1. Steam and Gamestop don't compete: Gamestop sells overpriced, used console games to idiots, while Steam sells DLable PC games.
2. Gamestop has nothing to do with Impulse or Stardock
Even M$' DL store cannot compete with Steam and M$ more than anyone else should have the money and knowhow to develop something and the power to secure better deals with publishers. They don't.
Nothing will come anywhere close to Steam in any forseeable future.
Steam is easier and cheaper, and with GameStop's pricing history I see absolutely no way they could beat Steam. GameStop price gouges everything in their stores, while Steam underprices everything. I just can't see GameStop being willing to drop prices enough to even compete with Steam, much less overtake them.
That's region Dependant, where I'm from both are absurdly expensive (presumably due to the publishers, as valve developed games are priced the same as they are overseas). Small retailers (admittedly not gamestop) import their own stock and charge rrp for PC games ($50us~$49au), where steam typically charges $80-$90 for a digital copy of the same game (and for the extra charge you get slapped with the extra layer of DRM).
Gonna have to call bullshit on you on that. Steams average price is not 80-90 dollars. Ive browsed for hours their catalogue. While it does not come down as OVERLY cheaper than other places, it DEFINITLY does not come over as overly pricier. The average price for their games is 50 dollars, wich is the average price for games that come out anywhere. And im speaking WITHOUT counting the unsurmountable number of sales, wich you will NEVER see in any store out here, except maybe D2D, but D2D just says FUCK YOU to anyone who is non american. i hate them for their poor deliverance of international service.
Apparently I was inescapably clear enough before, the prices change depending on your region. I am, right now, looking at an advertisement[footnote]Despite them bothering to change the prices for region, they don't estimate the currency conversion. All prices are in USD[/footnote] for 'homefront' and can confirm they are selling it for $80. Dragon age is $70, shift 2 unleashed is $80, crysis 2 is $70, total war shogun is $90 as is call of duty black ops. An 'expensive' retail store in Melbourne (such as JB hifi) will sell the boxed versions of the games for about the same price, a specialty/independent store will usually sell them for between $50 and $60au (in Australia the chain retail stores like to completely ignore the RRP of the games). I'm yet to see a new, third party (ie not developed by valve) game advertised on steam that I cannot get at least $10 cheaper from a store or online.
Also, what intrusive DRM? :/ Pardon the question, i really have no idea what...intrusive DRM youre talkin about.
Seriously? Try launching a game linked to steamworks without having steam open. Try force a restart of your computer when steam is not runnning, restart without internet and try to launch a game. If the client is unable to verify you have the rights to launch a steamlocked game (despite it being installed on the computer) it will not allow you to launch it. That's exactly what DRM is.
And, unfortunately, steam doesn't store any credentials on the computer. So, just say I log into steam on my desktop, while my laptop is still running, my laptop will get logged out of steam. If I forget to log back in before I go to my friends house (who has no internet) for some gaming, I will not be able to launch any steam game.
Some people like using steam, and it isn't wrong to like its features, but it is most certainly a DRM system and it is far more invasive than the traditional secuROM shit people are always bitching about.
The only thing i have to do is i have to have the platform turned on to play a game. And while a few years ago, it was a HUGE hassle, Steam is fairly smooth and easy now. OH, and i did have games i took from steam that COULD run without it. I popped Dragon Age 2 on the other day, with Steam Uninstalled, and it ran fine. I know its another layer of software between you an your game, but i doubt its the evil people tell it to be. Somethings have to be done in computing to make sure evth is safe.
As far as I'm aware, dragon age isn't locked to the steamworks DRM. It uses the steam platform, but not the DRM. Not all games available on steam require steam to run (and I'm obviously a lot less critical of those that don't require it). You cannot do the same thing with, say, left 4 dead or civilization 5.
The big thing that shits me about steam is not that it's a DRM, it's that it occasionally kicks itself in the teeth and won't work without an INTERNET connection (which I regularly lack-I game on my laptop a lot). I also hate the incremental install patch system, particularly because the "do not update this game" option is periodically reset back to the default false option when the steam client updates.
