Prey to follow HL2 distrobution model

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: igowerf

Originally posted by: apoppin
does your little brother know how to update video card drivers? CRITICAL for new games . . . and it's right there in every game manual . . . 'till now - now the paper manual is no longer "necessary" - you can always print out the .pdf

i can't disagree with the loaning issues . . . i have 'traded' games . . . what some are saying - i can't since i have no 1st hand knowledge of it - it that you CAN be shut down by Valve if they 'catch you' doing what you are doing. . . . the HL2 EULA is probably on CD1. . . . i don't have mine here

He doesn't know how to update drivers either. I do that for him whenever I'm home. Driver updates should also be transparent to the user though. I have automatic updates turned on for his computer to make sure that he gets the latest security fixes. In fact, I use auto update myself. It hasn't ever bogged down my system or interrupted my work. MS releases some drivers through auto update, but probably not the newest. My brother hasn't run into any drivers problems... yet.

Valve has shutdown a lot of accounts for various reasons, so I've been careful not to screw myself over. I tried playing CS:S with my roommate once and found that we can only join different servers. Joining the same server gave us a warning about the account being in use. I'm sure that's in violation of the EULA, but I just wanted to play some video games with my roommate. Is that so wrong? Valve didn't strike me down with a bolt of lightening or anything like that though. Most of us have our own Steam accounts now though and play a fair amount together.

ok, so your first argument of "ease" is shot down by the complexity of the PC itself . . . perhaps your little brother [and i] would be better off with a next gen console - simplicity itself . . . turn it on, load a game and PLAY - right out of the box . . . or do you think the 'box' will have to connect to the 'net to see if it has a legimate user playing or not? [maybe Next next gen :disgust:]

perhaps you were just "lucky" . . . i have heard of users having their accounts TERMINATED without a warning for logging simultaneously in with the same account. IF that happened, i'd like to see if you would be still singing praises about steam/valve.
:evil:

 

[Snapster]

Steam was the first major attempt at this type delivery system for mass market software. I think everyone has learned allot from its success and failures. To be honest in the future I can see all software being delivered in a similar way, like it or not. The only problem I have with it is what if the company goes out of business; you can't play an older game because you can't activate it. Possibly one day there may be third party activation providers or the sorts to cope with this issue, or even workarounds (I hope).

 

[SynthDude2001]

Meh...I've had no real problems with Steam (although the possibility of it interfering with game performance still troubles me a bit), but if implemented properly, I can't see that it's really a bad thing. Of course, it would be nice if the elimination of publisher costs would be passed onto consumers as well, but we all know that's not going to happen...

 

[VIAN]

Hey what about the fact that valve releases a software update every other week, bug fixes, new maps... Steam allows for a better delivery than just posting a patch on a website. And if a company had to do that, you better believe they aint releasing more than two patches.

I like the idea that when I try to connect into the server and I don't have the map, it DLs.

Valve has updates every other week because they can't do it right the first time. This is just an easy excuse to be lazy. Plus what if I don't want to update. Remember that fix that was "supposed" to fix stuttering, but ended up creating the problem for users that didn't previously have it. And whatever happened to patch only when you have problems. Some developers are being really lazy today and not doing what they are supposed to. id software is the greatest. They didn't need to patch the game as soon as it came out. They didn't even patch it for like a year for extra stuff.

And if they are gonna off it online. Give us a freakin discount. With all the money that valve saved with anti-piracy and cutting out the middle man, I would have expected at least 40 for online, but nooo. There is no point. It is better to buy it from the store because it would take less time to install than if you have to Download and then install.

I've installed Steam on three different computers and play CS:S and HL2 on all three computers without problems. You can easiy loan it to your friend to play on his or her computer. In fact, you don't even need to meet with them to give them the media. They just need your Steam log-in, which is pretty much the same as lending your friend your CD and CD-Key. Your Steam password isn't the same as your other passwords right? I hope not.

Yeah, but unlike a CD-key, he can now steal your account and there would be nothing you could do about it. What are you gonna say, I let my friend borrow my account. This is different than stealing games. He could mess up your settings. Things could change. It is MY account.

