Is Steam okay for you?

[Onegigapwn]

They just need to polish up their offline mode and I'll be happy to use their DRM.

 

[Maze1125]

Try saying that when you lost access to the internet for a week or more unexpectedly and can't access your games because you have to be able to go online to go into offline mode. I think it's a bit of backwards logic there. "You can play offline. But you have to go online first then set it so your computer is in this special mode that lets you play offline."

That's not true at all. If Steam can't find a connection when it expects to, it automatically asks if you'd like you use off-line mode instead or keep trying the connection. Yes, you can set it while on-line, but you're in no way required to.

Yes, it does ask you if you want to start in offline mode when you try to connect without internet. But it then attempts to connect to the internet in order to start it in offline mode. If it can't connect to the internet to start in offline mode, then it won't let you connect. I'm guessing this is for the times the servers may be down or something along those lines. At least that's how it worked last time I tried it a month or so ago.

Well, I tried it literally 10 minutes ago, just before I made that post, and it let me start Steam and play my games, all without any kind of internet connection to my computer.

I tried just now myself and it didn't allow me to. Did you have the computer up and running when you undid your internet connection? Because if it loses internet while you're online, it will still run. But when you boot up your computer without internet, it won't let you.

No, I shut Steam down entirely before I pulled it instead which, from Steam's perspective, is exactly the same thing.
But, for the sake of completeness, I just tried it the way you asked, and it was still fine. I shut my computer down, pulled connection, restarted, Steam ask if I wanted off-line mode and worked fine allowing me access to my games.

It sounds to me like you don't have your settings done properly. Have you saved your user-name and password for an automatic start-up, or do you input them every time?

 

[Reyalsfeihc]

Spoiler

Try saying that when you lost access to the internet for a week or more unexpectedly and can't access your games because you have to be able to go online to go into offline mode. I think it's a bit of backwards logic there. "You can play offline. But you have to go online first then set it so your computer is in this special mode that lets you play offline."

That's not true at all. If Steam can't find a connection when it expects to, it automatically asks if you'd like you use off-line mode instead or keep trying the connection. Yes, you can set it while on-line, but you're in no way required to.

Yes, it does ask you if you want to start in offline mode when you try to connect without internet. But it then attempts to connect to the internet in order to start it in offline mode. If it can't connect to the internet to start in offline mode, then it won't let you connect. I'm guessing this is for the times the servers may be down or something along those lines. At least that's how it worked last time I tried it a month or so ago.

Well, I tried it literally 10 minutes ago, just before I made that post, and it let me start Steam and play my games, all without any kind of internet connection to my computer.

I tried just now myself and it didn't allow me to. Did you have the computer up and running when you undid your internet connection? Because if it loses internet while you're online, it will still run. But when you boot up your computer without internet, it won't let you.

SNIP

Yes, it does ask you if you want to start in offline mode when you try to connect without internet. But it then attempts to connect to the internet in order to start it in offline mode. If it can't connect to the internet to start in offline mode, then it won't let you connect. I'm guessing this is for the times the servers may be down or something along those lines. At least that's how it worked last time I tried it a month or so ago.

For the sake of science I just ripped out my USB wireless antenna, and I have no other way of connecting to the internet, restarted Steam and booted straight into offline mode and then straight into actually playing my games. Without any internet connection whatsoever.

It gives you a blank screen saying that to go online restart Steam, not TO PLAY GAMES, you just click library and there they are.

So finally can we all please stop mentioning this shit.

EDIT: Fuck ninja'd, point still valid though.

I'll ask you the same thing I asked the other guy, did your restart the computer or just try going into offline mode without internet. Because Steam will still work if you lost internet while you have it running, but from past experiences I've had and seen from others, you can't boot up your computer and access your Steam library if you don't have internet connection and have it set to offline mode.

Let me clear up the confusion between you three, as all of you are technically correct and wrong at the same time.

It's true that, without an internet connection, you can directly connect to offline mode via steam. However, in order to do so Steam must create an user information file to grant access to your library without a direct connection to Steam's servers. What happens is when you begin to switch to offline mode, Steam compiles this file and saves it in your directory. In theory, this should allow you to connect to Steam at anytime without internet...

