A Bit Disappointed... [Steam]

[bluetattoo]

I'm a bit ignorant/naive when it comes to some of these things, so was a bit disappointed to find that what I'd paid for at Steam was not an actual download of the game, but just the "right" to play it through them.

I'm not really looking forward to having to be on-line every...single...time...I...want...to...play...thi s...game...

I've been a big fan of this company since Children of the Nile and have purchased games just because this company's name was listed on the packaging (SimCity Societies...not exactly SimCity, if you ask me, but leave it up to EA to be misleading...but that's for another thread...), but this just leaves me feeling...a bit disappointed.

I don't mind paying 20 bucks for a game, if I'm getting a game. I do mind paying 20 bucks for the right to play a game through Steam and only through Steam. That seems more like a rental and should fall within a 5 to 10 dollar range for a period of time to play, if you ask me.

Will there ever be a download available that doesn't require constant internet access to play? It may seem like a silly hang up to some, but it really does bother me a bit...

My apologies if this comes across as rude or snarky, as that's not my intention at all. I just felt the need to let you (Tilted Mill) know (and registered just to tell you...lol) that I love the game so far, but the method of distribution...not so much.

[Jeff Fiske]

Originally Posted by bluetattoo

I'm a bit ignorant/naive when it comes to some of these things, so was a bit disappointed to find that what I'd paid for at Steam was not an actual download of the game, but just the "right" to play it through them.

I'm not really looking forward to having to be on-line every...single...time...I...want...to...play...thi s...game...

I've been a big fan of this company since Children of the Nile and have purchased games just because this company's name was listed on the packaging (SimCity Societies...not exactly SimCity, if you ask me, but leave it up to EA to be misleading...but that's for another thread...), but this just leaves me feeling...a bit disappointed.

I don't mind paying 20 bucks for a game, if I'm getting a game. I do mind paying 20 bucks for the right to play a game through Steam and only through Steam. That seems more like a rental and should fall within a 5 to 10 dollar range for a period of time to play, if you ask me.

Will there ever be a download available that doesn't require constant internet access to play? It may seem like a silly hang up to some, but it really does bother me a bit...

My apologies if this comes across as rude or snarky, as that's not my intention at all. I just felt the need to let you (Tilted Mill) know (and registered just to tell you...lol) that I love the game so far, but the method of distribution...not so much.

Understand and it is a common misconception-
You can play without being connected to steam, they have instructions for it on the site. Url below-

One huge advantage is we can update you to the latest version, without you lifting a finger.


https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...3160-AGCB-2555

[PhilL]

You do receive the full game on your machine. There are settings in Steam that allow you to play offline. Therefor after the initial download there is no need for an internet connection except for updates.

[Shadowdragoon]

Im also dissapointed by theyr choice of Steam, why steam when there are better ones out there, like Impulse? as whit impulse i would not need to load it up to play a game, steam is a bit cluncy, slow to load, and well. i dont like it.
(yes, Impulse also have the update features)

[mort-uk]

I barely notice steam, it sits in the system tray and in offline mode, I periodically check for updates for my games or check the store. Good grief, I find Impulse more clunky than steam.
You can only install games through Impulse too, it's no different, it's not a straight download of the media, so you're as dependent on Impulse as you would be with steam for any purchases.

[sapien82]

i havent had one bit of trouble from steam , stop crying about it and download and play , your really missing out !

[OhhJim]

Originally Posted by sapien82

i havent had one bit of trouble from steam , stop crying about it and download and play , your really missing out !

Negative opinions are not necessarily "crying". I'm glad nobody told George Washington to quit crying about the British and just farm.

[KnuckleHead]

Lol...c'mon now. I don't think "crying" about things like taxation without representation and other "injustices" can really be compared to "crying" about the manner in which a person can download their favorite games.

I'm sure if GW was all up in arms about the box his new chess set came in, the other colonials would have said:

"Quit crying George...what ****ing difference does it make?!?!?!"

[aramann]

I had misgiving about Steam as well. Still do as a matter of fact. However it IS handy for the update features and also the "friends" where you can find others playing the same game and ask gameplay questions while in game.
I'm liking the ability to play offline which I was very concerned about.
I think the whole Steam issue is very personal to each player. Some will like it, some not care one way or the other and some will hate it. Although it would be a shame to miss out on such a game simply because of any Steam-based misgivings.

[Crivens]

This is the first time I've played a game that's tied to a 3rd party "player," as it were. Not too fond of the experience, really. I'm pretty frugal when it comes to installing software, so I've never enjoyed having to install A to get B to work. Also, I think that Steam takes up more memory than it needs to, especially since its competing with whatever game is being played through it.

I'd much prefer a straight digital download, where you get the complete EXE, install it, and you're good to go. Once the game is registered with TM, like any other PC game (recent releases excluded-- *cough*SPORE*cough*) there should be no need for it to ping the server to re-affirm that it's legit.

If it's a piracy issue, I'm not sure how Steam makes a game any more secure than any of the 5,000 other methods developers use that get cracked in about twenty minutes.

[mrj]

You guys must be new to PC gaming, or something. Steam is fantastic. I buy more random games that I've never heard of (Hinterland), from indie developers (Sam & Max Episodes) directly through steam. These groups do not have the money to advertise well, and Steam and its ENORMOUS user base is the perfect way to distribute new and unheard of content.