As for patches, I can definitely download patches anytime I want to, but my little brother doesn't know to do that. He never installs patches before he plays a game and I always yell at him to patch first, then play. I'd rather have him wait 20 minutes for the first patch to automatically install than have his computer crash on him and have his save data become incompatible when he's forced to update. It's not something that computer users should have to worry about. I agree with you that if you buy a game, you should be able to play it right away, but I also think that gamers shouldn't have to worry about getting the latest patch to get the best performance or the most balanced gameplay.

Then go play consoles. He can't function with a computer, tell him to go and get a cheaper almost 90% working software.

 

[daniel1113]

There is no good argument against Steam other than personal preference.

First, you don't need to be connected to Steam to play the game once it has been authenticated. Second, the system requirements are listed right on the box. Third, you don't complain when HL2 won't run correctly on a GeForce2 at 1600x1200x32 with AA, so why are you whining about having dial-up? It's up to you to upgrade to broadband if you think dial-up is too slow. Don't like it? Don't buy the game.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: daniel1113
There is no good argument against Steam other than personal preference.

First, you don't need to be connected to Steam to play the game once it has been authenticated. Second, the system requirements are listed right on the box. Third, you don't complain when HL2 won't run correctly on a GeForce2 at 1600x1200x32 with AA, so why are you whining about having dial-up? It's up to you to upgrade to broadband if you think dial-up is too slow. Don't like it? Don't buy the game.

In all fairness, although I'm not vehemently anti-Steam, it's really annoying having to be online even to play the single-player game. I have had broadband for years, but from time to time I've been somewhere with my laptop where I wanted to play HL2 offline, and no Internet connection when Steam starts means no access to HL2 or your other Steam apps.

 

[Fern]

but from time to time I've been somewhere with my laptop where I wanted to play HL2 offline, and no Internet connection when Steam starts means no access to HL2 or your other Steam apps.

When Steam starts up, just hit the "off-line mode" and you s/b good to go.

My gaming rig has no internet connection. Although I had to drag it into my office to d/l the crap to get the game going. But once taht was done and I took my rig back home, I've had no prob playing the single-player mission w/o a connection

Fern

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: VIAN
Yeah, but unlike a CD-key, he can now steal your account and there would be nothing you could do about it. What are you gonna say, I let my friend borrow my account. This is different than stealing games. He could mess up your settings. Things could change. It is MY account.

I've never had that kind of problem with my friends. I would never lend my Steam account to an acquaintance, but my friends are welcome to use my Steam account.

Then go play consoles. He can't function with a computer, tell him to go and get a cheaper almost 90% working software.

Warcraft 3 isn't available on consoles and neither is Counter-Strike. Are you going to say that if you can't install drivers, then you shouldn't play these games?

Functioning with a computer doesn't require that you know how to install drivers. It's like arguing that everyone should drive a manual transmission because that should be the requirement to owning a car. It's not constructive, it's elitist.

A good human-computer interface should be completely transparent to the user, but we're obviously not at a point where complete transparency is possible. I'm saying that things like Windows Update and Steam are a step in that right direction. I hope you guys realize that transparent UI and integration are big in electronics. With the popularity of HTPCs and HTPC software, it's obvious which direction consumer electronics/computing is headed.

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: apoppin
Remember, the REAL reason the Developers are using Online delivery is to CUT OUT the publisher.

and it's GREED cause we will get NO advantage as consumers for the money THEY are saving.

Perhaps it's time to let PC gaming DIE.
:thumbsdown:

Greed or not, it's a good move to cut out publishers. Think about what EA has done to PC gaming...

The publishers are the ones who rush the developers to get the games out before they are ready... games like BF2 were rushed due to the publisher (EA) wanting to get their money quicker, and that's why we have buggy games that need patching right away.