... but it doesn't.
Those with a slower internet connection can commonly have problems with creating the UIF because of a high packet loss, resulting in the disappearance of information necessary to start in offline mode. It's for this very reason that I CAN NOT access Steam with my internet disconnected, because my internet connection on average is about 10kbps.

 

[Worgen]

I dislike drm in general but as far as drm goes, steam is the best, now I tend to play all my games though it anyway even if I don't get them on steam.

 

[Charli]

Offline mode. Drag your computer to someones internet connection, let it run and do it's thing, then go home and enjoy the joys of offlineism.

Steam has flaws, but I love it.

I really don't feel the need to buy a games console or a TV as long as I have this.

The problem is not steam, the problem is game developers who sell you a CD and then won't let you play because there was nothing on the disk to install short of just telling steam to download a 5GB File.

THAT is cheeky as shit, and should not be allowed..

Otherwise if the game has installation setup, Steam requires very little of you except to add it to you library for convenience.


And trust me I've gone weeks without internet because of ISP's being dicks.
I've had to put up with it. There are problems, yes... But steam is my friend, don't talk smack about him just because he's got a small acne problem bro.

 

[Maze1125]

Those with a slower internet connection can commonly have problems with creating the UIF because of a high packet loss, resulting in the disappearance of information necessary to start in offline mode.

But, surely, such a loss of data to a file required for off-line mode would mean off-line mode could never be used at all by a user with the problem you describe?

 

[Ralen-Sharr]

I used to really dislike the idea of not having a physical copy of a game, then I got left 4 dead and the orange box, saw some stuff on steam that was an awesome price, so I bought it.

Then... that was it. I own it forever through Steam. I didn't have to keep track of some CD key or disk. Just download and play. I had already lost more than 1 game I liked just because I couldn't find a cd key or lost the disk.

Now it's hard to get me to buy a game that isn't on Steam.

 

[Wieke]

Steam is great. Though at times their bandwidth leaves something to be desired. Sure it is DRM and requires an internet connection (unless you work offline) but the services is delivers outweighs the DMRness and I have a fast internet connection.

The only thing I miss is a steam community client for other platforms (android & linux).

 

[Reyalsfeihc]

Offline mode.

Steam has flaws, but I love it.

I really don't feel the need to buy a games console or a TV as long as I have this.

The problem is not steam, the problem is game developers who sell you a CD and then won't let you play because there was nothing on the disk to install short of just telling steam to download a 5GB File.

THAT is cheeky as shit, and should not be allowed..

Otherwise if the game has installation setup, Steam requires very little of you except to add it to you library for convenience.


And trust me I've gone weeks without internet because of ISP's being dicks.
I've had to put up with it. There are problems, yes... But steam is my friend, don't talk smack about him just because he's got a small acne problem bro.

I have a strangely vague feeling that the game you're talking about is Homefront?

Because the installation disk didn't even have the .exe file on it xD

 

[Xanthious]

While I have given Steam money for a handful of cheap games here and there (Torchlight for 9 bucks for example) if I'm spending more than 10 bucks on a game it won't be on Steam. I have this weird quirk where I insist on actually OWNING games I pay any meaningful amount for. Say what you will about Steam but you no more own those games in your account than you do the fucking moon.

 

[Ziame]

i love steam, though it's too expensive for me. i live in poland and we get Western Europe prices. one game is my whole monthly pocket. good thing we have alternatw source of games for steam with quater of their price.

 

[Kapol]

No, I shut Steam down entirely before I pulled it instead which, from Steam's perspective, is exactly the same thing.
But, for the sake of completeness, I just tried it the way you asked, and it was still fine. I shut my computer down, pulled connection, restarted, Steam ask if I wanted off-line mode and worked fine allowing me access to my games.

It sounds to me like you don't have your settings done properly. Have you saved your user-name and password for an automatic start-up, or do you input them every time?

I do have the credentials saved to my computer. And as I said, it doesn't seem to just be me having the problem as it is a common complaint I ran into while looking for why it didn't work. But...

