Impulse Sucks.

[Scouzer]

I spent a long time last night deciding whether to expand my digital download realm to D2D or Impulse since they both have Mass Effect 2 for $30. I decided Impulse.

What a shitty ass system. The software is terrible. I kept getting error messages like "You can't purchase until you login" but there was nowhere in the GUI to login. My username/pw was set in the Preferences to no avail.

I finally figure out how to login and purchased ME2. I complete my order and expect to have my game instantly like Steam...nope. Their system said I am going to have to wait for a confirmation email.

That was about 15 hours ago now. I don't have a game. I don't have a confirmation email that I even spent money. Their support doesn't work weekends. Why would anyone bother?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Agreed I like what they're trying to do but impulses interface is useless. It's even hard to search for games to purchase.

 

[heat901]

Check your spam?

 

[fatpat268]

I don't remember it being that hard to purchase games off of Impulse when I bought that abomination of a game they call Demigod for $50 (!). Actually, it was quite easy. However though, the whole login system is awkward for sure, and they enable ads on your desktop by default. You'll get an ad in you system tray once a day for something on the impulse store unless you disable it.

D2D works well. You don't have to download a separate client. You download all the game files through their web interface and then you install it on your own. The only thing that you have to do is activate the game, which usually happens when you first start the game.

 

[zerogear]

Impulse works pretty damn well for me, I prefer it over Steam.

 

[Fox5]

I preferred impulse over d2d, mainly for automated patches.
However, it's more annoying to use than steam, even if its games can run without it.

 

[Fenixgoon]

steam > impulse >>>>> d2d

 

[SunnyD]

steam > impulse >>>>> d2d

This sounds about right.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I've only used Impulse for a couple of games, mainly the Gal Civ games, but found it ok, but I much prefer Steam.

 

[CPA]

steam>d2d>impulse>gog

 

[you2]

Never used gog but they have a few games of interest; what is the issue with gog that result in the below comments ?

(I've used impulse twice without issue but mostly use steam; and daily curse the few games i've purcahsed that use gfwl and swear will never buy another).

steam>d2d>impulse>gog

 

[Lonyo]

I preferred impulse over d2d, mainly for automated patches.
However, it's more annoying to use than steam, even if its games can run without it.

Some 'Steam games' can run without Steam too, just an FYI.
Often it's mostly older games (and obviously only games which don't integrate Steam services like the server browser).

 

[Zenoth]

steam>d2d>impulse>gog

What's wrong with GoG in your case?

I've bought exactly nine games at GoG so far and I've had no issues with it whatsoever.

 

[frostedflakes]

Heh, I was considering holding out for a Steam sale as well, but ended up jumping on that $30 Mass Effect 2 deal.

Maybe their system has just been bogged down lately, I don't know how fast it normally is because this was my first purchase. I think it took about 4-5 hours for my confirmation email to show up, and once I got that it became available for download in the Impulse client.

Keep in mind, they mention that it can take up to 24 hours to receive the confirmation email. I'm sure your order went through, just be patient.

The nice thing is that once you get the game downloaded, you can run it without the Impulse client.

 

[Martimus]

steam > impulse >>>>> d2d

impulse >>>> steam >>>>> d2d

I have had an order of magnitude more problems with Steam than I have had with Impulse. Plus their customer support will actually help you unlike Valve. Neither is a perfect service, but Impulse has fixed most of the problems that I have with Steam.

 

[thedosbox]

I'm considering using Impulse/D2D to keep Valve honest, but would like to know the downsides of their services.

Rather than posting retarded x > y "comments", it might be helpful to explain the issues you had with Impulse/D2D/GoG etc.

I've used GoG and their system works really well. Login to the site, purchase the game, download the game, install the game, play the game. No client that needs to be online all the time, no adware, no DRM.

 

[shortylickens]

I wish I could comment. As easy as Steam has been for me, I've felt no need to try anything else. All the problems I hear from other users tells me I'm not missing out.
I've already heard the "Its just convenient DRM" argument a hundred times.
I dont care.
Aside from StarDock damn near every company is using horribly invasive DRM these days. Many times it can even break your system. I'll take Steams minimalist approach over those other guys. Seeing has how you can run games in Offline mode I dont know how Steam could be any better and still work for Valve.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Didn't have any issues buying demigod off impulse. Had issues buying warhammer online off D2D haven't messed with them since.

 

[shortylickens]

Didn't have any issues buying demigod off impulse. Had issues buying warhammer online off D2D haven't messed with them since.

This may sound silly but I needs saying anyway.