Look, steam isn't by any stretch the worst system, but impulse just does some basic things better[footnote]It downloads updates incrementally but does not install them until they entire download is complete, it does not need to be running to run a game attached to it, there are no pop up ads when you close games etc.[/footnote]
Ive already addressed the pricing. Youre getting prices higher in Steam, but the smae happens in the other stores. Thats really dependent on your country, but ive checked prices for North America, and Europe, and theyre about the same, MAYBE a LIL more in europe, but unnoticeable. From what i hear, Australia gets fucked by everyone in terms of pricing, not just Steam. :/
Also, you are specifying a very niche event and bug. I have went to places without internet, turned steam in offline mode, and played games. I didnt have to LOG IN before going there, i just went there, turned on my computer, and played in offline mode. Impulse doesnt have to be turned on when you play games there, fine, heres the problem with that. To play a game in steam, you have to be logged in to your account, be it online or offline mode. The fact is, this digital distribution system makes it IMMENSELY easy to just pirate the game. You just download it, and then go to a friends house and download i tthere, and so on and so forth. The fact is, SteamWorks and SteamGuard, while you can go to a friends house and do that, you cant have him running at the same time as yo udo, so it really hinders chances of mass spreaded piracy. I know its a small account, and maybe you dont think its worth the extra software, but that extra software is more than just DRM. i gladly enjoy having steam cloud while i play, im chatting with friends, screening things, checking wich achievements to get, checking if i can invite someone to play. The only option i want now is a Broadcast option, wich i have in xFire, but if steam had it id gladly use it. i really do tire of complaints about DRM, they are just unnecessary, at least in Steams case. i dont really mind having competition, its good, and i hvae bought games in D2D, but to say Steam is the devil when its just offering the best deals for you, is silly. well not for you, you live in a place where every store likes raping prices :/. might i suggest changing countries?
Also, I admit I'm wary of getting my games through digital distribution in general. If something happens to my account, I won't be able to get those back unless the people who run customer service can get it back for me. Therefor, I prefer having my games on a disk as opposed to their existence being tied to an account.
Just thought I'd mention that steam has a security system in place where your CPU is linked to your account to prevent anyone from accessing it without authorization.
Thanks for that little bit of reassurance, but I basically mean anything that might happen to cause the account to be lost, as ridiculous as that may sound.
They have multiple safe guards to prevent complete account deletion. Dont worry, its not like your account is in just ONE place in the whole world. they prolly have your data safeguarded thru out half dozen places.
Oh my. People are seriously mocking it? Are you nuts boys and girls? The better this GameStop-Impulse gets, the more profit for us - end users. How so you ask?
Simple! For years Steam did have near monopoly on digital distribution of bot new and indie games for PCs, they had comfortable situation where pretty much devs asked to be placed on Steam, Steam became integral part of DRM systems for a few releases, you either were with them or didn't get to play at all.
With GameStop joining the fray, no matter how i feel about them i can only see positive outcomes because they will have to compete for a share of the market. Over time we should see more flexible systems on both platforms, more special offers, discounts, promotions, bundles and goodies. The more Impulse with cut into the market the harder both companies will have to try to lure us in, offering better deals to keep the edge. For this reason im rooting for them, the more competitive the market get's the better it is for the customer.
Valves trustworthy. Gamestop is like the used car salesmen of the gaming world.
veloper said:
The most glaring flaws within the article:
1. Steam and Gamestop don't compete: Gamestop sells overpriced, used console games to idiots, while Steam sells DLable PC games.
2. Gamestop has nothing to do with Impulse or Stardock
Even M$' DL store cannot compete with Steam and M$ more than anyone else should have the money and knowhow to develop something and the power to secure better deals with publishers. They don't.
Nothing will come anywhere close to Steam in any forseeable future.
