A few things I hate about Steam.

[rangda]

- allow me to organize my games (maybe into sublists like RPG, FPS, STR, etc)

There is a crude version of this now. You can create categories and place a game into one or more categories. You then get tree nodes in your game list for each category with the games inside each. As an example I have 3 categories, one for games I've finished, one for 'junk' games (games I got from bundles that I don't care about), and games I've yet to play.

 

[Veliko]

I don't understand how anyone can be so stupid as to dislike Steam. Steam is awesome. Steam is great. Steam is the best thing since sliced bread.

Stop trying to be a smart arse. Steam is good but there is plenty about it to dislike.

1)You already know that you cant install games from a disk when you decide to download from steam. so why would you do it first and then bitch about it? If you dont like the distribution system, don't use it! It's not like you cant get these games through other means. Slow connection? Get a better one! In this day and age, even a loser like me with my tiny paycheck can afford to pay for a cable internet connection.

Even if you had DSL that would be plenty enough. My friend has DSL, and it takes him a day on average to download a game from Steam. So what? In the meantime he reads books about Eastern philosophy, plays GO, or sips green tea. And I'm not even trolling.. It's true! Activities such as this get his mind off of stressing about the fact that it takes a long time to download something. Oh, and off course he can always play the games he already has while waiting for his download. This friend of mine, is often an inspiration when I feel angry about something.

You gotta learn to CONTROL yourself, kid!

This is an absurd response.

If it really is true that you can't install a Steam game from a disc then what is the point of the game being on a disc in the first place? There is no reason why I shouldn't be able to install the game from the DVD.

3)If you're gonna run such ancient games on Win7, you should be SMART enough to spend some time on google researching the various compatibility issues and finding solutions for those issues. That is what I do. Don't have the time or the desire? Then why would you bother in the 1st place?

Valve collects all sorts of data from it's users so it knows what platform someone has Steam installed and used on. It could at the very least give a warning to Windows 7 users that they are buying an unsupported game.

Also, realize that steam is merely a distribution platform.. A store... Would you hold a car dealer personally responsible if the new car you bought had a break or an engine defect? No. It's not their fault. It's the manufacturers fault.

The retailer is still responsible for the goods that it sells.

Dang, I cant believe I just wasted 5 minutes on this reply.. But then again.. I am bored at work.. so...

Those burgers won't flip themselves.

 

[Childs]

I totally agree about the gift pack thing. I already had Borderlands and bought a 4 pack to gift out to some friends, and I essentially lost 1 copy. I didnt know that would happen.

I can somewhat understand expecting games you buy from Steam to work 100%, but Steam is just distribution. Its a store. But unfortunately Steam doesnt allow returns like a real store. I suppose they could do a simple compatibility check before checkout to make sure you want to buy it even though it might not be supported on your PC, but you can play the game you buy on multiple PCs. I guess its one of those "it is what it is" kinda things.

 

[gorcorps]

I love Steam. I bought more games from Steam than I would have from a retail store.
But there are things I wish Steam can do: (I am at work so I don't have Steam running. These are just from my memory)

- sell my games that I don't play any more or at least let me give it to a friend who don't have it

- allow me to install a game in any drive and/or any directory I want (without using any work around)

- if there is a bundle on sale and I own some of games in the bundle, allow me to give the duplicates to my friends

- is there an option to rate a game I own? (like how Amazon does it? Or how ebay rate a purchase? A few rating questions/stars and a optional comment field?)

- a way to see how many people own a game so that I can tell if a game is popular? Or have people still playing it? How many total hours people have play the game? Average total hours people spend in the game?

- allow me to organize my games (maybe into sublists like RPG, FPS, STR, etc)

A few things:
-I specified the folder my games are installed to. Not sure why you think you can't. Unless you mean a very different spot for each game.

-There are several games that allow you to gift the extras. All Valve games that I know of do this. I bought the Orange Box and gave my extra copy of HL2 and EP1 to people here at AT.

-I do believe there's a way to see how many purchases through steam a game has, but I'm not sure and it's definitely not out in the open. It'd be nice to see this stuff easily.

 

[Wyndru]

I can somewhat understand expecting games you buy from Steam to work 100%, but Steam is just distribution. Its a store. But unfortunately Steam doesnt allow returns like a real store. I suppose they could do a simple compatibility check before checkout to make sure you want to buy it even though it might not be supported on your PC, but you can play the game you buy on multiple PCs. I guess its one of those "it is what it is" kinda things.

Exactly. Also if they warned everyone about the old games not being compatible, no one would buy them. Majority of old games on Steam state Windows 2000/XP compatibility only, although there are fixes to make them work right in Steam's forums. I guess in their eyes, it would be bad business to turn away a sale based on compatibility.

 

[skace]

If steam is compatible with my OS, and it automatically allows you to purchase a game for download in the client, I would assume most people expect it to work. I know you can gift games, but IMO it's easy to detect the OS and warn people before they download.

Do they warn you if you try to download a mac game on a windows steam client? I've never tried this.

Steam reporting your OS is something it only did under a survey IIRC -> however if it did, it would need a value per package to compare it to that states which OSes are supported, this value may or may not be guaranteed -> however if it had such a value, the warning popup would come up but that doesn't necessarily mean you don't or can't logon to another machine that does support the product and run your Steam account there, since Steam is not locked down to a specific machines specs -> however, assuming all of this works, such a setup would not function for a customer who is browsing the store from a website as opposed to the Steam application, giving them a false sense of security.

OR YOU COULD JUST BE AN AWARE CONSUMER AND READ THE SPECS THAT WERE LISTED ON THE STORE PAGE AND MAKE AN INFORMED PURCHASE.

I love it, an application comes out, made by one of the best PC developers of this decade and possibly single-handedly saves the PC platform from going to shit in an era where consoles are gobbling up developers at an alarming rate. An application that allows you to purchase games while sitting in your goddamn underwear eating Doritos at your PC and people find that it is too difficult to spend 1 minute reading the specs on a 10 dollar game before clicking purchase.

Talk about trying to solve issues that aren't really issues.

PS. I agree that gifting still isn't perfect, however I assume there may be licensing issues with gifting and various developers. I think there are a lot of concerns about how gifting is handled and that is why only certain developers/certain items even allow gifting or 4packs in any means at all.

 

[Phynaz]

If steam is compatible with my OS, and it automatically allows you to purchase a game for download in the client, I would assume most people expect it to work. I know you can gift games, but IMO it's easy to detect the OS and warn people before they download.

Do they warn you if you try to download a mac game on a windows steam client? I've never tried this.

What if I'm buying the software from a different client than I intend to run it on?

 

[ibex333]

We got a stubborn one here!

Stop trying to be a smart arse. Steam is good but there is plenty about it to dislike..

I dont see anything to dislike about it.

1)Thanks to Steam we get games CHEAP. Those sales are absolutely fantastic. I dont remember myself being able to buy good games this cheap ever before.

2)Steam allows me to be a Hikikomori. I can buy games fro mthe comfort of my home and get them fAST.

3)Steam is destroying piracy. When I can buy Mass Effect 2 for a friggin' $5 why would I be getting it off bittorrent?

This is an absurd response.

If it really is true that you can't install a Steam game from a disc then what is the point of the game being on a disc in the first place? There is no reason why I shouldn't be able to install the game from the DVD.

No, respectfully, your response is the absurd one. Your arguement has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand. Do you understand that retail boxes and Steam are two different distribution systems? You are not being forced to use any one of them! If you dont like Steam you buy a retail copy. Simple as that. And there is indeed no reason why you cant install a game fro ma DVD. Go and buy a DVD copy!

Oh and FYI, steam games CAN be installed from DVDs if you're do inclined. After you download a game you can back it up to any form of media or storage you choose. It's a perectly legal and legit option on Steam.

Valve collects all sorts of data from it's users so it knows what platform someone has Steam installed and used on. It could at the very least give a warning to Windows 7 users that they are buying an unsupported game.

