Let me get this out of the way: I like Steam. I like Valve.
We have a poll up right now that asks whether you use Steam. Let us know please.
I’ve been in digital distribution since before digital distribution was a thing. The very first computer game that was launched at retail and digitally distributed was Galactic Civilizations back in February 2003.
For us, digital distribution was a matter of life or death. Consider this, how many other independent (or heck, just non-publicly traded) game studios have been around 20 years? Go ahead. Count them up. Not many eh?
I incorporated Stardock back in 1993 from my college dorm room. And I can tell you, if it weren’t for digital distribution, we would have stopped making games a long time ago. That’s because the more people that are between you and your customer, the more opportunities there are for theft. Not by players but by retailers, publishers, distributors, etc.
One of the reasons why the whole “piracy” bellowing from publishers irritated me was because the biggest obstacle to getting paid for my work wasn’t from pirates. It was from the middle men.
In 1994, we released our first game. Galactic Civilizations for OS/2. It was published by a company called Advanced Idea Machines. The game was a huge hit. So I heard anyway. We didn’t get paid. And being a poor college student at the time, I couldn’t afford a lawyer.
So in 1996, we released Galactic Civilizations 2 for OS/2. This time we released it ourselves. But our retail distributor, Micro Central, went bankrupt and didn’t pay us and our mail order distributor, Blue Orchards went out of business as well and didn’t pay us.
So then we moved to Windows and we released Galactic Civilizations for Windows, published by Strategy First….and again, didn’t get paid.
Do you see a pattern here?
What saved us was digital distribution. With it, we could sell directly to customers, cutting out the middle man.
As you can imagine, when Steam came out we started to get a little nervous. Not because of the competition but because we feared the idea that we would one day need to sell our software through a third party and hence risk not getting paid…again.
As it had turned out, our fears have been unwarranted. Impulse, now owned by Gamestop, pays like clock work and so does Steam. By contrast, with a retail distributor you were lucky to get paid merely 90 days late. And that’s not counting the obnoxious and expensive RMA games they play. I like the service Steam provides. They’re easy to work with, they’re honest, and they’re passionate about what they do. And most importantly, they let me, as a game developer, focus on what matters: making games.
Anyway, the point here being, what are your feelings on Steam these days?
Oh? Are there any special settings to ensure this? If so, please tell. Unfortunately my experiences have told me this is not possible, and if it is I would like to make it so.
Nothing particular beyond having your login saved and making sure it saves your credentials on that computer in the settings in Steam.
There are some bugs that mess it up and may require you to go online to fix your Steam first, which is why it won't work for people sometimes. However, it is intended to work just fine when your computer is off and you lose internet, and it most certainly does work that way as I've done it countless times, there was even video proof in one of the latest threads about it when we were talking about this.
There *are* bugs with it though. The most likely one causing issues is when you shut off your computer with Steam still running, there's a chance the shutoff process cuts off Steam during it's logoff process, which leaves it unfinished and to fix it Steam will require to go online the next time you start it. This one can easily be avoided by simply shutting off Steam manually before you turn off your computer.
Another one that happens to people is that when they 'lose internet', it's often a network issue or DNS or whatever, and not a total disconnect. For whatever flaw Steam has, it doesn't seem to recognize that, especially if you're behind a network or router. In those cases, simply manually disconnecting the internet in Windows, or disconnecting your cable, or shutting off your router should make Steam recognize the loss.
None of this is ideal obviously, and these things certainly should be fixed. But the idea that you *need* to be online before you can go into offline mode is a pure myth. It's perfectly possible to do so when you're offline. Assuming there are no problems (of which granted, there are a number). The idea probably comes from a misinterpretation of the Offline mode FAQ which says you need to be online to configure it (however, that's just intended as a first time process)
I have yet to be abused and I have been with them for a few years. Steam has not touched me in an inappropriate place nor have they destroyed my PC. And as far as the comment about Steam being nothing more than a virus I have to laugh. But I'm in IT and have to work with clueless Users and they say similar things about all sorts of programs.
