STEAM: what's the deal with it?

[HFC_Dolphin]

Hi guys,

Has anyone bought a game that needed STEAM?
What's the deal with it?
Any problems like Starforce?

Just asking cause I see new Total War uses this scheme and I'd like some information before I install "problems" to my PC.

Thanks for any replies!

[Feuerfalke]

I have used RedOrchestra for years and recently bought Empire: Total War, which is based on STEAM, too.

STEAM is basically a gamebrowser that allows you to buy and download games that are then bound to your login.

This has pros and cons of course:
On the Pro side:
Most games are cheaper with digital download (atm you can buy UT3 for 12USD compared tp 25-35USD normal price range)
The game is automatically updated
The game is bound to your login, not to your PC. You won't lose activations or something when changing computers
You will have easy access, repair and installation-options for games, addon and mods.
STEAM supports Cheat-Protection and offers own technology to verify protected game-content is unmodified, before entering protected servers.

On the downside:
You cannot resell games. This is basically the same idea used in modern DRMs with limited installations. With the limited activations, though, switching PCs without deactivating successfully or when you have no time or no knowledge to backup your activation-registration, you loose an activation. With STEAM, this is not a problem (you can even install it on different systems, but of course only login from your account with 1 PC)

The smart user also realizes another thing: Make several accounts, and then you can also resell games, by selling the account of the game with it.

The most commonly repeated downside is the collected of statistics. STEAM registers how long you play a game and collects this time, to make up an overall ranking for the games and to advertise them to users with similar games installed.


To end another myth: You don't need to be online to play STEAM-games. You can switch the browser to offline-mode and then STEAM also won't send the statistical data online. So, if people complain about the above, it's mostly because they don't know what is going on on one hand and does not know how to end it on the other. ;)





About StarForce:
It's no longer the bad thingy that installs malware on your PC. It's only used for online-activation, now, and doesn't install anything. But SF now commonly used to enforce the limited number of activations. (e.g. with DCS: BlackShark)

[HFC_Dolphin]

Fantastic reply!
All information needed there :-)

Thank you!

PS. Already ordered Total War :D

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

I have used RedOrchestra for years and recently bought Empire: Total War, which is based on STEAM, too.

STEAM is basically a gamebrowser that allows you to buy and download games that are then bound to your login.

This has pros and cons of course:
On the Pro side:
Most games are cheaper with digital download (atm you can buy UT3 for 12USD compared tp 25-35USD normal price range)
The game is automatically updated
The game is bound to your login, not to your PC. You won't lose activations or something when changing computers
You will have easy access, repair and installation-options for games, addon and mods.
STEAM supports Cheat-Protection and offers own technology to verify protected game-content is unmodified, before entering protected servers.

On the downside:
You cannot resell games. This is basically the same idea used in modern DRMs with limited installations. With the limited activations, though, switching PCs without deactivating successfully or when you have no time or no knowledge to backup your activation-registration, you loose an activation. With STEAM, this is not a problem (you can even install it on different systems, but of course only login from your account with 1 PC)

The smart user also realizes another thing: Make several accounts, and then you can also resell games, by selling the account of the game with it.

The most commonly repeated downside is the collected of statistics. STEAM registers how long you play a game and collects this time, to make up an overall ranking for the games and to advertise them to users with similar games installed.


To end another myth: You don't need to be online to play STEAM-games. You can switch the browser to offline-mode and then STEAM also won't send the statistical data online. So, if people complain about the above, it's mostly because they don't know what is going on on one hand and does not know how to end it on the other. ;)





About StarForce:
It's no longer the bad thingy that installs malware on your PC. It's only used for online-activation, now, and doesn't install anything. But SF now commonly used to enforce the limited number of activations. (e.g. with DCS: BlackShark)

Feurefalke, I bought Empire the day it came out and cannot get it to work on Vista 64......Many others have this problem and I am beginning to hate steam with a passion......If it doesnt get sorted out soon I will never buy another thing from them. I seem to recall you run Vista too and have/had an Ati card as well as Nvidia? Can you tell me what drivers you are using to run it? I can't run it on 8.12, Im going to try the latest 9.2 tonight. This is the third time I have downloaded it, having bought the retail copy and unable to install from the DVD-ROM. I know this isnt really the place, but I badly need help and Steam have not even bothered to reply yet to my request for help.....Customer service is atrocious and I am not a happy bunny. Grrrrr.:mad: Heres a copy of the letter I sent them......

"Hi there. Ok, I bought the retail version of Empire:Total War and tried to install it but could not, getting an error message saying "Failed to run install script". After many attempts, I decided to activate the game on steam which then resulted in me downloading it, which took about a day! I now have it installed, have verifed integrity of game cache (Size 15091mb) and defragmented....but on trying to launch I get a message saying "Empire: Total War has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and it notify you if a solution is available". Windows Vista64 is fully updated. I have tried to disable Windows UAC and still does not work. I have run as administrator and it still does not work. Tried running in XP SP2 mode, and completely disabled firewall and anti-virus, still does not work. Why could I not install from the DVD ROM in the first place, thats why I bought it??? I am new to steam and there may be something I am missing....but I must say I am very disappointed with it, as its a lot of money to pay for something that I cannot get to work!