Doesn't make any difference. Impulse is run independently from Gamestop, even if they got the same owner.
More importantly, Stardock itself hasn't been bought and the only good reason to have Impulse installed, is Stardock games.
I agree that some competition is good, although I admit my sympathies (and a lot of my business) lie with Steam. I have used Impulse, for Galactic Civilizations, and Fences. We'll see, but I sincerely doubt Gamestop is going to make any headway against Valve.
I have absolutely nothing against Impulse, but at this point, Steam still has my business before them any day. Price, accessibility, and selection all beat Impulse. I kinda wish that wasn't true, because I really do think Impulse is good.
Second, yeah, I get it that this may cause competition. That's good, it'll drive prices down.
I wouldn't have a problem with this, aside from the fact that Steam has not done anything major to piss the consumers off. They didn't overprice their games (in fact, they put on sales to make things even better) like you would if you had a monopoly, and the DRM is relatively unintuitive compared to some of the others.
Yes, competition is always a good thing, but pulling crap out of your ass and claiming that you'll be better in so many years seems quite arrogant to me. Especially if your parent company is hated for giving AAA devs initiative to create penny pinching DLCs and other various ways they can suck more money out instead of focusing on the game at hand.
He's actually correct. The Australian Steam Store has a $20 surcharge plus an international transaction fee as well as a conversion. But the ridiculous sales outweigh that.
Yeah, the thing about this surcharge is that it doesn't just apply to Steam games. EVERY game in Australia is preposterously marked up from the North American/Euro counterpart. So it really works out in the end. If they got RID of this, Valve would own Australia...
Which is what I think they actually want...
Dys said:
Every gamer in his right mind also hates steam - It's a totalitarian DRM scheme dressed up by clever marketing and good product support (cheap, good games like TF2 are not update because valve like giving you free shit, it's done because they need to give you some incentive to use their horrible DRM platform).
Shit yeah, let's rage against the totally evil, totally totalitarian system!
You sound like one of those crazies going off at drug companies. How about you lay down reasons you think Steam has 'totalitarian' DRM, before you boldly assert it to the world.
Because, on the flip side, I'm sure anyone who has actually compared buying physical copies of games to buying games on Steam will have no idea what DRM you're talking about.
That is, unless, they just like to rage against popular things because they prefer their Pabst Blue warm in the can.
It would be tedious and repetitive if I posted why I claim steam is a totalitarian DRM scheme in every post, and you'd have no doubt already seen a post where I've further elaborated had you bothered to look. But whatever.
The steam program forces you to run it at all times during play time. This is regardless of whether you have a live internet connection or not. It also has a tendancy to break if you try to play with a single account at a lan. This is, of course, not how traditional DRM works, you are usually able to lan (provide there is nobody connected via the internet) with a single copy of the game. I do remember a few EA games requiring different CD keys to play over lan, but this was back during EAs baby sacrificing days. Impulse does not, if you want to play an impulse game, then play it...No cds, no hint of DRM (unless you're playing online) it is simply better.
It records hardware data and, at one point, sneakily tried to slip in a a monitor of (unrelated) software (that addition was tacked on to the hardware surveys without it being clearly indicated). I mean, sure, some people don't mind if they are misguided and lead to giving up information unrelated to anything the collector does, but then again, some people were perfectly happy to follow to the grave.
It requires online verification to login. Yes, there is an offline mode, but if steam crashes (as it infrequently does) and you have no internet connection available, tough titties, because there are absolutely not account credentials stored on the host machine. Apparently there's a going argument for this being a rare issue, but I have two high spec computers (a laptop and a desktop) and both have been sporadically getting locked out due to steam crashes at lans. It also happens with about the same frequency to friends computers, it's highly implausible that this is rare, especially because any crash, for any reason that kills the steam process fucks up the offline mode and requires online activation. Also, having two computers, if I log on the desktop for some steam gaming while the laptop is logged in, the laptop is automatically logged off and will require and internet connection to log back on.....really convenient :\
It forces advertisements, constantly exposing you to new releases and shit whenever you close a game.