If Steam is a step away from EA then I'm all for it.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: NeoV
you people crying about Steam are a bunch of babies, and likely software pirates unhappy that your stupid little programs like alcholol%%% don't work with HL2

get over it

if you are stuck with dial-up, it is NOT a good method of delivery.
:thumbsdown:

i won't bother with Prey on PC if this is the only delivery method

looks like PC gaming can go to hell - if this is our only choice - i'll get a console
:shocked:

Oh for God's sake, no one has an excuse to cry about dialup. It's 200-f*cking-5. Throw away your horse and buggy, move out of the log cabin, and get some broadband.

 

[Fenixgoon]

steam is slow as fvck, and has slowed down every single game i play across it. i used to play NS and Specialists at 1600x1200, 4xFSAA, 16xASF... now its not even playable at 10x7, courtesy of steam. my rig may not be the greatest thing, but its well past HL1 standards.

 

[biostud]

Except for the "Steam server is busy, try again later" for several days I think the auto-patching is fine.

 

[dornick]

In regards to the OP, if anyone still cares, I call BS on being able to play the game "within minutes" of buying it online. You can't download a game engine while you play it.

In reagrds to the rest of the thread, I have mixed feelings on Steam. I really like the online distribution method and the whole "all games here" approach. On the other hand, it pisses me off that we dont actually own the game. We don't own it because we can't sell it. Back in November I first learned about Steam and bought an account off Ebay, having no clue that it was a "no-no". In December I bought HL2 on ebay and was happy up till a month ago when Valve locked my account (presumably bc I bought it). I have a physical copy of HL2 w/ Cd key in front of me and its worthless because Valve decided to say "Sorry, you are no longer allowed to play. Have a nice day." And they wont reassign my HL2 cd key because there are other games on the account that I don't have keys for.

So in general, I'd give Steam a :thumbsdown:

 

[jjones]

Any game that requires online activation and/or internet connection to play won't be getting any dollars from me. I have no problem with online delivery but only if it's just a one-time deal that gives me all of the content at once and doesn't require any further online connection to activate or play, except multiplayer of course.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: NeoV
you people crying about Steam are a bunch of babies, and likely software pirates unhappy that your stupid little programs like alcholol%%% don't work with HL2

That's why I have BlindWrite.

I don't like having to connect to the internet to play a singleplayer game. It makes no sense to me, and it's a needless hassle. In fact I went out of my way to download the cracked version from teh intarweb so I didn't have to deal with Steam or the bizzare, broken up way it stores games on your hard drive. The performance boost was noticable, by the way. Cutting Steam out of the equation gave me quicker load times and slightly better framerates.

And before you say, "well you can even authenticate Steam with dialup," let me point out that I am in the process of buying a nice Sager laptop so that I can game in places like airplanes, buses, etc. There is no dialup there. The $3.00/minute phone-in-the-back-of-the-seat BS doesn't count.

The portability Steam offers is nice, I'll give you that. Requiring constant authentication is not. Give users the option of one-or-the-other checks: CD or Steam. (One that works, that is) That way I can play my game on the f%$#ing airplane.

 

[akubi]

so... is prey ever gonna go gold, or will it be another 3d realms bomb like duke nukem forever?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Happy steam user here

It has never been slow to me and i have never had any trouble with it. I get new content for the games i bought quickly and easily thru steam updates that come down automatically. I also would rather give my money to Valve instead of Vivendi.

 

[hans030390]

I must be one of the few that actually really likes steam. I have broadband of course, but it certainly doesnt bloat. It's easy to play all the valve games whenever you want. Some people complain about it starting up with the computer, which you can easily turn off in msconfig.

Updates are automatic. Easy to find a game to play online. Doesn't bloat. Oh, and it eats up all of your internet connection to prevent lag and it makes downloading updates really fast.

So I don't see what's so bad about it. I love it.

 

[warcrow]

Has anyone tried to install steam at work with their account? Does your account bind to your MAC address or something?

 

[sandorski]

Steam rocks. Bring on more Steam distributed games. No boxes, no freakin slips of paper and junk, No-CD required! That's just for starters. Easy to backup files to CD/DVD, always got latest Patch, new official content always updated, you don't even have to leave your house to get it, and you don't sit at the door waiting for the FedEx guy. Bring it on!