copy of Steam that takes a while to start? i'm running a core 2 extreme 3Ghz with 4GB RAM and it takes steam around 20-30 seconds to start.....sometimes it even has to go through this stupid updating steam crap before it boot up, i just feel like steam is heavy on resources and takes a while to start. is that normal?

Yes. One of my pet peeves with Steam is its ridiculously slow start up. Even when there are no updates, it still take 20-30 seconds for it to be ready. Is it perhaps due to the authentication or the loading of the IE browser parts it needs? I suppose they want you to keep it loaded all the time, but that's not how I run my PC.

 

[digital]

How's everyone's experience with game mods for games from Steam? That's about the only thing that is keeping me away from buying non-Valve games from Steam.

 

[NotWii]

Steam steam steam steam

 

[Dead Man]

If I lived in the US, I would use Steam. I live most of the time in Australia and spend a few months every 2 years in the US. Steam does not like me one bit :lol Download limits and rapetime pricing here in Aus mean I don't like Steam either!

 

[Nikorasu]

All PC games come in normal DVD cases in Europe. Why do they still have boxes in the US?

We don't really have boxes anymore. Stackpacks are like super think dvd cases designed for, well, stacks of discs. Hell if I know why we still use them. Considering almost every game these days is a single dvd it is ludicrous that they still use this packaging. Hell the register biscuit at my local EB actually complained when I bought Dead Space that it was 'only' in a normal DVD case. I gave him a dumbfounded look and walked out. I thought the fact that the fallout 3 collector's edition had a thin case while the standard was stackpack made it worth the price alone. Some companies like EA and Ubisoft are finally wising up though.

 

[Belgorim]

Dont go with steam, it just limits you.

 

[marwan]

Hmmm?



All PC games come in normal DVD cases in Europe. Why do they still have boxes in the US?



Yes. One of my pet peeves with Steam is its ridiculously slow start up. Even when there are no updates, it still take 20-30 seconds for it to be ready. Is it perhaps due to the authentication or the loading of the IE browser parts it needs? I suppose they want you to keep it loaded all the time, but that's not how I run my PC.

Steam uses IE? oh dear god!!!! X_X

and yeah i never leave mine on or on startup, one of the main reasons is that i don't use it much anyways.

 

[radioheadrule83]

I'm thinking of getting Portal or Orange Box...

PS3 version vs Steam version for my laptop?

I was warned off the PS3 version by a friend, is it really that bad?

 

[Susurrus]

Hmmm?

Not sure where you saw that >.>

Spoiler

Ninja Edit ftw!

 

[ThaiGrocer]

One issue I find with Steam is that losing my account (for whatever reason) means that I lose all of my steam purchases. This is new to me since I usually have a physical copy of my game which is independent to the other games I "own".

Spoiler

In typical legalese, I don't own any games, I just own a bunch of licenses.

 

[PjotrStroganov]

I'm thinking of getting Portal or Orange Box...

PS3 version vs Steam version for my laptop?

I was warned off the PS3 version by a friend, is it really that bad?

Like has been said before, with the boxed version, you also get all the benefits of using steam. Just register the physical disk to steam and you can decide to install it off the disk and at the same time download it time and time again of steam.

Edit: Whoops misread your post.

 

[MNC]

I'm thinking of getting Portal or Orange Box...

PS3 version vs Steam version for my laptop?

I was warned off the PS3 version by a friend, is it really that bad?

The main gripe with the PS3 version of Orange Box was big framerate lag. That's all I know, I don't recall if they patched it or not.

 

[Variable]

You're not hurting the environment as much when you purchase a digital version of a game.

 

[McBacon]

Here's a question; what happens if Valve goes bankrupt?

 

[MNC]

Here's a question; what happens if Valve goes bankrupt?

You're kidding, right?

Spoiler

______________________________________right?___________

 

[ThaiGrocer]

Here's a question; what happens if Valve goes bankrupt?

G. Newell mentioned that they would release the games untied to Steam. Valve isn't legally obligated to do so.

 

[McBacon]

You're kidding, right?

Spoiler

______________________________________right?___________

 

[Thomper]

I'm thinking of getting Portal or Orange Box...

PS3 version vs Steam version for my laptop?

I was warned off the PS3 version by a friend, is it really that bad?

PC/Steam version. Especially if you're going for the entire Orange Box. Team Fortress 2 has had a few big, free updates already, with new maps, new modes, new weapons, new achievements, and there's a few more coming up. You'll never see those updates on the PS3, and the 360 version might have them later, but certainly not free.

 

[MysticX]

i'm in the process of buying Fallout 3 on the PC, and i was wondering if downloading it from Steam would make the game load faster since it'll run off the HDD. Also it saves me the hassle of swapping discs.

the same games for Half Life 2, but i have them on disc so i can't comment on that.

what do you guys recommend?

i have an Intel Core 2 Extreme 3Ghz, so i want it to kick ass when loading up games!

I would say always get the Steam version when possible, since reselling PC games is completely worthless.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Too expensive.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

fallout 3 is out on gamersgate since today btw.

 

[Johnas]

This question will make veteran PC gamers laugh...but I am not one and am a bit confused.

I bought a factory sealed copy of Half-Life (1) off Ebay recently, only to run into some confusion when I try to play. The game is forcing me to go through Steam in order to play it (I don't have a Steam account, it's making me create one), is there any way around this? Not that I necessarily want a way around it, but I just want to play Half-Life. I bought this thinking I could just put the game in and play.

I haven't completed the Steam account creation, but am I going to have to subscribe to/pay for anything in order to play this game? This is an old, weak computer I have, so I don't plan on purchasing anything off Steam (for the time being).

Feel free to mock, laugh, etc. but I could really use a little insight.

 

[Volcynika]

This question will make veteran PC gamers laugh...but I am not one and am a bit confused.

I bought a factory sealed copy of Half-Life (1) off Ebay recently, only to run into some confusion when I try to play. The game is forcing me to go through Steam in order to play it (I don't have a Steam account, it's making me create one), is there any way around this? Not that I necessarily want a way around it, but I just want to play Half-Life. I bought this thinking I could just put the game in and play.

I haven't completed the Steam account creation, but am I going to have to subscribe to/pay for anything in order to play this game? This is an old, weak computer I have, so I don't plan on purchasing anything off Steam (for the time being).

Feel free to mock, laugh, etc. but I could really use a little insight.

Making a Steam account is completely free. Only string attached is getting the client (free). And I'm surprised Half Life 1 even requires Steam. Must've put it in recently somewhere.

 

[Johnas]

Making a Steam account is completely free. Only string attached is getting the client (free). And I'm surprised Half Life 1 even requires Steam. Must've put it in recently somewhere.

OK, that sounds good then. This version I have is dated 2005, and is in a regular CD case (no other box). I wasn't aware at all before, but looking on the back of the case there's a small box mentioning that you have to activate it through Steam in order to play.

I was mainly concerned with having to pay for or buy anything else just to play this game.

 

[Volcynika]

OK, that sounds good then. This version I have is dated 2005, and is in a regular CD case (no other box). I wasn't aware at all before, but looking on the back of the case there's a small box mentioning that you have to activate it through Steam in order to play.

I was mainly concerned with having to pay for or buy anything else just to play this game.

Nah, all you gotta do is download the client and then play! If you don't want it to bother with your internet connection, there's an offline mode for the client too.