Spoiler

Try saying that when you lost access to the internet for a week or more unexpectedly and can't access your games because you have to be able to go online to go into offline mode. I think it's a bit of backwards logic there. "You can play offline. But you have to go online first then set it so your computer is in this special mode that lets you play offline."

That's not true at all. If Steam can't find a connection when it expects to, it automatically asks if you'd like you use off-line mode instead or keep trying the connection. Yes, you can set it while on-line, but you're in no way required to.

Yes, it does ask you if you want to start in offline mode when you try to connect without internet. But it then attempts to connect to the internet in order to start it in offline mode. If it can't connect to the internet to start in offline mode, then it won't let you connect. I'm guessing this is for the times the servers may be down or something along those lines. At least that's how it worked last time I tried it a month or so ago.

Well, I tried it literally 10 minutes ago, just before I made that post, and it let me start Steam and play my games, all without any kind of internet connection to my computer.

I tried just now myself and it didn't allow me to. Did you have the computer up and running when you undid your internet connection? Because if it loses internet while you're online, it will still run. But when you boot up your computer without internet, it won't let you.

SNIP

Yes, it does ask you if you want to start in offline mode when you try to connect without internet. But it then attempts to connect to the internet in order to start it in offline mode. If it can't connect to the internet to start in offline mode, then it won't let you connect. I'm guessing this is for the times the servers may be down or something along those lines. At least that's how it worked last time I tried it a month or so ago.

For the sake of science I just ripped out my USB wireless antenna, and I have no other way of connecting to the internet, restarted Steam and booted straight into offline mode and then straight into actually playing my games. Without any internet connection whatsoever.

It gives you a blank screen saying that to go online restart Steam, not TO PLAY GAMES, you just click library and there they are.

So finally can we all please stop mentioning this shit.

EDIT: Fuck ninja'd, point still valid though.

I'll ask you the same thing I asked the other guy, did your restart the computer or just try going into offline mode without internet. Because Steam will still work if you lost internet while you have it running, but from past experiences I've had and seen from others, you can't boot up your computer and access your Steam library if you don't have internet connection and have it set to offline mode.

Let me clear up the confusion between you three, as all of you are technically correct and wrong at the same time.

It's true that, without an internet connection, you can directly connect to offline mode via steam. However, in order to do so Steam must create an user information file to grant access to your library without a direct connection to Steam's servers. What happens is when you begin to switch to offline mode, Steam compiles this file and saves it in your directory. In theory, this should allow you to connect to Steam at anytime without internet...

... but it doesn't.
Those with a slower internet connection can commonly have problems with creating the UIF because of a high packet loss, resulting in the disappearance of information necessary to start in offline mode. It's for this very reason that I CAN NOT access Steam with my internet disconnected, because my internet connection on average is about 10kbps.

That does seem to explain it. That's why I was actually asking to be sure that we were doing it via the same method, as I was wondering why there'd be different results for the same issue. But that would explain why it would happen like that. Hadn't realized that the packet loss was the reason for the inability to connect offline. It's odd as I think I have a pretty good connection. But oh well. Thanks for clarifying in any case.

Those with a slower internet connection can commonly have problems with creating the UIF because of a high packet loss, resulting in the disappearance of information necessary to start in offline mode.

But, surely, such a loss of data to a file required for off-line mode would mean off-line mode could never be used at all by a user with the problem you describe?

I don't think so. After all, when a user specifically connects to Steam to access offline mode, it likely sends the file needed specifically instead of all Steam general network traffic.

 

[Nuclear_Suspect]

I love Steam, yes, its DRM but its done right.
And the sales... oh god the sales! Thems be YUMMY! During the holiday sale I bought 'The Ship' (I used to play the old mod with my mates long ago) think it was 5£ or such, I got a copy for myself and 2 gift copies for that price... then the recipiants of the 2 gifts can then gift 1 more...

