Few Questions about Steam.

Emphacy · 17 Apr 2011 at 13:36

SO; Like many people on this forum, I have Steam, signed up in March and hope to get the ball rolling with it soon once my Exam's have finished and I buy a new GPU.

A few questions because I don't know much about it and i'm too impatient to find out for myself...

Are there achievements for every game purchased on Steam?
If I were to buy a hard copy of a game, and install it on my PC. Can I then link this game with Steam and get the achievements etc?

Can I install Steam on more than one computer without it effecting my account/ the information or Steam program on my other PC?
Has anyone ever had their games removed, been banned or had their Steam account blocked for some un-obvious reason?

Thanks much for your time, it's just i'm always warey of buying digital games, because I know if I have the hard copy of it, It's mine and I can do whatever I like with it. I do like the achievements and benefits of Steam though.

Cheers.

Smithy0115 · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:06

I bought hard copies of TF2 and CS:S and they worked fine with Steam but they are made by Valve so you would expect them to.

lamboman · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:16

It really depends on the game. More and more that are available on both DVD and through Steam are running through Steam if you buy the disc version. There are some that don't, but quite a few do (I think COD5 does, for example, but don't take my word for it).

You'll have to look it up for each game to be honest.

ic1male · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:47

Emphacy said:
Are there achievements for every game purchased on Steam?

No.

If I were to buy a hard copy of a game, and install it on my PC. Can I then link this game with Steam and get the achievements etc?

Only when a game is using Steamworks and then it's mandatory for retail copies to link with Steam. Here's a list - https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601#which

Can I install Steam on more than one computer without it effecting my account/ the information or Steam program on my other PC?

Yes.

Has anyone ever had their games removed, been banned or had their Steam account blocked for some un-obvious reason?

Not that I know of.

Emphacy · 17 Apr 2011 at 17:34

Okay thanks for the information.
I now know that if I was to buy a S/H copy of COD4 I couldn't activate it on Steam if someone else has.

Saved me some hassle. I think I'll just download off Steam directly.

ic1male · 17 Apr 2011 at 17:35

Emphacy said:
I now know that if I was to buy a S/H copy of COD4 I couldn't activate it on Steam if someone else has.

Umm, no. COD4 doesn't have Steam activation. So you couldn't do it with a new copy either.

TheVoice · 17 Apr 2011 at 17:38

Emphacy said:
I know if I have the hard copy of it, It's mine and I can do whatever I like with it.

Used to be true, quite often isn't these days though. Physical copies have just as much DRM (if not more) regarding number of installs, being online whilst playing the game, and so on.

orderoftheflame · 17 Apr 2011 at 17:41

Some of your Qs have been answered in the Steam FAQ in the PC Games section. Part of it contains a link to a list of all the games that can be activated on Steam as well.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18249392

ic1male said:
Only when a game is using Steamworks and then it's mandatory for retail copies to link with Steam. Here's a list - https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601#which

There are some non-Steamworks games that can be activated as well.

You can install the retail copy and play it without Steam, or Activated and have it linked to your account. There's less and less of these coming out now, as they're usually full Steamworks games when they are activatable though.

Emphacy · 17 Apr 2011 at 17:42

ic1male said:
Umm, no. COD4 doesn't have Steam activation. So you couldn't do it with a new copy either.

SHH, This is true, but was just using it as an example. :rolleyes:

orderoftheflame said:
Some of your Qs have been answered in the Steam FAQ in the PC Games section. Part of it contains a link to a list of all the games that can be activated on Steam as well.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18249392

OH, What do you know, I didn't see it, thanks for sharing.

ic1male · 17 Apr 2011 at 17:42

Emphacy said:
SHH, This is true, but was just using it as an example.

Dude, you should have said Modern Warfare 2.