The only problem I have ever had with Steam is the placement of software but now that I have found out about Steammover I have no issue now.
My advice to all those that have issues with Steam is to learn the program most who have complained on this tread don't seam to know any of the options that steam has and did not know that many of their complaints are correctable.
Actually, abuse is not all that strong of a word. Check a dictionary, or online dictionary, and you will find many of the definitions apply perfectly well to Steam:
I'd like to correct you on two points:
Starcraft 2 has a perfectly working offline mode, yes, you have to connect once after you install it, but if you don't want to play multiplayer only the campaign or skirmish against AI you can do that. The servers shutting down is a valid consern, but don't forget that SC1/2 are national sports in South Korea, if they'd ever shut down Battlenet, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't rest until a LAN patch is released. (In recent news: south koreans stormed Blizzard's HQ after Diablo 3's bad launch.)
Civ 5 and SotSE: Rebellion both have offline mode, just like almost any steam game: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-AGCB-2555
Sadly this can't be said about Diablo 3, which is the reason i didn't buy it (queuing for single player is a joke).
I hope you'll get to enjoy at least one of these games, all 3 of them are great fun.
"Me don't like that ther Steam cuase I can't play me games offline!!!!"
"Um, yes you can, I do it all the time"
"It's evil, Steam punched out my liver and raped my dog!"
"This conversation has gone on too long...."
Bethseda release the 1.6 patch for Skyrim this week. Steam updated it automatically even though I have the option set to 'do not update this game'. My level 40+ save game is hosed with graphics issues. Yes, there's offline mode, but it can take weeks for me to play a character. If you start the game from the icon and Steam is not already in off-line mode, you are locked out of the game until the patch is done. There's no way to stop that. IMO off line mode is a 'hack' at best.I don't know if that is Bethseda's doing or Steams, but if I tell Steam to not update the game, then it shouldn't update the game. Let me know an update is available, but respect the options I have set and don't update the game, don't update the mods. There are features that I really like, but Steam takes too much control over my PC, control I'm not willing to give up.Skyrim is my first and last Steam/Steamworks game. As much as I loved Sins, I will pass on Rebellion.
I can't seem to log in to do the survey, so I'll just post my answer here: I do not use Steam, and will not buy any game that requires it.
Valve is a wonderful game developer with some really great games, but Steam's DRM still goes too far. For online-only games it's not bad, but banning people from singleplayer is a dick move. Even if I trust Valve not to abuse that little feature, there's no guarantee they won't ever sell my account to someone who would. It wouldn't be the first time something like that happened to me.
These days, I'll only use a digital distribution service if it has the option to download a standalone installer for each product.
EDIT: WTF??! Sins: Rebellion requires Steam too now? Maybe it's time to find a new hobby...
I wouldnt hate Steam if they would not make it digital download only and no version to buy at a store. That really makes me mad cuz my main computer doesnt have internet....and when i did buy a game from a store that Steam owned, Civilization V, i had to be online to activate it...
cool two more to add to the list of reasons Steam is evil,
It makes the graphics of games worse
It bans people from playing single player games...
Sigh!! Shakes head in disbelief.
About 5-6 years ago: I hated Steam and avoided it completly.
Today: I have around 90% of my games on steam and i love it.
I really dont want to write alot about pros and cons, it has allready been debated to death a million times.
Fact is that it is very convenient for all parties involved. Please keep putting your games on steam.
Steam is a good system.
However there is one thing that kills all the "fun" from it - you have to be online to play.
Couple of time I had internet outages and especially in the time I wanted to find something besides internet to do I couldn't play.
The "Go offline" option in this case it not good enough since you have to go offline in advance!
Other then this Steam is a great thing , even given the fact that you can't transfer or sale games but this "online" thing makes Steam most problematic.
As mentioned above, next time that happens try pulling your internet cable and see if it goes into offline mode then. Also, if your line has a tendency to have outages, close steam manually before shutting off your computer. It's perfectly possible to shut off your computer, pull your cable, turn it on and go into offline mode after that, but it gets messed up sometimes.
