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| 19 APR 2011 at 11:51am |
markornikovJourneyman
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Posts : 1303
Joined: 28 OCT 2011
Location: BE, Antwerp
Status : Offline | Steam is a very 'clean' system, installation is quick.
The game will be listed in the game library and will do the online activation automatically.
Offline mode is available after the first online run of the game.
The difference with GWL is that saves are still available when offline.
No need to worry about game updates, as steam updates every game automatically.
The only 'disadvantage' is that steam regularly offers great sales, which are dangerous for your wallet
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| 19 APR 2011 at 6:48pm |
TechnoSpikePrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 26 APR 2005
Location: PT
Status : Offline | So it seems that there's a lot of automated stuff working by Steam command... can't say I'm overly thrilled hearing that...
What exactly will happen to my PC after the Steam installation? What kind of ports will be opened, configurations will be made, etc? More important, what kind of "hard-wire" configurations will it do in my system and what precautions should I take to prevent the unauthorized "opening" of my PC to the "world"?
Also, if I uninstall the game and the Steam client, to which degree will my PC be "cleaned" of any configurations Steam will do it?
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| 19 APR 2011 at 7:47pm |
XerNosamSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 339
Joined: 3 SEP 2007
Location: US, California
Status : Offline | For port information re: Steam, please see the following info via Steam support:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8571-GLVN-8711
Not to be overly lax about it, but Steam is not resource intensive nor is it intrusive in any way with regards to security or other applications. I've been a long time Steam user (since it was first released back in 2003) and have never had a single issue with it. I have well over 120 games in my Steam library, and its auto-updates, cloud save features and slick functionality have made me a staunch advocate of it.
Playing: Skyrim: Dragonborn/Dawnguard; Torchlight 2; To The Moon; Far Cry 3
Finished: HomeFront; Far Cry 3; Dishonored
Always Playing: Half Life 2
Looking Forward To: BioShock: Infinite
Reading: BioShock: Rapture; SW: Revan
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| 19 APR 2011 at 8:58pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Darn bots...
Anyway, steam got a lot of bad rep when it was first released. It was surprisingly system intense, and made some systems unstable.
These days though, steam is, as others have already said, a rather good program. I've not heard any reports about security issues, and it is less system intense than a browser (I just checked, and chrome is eating more resources as I type this than steam)
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| 20 APR 2011 at 5:53pm |
TechnoSpikePrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 26 APR 2005
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Thanks you guys! I'm looking at the Steam FAQs to learn a bit more about it.
Exactly how does this activation work out? If I install the game in a PC with Windows XP, then uninstall it, format the PC and install Windows 7, could I reinstall the game again and play it again?
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| 20 APR 2011 at 7:16pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Yep. You input your activation key into steam, and it stores it on your account, so you are free to re-download & re-install it as many times as you want.
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| 23 APR 2011 at 3:24am |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2539
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Once you purchase a game and resources from Steam you can cut the ties and play just about any and all of the fine stand alone. I do NOT like such systems as it IS intrusive and invasive and monitors your system in ways that I do not like or support...no matter what they say , if it did not it would not work. The work around to get games to run is kunky at times but it works... and for that reason I may at some time consider using titles if they are only available on steam but so far I have always been able to buy a title i wanted via a real retail outlet...as i support them whenever and wherever possible. Just my two cents and prob not worth that much.
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| 23 APR 2011 at 6:05pm |
TechnoSpikePrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 26 APR 2005
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Hi Cris, what exactly are you talking about when you mention a "work around to get games to run"?
Unfortunately, the game Metro 2033 seems to rely on Steam as DRM, so, even to play the retail game, I have to activate it in Steam, so it seams I'm stuck on using it if I want to play the game.... Apparently Duke Nukem Forever will also be using Steam in the same way...
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| 4 MAY 2011 at 3:15pm |
AkhillesPrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 21 JUL 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By TechnoSpike (23 APR 2011 6:04pm)
Hi Cris, what exactly are you talking about when you mention a "work around to get games to run"?
Unfortunately, the game Metro 2033 seems to rely on Steam as DRM, so, even to play the retail game, I have to activate it in Steam, so it seams I'm stuck on using it if I want to play the game.... Apparently Duke Nukem Forever will also be using Steam in the same way...
Steam itself, is the DRM for the games distributed by Valve Software. It's DRM in that, the games tell the Steam system that you are playing them, it's registered to your account and only you may play them.
After registering a game with Steam, if you wish, you can disconnect the internet and play them without ever letting Steam "phone home" again.
Steam is convenient if you ever wish to uninstall and reinstall a game, you only have to start the client and pull the software down again. You also have the option to backup the game content. I've done it once... Steam creates a nice installer to put the content back once you've installed Steam (depending on why you need to restore).
Patches are "auto-magic" in that, they come down when you sign into Steam, they update your game and you don't have to search the web for them.
I'm really not sure what "work around" you have to fool with to get a game to work as I've not had any trouble with Steam. It's a mature technology and works well. Now some games by themselves might be problematic for you as not all games on Steam are by Valve Software.
If you have a Mac... get Steam. Between it and the AppStore... Macs are getting ALOT of love.
You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.
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