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Steam: Savior or Slayer of PC Gaming?
Lashiec:
GamersGate has been selling games that use Steamworks for quite a while, thus requiring the use of Steam for installation, authentication, etc. Such requirement is listed on the game's page in the DRM section. If it reads "Requires a 3rd party download and account", most likely it's referring to Steam. Valve isn't taking over GamersGate or anything like that, it wouldn't make much sense either.
wraith808:
GamersGate has been selling games that use Steamworks for quite a while, thus requiring the use of Steam for installation, authentication, etc. Such requirement is listed on the game's page in the DRM section. If it reads "Requires a 3rd party download and account", most likely it's referring to Steam. Valve isn't taking over GamersGate or anything like that, it wouldn't make much sense either.
-Lashiec (November 29, 2011, 12:40 PM)
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Darksiders doesn't use Steamworks though. It uses GFWL (or whatever it's called today). I see that they changed to use Steamworks- no wonder I couldn't authenticate with my GFWL account. I was looking forward to getting achievements... :(
Renegade:
Reading through, it seems like Steam is more like a disease than a cure. Apparently, it creates more problems than it solves. Am I reading the above wrong?
wraith808:
Reading through, it seems like Steam is more like a disease than a cure. Apparently, it creates more problems than it solves. Am I reading the above wrong?
-Renegade (November 29, 2011, 01:44 PM)
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I don't think it creates more problems than it solves, but then again, other people have other opinions.
I think that the ideal solution would be a third party platform that you register your purchases with, no matter where you get them from. But that will never happen, though it seems that steamworks is making that happen for some games. As long as you can (1) re-download/re-install your purchases (2) play them offline and (3) there is competition on pricing, I'm happy. :)
Deozaan:
Years ago if there was a PC game I thought I might want but didn't know if it was worth (or I didn't have) the $50, I'm not proud to admit it, but I would likely pirate it.
These days I just wait for the inevitable Steam sale and buy it when the price is right for me. I've even bought games on Steam that I pirated and played years ago and don't really play anymore, but I bought them anyway because I loved them and the price was right for me. I don't even know how many games I've bought for the Nth time (where N > 1) just because it suddenly became available on Steam and at a great price, too.
I really like Steam. Yes it's true that sometimes I get really mad at Steam because there are some things they do that can be absolutely infuriating. Steam is not perfect and there are many use-cases that I don't have to deal with (such as not being the only gamer in this household) which admittedly would indeed be annoying. But they do so many things right (in my opinion) that it's hard to stay mad at them or not use their service. Steam is just too convenient and the prices are too good. I like it so much that these days I almost don't like buying PC games anymore if they aren't available/redeemable on Steam. And that is, perhaps, another problem in and of itself.
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