How do you feel about PC games that require Steam installed?

[strigoivii]

AxCx thank you. your words are music to my ears. People who haven't had to wait 2 weeks to play a game because of an internet fault or suffered poor gameplay because steam is running, or suffered installation problems have no sympathy for others and until it affects them they will not understand. Having seen the anti steam underground community I fear for Steams health. I don't wish its end or any misery it would inflict on its loyal followers... I personally just don't wish to suffer from it anymore. Steam is great for those who enjoy it (all the time it's working properly) I don't enjoy it and if it were not for software written that allows me to bypass steam then I would be forced to miss out on some great games or do as AxCx does and buy the original and get a no steam cracked version. personally I still prefer installing from the disk it feels right.

 

[Shilkanni]

I'm planning to buy Civ5 over Steam so it obviously won't effect me.
I think at this stage it would probably be better if they didn't -force- people to use Steam or activate online. Especially for Civ5 because the franchise is definitely popular for solo/offline play.

 

[MiscellanousBob]

Iwasn't happy with it at first because when i first installed steam for the game that required it (hl2 if i recall) it converted my other half-life games that I shared on the same pc with my brother at the time into steam only and bound to my account. So it annoyed me that he had to be on my account to play them or we'd have to buy em all over agian.

However i'v grown to enjoy the use of steam thanks to the ever expanding catalog they have and the community features that have come to be. such as not having to alt+tab out of a game just to talk with friends over an Im,stat tracking and the achivements.

 

[PissOffRoth]

Steam is sexy. I hope the 360 gets it some day. Everyone email Microsoft and ***** about it.

 

[strigoivii]

Yes miscellaneousBob lots of people have had teething problems such as its big brother approach to software already on your pc. But it has features that suit you so I'm glad for you but I never play any game online so talking with friends is what I do face to face and therefore just one more reason why steam is no use to me. Like Shilkanni said they should not FORCE people to use it but I do approve of online verification. CIV5 is the perfect example its a great game but only for 1 player so why Steam?

 

[ALuckyChance]

I've never had a problem with Steam, so I'm fine with it.

 

[icyneesan]

I dont find it very useful other then for finding cheap video games cheap

Also I've had a few issues with it where when I launch a game that requires steam to be running Steam would just bug out and not load itself, then screw up my desktop.

 

[CaptainKoala]

I buy 99.9% of my games through steam so I don't mind at all.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

Does it really matter? Steam is completely free so you just download it, install it create an account and you're good to go. Now you can buy great games for cheap prices as well as play your games... what's the problem?

 

[acosn]

It's free, and easy to use. Between Steam, and Blizzard's equivalent in SC2 I've actually had fewer issues with steam in 3 years than I have had with B.net 2.0 in a matter of months.

 

[Wolfheart]

The idea is solid but Steams policing and annoying update requirements/automation may not be an issue for most but us Aussie's net is expensive and heavily limited so this becomes a massive and annoying issue. Personally watching steam burn in flames would bring me joy but with 50-70 percent of games getting on its band waggon that is unlikely to happen in my , nor my children's lifetime.

Steam the new EA?

 

[onewheeled]

I seriously don't have a single problem with Steam, thus I don't have a problem with games that require me to use it.

I recently heard that Civilization V will require Steam in order to access exclusive content like the Babylonian empire, soundtrack, and video featurettes? Is anyone bothered that certain games require a third party client like Steam installed.

For example, in order to play Modern Warfare 2 on the PC, you need to install Steam and link your game key code to your account. Apparently it means they can't sell it later.

I dont buy them. Im one of the few people who isnt stupid enough to knowingly install a virus on my computer.

Please elaborate on that, the virus you mentioned. I am curious.

 

[theSovietConnection]

I don't really mind all that much so long as the Steam requirement is clearly printed on the box so that I may then make my informed decision. That's what pissed me off about Metro 2033, it required Steam, but absolutely nowhere was that fact stated on the box.

 

[Firetaffer]

I kind of like it. Now I can go on both my PC and laptop, access steam, press install and nothing else to worry about.

I do like boxed games though, I like owning a physical representation of the game. Since I am planning on buying Civ5, this makes me kind of uncertain on whether to go for the box, or for Babylon.

Probably going to be Babylon.

Buy the boxed version, and than input the the code into steam. You not have both yippee!

I usually do this with the steam-only games. I buy the boxed version than add it to steam. I get the benefits of both.

 

[RadiusXd]

if games require you to get steam in order to play, they should charge me much less for it.
If games require you to get windows live, they should be free.

 

[Sixcess]

I used to have reservations, but I've got some great deals on Steam - like STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl and Call of Pripyat for less than £7 for both, and Portal for free - and that's won me over entirely. I'm using them a lot recently.

 

[StormShaun]

I love steam to the core BUT the banning disabled account policy is really gay, my account got disabled for some reason and I lost all my games.......sigh but now I got a new account and HOPEFULLY I wont get banned