It seems to me that the standard way of purchasing an MMO should be online. That should be the norm. You play online and pay for service online. Why do you have to go elseware to purchase the game itself?
Weird.
Also, they should reduce the online price by about 20% to make it more interesting. They'd still probably have a higher profit margin than going through a store front.

 

[Martimus]

I'm considering using Impulse/D2D to keep Valve honest, but would like to know the downsides of their services.

Rather than posting retarded x > y "comments", it might be helpful to explain the issues you had with Impulse/D2D/GoG etc.

I've used GoG and their system works really well. Login to the site, purchase the game, download the game, install the game, play the game. No client that needs to be online all the time, no adware, no DRM.

Impulse is a relatively new service, and it has some issues when you buy a game using a different e-mail address than the one you have your account set up under. You can still get it to work, but you need to do it manually. I haven't had any other issues yet with the service, but I have only bought maybe 10 games using this service.

What I really like about their service is that they will bend over backwards to help you when you have any issues. They have an actual customer support line available, and the people there work hard to make sure you are satisfied.

Steam has issues with the UI, in that it just randomly won't work at times. This isn't a huge deal, as I can often exit Steam and reopen it to make it work again. It is far more polished than Impulse, as it is much older, and they generally have more sales than Impulse (although Impulse has good sales too.)

The thing I don't like about Steam is that their customer service is almost non-existant. When I e-mailed them (they have no phone option) when I couldn't get their store to work on Steam, they never bothered responding the first 2 times. I tried again on my next computer when I had the same problem, and they still had no interest in helping me get the store running so I could actually buy their products. I couldn't imagine how they respond to someone who has a problem with something they already bought using their service, when they won't help someone trying to give them money.

Either way, I use both services, and pretty often. Impulse has more features (like Impulse TV where you can look at video reviews of games to get an idea of what they are), nearly mandatory demos for games (it used to be that way when they were Stardock Central), and backup options where you can keep a backup of all versions of the game (say version 1.7 ran better than 1.8, you can roll back your version if you want.) Steam generally has better prices during their sales, and has more games available. Both have their strengths, and you shouldn't have too many problems using either service.

 

[heat901]

I like impulse cause of the name....

Ive used all 3 system I think all are nice in their own way. I like impulse for the customer support(you can get refunds on games), steam for its sales are normally banging and d2d for it being just a webpage you download from.

 

[thedosbox]

FWIW, I tried getting through the gamersgate checkout process and gave up. They have two options for credit cards - paynova and clickandbuy.

Paynova wasn't usable this morning due to a technical error as gamersgate couldn't reach the service. It's still unusable six hours later. Doesn't inspire confidence.

Clickandbuy requires (a) Java installed and (b) more personal information than I feel comfortable giving. They're not my bank - why on earth do they need my date of birth and mothers maiden name?

Combined with Impulse's arcane order processing for ME2, looks like I'll stick with steam and gog.

 

[Scouzer]

Yes I checked my spam folder. I still haven't received my ME2. It's been what.. almost 48 hours.

 

[quadomatic]

steam>d2d>impulse>gog

I can't really say anything about Impulse. I buy tons of games on Steam and I love it. I bought Red Faction Guerrilla from D2D for $5, and I didn't have any real problems with...it was pretty darn simple. Not much to get mad about. Just not a great interface.

I also use GOG, and I don't see how GOG goes at the bottom of this list. At least for me, it's tied with Steam. It has a really great website. The games are DRM free. They're made to work flawlessly with new operating systems (you can't beat that!), and they occasionally have nice deals (I'm not sure whether I can contend whether the games are fairly priced since they're about the only place to get them...).

This reminds me - I've yet to even TRY The Longest Journey, Fallout or Fallout 2, even though I bought them on GOG AGES ago...damn. My laptop only has Ubuntu on it, and those games don't work in WINE...at least not with an intel GMA lol

lol, just bought Sanitarium because of GOG Promo ($5...if I hadn't already bout The Longest Journey I would've gotten that too)...now to see whether I can play these games in WINE...unlikely because of my Intel GMA (not cuz of WINE)

 

[AlgaeEater]

Yes I checked my spam folder. I still haven't received my ME2. It's been what.. almost 48 hours.

You definitely need to send them an e-mail or get in touch, sounds like something is wrong.

I never had a problem with Impulse or Steam. Impulse has always been good to me just as Steam has, so I guess I'm just lucky.

But I'm loyal to my fellow gamers first than any company, and quoting Joker from Mass Effect 2, "I don't trust anyone who makes more money than I do". Let us know how things go; I would be royally pissed myself to have an entire weekend gone without being able to play a game I paid for... especially one as fun as Mass Effect 2.