I don't use steam and I avoid it like it was death. Too much DRM for me and I don't have a internet connection - I only use it on my university on my laptop, which is not as good as my desktop in terms of performance.And to get Steam to work on offline mode you have to be online first - which is stupid and defeat the purpose of offline mode. Also, I do not like to not own my games and own just a "license" to play it.So, I like the actual DD Stardock uses, and would prefer if it was available through GOG.com too. If someone wants steam, fine, go ahead, but please don't make it a steam only release. Anyway, I already bought FE so nothing much I can do.
Hilarious how persistent a myth can be, even when the contrary is already stated in the same thread.
Please follow the instructions below to configure Offline Mode on your PC:
I hated Steam for many years, preferring Impulse. Last year with the sale of Impulse to Gamestop (who I refuse to do business with, period) I gave Steam another shot with an open mind.
All my Steam hatred was unfounded and just wrong.
At the end of the day it just works and I now have well over 50 games on it including rebuying (at 75% off sales) of most of the games I had on Impulse. Steam doesn't get in my way at all and I can play all my games just fine. Loved this past week when Crusader Kings II complete went on sale for 75% off. $12 for the game and all the DLC's? Please, take my money.
Frankly there is only one thing that concerns me and that is buying a game on Steam and Valve getting into a fight with the publisher and having to pull the game (I'm looking at you EA and Ubisoft). Doesn't mean your game won't run, just no more support or patches. However that is an issue with any digital service and most games you can still patch manually even if Steam doesn't offer the patch.
Steam to me is a nice store, good front end/central location for most of my games, and fantastic sales and deals all the time. I can't wait for the Summer sales to begin in a few weeks and see what I can get at 75-90% off.
The 5 1/4 floppy disc is dead. Good riddance.
The 3.5 floppy is dead. Good riddance.
The CD drive is dead...although I still have one in my computer, I havent used it for anything in over a year. I loathe the cd. Constantly putting the disc in the drive to play a game meant getting scratches until finally, the disc dies. My kids using the disc's as frisbee's. Losing them.
So I download no-cd cracks for my games. I can store the CD's in a box and play the games as I want. But I do not want to trust the no-cd cracks...I would rather trust the publisher/distributer to offer me a no-cd version.
Enter Stardock Central/Impulse. Galactic Civilization I could play without worring about where the disc might be. The idea that I could re-download the game when I re-install windows...(and I have probably gone through 4 computers since I bought GalCiv) was great. So great that I rebought a bunch of games just to get rid of the CD. (Like Civilization IV, and Oblivion)
Enter Steam. For some reason, I disdained it. Not sure why, although I think I had some of the same paranoid thoughts that a lot of poster's here have stated. But then, there was no game on Steam that I wanted to play that wasnt on Impulse. Then a game came out that needed Steam. (Civilization V). So I downloaded the client, and bought it.
So now I can give you my (selfish) reasons why I like Steam:
1) I can redownload my games (like from Impulse/Gamestop). Quickly (I have a 100mbs internet connection).
2) I never have to use offline mode, as my internet connection is rocksolid. Just for fun though, to see what all the whining was about, I put Steam into offline mode, and pulled the plug on my internet connection. Oh look..all my games work except for Settlers, which apparently needs a connection to Ubisofts servers to play. Not Steam's fault at all! Imagine that.
3) It is a mild form of DRM. Yup, you heard me, I like DRM. Its what allows developers to develop new games for me to play. When I was in high school, we got an Apple II in the class. Somebody parents bought Ultima I for xmas, and we all copied it and played it. Not necessarily because we couldnt buy it ourselves ( I probably couldnt) but because it was convient and easy. All it cost was the 5 dollar floppy to put it on.
An analogy I like is the door lock. I lock the door when I leave the house, not because I want to stop the professional thief from breaking in and stealing my stuff, but to stop the neighbourhood kid from walking in and drinking all my beer when I leave for work. Thats what Steam does..it stops the kid from just handing out the game his mom bought him to any/all friends who happen to walk near him...because it costs him nothing to do so. It doesnt matter if most of them wouldnt have bought the game. What matters is more people will buy the game then get it from a professional pirate. Which means, I get to play a superior PC game instead of having to buy a console to play console games on.
