Why does Steam get such a bad rap?

regulus · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:17

Been reading the F.E.A.R 2 forums for an ETA on the SDK, and notice people has been screaming the usual "Teh Staem sux!!!1". Why is that? I have never ever had a problem with it, find it exceptionally handy for storing games digitally since I lose most of my DVD games. I was also pleasantly surprised when I could only enter my CD-KEY I got with my copy of Dark Messiah (lost the disc) and it started downloading the game for me again! You also get games early, great Weekend Only specials etc. So, why the hate?

Streeteh · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:18

When it was first introduced it was a joke, that was years ago however and since then it has improved immensely. People have problems letting go of first impressions and in steams case they were bad. Damn thing broke all my TFC binds too.

Tom|Nbk · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:25

All stems back to when it first came out it was a pile of poo. I guess that is what is routed in peoples heads.

RDM · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:29

For me the only complaint I have about it is that I have to pay more for a digital product than I can get the physical product for. Other than that I like it. Though there is a concern as to what would happen if steam went belly up.

regulus · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:33

RDM said:
For me the only complaint I have about it is that I have to pay more for a digital product than I can get the physical product for. Other than that I like it. Though there is a concern as to what would happen if steam went belly up.

Aye, would agree that it is one problem I've encountered. It's taking the p*** a bit if I have to stump up more for a bunch of files that's stored on a server somewhere whilst the hard copy in a shop is cheaper.

Hamoodii · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:39

Streeteh said:
When it was first introduced it was a joke, that was years ago however and since then it has improved immensely. People have problems letting go of first impressions and in steams case they were bad. Damn thing broke all my TFC binds too.

Yeah I agree, I hated Steam when HL2 came out-but maybe that was because I was on 56k

Buzza · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:41

I saw Empire Total War on Steam for 40-45 quid the other day. You can get that same game complete with box disc and manuals for 22-25 quid everywhere else. What a rip off.

Apart from the pricing policy, Steam seems pretty good.

Frapple · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:42

Why would anyone bother going to a shop if it was cheaper? (Excluding being on BT/Virgin and having 'unlimited' bandwidth caps)

What surprises me is that Valve don't get slated for the most draconian type of DRM ever. Can't sell/give away your games! Got the entire DoW series sat here since I bought them, untouched, will never be able to do anything with them.

Edit: Surely pricing is down to the publisher on the game, in the case of Empire....Sega is it?

Typhoon · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:42

Cost is the main issue for me and I like my boxed copies. In an ideal would you would be able to buy games (other than Valve) in a shop have the boxed copy and still register them on steam.

smithy83 · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:43

Buzza said:
I saw Empire Total War on Steam for 40-45 quid the other day. You can get that same game complete with box disc and manuals for 22-25 quid everywhere else. What a rip off.

well thats not steams fault the publishers set the price of the games

Pilky01 · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:45

It used to be rubbish and I hated having to go anywhere near it.
Its awesome now and its the only place I buy games from.

Frapple · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:46

Typhoon said:
Cost is the main issue for me and I like my boxed copies. In an ideal would you would be able to buy games (other than Valve) in a shop have the boxed copy and still register them on steam.

And then have the ability to sell/return the boxed copy? Genius.

Typhoon · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:47

smithy83 said:
well thats not steams fault the publishers set the price of the games

Surely that dont ask Steam for more dosh for a digital copy that a reatil boxed copy sold to a store ?

Spektor · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:48

It was pretty shoddy for 6months-1year from when it came out.. gave bad download rates, if a patch was released for any game then you wouldn't be able to connect for a day or so etc etc. But for the last ~5 years? its been awesome, I wish every game was on it.

eekfek · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:49

regulus said:
Why does Steam get such a bad rap?

thats news to me, ive never had a problem and think its totally superb! but then i go by my personal experience and not what others want me to think

Account value: 85 games : $594.76 $934.29 without packages

the success of steam has also now had an effect on EA stinks version , previous games that the download time had passed are all free to re-download again.

Valve/Steam rock !

Typhoon · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:50

Frapple said:
And then have the ability to sell/return the boxed copy? Genius.

Well I the games will obviously have to be registered online first, just like HalfLife 2 - Genius.

eekfek · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:52

**oops**

reflux · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:52

Steam is great. Unobtrusive and easy to use. Far better than EA downloader or GFWL.

smithy83 · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:54

Typhoon said:
Surely that dont ask Steam for more dosh for a digital copy that a reatil boxed copy sold to a store ?

well considering that they cant make the games cheaper because retailers would refuse to stock the games there aint much steam can do

you only need to look at america retailers gamestop pulled sale of dawn of war 2 just because it needs steam to be installed

RaMDOM · 15 Feb 2009 at 11:25

Frapple said:
What surprises me is that Valve don't get slated for the most draconian type of DRM ever. Can't sell/give away your games! Got the entire DoW series sat here since I bought them, untouched, will never be able to do anything with them.

Eh? why did you buy them then? :confused: