Direct2Drive - any reason not to use it?

[Jeff7181]

There's a couple older games I'd like to pick up and I'm wondering if there's any catch to buying them using Direct2Drive.com. This would obviously get around some stupid copy protection schemes used by some developers, but are there any new issues created by buying games this way besides not having installation media and pretty boxes?

 

[Schadenfroh]

The games that I bought from Direct2Drive feature Sony's SecuROM DRM and require me to activate it (one only gets a fixed number of activations before having to email / call tech support to get another installation approved). Kind of annoying, but Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines was worth it.

 

[Crusty]

I wish I could download and play any game I wanted to buy. I wouldn't mind even paying the same price. I never use the CD's after I put them in my computer once and the manuals after you read them once, not to mention you can find all the help you need using google. If I wanted to have stuff that I want to keep I'll buy the collectors edition.

I want to be able to read a review and within a few minutes already have bought it and have started downloading it. Steam is nice, and i've bought many games using it.. but they don't have everything! Hopefully one day soon

How is Direct2Drive.com's selection?

 

[Canai]

d2d games expire after a certain period of time unless you pay more money to extend the period. AND they get patched much later than retail copies.

Go for Steam or retail, and stay faaaar away from d2d.

 

[Jeff7181]

They expire?!?

 

[imported_FishTaco]

You only get to download them for a certain period of time. The game itself doesn't expire. So if you make a backup of the installation file, you should be ok. Obviously Steam is better, with it's unlimited downloads. As far as patches go, both Steam and D2D typically lag behind retail.

 

[Chosonman]

One word - STEAM!

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: FishTaco
You only get to download them for a certain period of time.

How long do they take to expire? I purchased Cold Fear in April or '06 and I can still download it. In fact, I'm downloading it now.

 

[imported_FishTaco]

Originally posted by: Raduque

Originally posted by: FishTaco
You only get to download them for a certain period of time.

How long do they take to expire? I purchased Cold Fear in April or '06 and I can still download it. In fact, I'm downloading it now.

Looks like they've changed it. I checked my account and my SWAT4 gold purchased in april 06 is still available for download. I know when I bought it there was a 90 day limit on downloads.

 

[FuryofFive]

i wouldnt touch D2D..ever

Steam is pretty good on updates.always keep my Half-life related items up to date

yeah like others said... you cant use retail patches which sux

 

[Jeff7181]

I looked into one of the games I wanted to get on there... Heritage of Kings: The Settlers. I couldn't find anything about problems installing or updating it. Since it was only $10 I figured I'd give it a try... it's working fine... I even applied a normal patch to bring it up to date. Looks like it depends on the game... older ones probably work better because their copy protection is less sophisticated than brand new games.

 

[coloumb]

one word - ebay.

buy a game, play it, then resell it on ebay.

 

[potato28]

I find Steam better, even though the patches lag a little there isn't the need to go find it. Steam just downloads it for you unless you have it set otherwise

 

[Chosonman]

Originally posted by: coloumb
one word - ebay.

buy a game, play it, then resell it on ebay.

And find out you can't play the game in multiplayer because your CD key is on bittorrent.

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: Chosonman

Originally posted by: coloumb
one word - ebay.

buy a game, play it, then resell it on ebay.

And find out you can't play the game in multiplayer because your CD key is on bittorrent.

that doesnt make since... why would you put your own cd key on bittorrent?

Basically play a game say $50 resell on ebay maybe 35, you only paid $15...

 

[networkman]

I've only used D2D for "Ravenshield" and "Swat4-Gold". No expirations on the games themselves or on the period available - just checked and still have downloads available. Only used D2D because I couldn't get either game retail, and needed quicker than eBay could deliver within a time frame.

My experience with Steam is that every time they fix 1 one thing, they break 3 more in the process.

 

[Chosonman]

Originally posted by: KeypoX

Originally posted by: Chosonman

Originally posted by: coloumb
one word - ebay.

buy a game, play it, then resell it on ebay.

And find out you can't play the game in multiplayer because your CD key is on bittorrent.

that doesnt make since... why would you put your own cd key on bittorrent?

Basically play a game say $50 resell on ebay maybe 35, you only paid $15...

I think it makes perfect sense. There's a reason why EB games don't sell used PC games.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: KeypoX

Originally posted by: Chosonman

Originally posted by: coloumb
one word - ebay.

buy a game, play it, then resell it on ebay.

And find out you can't play the game in multiplayer because your CD key is on bittorrent.

that doesnt make since... why would you put your own cd key on bittorrent?

Because somewhere along the chain of fleabayers, somebody posted an uncensored pic of the CD key and a pirate used it.