Steam, the Google of Gaming.

Is it just me or are developers (and some publishers) jumping into the Steam camp by the masses?

Just in the past couple of days I have seen Atari put up part of its game library on Steam. Then yesterday I see EPIC on Steam...selling the entire Unreal series in a pack they call "Unreal Deal" for about 55 USD.

Not only does this indicate to me that more and more companies are seeing the value in a service like Steam, but also the fact that Steam itself is becoming the defacto online game distribution service. Steam has become the end result of what the Games for Windows live initiative tried to be. Also, there are frequent sales on Steam, something I haven't seen at retail for years for PC Games! Developers and Publishers look like they are starting to see the value of online distribution. Fewer boxes to make and DVDs to stamp and ship (though those costs aren't that significant).

Anyway, I now own a couple of Atari games and the Unreal Deal pack (woo, Unreal 3 and 2k4 together!) as a result of how addicted I have become to Steam. These days when I see a game on Steam I justify buying it by telling myself that I am protecting the PC gaming industry.

I've purchased 100 games on Steam. Partly due to the number of "game packs" I have purchased. Oddly enough, I don't own the Valve Complete pack, but that's because I actually buy the Valve games at retail and register them on Steam later. People like me, impulse Steam buyers, will hopefully encourage the PC gaming industry to move further toward online distribution models.

Steam hurts my wallet...but it hurts so good...so good.

THOUGHTS!!?!

 

John Mellencamp would like you

I haven't ever purchased anything from steam because I prefer having a box with a CD in hand, I feel more comfortable.

 

I'm a Steam-Evangelist, what can I say?

One point I will concede to: Steam is not as ideal a service outside the USA.

In my opinion, the service should run the same globally, but with each country and localization Steam must adhere to a different set of laws. It really is the smudge on the system.

 

I too am curious about Steam....to experienced users out there..Pros? Cons? Can you download the software and burn it to a DVD? What about documentation...can you download the manuals? Is the whole process safe?? I'm like Crimsonman...I prefer having the physical CD in hand...but still, I love great deals and Steam is tempting!!

 

I'm with Crimsonman with the whole box + CD/DVD thing. It installs faster (no downloading except updates) and it just feels good to have the media (if your steam account like spontaneously dies or something lol). On the other hand, I like steam because when I want my games installed on a fresh install, I can just go to my list, right click on them and download. Then I don't have to mess around with a bunch of (probably scratched up cuz I don't take care of them well) CDs.

-J.B.

 

Pffff what to say?
I own a CS account but everytime I login and try to get a game updated (after a frsh insall of windows) I get a servers busy message...
It's VERY annoying...

 

With all the new developers, steam servers are down more ofter than they were with just the plain VALVe games. Ive been a steam member since CS 1.6, and i like how steam is expanding and getting more Business from other companies other than VALVe.

 

Ok, now the other side of the coin:

The Steam servers are being so creamed by the Unreal release I think it will take a couple of days for the servers to settle down. I haven't seen this much Steam hubbub since its inital launch...which was god-awful, 20 hours HL2 decryption, anyone? Boy how far its come.

So many people are buying and activating the new releases...I am feeling the same effects, servers are actually busy! OH THE NOVELTY!

 

I take it no one caught the meaning of this statement

 

I've gotta disagree there, I live in the UK and everyone here loves Steam. For me, it was the de facto system ever since Half Life 2 was released.


I love the idea that on Steam, I own the game "forever", unlike a boxed DVD in which you only own it for as long as you don't lose the disk or scratch it. In a hundred years, I will have lost all my old DVD's but I will continue to own all the games I have purchased on Steam.


Steam wins!


P.S. Let's not forget that you don't need to change DVD's whenever you play a new game.

 

I love Steam, I get sad when they don't have a game on steam, or some other online distribution. I got Sins of a solar empire online. Since I kind of live in the middle of no where in terms of game retail stores, online provided games are amazing. I feel the contrary to having the box + CD, the days of fancy manuals are long gone and there's no point to having the box lying around anymore, and usually, being fairly unorganized, I have lost the majority of my game CD's. Having it all online is much nicer...also, I trust Valve so I don't feel like I'm going to get bent over any time soon.

 

I definately like the fact that more and more developers are signing on with Steam. I think it's a great service. I'll admit I was skeptical about it at first because I was one of those who wanted to have the box/cd in hand, but that doesn't really bother me anymore since Steam has become much more stable since it's launch.

I feel as if it should be the future of the pc gaming industry:
-games tied to you as a person/account, not your computer
-download/reinstall without hassle or even product keys
-no crazy DRM to deal with, just the Steam client itself
-if you like having physical media, you can just use Steam backup and burn the files to a DVD

The whole thing is really hassle free and a huge convenience. STEAM FTW!

 

what would happen if steam's mainframe/database crashes will the games still tie to your account? =P lol just bored

 

I see this as a good thing, I bet Valve gets a portion of the profit of the sales for the products of other developers, and it is good because Valve will have more resources to improve steam, and make more scalable games.