Thats 5 copies for 5£! So yeah, I loves me some Steam

 

[That Greek Guy]

You are thinking like a child. Have you though what will happen to that precious dvd you bought. I used to buy retail games for 15 years before i found steam. The fact that you can play any game from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection is amazing for me. Also the fact that there are no physical copies of the game to be broken or lost is also amazing. The games i buy over there i have them for life with no worries. The steam cloud is also a very good feature and the "verify integrity of game cache option and constant automatic updtes make everything work great even when it doesnt.
I have more reasons to like steam but i will end with this. Half life complete pack for 5$

 

[YawningAngel]

I'm fine with Steam. It works and it doesn't try to fuck me over.

 

[Charli]

Offline mode.

Steam has flaws, but I love it.

I really don't feel the need to buy a games console or a TV as long as I have this.

The problem is not steam, the problem is game developers who sell you a CD and then won't let you play because there was nothing on the disk to install short of just telling steam to download a 5GB File.

THAT is cheeky as shit, and should not be allowed..

Otherwise if the game has installation setup, Steam requires very little of you except to add it to you library for convenience.


And trust me I've gone weeks without internet because of ISP's being dicks.
I've had to put up with it. There are problems, yes... But steam is my friend, don't talk smack about him just because he's got a small acne problem bro.

I have a strangely vague feeling that the game you're talking about is Homefront?

Because the installation disk didn't even have the .exe file on it xD

Actually I've never had this problem, I just know that it DOES happen and I frown upon it, but yeah that's a prime example then. Don't sell a physical copy if all you're doing is going to point at steam and say...yeah this is just the key, go back to your house, the door is over there.
I want the Key and the damn Door if I left my house to go get it, you lazy sons of bitches.

 

[Reyalsfeihc]

Spoiler

No, I shut Steam down entirely before I pulled it instead which, from Steam's perspective, is exactly the same thing.
But, for the sake of completeness, I just tried it the way you asked, and it was still fine. I shut my computer down, pulled connection, restarted, Steam ask if I wanted off-line mode and worked fine allowing me access to my games.

It sounds to me like you don't have your settings done properly. Have you saved your user-name and password for an automatic start-up, or do you input them every time?

I do have the credentials saved to my computer. And as I said, it doesn't seem to just be me having the problem as it is a common complaint I ran into while looking for why it didn't work. But...

Spoiler

Try saying that when you lost access to the internet for a week or more unexpectedly and can't access your games because you have to be able to go online to go into offline mode. I think it's a bit of backwards logic there. "You can play offline. But you have to go online first then set it so your computer is in this special mode that lets you play offline."

That's not true at all. If Steam can't find a connection when it expects to, it automatically asks if you'd like you use off-line mode instead or keep trying the connection. Yes, you can set it while on-line, but you're in no way required to.

Yes, it does ask you if you want to start in offline mode when you try to connect without internet. But it then attempts to connect to the internet in order to start it in offline mode. If it can't connect to the internet to start in offline mode, then it won't let you connect. I'm guessing this is for the times the servers may be down or something along those lines. At least that's how it worked last time I tried it a month or so ago.

Well, I tried it literally 10 minutes ago, just before I made that post, and it let me start Steam and play my games, all without any kind of internet connection to my computer.

I tried just now myself and it didn't allow me to. Did you have the computer up and running when you undid your internet connection? Because if it loses internet while you're online, it will still run. But when you boot up your computer without internet, it won't let you.

SNIP

Yes, it does ask you if you want to start in offline mode when you try to connect without internet. But it then attempts to connect to the internet in order to start it in offline mode. If it can't connect to the internet to start in offline mode, then it won't let you connect. I'm guessing this is for the times the servers may be down or something along those lines. At least that's how it worked last time I tried it a month or so ago.

For the sake of science I just ripped out my USB wireless antenna, and I have no other way of connecting to the internet, restarted Steam and booted straight into offline mode and then straight into actually playing my games. Without any internet connection whatsoever.

It gives you a blank screen saying that to go online restart Steam, not TO PLAY GAMES, you just click library and there they are.

So finally can we all please stop mentioning this shit.

EDIT: Fuck ninja'd, point still valid though.