Thank kindly for your help.
Yours Sincerely, Mark."

[Skarphol]

This is probably to no help Orville, but I've just bought the DVD-version of Empire:Total War and it runs well on my Vista 64-bit Home Premium with one exception: The intro-video doesn't play. I have a GeForce 8800 GTS, and I think it must be a driver issue. But I'm not really sure.
Another weird thing is that Steam suddenly changed language to Bulgarian or something, and I can't get it back to something readeable, because now I don't understand any of the menues.. That is for the Steam browser, not the game!

Skarphol

[Feuerfalke]

Yes, it's apparently a driver-issue or to be more exact: A resolution-problem.

I guess some thing with the new blink-version?

Anyway, that bug is not related to Vista or XP, as I get the error on both systems, especially after playing any game and not rebooting before starting E:TW.

I also read in different forums that this bug occurs with nVidia and with ATI, especially with the latest Cats, which seem to be quite buggy in combination with some games. I didn't get the chance to test them, yet.


Concerning the installation problems, I read similar statements on other forums. It seems that it is best to install STEAM from the download-installer and complete that installation and update-process, before installing the actual game from the DVD.


E:TW is really awesome, with all the details and possibilities. A *lot* more complex than any other TW-game so far and much harder in battle. With the techtree, advanced diplomacy and regional resources, it's rather a Civilization5 with tactical engagements. :)

[JG27CaptStubing]

Feurefalke, I bought Empire the day it came out and cannot get it to work on Vista 64......Many others have this problem and I am beginning to hate steam with a passion......If it doesnt get sorted out soon I will never buy another thing from them. I seem to recall you run Vista too and have/had an Ati card as well as Nvidia? Can you tell me what drivers you are using to run it? I can't run it on 8.12, Im going to try the latest 9.2 tonight. This is the third time I have downloaded it, having bought the retail copy and unable to install from the DVD-ROM. I know this isnt really the place, but I badly need help and Steam have not even bothered to reply yet to my request for help.....Customer service is atrocious and I am not a happy bunny. Grrrrr.:mad: Heres a copy of the letter I sent them......

"Hi there. Ok, I bought the retail version of Empire:Total War and tried to install it but could not, getting an error message saying "Failed to run install script". After many attempts, I decided to activate the game on steam which then resulted in me downloading it, which took about a day! I now have it installed, have verifed integrity of game cache (Size 15091mb) and defragmented....but on trying to launch I get a message saying "Empire: Total War has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and it notify you if a solution is available". Windows Vista64 is fully updated. I have tried to disable Windows UAC and still does not work. I have run as administrator and it still does not work. Tried running in XP SP2 mode, and completely disabled firewall and anti-virus, still does not work. Why could I not install from the DVD ROM in the first place, thats why I bought it??? I am new to steam and there may be something I am missing....but I must say I am very disappointed with it, as its a lot of money to pay for something that I cannot get to work!

Thank kindly for your help.
Yours Sincerely, Mark."

Your problem has nothing to do with Steam per say... It has to do with the game developer and drivers. I've had Steam for years now and I can assure you it's a good service. It is the way PC games will be sold from now on.

http://help.sega.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=517&nav=0,6,165

[tagTaken2]

It is the way PC games will be sold from now on.

http://help.sega.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=517&nav=0,6,165

I sincerely hope you're wrong about this.

I don't care for Steam.

[Feuerfalke]

It most surely is the future.

Online distribution is the future for most media, music, movies and especially games.

[JG27CaptStubing]

Just to add on to the comments already made about PC games. This is the answer to the piracy issue and to the DRM garbage as well. Developers are tired of getting their PC games ripped off. Just look at any of the Torrent sites and see just how many copies were downloaded.

This is why we are seeing so many console games. The profit is just not there for the PC world. The answer is getting away from printed material and having something sit on a shelf. Steam and others is the way it's going to be.

The good news is my experience with Steam has been excellent. It could be the popularity of the game you bought along with the fact Sega had some driver issues is causing problems.

They will clear it up. Companies don't want it to be difficult for you to buy and use their products.

[Skarphol]

Hi!

While one of you have Steam open on your computer; can you give me a direction to where I find the language selection?
I don't understand anything of these menues...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/Skarphol/Steam.jpg

Thanks in advance!
Skarphol

[Makabi]

on that screen, click on the box with the checkmark, then click on the third tab from the left in the window that pops up. the top-most option will let you change the language displayed.

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

Thanks for the replies people, much appreciated. I now have it working on Catalyst 9.1, which would appear to be the problem....at least on my system. It looks fantastic, I was a big fan of the Medieval Total War 2 game as well, running the "Stainless Steel" mod version.

Oh, Happy day!!!:grin:

Cheers.