And to continue on the Selfish line of reasoning....I really don't care if people like or dislike steam, or if they will or will not buy a game if is on Steam. What only matters is I will buy any game that interests me, and I will usually wait about 3 months after it is released to buy it patched and cheaper. And I will do it on Steam or Impulse/Gamestop or direct from the developer if that is what it takes. As long as I don't have to stick a #$@#!@#!! CD into my computer to play it.
Steps 1 through 5 are almost always satisfied after you finish downloading the game for the first time and you've launched it once. After that, you can cut the cord and start offline at your leisure. You don't have to log on 'every' time you wish to play offline. Exception being when the developer mandates their own always-online connection (like Ubisoft did with Assassin's Creed 2 as I recall) which isn't something Valve/Steam are responsible for.
About two minutes before this post, I launched a game of Sins: Rebellion with the hardwire disconnected and it worked fine (and no, this system is not on a wireless network). I also tried pulling the connection mid-game. The game continued and even after quitting it, I was able to relaunch in offline mode without a problem.
Barring some strange bug (which I've never seen but I'll mention in case someone here actually has), the only time you need to be online to play your game is to complete the initial install. If doing even that much is causing you problems then... well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on the measure of inconvenience inflicted.
You both right and wrong.
It take about 30 minutes here until Steam "understands" it can't find internet and only then stops attempts to connect and goes into offline mode.
As already mentioned. This is simply a misunderstood FAQ. It's a noobs guide to setting up Offline mode. You *need* to be online at some point to do the checks, but this stuff is initial setup, not *every time* as already mentioned by the guy above me. Once the above is done you do *not* need to be online to go into offline mode unless you're unfortunate enough to run into a bug, or forgot to do a first time run of your game after downloading it (first time run finishes install)
I don't see how hard it is to understand. Me and many others have used Steam while Offline and put it into Offline mode after that fact countless times. It's a simple fact that it can be done and I know it's true because I've done it myself, and seen many skeptics come back into discussions showing that they did indeed manage to do it.
@above post. I'm not arguing that there aren't bugs or flaws. It's certainly a feature that can use some work and doesn't run as flawless as say Origin's version. But the notion that you *have* to be online to go into offline mode, which is what I'm arguing against, is simply false.
To be fair, the part where most people have an issue with Steam's Offline mode is getting into it *after* having lost internet, which is still possible, but not as reliable. The biggest problem there is, that if you do have a problem that prevents you from getting in there's usually no real way to fix it till you get back online. (apart from the network/cable one)
I didn't say you need to be online every time. I said that to get Steam to work on offline mode you have to be online first, as you admited, and that being necessary to go online for you to activate offline mode defeats the purpose of offline mode. I have one computer that I don't and can't have internet access, If I bought the game on GOG, I could play it on my desktop pc just fine if I downloaded the game on my laptop. But I can't play any steam game on my desktop because to go offline I need to go online.You NEED to go ONLINE ONCE to activate steam OFFLINE mode, and this DEFEATS the purpose of and OFFLINE mode. Read my post again, I never said you can't be in offline mode, I said you have to be online first sometime to do it.
I understand your point then. However, I assumed since you quoted me you were responding to what I was talking about. Yes, you do need to be online at some point to be able to play them. To be honest, with a digital retailer, I don't think that's too much to ask. I realize that's an inconvenience for a computer that'll never be connected to the Internet though, but I do think these days, that's becoming more of a rarity than a common thing.
While I am not a game developer I think it just takes a quick look around to see everyone at least in the younger generations (ie. the new gaming customer) is connected all of the time these days. I find it hard to believe that the gaming customer who truly "doesn't have internet on their main gaming rig" isn't becoming such a rarity that one could assume the loss of those potential customers in sales pretty much inconsequential.
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