I'll ask you the same thing I asked the other guy, did your restart the computer or just try going into offline mode without internet. Because Steam will still work if you lost internet while you have it running, but from past experiences I've had and seen from others, you can't boot up your computer and access your Steam library if you don't have internet connection and have it set to offline mode.

Let me clear up the confusion between you three, as all of you are technically correct and wrong at the same time.

It's true that, without an internet connection, you can directly connect to offline mode via steam. However, in order to do so Steam must create an user information file to grant access to your library without a direct connection to Steam's servers. What happens is when you begin to switch to offline mode, Steam compiles this file and saves it in your directory. In theory, this should allow you to connect to Steam at anytime without internet...

... but it doesn't.
Those with a slower internet connection can commonly have problems with creating the UIF because of a high packet loss, resulting in the disappearance of information necessary to start in offline mode. It's for this very reason that I CAN NOT access Steam with my internet disconnected, because my internet connection on average is about 10kbps.

That does seem to explain it. That's why I was actually asking to be sure that we were doing it via the same method, as I was wondering why there'd be different results for the same issue. But that would explain why it would happen like that. Hadn't realized that the packet loss was the reason for the inability to connect offline. It's odd as I think I have a pretty good connection. But oh well. Thanks for clarifying in any case.

Those with a slower internet connection can commonly have problems with creating the UIF because of a high packet loss, resulting in the disappearance of information necessary to start in offline mode.

But, surely, such a loss of data to a file required for off-line mode would mean off-line mode could never be used at all by a user with the problem you describe?

I don't think so. After all, when a user specifically connects to Steam to access offline mode, it likely sends the file needed specifically instead of all Steam general network traffic.

Exactly. It's all honestly a case of chance with some connections, as sometimes essential files will be lost or not as the strength of peoples' internet connections fluctuate, as do their percentage of packet loss.

While it's entirely plausible that after a few tries of connecting then going offline it could work, some people may never be able to use it unless they somehow compiled an offline file themselves. Of course there's also the common mistake of people not checking to auto log-in when they sign in to Steam and try to go offline.

 

[Maze1125]

I don't think so. After all, when a user specifically connects to Steam to access offline mode, it likely sends the file needed specifically instead of all Steam general network traffic.

Yes, at which point the file would have already been created, and so usable in the future when off-line was needed.
And what about when the connection is lost suddenly while on-line, surely the file would be incomplete then, and so off-line mode wouldn't work?

 

[Rednog]

I have two big problems with steam
1) For a company that is so big they don't have any other support besides email, which takes anywhere from 24-48 hours to respond. And if you need to have a back and forth type of email conversation about a problem it can take quite some time. I had a problem with a game and it took about a week and a half to solve because of the back and forth. Seriously you'd think by now they would have a chat service or a phone service.

2) They sell products that don't work and they don't accept returns. This is a problem especially with older games, steam throws them up for sale in a bundle and whatnot, lo and behold they don't work with anything besides windows XP. Especially since they don't take returns they really should be held responsible for checking if the game at least launches before you give them your hard earned money just to find that it doesn't work and they tell you well we have your money and we don't care. I remember when I bought a Tom Clancy pack from steam, oh guess what Vegas doesn't want to launch through steam, I had to go on the forums to find out that I had to launch the game separately from steam for it to work.

 

[Kapol]

I don't think so. After all, when a user specifically connects to Steam to access offline mode, it likely sends the file needed specifically instead of all Steam general network traffic.

Yes, at which point the file would have already been created, and so usable in the future when off-line was needed.
And what about when the connection is lost suddenly while on-line, surely the file would be incomplete then, and so off-line mode wouldn't work?

But the issue is that the file is likely constantly changing as time goes on and it records user information. Since the file is constantly updating and has a high rate of loss, that would lead to an issue when Steam attempts to boot up that it simply doesn't work correctly.

And as for when you lose a connection while on-line, what likely happens there is that your computer still has the active permissions stored due to Steam still being active. This means that, until you close Steam, it has everything you need activate which will allow you to go along normally.

At least that's what it seems like, and what would make sense based off what Reyal suggested.