It has bullshit updates. Worse still, these updates force you to update the game patch, as the default option for "automatically download updates for this game" is reverted to 'on' and as anyone with painfully Australian internet data plans can tell you, when steam starts to download a game, it starts to incrementally patch the files. What this means is that you cannot pause or cancel the games update, if you want to play it you are forced to either reinstall it (and potentially face the 'fuck you I'll download what I want' issue described above) or waste time and data waiting for an update you presumably don't need or want.
So yeah, totalitarian was a pretty obvious exaggeration, but the problems with steam are such that it is the obvious exaggeration to roll with. Note that I don't give two shits about whether you're ok with, or even like the advertisements and stuff. It's a clever marketing conditioning you to buy their shit, and I really don't think I need to point out why I draw the parallel to totalitarians.
draythefingerless said:
Dys said:
draythefingerless said:
Dys said:
MetallicaRulez0 said:
Steam is easier and cheaper, and with GameStop's pricing history I see absolutely no way they could beat Steam. GameStop price gouges everything in their stores, while Steam underprices everything. I just can't see GameStop being willing to drop prices enough to even compete with Steam, much less overtake them.
That's region Dependant, where I'm from both are absurdly expensive (presumably due to the publishers, as valve developed games are priced the same as they are overseas). Small retailers (admittedly not gamestop) import their own stock and charge rrp for PC games ($50us~$49au), where steam typically charges $80-$90 for a digital copy of the same game (and for the extra charge you get slapped with the extra layer of DRM).
Gonna have to call bullshit on you on that. Steams average price is not 80-90 dollars. Ive browsed for hours their catalogue. While it does not come down as OVERLY cheaper than other places, it DEFINITLY does not come over as overly pricier. The average price for their games is 50 dollars, wich is the average price for games that come out anywhere. And im speaking WITHOUT counting the unsurmountable number of sales, wich you will NEVER see in any store out here, except maybe D2D, but D2D just says FUCK YOU to anyone who is non american. i hate them for their poor deliverance of international service.
Apparently I was inescapably clear enough before, the prices change depending on your region. I am, right now, looking at an advertisement[footnote]Despite them bothering to change the prices for region, they don't estimate the currency conversion. All prices are in USD[/footnote] for 'homefront' and can confirm they are selling it for $80. Dragon age is $70, shift 2 unleashed is $80, crysis 2 is $70, total war shogun is $90 as is call of duty black ops. An 'expensive' retail store in Melbourne (such as JB hifi) will sell the boxed versions of the games for about the same price, a specialty/independent store will usually sell them for between $50 and $60au (in Australia the chain retail stores like to completely ignore the RRP of the games). I'm yet to see a new, third party (ie not developed by valve) game advertised on steam that I cannot get at least $10 cheaper from a store or online.
Also, what intrusive DRM? :/ Pardon the question, i really have no idea what...intrusive DRM youre talkin about.
Seriously? Try launching a game linked to steamworks without having steam open. Try force a restart of your computer when steam is not runnning, restart without internet and try to launch a game. If the client is unable to verify you have the rights to launch a steamlocked game (despite it being installed on the computer) it will not allow you to launch it. That's exactly what DRM is.
And, unfortunately, steam doesn't store any credentials on the computer. So, just say I log into steam on my desktop, while my laptop is still running, my laptop will get logged out of steam. If I forget to log back in before I go to my friends house (who has no internet) for some gaming, I will not be able to launch any steam game.
Some people like using steam, and it isn't wrong to like its features, but it is most certainly a DRM system and it is far more invasive than the traditional secuROM shit people are always bitching about.
The only thing i have to do is i have to have the platform turned on to play a game. And while a few years ago, it was a HUGE hassle, Steam is fairly smooth and easy now. OH, and i did have games i took from steam that COULD run without it. I popped Dragon Age 2 on the other day, with Steam Uninstalled, and it ran fine. I know its another layer of software between you an your game, but i doubt its the evil people tell it to be. Somethings have to be done in computing to make sure evth is safe.
As far as I'm aware, dragon age isn't locked to the steamworks DRM. It uses the steam platform, but not the DRM. Not all games available on steam require steam to run (and I'm obviously a lot less critical of those that don't require it). You cannot do the same thing with, say, left 4 dead or civilization 5.
The big thing that shits me about steam is not that it's a DRM, it's that it occasionally kicks itself in the teeth and won't work without an INTERNET connection (which I regularly lack-I game on my laptop a lot). I also hate the incremental install patch system, particularly because the "do not update this game" option is periodically reset back to the default false option when the steam client updates.
Look, steam isn't by any stretch the worst system, but impulse just does some basic things better[footnote]It downloads updates incrementally but does not install them until they entire download is complete, it does not need to be running to run a game attached to it, there are no pop up ads when you close games etc.[/footnote]
Ive already addressed the pricing. Youre getting prices higher in Steam, but the smae happens in the other stores. Thats really dependent on your country, but ive checked prices for North America, and Europe, and theyre about the same, MAYBE a LIL more in europe, but unnoticeable. From what i hear, Australia gets fucked by everyone in terms of pricing, not just Steam. :/
Also, you are specifying a very niche event and bug. I have went to places without internet, turned steam in offline mode, and played games. I didnt have to LOG IN before going there, i just went there, turned on my computer, and played in offline mode. Impulse doesnt have to be turned on when you play games there, fine, heres the problem with that. To play a game in steam, you have to be logged in to your account, be it online or offline mode. The fact is, this digital distribution system makes it IMMENSELY easy to just pirate the game. You just download it, and then go to a friends house and download i tthere, and so on and so forth. The fact is, SteamWorks and SteamGuard, while you can go to a friends house and do that, you cant have him running at the same time as yo udo, so it really hinders chances of mass spreaded piracy. I know its a small account, and maybe you dont think its worth the extra software, but that extra software is more than just DRM. i gladly enjoy having steam cloud while i play, im chatting with friends, screening things, checking wich achievements to get, checking if i can invite someone to play. The only option i want now is a Broadcast option, wich i have in xFire, but if steam had it id gladly use it. i really do tire of complaints about DRM, they are just unnecessary, at least in Steams case. i dont really mind having competition, its good, and i hvae bought games in D2D, but to say Steam is the devil when its just offering the best deals for you, is silly. well not for you, you live in a place where every store likes raping prices :/. might i suggest changing countries?
Some people like using steam, and it isn't wrong to like its features, but it is most certainly a DRM system and it is far more invasive than the traditional secuROM shit people are always bitching about.
What kind of counter argument is it that you could just login to impulse on somebody elses computer, download the game and then let them play it....You can do exactly the same thing with steam. Simply tick the 'offline mode' option and never go back to online mode, you don't get locked out if it crashed in offline mode anywhere near as often, and if it's such a rare bug[footnote]It isn't[/footnote] then who the fuck cares? Most impulse games don't let you play online without CD key recognition, and that system still stops people from sharing online games around with their mates.
You both seem to think that because the majority of big chains make a hobby of horribly overcharging Australians that it's somehow acceptable or moral for steam to do the same. It isn't, that's a bullshit argument and I don't accept for a second that either of you actually beleive it. You're just copping out because you like valve games and probably the ingame chat client steam has and steam DRM isn't enough of a deterrent to stop you enjoying it. There's nothing wrong with that. I hate paying $500 a year on car rego, but I love my car and the associated freedoms so it's done without a second thought...Same principle, just because you're willing to give something up doesn't make it fair or reasonable.
Do you honestly think I'd have a list of problems with steam if I didn't use it? I love tf2, I'm a longtime dystopia player and generally believe that the modding community built around half life 2 is the best thing to have ever happened to gaming. But just because I'm a fan of the games and community that valve have developed doesn't make it impossible for me pull my thumb out and realize that the DRM system they implement is horrible. There's no fucking chance you'd put up with steam if it wasn't for the valve games and subtle conditioning to divert your attention from what's bad about it, and valve know it (even if you don't).