Oh.. I see... So apparently you think that Steam owes you? A the very least they can do this or that for you? Why should they huh? They are already selling these games cheap to you? Why would they waste more money for your convenience?

And if you bothered to read, you'd see that they have forums where they tell you how to solve compatibility issues.

The retailer is still responsible for the goods that it sells.

Not like you want them to be responsible they're not!

Those burgers won't flip themselves.

Yeah, when knowlege fails, resort to insults, eh?

 

[Veliko]

I dont see anything to dislike about it.

Then you are easily pleased.

No, respectfully, your response is the absurd one. Your arguement has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand. Do you understand that retail boxes and Steam are two different distribution systems? You are not being forced to use any one of them! If you dont like Steam you buy a retail copy. Simple as that. And there is indeed no reason why you cant install a game fro ma DVD. Go and buy a DVD copy!

The OP was saying that he couldn't install the retail DVD versions from the DVD - he was forced to download them via Steam.

Oh.. I see... So apparently you think that Steam owes you? A the very least they can do this or that for you? Why should they huh? They are already selling these games cheap to you? Why would they waste more money for your convenience?

It's called customer service.

 

[Eugene86]

The OP was saying that he couldn't install the retail DVD versions from the DVD - he was forced to download them via Steam.

The OP clearly needs to learn how to use Steam as its very easy to install any of the games from a DVD.
Just launch Steam, put the DVD into your drive and click install when the autorun starts up. The game should then be installed off the DVD and steam might have to update it to the latest version, if there is one.

 

[RobertPters77]

Wow... some people have issues.

I don't "hate" steam outright.

I "hate" some of the things that steam does and does not let me 'do.'


I spent nearly a grand in the steam store. I buy most of my games at release. I pay full price, Because I am genuinely interested in the game. I'm not some 'sale whore' that waits for the next 50% price drop on shitty indie games that noone's ever heard of, then goes bragging about it on the internet how I got a pile of shit for half off.

)I seriously doubt you actually buy these multipacks, and even if you do, I doubt you buy them often. Are you some kind of a saint that constantly gifts multipacks to people? Can I have some games? Please? Pretty please?

Actually I do. It's called having expendable income. I bought the L4D 10 pack last Christmas, and gave out copies to random strangers on random CS:S and TF2 servers.

And no. You can't have anything.

 

[toyota]

I hate that the Steam forums have been down for several hours now...

 

[Barfo]

With my 60meg connection i can install games faster with steam than installing from a dvd drive. Hell i don't even have a DVD drive anymore in computer. lol

One time i installed win7 and steam and forgot to backup the game folders i had and installed all the games. I did not even know it was downloading them because i was playing bad company 2 when it was doing it. lol

Glad Charter does not enforce broadband caps like the other lame ISPs..

Shens. Steam pauses downloads when you start a game, you have to alt tab and resume the download.

 

[KaOTiK]

Shens. Steam pauses downloads when you start a game, you have to alt tab and resume the download.

busted ahha

 

[ibex333]

Then you are easily pleased.

And you got unrealistic demands.



The OP was saying that he couldn't install the retail DVD versions from the DVD - he was forced to download them via Steam.

No, there is no forcing here. Don't like it? buy retail!


It's called customer service.

Yeah? you haven't lived in Russia or China yet... Try the customer service there, and then tell me it's bad in United States you spoiled, little...

Actually I do. It's called having expendable income. I bought the L4D 10 pack last Christmas, and gave out copies to random strangers on random CS:S and TF2 servers.

And no. You can't have anything.

Awwwwwww.... Mannnnnnn... But it's EXPENDABLE!

Am I worse than your average stranger on random CS:S or TF2 server? ; )

 

[imaheadcase]

Shens. Steam pauses downloads when you start a game, you have to alt tab and resume the download.

except bad company 2 is not a steam game.

 

[lord_emperor]

"If I buy a steam game I expect it work on my system with zero issues."

Failed logic. It isn't Steam's responsibility to play tech support for every game in their library, yet like someone mentioned you can usually find the answer on the Steam forums.

Actually I think that is exactly Steam's responsibility.

- Proud owner of 0 steam games.

 

[simonizor]

except bad company 2 is not a steam game.

Correction, it's not a Steam ONLY game. It is on Steam, but the retail version doesn't require you to have Steam, so it's entirely possible that the guy above was playing a retail copy of BFBC2 while downloading something on Steam.

 

[gothamhunter]

Actually I think that is exactly Steam's responsibility.

- Proud owner of 0 steam games.

Then that makes you a moron. Steam is the digital delivery service and manager. Thats like saying GoG needs to make sure your PC supports the game before you download it, or the person you buy a game from on eBay has to make sure you can run it first. Steam didnt develop the game and will never develop games.

They will, however, offer tech support for games that their developer Valve created (Source based games basically).

I will never understand those who don't support Steam or buy games through Steam unless it's an actual technical reason, like dialup internet or bandwith caps.

 

[ShawnD1]

You think you get two jam-packed DVDs just to install Steam, or something, then?

Um yes??

I bought L4D at Best Buy. It came with a real DVD, with real DVD size. I hit install. It adds to the steam download queue. What the god damn hell!?!?

 

[toyota]

I installed the content directly from the DVDs for games like UT3 and FEAR 2.

 

[RobertPters77]

Actually I think that is exactly Steam's responsibility.

Exactly. In New York State if you buy software and it is incompatible with your system. Then, the seller owes you a full refund. The seller can however deny you a refund if they can prove the customer was properly informed prior to purchase. I know the law applies to online and digital services(like netflix)that may or may not have a presence in the state. If the customer is located in NYS the merchant goes by NYS rules. Even if no tax is collected.

Then that makes you a moron. Steam is the digital delivery service and manager.

Steam is also a Merchant. And as a merchant, Steam has certain responsibilities to the buyer. See above.

 

[gothamhunter]

Exactly. In New York State if you buy software and it is incompatible with your system. Then, the seller owes you a full refund. The seller can however deny you a refund if they can prove the customer was properly informed prior to purchase. I know the law applies to online and digital services(like netflix)that may or may not have a presence in the state. If the customer is located in NYS the merchant goes by NYS rules. Even if no tax is collected.


Steam is also a Merchant. And as a merchant, Steam has certain responsibilities to the buyer. See above.

Please show me where this law is stated.

Steam notes the system requirements for every game purchasable within their library on said library's page. Whether the game will work as intended or not is at fault of the developer, not the reseller.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I like the Steam sales, and think steam (and other digital distribution services) may be the only thing saving PC gaming.
That said, I recently had a problem trying to log on to steam and was very unhappy with their lack of response to my technical questions and the irrelevance of the reply when they finally did answer. It was like they did not even read my e-mail, but just sent a stock reply with some links that did not relate to the problem that I was having.
I finally got fed up with the whole situation and reformatted my hard drive in order to solve the problem, which was that I could not log on to Steam at all. I still dont know what suddenly happened that I could not log on, but reformatting solved the problem.

I also hate when you purchase a DVD game and have to use steam to install it. I have not had any problem installing from the DVD, but it makes it impossible to play other steam games on a different computer because you have to log on to Steam to play the DVD game, and only one computer can be logged on to steam at a time.
I really dont know why some people get so upset with games that require an online connection as DRM (I believe Ubisoft was the company most people were upset by), because to me this is basically what steam does.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I will never understand those who don't support Steam or buy games through Steam unless it's an actual technical reason, like dialup internet or bandwith caps.

Actually I can understand it perfectly. See my other post for the technical problems I had with Steam recently.

The only reason I can see to use steam over a hard copy is if you can get the game cheaper on steam or if you cant find a DVD of the game. Granted, this is often the case, but all other things being equal, I would still prefer a hard copy that does not require steam. Then I have complete control of the game, and dont have to be dependent on a second party to play the game.

I also try to use another service such as Direct2Drive when they have the same game at the same price, since they dont require you to log on to play the game. I also would like to see some competition to Steam, since I am always concerned when one entity controls so much of the market.