Why Steam is the CHIT
Why Steam is the CHIT
Steam stands out in a way no other service does. I really like the concept of endless games...no CDs or serial numbers to worry about...that’s exactly what it’s about. You truly own it forever. Plus, skipping the CD loading is just great. From Arkham City to EverQuest 2, Steam meets all my needs. The only physical copies I’ll ever own are the collector editions just for the extra excitement.
Unfortunately, many games rely on the Steam platform and add their own DRM layer on top of Steam's existing system. For example, TDU 2. The concept of having a game forever is no longer possible for most players. Even if Steam failed, you'd lose all your games. Regardless of the platform—Steam, discs, digital downloads, etc.—combining cloud computing with DRM makes long-term ownership difficult.
I don't see any steam moving in the coming years, perhaps it will grow even more? But it's true it won't last forever.
I believe digital downloads will ultimately harm PC gaming for several reasons.
Licence issues causing games to be pulled are already evident on Steam and will likely worsen.
Historical titles are being removed due to their age, and it’s unlikely they’ll remain available for re-downloads in the future.
The minimum requirements on Steam may become too demanding, possibly forcing users to run outdated versions of Windows like 8, 9, or 10.
A single client will be insufficient as major publishers maintain strict control over their own titles, making it necessary to use multiple clients.
Physical discs remain more affordable.
In the UK, Skyrim costs £34.99 on Steam, whereas a similar physical copy is only £26.99.
I also enjoy revisiting old games, though sometimes I need to run a virtual machine or DOS box to play them.
I agree. Evan though I appreciate steam for its ease and sales, physical copies still stand out to me. Steam is the sole digital download platform I use, and I refuse to download music or films since I prefer owning physical copies.
PC games are an exception because of the benefits from Steam sales—like automatic updates, chatting with friends, and having everything in one place. Hard copies of PC games aren’t worth much anyway.
I did purchase a physical copy of Skyrim, too, for the same reason: buying in-store was cheaper than on Steam in the UK. It also needed Steam, so it was a good compromise. I’m tempted to buy more physical games now, but only those compatible with Steam.
Gothams Finest:
I agree. Evan, although I appreciate the convenience of steam and its sales, physical copies still stand out to me. Steam is the sole digital download platform I’ll use; I won’t download music or films since I prefer owning physical copies.
PC games are an exception because of the benefits from steam sales—like auto patching and easy chat with friends. Physical copies of PC games aren’t worth much anyway.
I did purchase a physical copy of Skyrim, too, for the same reason: buying in-store was cheaper than on Steam in the UK. It also needed steam, making it a win-win. I’m tempted to buy more physical games now, but only those compatible with steam.
Interesting... Steam-supported games as discs appeal to me.
p.s. I tried to re-add you on Steam... it seems you’re ignoring me... huh?