Steam is easier and cheaper, and with GameStop's pricing history I see absolutely no way they could beat Steam. GameStop price gouges everything in their stores, while Steam underprices everything. I just can't see GameStop being willing to drop prices enough to even compete with Steam, much less overtake them.
That's region Dependant, where I'm from both are absurdly expensive (presumably due to the publishers, as valve developed games are priced the same as they are overseas). Small retailers (admittedly not gamestop) import their own stock and charge rrp for PC games ($50us~$49au), where steam typically charges $80-$90 for a digital copy of the same game (and for the extra charge you get slapped with the extra layer of DRM).
Gonna have to call bullshit on you on that. Steams average price is not 80-90 dollars. Ive browsed for hours their catalogue. While it does not come down as OVERLY cheaper than other places, it DEFINITLY does not come over as overly pricier. The average price for their games is 50 dollars, wich is the average price for games that come out anywhere. And im speaking WITHOUT counting the unsurmountable number of sales, wich you will NEVER see in any store out here, except maybe D2D, but D2D just says FUCK YOU to anyone who is non american. i hate them for their poor deliverance of international service.
Apparently I was inescapably clear enough before, the prices change depending on your region. I am, right now, looking at an advertisement[footnote]Despite them bothering to change the prices for region, they don't estimate the currency conversion. All prices are in USD[/footnote] for 'homefront' and can confirm they are selling it for $80. Dragon age is $70, shift 2 unleashed is $80, crysis 2 is $70, total war shogun is $90 as is call of duty black ops. An 'expensive' retail store in Melbourne (such as JB hifi) will sell the boxed versions of the games for about the same price, a specialty/independent store will usually sell them for between $50 and $60au (in Australia the chain retail stores like to completely ignore the RRP of the games). I'm yet to see a new, third party (ie not developed by valve) game advertised on steam that I cannot get at least $10 cheaper from a store or online.
Also, what intrusive DRM? :/ Pardon the question, i really have no idea what...intrusive DRM youre talkin about.
Seriously? Try launching a game linked to steamworks without having steam open. Try force a restart of your computer when steam is not runnning, restart without internet and try to launch a game. If the client is unable to verify you have the rights to launch a steamlocked game (despite it being installed on the computer) it will not allow you to launch it. That's exactly what DRM is.
And, unfortunately, steam doesn't store any credentials on the computer. So, just say I log into steam on my desktop, while my laptop is still running, my laptop will get logged out of steam. If I forget to log back in before I go to my friends house (who has no internet) for some gaming, I will not be able to launch any steam game.
Some people like using steam, and it isn't wrong to like its features, but it is most certainly a DRM system and it is far more invasive than the traditional secuROM shit people are always bitching about.
The only thing i have to do is i have to have the platform turned on to play a game. And while a few years ago, it was a HUGE hassle, Steam is fairly smooth and easy now. OH, and i did have games i took from steam that COULD run without it. I popped Dragon Age 2 on the other day, with Steam Uninstalled, and it ran fine. I know its another layer of software between you an your game, but i doubt its the evil people tell it to be. Somethings have to be done in computing to make sure evth is safe.
As far as I'm aware, dragon age isn't locked to the steamworks DRM. It uses the steam platform, but not the DRM. Not all games available on steam require steam to run (and I'm obviously a lot less critical of those that don't require it). You cannot do the same thing with, say, left 4 dead or civilization 5.
The big thing that shits me about steam is not that it's a DRM, it's that it occasionally kicks itself in the teeth and won't work without an INTERNET connection (which I regularly lack-I game on my laptop a lot). I also hate the incremental install patch system, particularly because the "do not update this game" option is periodically reset back to the default false option when the steam client updates.