Not to mention, when I reinstall my system every few months, all I have to do is log in to steam - goto my games, and begin downloading them. I don't have to deal with finding my ridiculous CDs, manuals with serial numbers, any of that crap.

And I don't even have to get up to buy a game.

Welcome to 2008 guys, it's pretty fancy here.

[radio_babylon]

steam is the bees knees, man. i hardly buy anything unless i can get it through steam anymore... and at this point, i feel like i own half the steam library ok, maybe not, but at last count ive got something like 45 games from steam... never having to worry about losing or damaging the disk, or losing the cd key, makes steam totally worthwhile. not having to deal with a retail store is really nice as well...

[edit:] uh yeah, what that guy above me said

[Shadowdragoon]

Originally Posted by mrj

You guys must be new to PC gaming, or something. Steam is fantastic. I buy more random games that I've never heard of (Hinterland), from indie developers (Sam & Max Episodes) directly through steam. These groups do not have the money to advertise well, and Steam and its ENORMOUS user base is the perfect way to distribute new and unheard of content.

Not to mention, when I reinstall my system every few months, all I have to do is log in to steam - goto my games, and begin downloading them. I don't have to deal with finding my ridiculous CDs, manuals with serial numbers, any of that crap.

And I don't even have to get up to buy a game.

Welcome to 2008 guys, it's pretty fancy here.

Yes, and Impulse soundly trashes steam in userfriendliness. Easy to buy games, quick downloads, (and they have recently fixed some slowdown so its even faster now), no need to have it running to play the games, automated update procedures (when you start Impulse), Faster start time than steam, nicer looks. And yes, CD-Keys are tied to your account.

(someone label me a Stardock fanboy please)

[KnuckleHead]

Originally Posted by mrj

You guys must be new to PC gaming, or something. Steam is fantastic. I buy more random games that I've never heard of (Hinterland), from indie developers (Sam & Max Episodes) directly through steam. These groups do not have the money to advertise well, and Steam and its ENORMOUS user base is the perfect way to distribute new and unheard of content.

Not to mention, when I reinstall my system every few months, all I have to do is log in to steam - goto my games, and begin downloading them. I don't have to deal with finding my ridiculous CDs, manuals with serial numbers, any of that crap.

And I don't even have to get up to buy a game.

Welcome to 2008 guys, it's pretty fancy here.

I especially love the ability to reinstall all my games in that manner.

Prior to STEAM:

-Get all my cd's and manual together (serial keys)

-Start installing game by game, checking back every 10 mins or so to see if I need to swap a disk or something

-Then scour the web to try and find all the latest patches and download/install them

With STEAM:

-Install steam and let it update (quick process)

-Go to games panel and select all my games to download

-Go to lunch and do some errands, and by the time I get back all my games are installed and completely patched

I still buy boxed games from time to time though, and I have even purchased games from othe direct download sites, but steam is an excellent service. I don't see why people are so adversed to using it.

[radio_babylon]

Originally Posted by Shadowdragoon

(someone label me a Stardock fanboy please)

youre a stardock fanboy

so am i, actually... but man i hate impulse like the plague. i actually liked the stardock central app a lot better, and it was pretty crappy to begin with... if it werent for demigod and sins, i wouldnt even have impulse installed, id just stick with SDC...

[Shadowdragoon]

Originally Posted by KnuckleHead

I especially love the ability to reinstall all my games in that manner.

Prior to STEAM:

-Get all my cd's and manual together (serial keys)

-Start installing game by game, checking back every 10 mins or so to see if I need to swap a disk or something

-Then scour the web to try and find all the latest patches and download/install them

With STEAM:

-Install steam and let it update (quick process)

-Go to games panel and select all my games to download

-Go to lunch and do some errands, and by the time I get back all my games are installed and completely patched

I still buy boxed games from time to time though, and I have even purchased games from othe direct download sites, but steam is an excellent service. I don't see why people are so adversed to using it.

And the same goes for Impulse, just nicer, faster, and you don't need Impulse running in the background using system resources..
Just take a look at http://impulsedriven.com/

[KnuckleHead]

I have nothing against impulse, my comment goes out to the people who seem adverse to using steam.

Also, STEAM takes up about 25MB memory when minimized...in an age when most people have over 2000MB I don't think that's such a big concern. MS Word (with no file open) takes up 40MB for referrence lol.

Anyways, I plan on purchasing Demigod when it comes out on impulse. I don't have any favoritism one way or another, they both seem to work fine and are good services.

[mrj]

Originally Posted by Shadowdragoon

And the same goes for Impulse, just nicer, faster, and you don't need Impulse running in the background using system resources..
Just take a look at http://impulsedriven.com/

Dude, seriously, you've posted about Impulse in at least 3-4 threads I've read. It's getting old. If they decide to go with Impulse, then great - that will give them another distribution platform and perhaps more sales, but we don't need to read about your opinionated comparison in every post that has "Steam" in the title.

[bluetattoo]

Thanks for such a super-speedy reply, Jeff

As I said, I'm a bit ignorant when it comes to these things, so thanks for the link to instructions for playing off-line.

I love the game and am having loads of fun with it, so no worries

[Kuplo]

I too wished this game would have been released on Impulse instead. I absolutely HATE steam (for my own reasons) and this will likely be the last game that I purchase from steam, so please keep this in mind for your next "indie" release TM.