Steam or Retail for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 ??

gurusan · 11 Oct 2009 at 09:37

Whatever is cheaper....

Tefal · 11 Oct 2009 at 09:37

daz.rathbone said:
Personally I'll be avoiding buying non-Valve games off Steam. I made the mistake of buying CoD:WaW from Steam, and every time the game gets patched Steam users get shafted for a week or more (we have to wait until Steam/devs work together and release the patch over Steam).

Such a shame, Steam could be great. It should be far cheaper than other retail routes for buying a game, yet it's often far more expensive. Publishers should LOVE you buying games over Steam, with minimal distribution costs and ZERO manufacturing costs, so why still shaft the majority of customers - I really don't understand.

Not to mention no risk of second hand sales costing them money.

daz.rathbone · 11 Oct 2009 at 09:51

Yep - there are so many reasons Steam should be a cheaper and better system. Tis truly a shame that it isn't - I like having my games on there, I've just been burnt enough to avoid buying things there automatically.

chaparral · 11 Oct 2009 at 09:56

regulus said:
It's a competitor to OCUK thus frowned upon posting here. remove remove

But you quoted it

Phonesis · 11 Oct 2009 at 12:56

Just got a question regarding MW2 on steam. Will it support invites? I never played MW on PC but this time around all my mates are going for the PC version as opposed to the 360. Also, is there matchmaking or is it based on a server list?

zo1d · 11 Oct 2009 at 13:12

C64 said:
reatil obviously because steam has stupid activation ? activate it once its permanently linked to that ac**** retail will be cheaper + you can sell it on when bored with it

Hang on as far as I was aware if it's a steam game it has to be activated via steam regardless of wether you buy it from the steam store (as an electronic download) or if you buy a retail copy (with box, disk, and manual)?

Example I bought Left 4 Dead 1 as a retail DVD and box but it's still a steam activated game (and therefore can't be sold on).

daz.rathbone · 11 Oct 2009 at 13:49

Only certain retail games (which are also available on Steam) have to be Steam activated. CoD:WaW can't be Steam activated if purchased retail, where as, for example, Empire TW and Football Manager 2009 did require Steam activation even with Retail.

Generally all Valve retail games can be Steam activated, others may/may not. I think there was a list floating round somewhere.

zo1d · 11 Oct 2009 at 15:12

daz.rathbone said:
Only certain retail games (which are also available on Steam) have to be Steam activated. CoD:WaW can't be Steam activated if purchased retail, where as, for example, Empire TW and Football Manager 2009 did require Steam activation even with Retail.

Generally all Valve retail games can be Steam activated, others may/may not. I think there was a list floating round somewhere.

Ok I wasn't aware of that, although I really like allot of what steam offers I'd much prefer to have the game non-steam activated so that in the future if I stop playing the game or if I don't like it I can sell it on or give it away for free.

Is there a way of telling before buying games?

Tefal · 11 Oct 2009 at 15:15

zo1d said:
Hang on as far as I was aware if it's a steam game it has to be activated via steam regardless of wether you buy it from the steam store (as an electronic download) or if you buy a retail copy (with box, disk, and manual)?

Example I bought Left 4 Dead 1 as a retail DVD and box but it's still a steam activated game (and therefore can't be sold on).

That's only Valve games.

Dark_Angel · 11 Oct 2009 at 15:17

regulus said:
It's a competitor to OCUK thus frowned upon posting here. remove remove

If it's a competitor why quote it? :confused:

I always buy whichever is cheapest.

C64 · 11 Oct 2009 at 20:22

zo1d said:
Hang on as far as I was aware if it's a steam game it has to be activated via steam regardless of wether you buy it from the steam store (as an electronic download) or if you buy a retail copy (with box, disk, and manual)?

Example I bought Left 4 Dead 1 as a retail DVD and box but it's still a steam activated game (and therefore can't be sold on).

yea you are right i think and therfore dont think i shall b paying more than £10 for l4d2

Gimpymoo · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:19

Im going to be purchasing from STEAM/Impulse. Whichever is cheaper.

They have the best model for digital distribution at the moment.

It is the ONLY way I buy my games now

McGray · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:22

2 questions about Steam if I may...

1) If you purchase through Steam, do you have to wait for Steam to install the patches or can you just d/l and install yourself?

2) I you purchase from Steam will it unlock at midnight on release day or will there be some sort of delay?

Cheers.

Dreadhead · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:33

McGray said:
2 questions about Steam if I may...

1) If you purchase through Steam, do you have to wait for Steam to install the patches or can you just d/l and install yourself?

2) I you purchase from Steam will it unlock at midnight on release day or will there be some sort of delay?

Cheers.

1) Once Steam releases a patch for its games, then you must download the patch before you can play. Steam will automatically begin updating the games as soon as you log onto the platform.

2) Should be available immediately.

McGray · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:35

Dreadhead said:
1) Once Steam releases a patch for its games, then you must download the patch before you can play. Steam will automatically begin updating the games as soon as you log onto the platform.

But if there is a delay in Steam patching the games like people have mentioned, can you not just d/l the COD patch from the usual sources and patch the game yourself?

ic1male · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:35

McGray said:
1) If you purchase through Steam, do you have to wait for Steam to install the patches or can you just d/l and install yourself?

To clarify, you have to wait for Steam to release the patch through the game client. You can't go to the CoD website for instance and download/apply the retail disc patch.

McGray · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:40

Thanks.

Gimpymoo · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:42

McGray said:
But if there is a delay in Steam patching the games like people have mentioned, can you not just d/l the COD patch from the usual sources and patch the game yourself?

To clarify this, most delays are owing to developers/Publishers not submitting patches in time to Valve.

ARMA 2 for instance has had simultaneous patches since launch, no issues.

I have the STEAM client running 24/7 and it uses little to no resources and when a patch is released to the platform, your game will just update without you even knowing

Could an OP please turn this into a Pole?

paulh · 13 Oct 2009 at 14:09

I may go the steam route with this one again. I know its more money but i always leave the disc on the top of my pc after playing then it goes walk about and i spend ages looking for them!! my own fault i know, but if the extras £10 saves me looking for discs all the time i'm happy.

Silent UK · 13 Oct 2009 at 14:33

Just a quick question.

If I buy this game via a online shop (eg NOT Steam), would I then be able to link my retail copy (with disc etc) to my steam account and than play via steam?(using disc/not using disc?) Or would I have to buy from steam (at the much inflated price) in order to be able to do this?

As I know some games you can do this, although not all games that are sold via steam and be linked to retail etc