Look, steam isn't by any stretch the worst system, but impulse just does some basic things better[footnote]It downloads updates incrementally but does not install them until they entire download is complete, it does not need to be running to run a game attached to it, there are no pop up ads when you close games etc.[/footnote]
Ive already addressed the pricing. Youre getting prices higher in Steam, but the smae happens in the other stores. Thats really dependent on your country, but ive checked prices for North America, and Europe, and theyre about the same, MAYBE a LIL more in europe, but unnoticeable. From what i hear, Australia gets fucked by everyone in terms of pricing, not just Steam. :/
Also, you are specifying a very niche event and bug. I have went to places without internet, turned steam in offline mode, and played games. I didnt have to LOG IN before going there, i just went there, turned on my computer, and played in offline mode. Impulse doesnt have to be turned on when you play games there, fine, heres the problem with that. To play a game in steam, you have to be logged in to your account, be it online or offline mode. The fact is, this digital distribution system makes it IMMENSELY easy to just pirate the game. You just download it, and then go to a friends house and download i tthere, and so on and so forth. The fact is, SteamWorks and SteamGuard, while you can go to a friends house and do that, you cant have him running at the same time as yo udo, so it really hinders chances of mass spreaded piracy. I know its a small account, and maybe you dont think its worth the extra software, but that extra software is more than just DRM. i gladly enjoy having steam cloud while i play, im chatting with friends, screening things, checking wich achievements to get, checking if i can invite someone to play. The only option i want now is a Broadcast option, wich i have in xFire, but if steam had it id gladly use it. i really do tire of complaints about DRM, they are just unnecessary, at least in Steams case. i dont really mind having competition, its good, and i hvae bought games in D2D, but to say Steam is the devil when its just offering the best deals for you, is silly. well not for you, you live in a place where every store likes raping prices :/. might i suggest changing countries?
Some people like using steam, and it isn't wrong to like its features, but it is most certainly a DRM system and it is far more invasive than the traditional secuROM shit people are always bitching about.
What kind of counter argument is it that you could just login to impulse on somebody elses computer, download the game and then let them play it....You can do exactly the same thing with steam. Simply tick the 'offline mode' option and never go back to online mode, you don't get locked out if it crashed in offline mode anywhere near as often, and if it's such a rare bug[footnote]It isn't[/footnote] then who the fuck cares? Most impulse games don't let you play online without CD key recognition, and that system still stops people from sharing online games around with their mates.
You both seem to think that because the majority of big chains make a hobby of horribly overcharging Australians that it's somehow acceptable or moral for steam to do the same. It isn't, that's a bullshit argument and I don't accept for a second that either of you actually beleive it. You're just copping out because you like valve games and probably the ingame chat client steam has and steam DRM isn't enough of a deterrent to stop you enjoying it. There's nothing wrong with that. I hate paying $500 a year on car rego, but I love my car and the associated freedoms so it's done without a second thought...Same principle, just because you're willing to give something up doesn't make it fair or reasonable.
Do you honestly think I'd have a list of problems with steam if I didn't use it? I love tf2, I'm a longtime dystopia player and generally believe that the modding community built around half life 2 is the best thing to have ever happened to gaming. But just because I'm a fan of the games and community that valve have developed doesn't make it impossible for me pull my thumb out and realize that the DRM system they implement is horrible. There's no fucking chance you'd put up with steam if it wasn't for the valve games and subtle conditioning to divert your attention from what's bad about it, and valve know it (even if you don't).
Ah then, so the offline mode DOES work? My argument was you assuming that offline didnt work, therefore impairing piracy. But apparently offline mode works, cause thats what you said. And honestly, i doubt its Steams fault for overpricing. Im willing to bet that extra money isnt even going to them. Valve is consumer friendly. then again, i dont live in australia and i never bothered to research into that, so i might be wrong.
