Steamed!!!!!!

[campm@jor]

And what if you have a pc that is not connected to internet? You cannot play civ V on it?

And the argument that the trend is that all software become more intrusive, is not a valid one. If this is true, it doensn't mean you will have to accept it? It is still possible to just not buy it then.

Personally, I will wait and see if I buy Civ V. I haven't made up my mind yet.

[rah]

You only have to connect to activate it. (Obviously you have a connection since you just posted here) After that you don't need an internet connection, unless you change your hardware so much that the software thinks it's on a different machine.
If you have windows 7 on your computer you've already accepted more intrusive software, is the point I'm making.

Yes, you don't have to buy it, but at least have a real reason instead of just a negative knee jerk reaction to STEAM.

And actually if I thought a boycott would actually diminish the possibility of software not being released like that in the future, I'd probably have some interest. I'm betting that most people that are making the most noise will cave and buy the game. But in the end, it's just installing another software program on my machine. Even If it doesn't thrill me, it's not that big a deal.

[MRT144]

You only have to connect to activate it. (Obviously you have a connection since you just posted here) After that you don't need an internet connection, unless you change your hardware so much that the software thinks it's on a different machine.
If you have windows 7 on your computer you've already accepted more intrusive software, is the point I'm making.

Yes, you don't have to buy it, but at least have a real reason instead of just a negative knee jerk reaction to STEAM.

And actually if I thought a boycott would actually diminish the possibility of software not being released like that in the future, I'd probably have some interest. I'm betting that most people that are making the most noise will cave and buy the game. But in the end, it's just installing another software program on my machine. Even If it doesn't thrill me, it's not that big a deal.

Also, steam opens up the possibility to more gaming. I've been picking up tons of titles under 20 bucks and having a blast.

[vee4473]

You only have to connect to activate it. (Obviously you have a connection since you just posted here) After that you don't need an internet connection, unless you change your hardware so much that the software thinks it's on a different machine.
If you have windows 7 on your computer you've already accepted more intrusive software, is the point I'm making.

Yes, you don't have to buy it, but at least have a real reason instead of just a negative knee jerk reaction to STEAM.

And actually if I thought a boycott would actually diminish the possibility of software not being released like that in the future, I'd probably have some interest. I'm betting that most people that are making the most noise will cave and buy the game. But in the end, it's just installing another software program on my machine. Even If it doesn't thrill me, it's not that big a deal.

But I think that's the real reason for some. It's a program that they wouldn't have installed otherwise, that has nothing to do with the game. And I know quite a few people who don't have internet at home and just use their lunch hour at work to do whatever they need on the net. A friend of mine didn't buy SC2 because of that.

I'm sure there are plenty of analogies one could use to illustrate the point.

Anyway, even though it isn't a big deal, it's still basically forcing something on people who otherwise have no interest at all in it. Especially for some whose machines are bloated enough with garbage misc. software as it is.

[quinalla]

Yes, it is very easy to set games to not auto-update and you can definitely play in offline mode. I can certainly understand the mistrust of any 3rd party programs and if you used steam back when it first came out (suffice it to say it was terrible) then I understand too, but today's steam really is a great program. A great place to get games cheap and especially indie games that you won't find in stores. The friend's list showing friends online and what games they are playing is great if it is something you are interested in and can be ignored if not. I hope folks will give it a chance as you may grow to love it like I do

[rah]

Anyway, even though it isn't a big deal, it's still basically forcing something on people who otherwise have no interest at all in it. Especially for some whose machines are bloated enough with garbage misc. software as it is.

Yes not a big deal, and this is not back in the seventies where we were coding a 2 digit year because space was at a premium. If you're that stressed for space, you have bigger problems.

[vee4473]

Yes not a big deal, and this is not back in the seventies where we were coding a 2 digit year because space was at a premium. If you're that stressed for space, you have bigger problems.

Easy Rah man, i've plenty of space, but just because I have over a terabyte these days doesn't mean i want it fragged up with garbage that I otherwise wouldn't think of putting on there.

[MxM]

MxM how much does steam require in resources for your computer?

3-5% as per memory meter. And I have maxed memory available for Vista 32

Actually I forgot to mention THE MOST ANNOYING aspect of steam. When it automatically downloads update (without notifying you) and if you lose internet connection before steam is restarted (that can happen quite easily - sometimes steam runs for days before it gets restarted), then upon restart it updates itself and tries to login back to steam server. Since you do not have internet connection - it can't login, thus it can't start, thus you can play the games and you can not put it into offline mode.