Also, I see steam as a way of convenience, for someone like me who doesn't have a car (because I simply don't need it when I am on college campus, there are buses), getting to Gamestop or EbGames can be a hassle, but with steam I can buy games in the comfort of my own room.

 

If they are a company worth their salt they backup user account data constantly.

So no, a server crash wouldn't suddenly cause your account to be destroyed. Heck, I expect that the system is redundant enough that a couple of servers could crash without adversly affecting the account system.

What I am more concerned about is the longevity of the Steam system an Digital distribution services as a whole. Since we don't have physical copies of the game (though you can burn a game backup from steam onto a disk), what happens in 100 years? Will Steam still be around?

 

I seriously hope you can live a full life of 100+ years and to enjoy the benefit of Steam when you are 141 years old.
I seriously doubt Steam will go out any time soon, Valve probably received revenue for game advertised and sold through Steam, in addition to that, they have advertisements in Older games such as Counter strike, that will probably make them last for quite a while. I am sure if they are not making enough revenue they will find some ways to improve it.

 

Do you guys think Steam can save PC Gaming? I think Steam is great for all of the reasons previously mentioned, but how about the fight against piracy?

There's never any concrete facts on the amount of piracy going on but everyone knows it happens and developers must take that into some consideration when making PC games right?

With Steam, you no longer need copy protection. But the thing that bothers me is that they allow you to install the game unlimited amount of times on as many PCs as you want. Granted, the games won't be playable without logging in, but what if every person that bought a game "lent" their account to 1 other friend, and they would play at their own designated times.

 

I think quite the opposite. I no longer have to worry if some game will or won't be distributed in Brazil, or when will it be launched here.

We are not anymore in the days when the manuals themselves made worthy phisicaly buying the games, like Falcon 4.0 or Secret Weapons of The Luftwaffe. Digital distribution is the future, for software, music and video, and I like very much the Steam mode of operation.

The only problem with Steam is that it makes too easy to spend our money, like Stormeffect and his 100+ games here demonstrate. I don't think the industry is complaining, though

 

Actually, you could theoretically install a single player game from your steam account onto ten different computers and have ten people play them at the same time while Steam is in offline mode. This just doesn't happen, for some reason. I guess people are too protective of their accounts to let this occur.

As for multiplayer, multiplayer Steam games require the use be logged into their account, so you can't have two players use the same account for multiplayer.

The point is, Steam isn't a perfect defence against piracy, but it does seem to really bring it to a minimum in two ways:
- First, games on Steam are simple and easy (for the most part) to purchase and install online; they also promote games by conducting sales and package purchases. People are less likely to pirate if a game is easily available at a decent price for download on Steam.
- Second, games on Steam can be difficult to pirate because once a key is used to register a game at purchase, that key can never be used again (because it is now tied to your account).

Steam, or services like Steam, will definately play a major role in the future of PC gaming. Combined with interesting market models such as the one planned for Battlefield: Heroes will certainly prevent any more declines in the market.

zeve put it best, "Digital distribution is the future, for software, music and video, and I like very much the Steam mode of operation."

 

Screw off, Google is good, Steam is not.

 

I agree with you 100%. Not only could this shift the convenience of purchasing videogames to the home, just like ebay and sites like newegg did for us, but it also could mean cheaper games (No more physical adverts, or packaging, no more paying for shipping, or gas to drive to the store,) Which makes just a little impact (but any is good), towards creating less pollution. It is very inventive, and if people adopt it, they will find they like it.

As for battlefield hero's...i'm so excited for that game, because anything that is free, is good. Anything that is a free game, is great. And anything that is a free shooting game online, with great creators behind it, as well as having low system requirements (512mb, 1.0 ghz proc, shader model 2) Well, thats just a huge buglamp, waiting for the night when it can finally be plugged in.

Suddenly, everybody and their grandma will be a gamer. Steam, and EA, are both very smart.

"Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results is the definition of insanity"

Its time for a change! :-D

 

The best part about steam is using it at a LAN. All you need is one account with the good MP games on it and everyone is set. It's makes a large LAN more fun when everyone is able to play all the games using a single account.

 

i really think i might start using this when i get my new laptop
just wondering does the download include a manual like in a word document or something?

 

The tech industry hates Australia for some reason. You guys get charged 400% for all of your software and games, and most publishers aren't even willing to sell (even online) any products anywhere in Australia (Rockstar, Atari, etc.)

Plus, you guys have the most brutal broadband services on earth, charged by the kilobyte like some sort of sick mobile phone plan. Considering Steam distributes multiple gigabytes over your internect connection, I can see why this wouldn't make sense for you.

I don't blame you for hating it, but I'm a little busy to screw off with you right now, maybe later.

The system is pretty self explanatory (like visiting a website), but if you need help there is a help menu with a support page.