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Does anyone here use Steam?

*Starlight*

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Hi! :wave:

I've never used Steam or anything similar, but I've recently read that the sequel to one of my favorite games will only be released online in that way, so I guess I won't have a choice but to use it.:p So, I have one question about it.... if you buy and download a game from Steam, is it possible to burn the game on a CD or DVD and install it on another computer without Steam, or even without internet connection? Or does it depend on the game?
 

Cabal

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Steam game files are designed on purpose to not function without Steam installed. It does, however, have a back-up function. However, I think for reactivating the files, say on another pc, you will still need an internet connection.

I'm thinking about Half-Life 2 - a good few Gb of that was on the DVD that I purchased but I still had to go online to activate it.

The good news it\s, you only need to activate it once, then you can play in an offline mode. Just don't fire up Steam with the internet on after that, if it finds out there's an update for that game, the game won't play until you've updated it.

I'm guessing you don't have a great internet connection? If you do, I wouldn't worry too much about being able to download the machine. Once you buy a game it is permanently associated with your account and you can download and (re)install it whenever you like.

Out of curiosity, what game are you talking about? I can't think of any major games that are out on Steam that you can't buy in DVD form.....
 
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*Starlight*

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Thanks for the reply :) That kind of sucks... well, my internet works (it's not that good, though... downloading a game from Steam would probably take the whole day, or maybe even more!) Well, hopefully I'll always have an internet connection, so Steam won't be a problem.

And the game I'm talking about is Dreamfall Chapters, the sequel to Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. It's still in production, but I've read it's only going to be released online. Probably on Steam, because you can buy Dreamfall there...
 
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Estel

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Yes, I use Steam, and think that it's a great service. What Cabal said is correct though, and the internet is reasonably central to everything it does.

As he said though, you'll only need the internet for downloading the game, not thereafter for playing it.

I've been playing slowly through Dreamfall, and liked it enough that I brought The Longest Journey afterwards on Steam, which is really bizarre playing them backwards; and seeing desolate Venice before staying in the academy in the prequel.
 
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Digit

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Heya, I use Steam too and basically think it's awesome. You can run games in a full offline mode now, that doesn't require an internet connection from what I understand, except the first time you get them of course and to check for updates.

I wish more publishers used Steam as they have excellent prices for most things and it beats fighting your way through a retailer to get the game you want, in a beaten up box and so on.

There are quite a few digital distribution game services popping up, like:

Direct2Drive
GamersGate
TryGames

A few more too.

Cheers!
Digit
 
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NiobiumTragedy

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What I find the most comical is what will people do when Steam closes? All the money they spent for all those games will be pointless if they can't access them. Sure, it will be a few years, but a competitor will come along eventually and Steam will one day close, that fact is inevitable.

I also don't care for their new TOS. According to them, you don't actually own a game you buy from them, you're simply renting it.
 
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Victory of the Cross

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What I find the most comical is what will people do when Steam closes? All the money they spent for all those games will be pointless if they can't access them. Sure, it will be a few years, but a competitor will come along eventually and Steam will one day close, that fact is inevitable.

I also don't care for their new TOS. According to them, you don't actually own a game you buy from them, you're simply renting it.

Offline mode would still work

I have played steam games on pcs not connected to the net before
 
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NiobiumTragedy

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Offline mode would still work

I have played steam games on pcs not connected to the net before
But lets say you format your drive or your drive crashes... how will you download them again? Or if you back them up to DVD, how will you authorize the copy if you can't connect to steam?
 
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pgp_protector

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But lets say you format your drive or your drive crashes... how will you download them again? Or if you back them up to DVD, how will you authorize the copy if you can't connect to steam?

If steam closes & my system crashes & I loose access to the games I bought, I'd honestly just hit TPB and get unlocked versions of the game I already bought.
 
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Mr. Pedantic

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Love Steam. Cheap games, always playable (compared to other companies' DRM *cough*Ubisoft*cough*) and it's all in one easy place.

But lets say you format your drive or your drive crashes... how will you download them again? Or if you back them up to DVD, how will you authorize the copy if you can't connect to steam?

People should be doing backups as a matter of course, so I don't think this is a major issue. If Steam shuts down and your hard drive crashes and you have no active backups, that's your own fault.
 
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Luckster

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Love Steam. Cheap games, always playable (compared to other companies' DRM *cough*Ubisoft*cough*) and it's all in one easy place.
Can I get an Amen?

One of the most under-appreciated features of Steam is bringing older games back for replayability. Oh, and cheap games.
 
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NiobiumTragedy

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People should be doing backups as a matter of course, so I don't think this is a major issue. If Steam shuts down and your hard drive crashes and you have no active backups, that's your own fault.
Do you not have to activate those games when you install them?
 
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Mr. Pedantic

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Do you not have to activate those games when you install them?

Why would I? That pretty much defeats the advantage Steam has over other digital distribution systems like Origin, the PoS that it is. As long as Steam's servers are up long enough for you to download the game off them, it's all good. And that's never been a problem, I've never seen an instance where I haven't been able to max out my internet bandwidth just on Steam when I've wanted to.
 
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NiobiumTragedy

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Why would I? That pretty much defeats the advantage Steam has over other digital distribution systems like Origin, the PoS that it is. As long as Steam's servers are up long enough for you to download the game off them, it's all good. And that's never been a problem, I've never seen an instance where I haven't been able to max out my internet bandwidth just on Steam when I've wanted to.
And that is the point I was making... eventually Steam will no longer exist.
 
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