Actually the first games i bought on steam had nothing to do with valve. the first one i got there from valve was left 4 dead. and now i do have a collection of their games, but its like 10% of my library. all others have nothing to do with valve. i dont disagree with you that it is a bit bothersome DRM, i mean, geesh, turning on a program to play games...they must be the Devil for making me do this. but dont assume that its a totalitarian DRM, because SteamWorks wasnt imposed as DRM primarily, but DRM was an added feature of it.
Oh and, since you love Impulse so much, tell me why they, like D2D, dont give a fuck about international releases. They are an american distributor, and thats it. That alone, warrants Steam as better than them, because Steam gives me EVERYTHING, no matter where i am. and its just not small games, no no, actually, the indie and smaller titles i can get, but more complex or mroe famous games? Tough luck, you should of been born in america. or canada. wich i was, but TOUGH LUCK, YOU SHOULD OF STAYED TO LIVE THERE. :/
Oh and its more expensive. Wich is what i think drives you to Impulse...im guessing they dont charge that extra cash in Australia? Wich sounds like a pretty good reason to use Impulse, but dont come saying its better for me on your sole argument that i dont have to run a DRM. Sales? Steam has better. Games? Steam has more available to me. Features? Too many to count while Impulse has....none. and you call it a bad DRM, but its the best DRM ever. instead of just being a hunk of fucking useless added software that does nothing for you but DRM you, it actally has chat, community, acheives, etc etc. So its a multi purpose DRM. Its still evil, but oh well. at least they sugarcoat the evil with chocolate. The subtle things that draw you out of it are not pointless thou. They give me things i like and use and have practical use for it. Its not just evil marketing. Giving me 50 games for 30 bucks isnt pointless catering if you ask me.
On a last note, i do think DRM is pointless a bit, but i think you exagerate Steams evilness over that one little point. If there was a provider that game me this variety, these prices, this community, these prices....well ok, id prolly use it instead of Steam.
Gamestop with its over priced crap and retarded used game sales beat STEAM? Lord of all Discounts? Not a chance.
Gamestop was ok but STEAM doesn't only have convenience on them they have a universal network for communities, thousands of games GAMESTOP refuses to look at. Sorry but no it won't.
I am a massive fan of Steam but comparing the Steam prices to Gamestop prices here are often laughable or the same. I've checked a few games in Game and Gamestop and they were cheaper than Steam. With that said, Impulse is ridiculously buggy. The games would run fine, perfectly but the Impulse platform was prone to crashing all the time or taking ages to download or even start downloading.
I bought a Stardock game on Impulse once. Every time I want to reinstall it, I have to log in to impulse, then hunt through my old emails to find the activation code they emailed me for it, because even when logged in I can't download the game without knowing the code. Just knowing the code isn't enough either; it associates that specific CD key with my account, so when I'm logged in, Impulse is basically going "yes, we know you own this game, but you have to tell us the cd key anyway." I'm sorry, but if my ownership of a game is going to be tied to an online account, and I need to have extraneous software installed to play said game, why on earth should I need to know the CD key as well? You're giving me all the disadvantages of digital ownership and none of the benefits.
And this was a Stardock game. By the company that made the Impulse platform. Not some random third-party company.
Why would I ever want this over Steam?
I dislike where the Cloud services are going though. I read an article, I think it was PC WORLD, where they were discussing a possibility that the next Windows OS would be only deployable either digitally or from the cloud... I'd hate that.I love Steam for how it lets me own the box of the game and let me download the game from the service if I want to. Fantastic, if I can say so myself.
I wonder though, where EA will be in all this. I had a chat with the Customer Service like 2 months ago, asking why I cannot download Battlefield 2142 from the "EA Downloader".. or something they have. Let me quote the answer:
"You bought the retail copy, why do you expect you should be able to download it from our manager?".
Hopefully Gamestop knows better.
velcthulhu said:
And this was a Stardock game. By the company that made the Impulse platform.
Steam has an excellent business model
Several million regular users (3 million online as I write)
Several years of experience on their side
Promotion of indie games
Deals of 85-90% off over christmas
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