Steam, why can't everything be this easy?
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Steam, why can't everything be this easy?
I've been reluctant to try Steam because I heard of the issues it had during the HL2 launch and my computer couldn't play that game anyway. However, I've just upgraded my video card so I figure what the hell and give it a try. It is awesome! I like owning the physical media for console games because they hold their resale value longer, but I could not be happier to dl any and all PC games I want to play. I just wish Steam had more games from other developers to choose from - your Civ's, Rise of Legends, FEAR...etc.
Is there another service like Steam out there for other games? I know EA and Microsoft won't push any of their games through steam, so I wish they had their own steam like services.
It's strange but I'm much more likely to buy a PC game I'm curious through steam than I would if I had to go to the store or buy it online. Instant gratification is a powerful thing.
Is there another service like Steam out there for other games? I know EA and Microsoft won't push any of their games through steam, so I wish they had their own steam like services.
It's strange but I'm much more likely to buy a PC game I'm curious through steam than I would if I had to go to the store or buy it online. Instant gratification is a powerful thing.
#2
DVD Talk Legend
To me the only downside to steam is the prices are not going to drop often. With PC software you can find a ton of it on sale or on clearance.
I'm considering it. I just dropped $450 upgrading my PC and the new memory, video card and sound card now make almost any game currently on the market possible. I may try the new Half Life 2 Episode 1 game at least and I definitely want Sam and Max.
I'm considering it. I just dropped $450 upgrading my PC and the new memory, video card and sound card now make almost any game currently on the market possible. I may try the new Half Life 2 Episode 1 game at least and I definitely want Sam and Max.
Last edited by darkside; 08-09-06 at 03:45 PM.
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by darkside
To me the only downside to steam is the prices are not going to drop often. With PC software you can find a ton of it on sale or on clearance.
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Just looked through their catalog and I agree. The prices are definitely not bad. I've got to read more about their DRM, but if it is fair and easy to transfer a game to a future PC then I probably will buy a few titles. I really have no room for PC packaging and would prefer to just have it saved online if I have a PC crash or something. Now I just need to go and buy an Xbox360 controller to play games with.
#5
DVD Talk Godfather
I like the concept, but I also like the idea having physical media with me. Maybe a combinaition of both would be good, with the option to purchase the CD/DVD for a couple extra bucks after downloading it online. And vice versa, so that if you buy the media it would also be available for download online.
#6
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by fumanstan
I like the concept, but I also like the idea having physical media with me. Maybe a combinaition of both would be good, with the option to purchase the CD/DVD for a couple extra bucks after downloading it online. And vice versa, so that if you buy the media it would also be available for download online.
#8
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by Joe Molotov
Well, then you're in luck because that's exactly the way it does work for most games. A few of the indie games are download only, but Half-Life 1, Half-Life 2, HL2: Episode 1, Counter Strike, Darwinia, Sin, Red Orchestra, and etc., are all available in stores too. Once you buy the game instores, it's added to your Steam account when you activate it, and then it can be downloaded if you ever lose the discs or just don't have them handy.
#9
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by fumanstan
I never realized you could download them later (I own HL2 but never played it much). That's pretty cool, I should probably actually visit the Steam page one day. How about the other way? The option to obtain the media at a later date? That in particular would be useful versus having to deal with downloading a large game multiple times.
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
I like the idea of them putting innovative and media darling type games on steam. Gives the games more eyeballs and maybe more people would take a chance on them? I think a game like Freedom Force would have done well if placed on this service.
#11
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Originally Posted by fumanstan
I never realized you could download them later (I own HL2 but never played it much). That's pretty cool, I should probably actually visit the Steam page one day. How about the other way? The option to obtain the media at a later date? That in particular would be useful versus having to deal with downloading a large game multiple times.
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by boredsilly
That's true, but the prices I did see were pretty reasonable. Their biggest game, HL2, is only being sold for $30 and the underdog darling Darwinia is only going for $20. So while not rock-bottom they don't seem to be price gouging either.
Another bummer is that they won't let you play the downloaded version of the game any sooner than you can buy it at the store - even though the game is ready way before it even ships to stores, you still have to wait until it's "release" date to play it if you downloaded it.
#13
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Question... I got HL2 when it first came out through a code I got when I purchased my video card.. I downloaded it and played it etc.. This was over a year ago..
I recently upgraded my PC, didn't backup any of my HL2 stuff (didn't really want to).. Am I able to dload it again on this new PC??
I recently upgraded my PC, didn't backup any of my HL2 stuff (didn't really want to).. Am I able to dload it again on this new PC??
#14
DVD Talk Hero
As long as you have your username/password to log into steam (or e-mail address to reconfigure it), you can redownload any games you have previously purchased as many times as you want, on any computer you want.
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Originally Posted by RichC2
As long as you have your username/password to log into steam (or e-mail address to reconfigure it), you can redownload any games you have previously purchased as many times as you want, on any computer you want.
What would keep me from downloading the game on every friend's computer then? I'm assuming online play wouldn't work all at once but I would also assume they would have some sort of protection against downloading copies on 100's of computers eh?
#16
DVD Talk Hero
What would keep me from downloading the game on every friend's computer then? I'm assuming online play wouldn't work all at once but I would also assume they would have some sort of protection against downloading copies on 100's of computers eh?
#18
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Originally Posted by slop101
If anything they should charge WAY less - there's no packaging, shipping, or physical media to worry about, so why do I have to pay $30 to download HL2, when I can buy a physical copy at a store for $20?
Another bummer is that they won't let you play the downloaded version of the game any sooner than you can buy it at the store - even though the game is ready way before it even ships to stores, you still have to wait until it's "release" date to play it if you downloaded it.
It does have it's kinks, but I like what I'm seeing so far.
Last edited by boredsilly; 08-11-06 at 05:13 AM.
#19
DVD Talk Legend
The stores marking games down thing is still the sticking point for me. I just bought Oblivion for the PC and was able to grab a new copy online for $26 because the box got dented. This is not a deal I could get with a digital download.
However, I notice that Steam marked down episode one of Sin to $14.95 so price drops do happen online. If anything I may do the episode games like Half Life and Sam and Max (not sure if steam is offering this one) through Steam.
However, I notice that Steam marked down episode one of Sin to $14.95 so price drops do happen online. If anything I may do the episode games like Half Life and Sam and Max (not sure if steam is offering this one) through Steam.
#20
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Originally Posted by darkside
If anything I may do the episode games like Half Life and Sam and Max (not sure if steam is offering this one) through Steam.
I really like how steam works, but it sure is a pain with dial-up. Though it isn't that hard to download things at work and transfer them to the home computer.
#21
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by slop101
And why should they gouge? If anything they should charge WAY less - there's no packaging, shipping, or physical media to worry about, so why do I have to pay $30 to download HL2, when I can buy a physical copy at a store for $20?
Another bummer is that they won't let you play the downloaded version of the game any sooner than you can buy it at the store - even though the game is ready way before it even ships to stores, you still have to wait until it's "release" date to play it if you downloaded it.
Another bummer is that they won't let you play the downloaded version of the game any sooner than you can buy it at the store - even though the game is ready way before it even ships to stores, you still have to wait until it's "release" date to play it if you downloaded it.
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Nifty03
I read in CGW that Sam and Max will be on Gametap, new episode every month for the $10 a month Gametap sub.
I may give gametap a shot though.