Why Steam?
I have bought some LucasArts titles from Steam, because those aren't available elsewhere (or at least those options aren't available in my region), but I wonder why people buy games from Steam?
Sure I understand if you prefer downloadable version instead of DVD, but in many cases you can buy downloadable directly from developer (TTG is a fine example) without any third party involvement. And often there is some bonus stuff if you buy directly from developer, like TTG's option for DVD version when seasons are finished. (It's also worth mentioning that for Euro gamers it's often much cheaper to buy directly from the US developer than from Steam.)
So why Steam? To me it seems that in many cases it isn't best deal you can make.
Sure I understand if you prefer downloadable version instead of DVD, but in many cases you can buy downloadable directly from developer (TTG is a fine example) without any third party involvement. And often there is some bonus stuff if you buy directly from developer, like TTG's option for DVD version when seasons are finished. (It's also worth mentioning that for Euro gamers it's often much cheaper to buy directly from the US developer than from Steam.)
So why Steam? To me it seems that in many cases it isn't best deal you can make.
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But for games from a larger developer? Steam is definitely an option. You can put it on any number of computers any time you want, so for multiplayer games with a lot of longevity(for me, one great example is Civ IV) it's a great option to keep your multiplayer games that you revisit a lot in one place without having to fiddle around with serial codes. Also, you can't really argue with the prices on their sales. KOTOR and Secret of Monkey Island on the PC for $2.50 each? Left 4 Dead for $7.50? Steam sales provide some of the best prices on PC games around.
It is an option with its own set of benefits. For example, I'd opt for the disc version of Dragon Age rather than the normal-price version on Steam, because the disc version can be found for a lower price than the Steam non-sale price. And I'd never get the "Digital Deluxe" version of Dragon Age, because it costs as much as the retail version with the nice cloth map and the tin box.
It's just one tool in the PC gamer arsenal.
Automatic updating is also just a killer, not having to look on each site or actully having to start the game, if the game is installed then voila its up to date.
Nothing can beat having all ones games in one nice program, few clicks to buy, few clicks to play.
Its just sad that the big companies are so greedy, that they want us to think that its actully cheaper for them to make a dvd, cover, manual and transport it halfway around the globe to get in your local store, than just throwing it up onto steam or another online service, i mean sure steam and other services might take a cut, but surely its not so much, that its cheaper to do all the stuff above.
Another bonus for Telltale and other dev, are Telltale might not be found by all gamers, when they have their games on other services, that will give more sales, ive found many games because of steam, when looking under the various menus, in recent times i found Plants Vs Zombies and World of Goo, PVZ was actully like 5$ cheaper on steam, than their own site on popcap, again that goes against the steam takes a huge cut, thats why games are more expensive that in the store.
the only thing that the online stores are missing, is a kinda of overall ability to buy your games from the one you like ( or cheapest) and say buy a game in steam and add it to Direct2drive or the other way around. that would give good prices and improve the services, when they have to fight for customers.
Because i do absolutely love steam, but i do feel that Valve has become lazy, simple features as message history or being able to send files thru steam, still hasnt arrived, and we are in 2009 almost 2010 afterall.
Thats what happens when a company gets to big. No the ability to move your games around, so we dont end up with 200 programs on your computer for games, because that would destroy the meaning of having all ones games in an easy to access spot.
And as Business 101 states, every time a fan is made, a Telltale Team gets paid.
Their really isn't a reason to fault a company for using steam, I mean it's community and store with it's self.
I honestly have never had a bad experience from steam.
I usually check it from day to day to see what sales or going on, I mean it's just an awesome thing.
Valve are just too goddam smart for their own good
For me as Euro customer Steam's prices (if there's no sale) are considerably higher than the exchange rates which my credit card company uses. If I use dollars instead of Euros I can save more than 10€ when I buy a computer game. If Steam would allow me to use US. dollars then it would be much better deal.
I won't blame anyone for putting their game to Steam, after all not using available distribution channels to make profit would be bad business decision.
Personally I find Steam launcher bit annoying. Launcher updates itself way too often before launching and IMO it's too heavy. Sure there's always off-line mode but then it won't update the games either. It could be designed better, besides these days many games come with their own launcher which aren't as heavy and can look for updates.
Steam has quite a good selection of mainstream games, but in adventure and heavy strategy (games with hexes) categories selection is far from perfect.
Well, that's true. Many people buy everything from big stores, personally I have always prefered smaller and more personal companies, which are specialized to something.
Why not? I trust to Telltale and many other smaller game companies as much as I trust to Steam. Besides if some company doesn't fill their part of the contract, I can always file reclamation to my credit card company and get my money back.
You can use credit card relatively safely in the Internet as long as you don't be stupid and pay in shady porn sites etc. Verified by Visa and other such systems are working quite all right.
I know, but there's always still a mental stigma attatched to it. For me, TTG is the only Small dev i've bought games directly from, because it's the only company i've needed to. I only recieved my laptop 1 month ago, and i didn't buy many games for my old PC (bought in early 2001), due to having bad experiences with PC software. So the way i buy games now (digital) is completely different from before (disced)