It happened twice with me, both time I lost internet connection for about 1 week and I could not play the games that I paid money for. THAT'S what you get when there is a third party software controlling your game.

[Hauldren Collider]

And what if you have a pc that is not connected to internet? You cannot play civ V on it?

And what if you still live in 1993? Then stop trying to play a game from 2010.


Go back to posting on usenet from your public library and playing on your commodore 64.

[Tstorm]

There are still legitimate concerns about Internet connectivity with Steam. I brought it up in another thread and no one addressed it. Maybe you can provide me with a solution, Hauldren?

Looking back at typical CIV patches, I saw that some of them weighed in at over 100 MB. If Steam is the only way to obtain patches, wouldn't someone in that situation have a legitimate point? (That's what I read, feel free to point me to a source that says updates/patches will be available to download elsewhere.)

Here's another one that's bumping around inside my head, because my dad will deal with it, if he and I ever buy CIV V. Wireless connectivity can be a bit flaky. Do you have an experience with Steam that indicates it has download resume functionality? Say, the download is interrupted, will the download resume where it left off or start over at 0?

(Disclaimer: The parents are on slow wireless...little better than dialup. They can download photo attachments on email without waiting 20 minutes, but they can't easily watch Youtube videos. There are NO other reasonable options for Internet access.)

Thanks in advance for your response.

[MxM]

T Do you have an experience with Steam that indicates it has download resume functionality? Say, the download is interrupted, will the download resume where it left off or start over at 0?

I did not pay much attention what happen if network goes down during patch download, but I did several times exit Steam while it was downloading some patches. It restarted downloading next time I run the Steam from the place where it was (i.e. not from 0). I would guess the same thing will happen if you lose internet connection.

[Dinner]

But I think that's the real reason for some. It's a program that they wouldn't have installed otherwise, that has nothing to do with the game. And I know quite a few people who don't have internet at home and just use their lunch hour at work to do whatever they need on the net. A friend of mine didn't buy SC2 because of that.

I'm sure there are plenty of analogies one could use to illustrate the point.

Anyway, even though it isn't a big deal, it's still basically forcing something on people who otherwise have no interest at all in it. Especially for some whose machines are bloated enough with garbage misc. software as it is.

I couldn't agree more. Steam is forced on people and it pisses many of us off who don't want to login and give the bastards our email accounts. Worse they say they won't do something, like sell our email addresses, but it is all subject to change without notice and who even knows if his third party will still be around 10 years from now? I still play Civ2 and that came out in 1994 or so. Will Steam still be around after that much time has passed?

[Proteus_MST]

There are still legitimate concerns about Internet connectivity with Steam. I brought it up in another thread and no one addressed it. Maybe you can provide me with a solution, Hauldren?

Looking back at typical CIV patches, I saw that some of them weighed in at over 100 MB. If Steam is the only way to obtain patches, wouldn't someone in that situation have a legitimate point? (That's what I read, feel free to point me to a source that says updates/patches will be available to download elsewhere.)

Here's another one that's bumping around inside my head, because my dad will deal with it, if he and I ever buy CIV V. Wireless connectivity can be a bit flaky. Do you have an experience with Steam that indicates it has download resume functionality? Say, the download is interrupted, will the download resume where it left off or start over at 0?

(Disclaimer: The parents are on slow wireless...little better than dialup. They can download photo attachments on email without waiting 20 minutes, but they can't easily watch Youtube videos. There are NO other reasonable options for Internet access.)

Thanks in advance for your response.

As for patches something else comes into my mind (because I have started playing Civ IV again, inspired by the Civ V booth at the gamescom)...
wasn ´t it the case for Civ IV: BtS, that there were problems with the patch 3.19 (and maybe other patches), when applied via the auto update button, whereas the patch worked fine if you first downloaded it fully from the Civ IV website to your computer and then applied it the regular way?

If you´re forced to update via steam, such a problem might be fatal

[Fistandantilus]

Yeah maybe Firaxis chose to distribute the game via Steam so they won't have those problems with the auto update anymore uh?
Seriously you guys worry too much, I have a lot of games on Steam and never had any problem at all. It's awesome.

[Pinchak]

Screw Steam. Just more corporate control is all it is.