Just another Steam rant I suppose...

[danlongman]

I use Steam when I have to, or when I feel I have to.
Most of the time it is okay. I have, however, never
been able to penetrate Steam's wonderfully obtuse "customer
service" feature. I cannot even figure out how to tell
them a product I bought from another vendor, which ran fine before,
will not run on Steam even though Steam says it is running just fine.
I say it does not work. They say it does. Only problem is...it don't run....

[Scott_WAR]

Well Dan,...sadly,...when very few are having a problem,but most are not........its usually on the end having the problem.

Take for instance...steams "customer service". I have used it several times,...never an issue. Many people whop post here and use steam have used it,.....again....without an issue. I am willing to bet you dont use the e-mail adress you signed up with on steam. If so there is a way to fix that,.....try reading the support forum.

Edit- If I have time later,... I might actually look and see if I can find something to steer you towards that might help.

[Fallschirmjager]

ORIGINAL: danlongman

I use Steam when I have to, or when I feel I have to.
Most of the time it is okay. I have, however, never
been able to penetrate Steam's wonderfully obtuse "customer
service" feature. I cannot even figure out how to tell
them a product I bought from another vendor, which ran fine before,
will not run on Steam even though Steam says it is running just fine.
I say it does not work. They say it does. Only problem is...it don't run....

Are you saying that you don't know how to add a third party product to Steam?
To do that go to the tab on the top row and then click games and on the drop down menu click activate a product on Steam.

Or am I misunderstanding you? If you are having a problem with the game itself, their customer service cannot help you. You get support on the actual games themselves from the developer. All Steam customer support can do is help you with log in, payment and issues with the Steam software itself.

[danlongman]

As I said, mostly things work okay.
One example of a problem is Metro2033 which I bought from
GG and needs to be activated on Steam. I have many products like this. Most work.
Not this one. Steam says it works. It won't. Steam says re-install. I do. Steam says
it works. It won't. Steam says re-install. etc. More than 90% of products I have
bought from Steam or that require Steam are OKAY. When I have had problems
with products from other vendors over the years they have not repeatedly told me
it was working when it wasn't. That was my point. I had a problem with a product
here on Matrix. The Matrix people helped me find the problem (my anti-virus was deleting
the EXE file! without telling me) in very short order. They took my word that it wasn't working
instead of "Looks okay here." That is all.

[RangerX3X]

I am not going to say that I have never had an issue with Steam, but in my experience it is a stable platform and I can download my games on a brand new PC without having to fish about for patches (and installing them in the correct sequence). Sure there are some games being sold which require a persistent internet connection to be played, by they are in the extreme minority (and as always, buyers beware). All of my Steam games save for one can be played with no internet connection.

Plus you cannot simply beat some of the deals: I bought Company of Heroes day of release for $49.99 and trying to install that game now on a new machine equates into hours of downloading GB's worth of patches. I say F-it one day and purchased the entire franchise (COH vanilla, Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor) for $9.99 - all updated and ready to download. When I moved to my new gaming rig, it took me about 70 minutes to download the games onto the new HDD (and Steam remembers my user name, password and save points).

The most glaring deal I picked up was last weekend when I scored Rome: Total War + Barbarian Invasions for $1.00. I'm sorry, but you can't beat that with a stick.

[Vyshka]

I am pretty certain you can disable it from saving to the cloud.

1. Right click the game in your steam library
2. Select properties
3. Go to the Updates tab
4. At the bottom un-check Enable Steam Cloud synchronization

You also don't need to be online to play, you can enable a game to play in offline mode.

The reason you had to use Steam is that the multiplayer makes use of the Steam service. It was worse when it was using Microsoft Games for Windows Live.

[Scott_WAR]

ORIGINAL: danlongman

As I said, mostly things work okay.
One example of a problem is Metro2033 which I bought from
GG and needs to be activated on Steam. I have many products like this. Most work.
Not this one. Steam says it works. It won't. Steam says re-install. I do. Steam says
it works. It won't. Steam says re-install. etc. More than 90% of products I have
bought from Steam or that require Steam are OKAY. When I have had problems
with products from other vendors over the years they have not repeatedly told me
it was working when it wasn't. That was my point. I had a problem with a product
here on Matrix. The Matrix people helped me find the problem (my anti-virus was deleting
the EXE file! without telling me) in very short order. They took my word that it wasn't working
instead of "Looks okay here." That is all.

Check for support at GG. More than likley you have to get a key from GG or something else in order to get their version of the game to work with Steam.

[mrensing]

I have used Steam since the client was introduced (back in the days of CS) and, like Ranger, I can't say I've never had a problem. But the problems were few, and have thus far been resolved to my satisfaction. I enjoy Matrix games...but I can't say I'm a fan of the product delivery compared to Steam.
Cost of the games aside, I have never had a problem painlessly downloading my Steam games to any and every computer I've used. Unless the company goes under, the games will always be available to me...unlike here at Matrix (see my posts in tech support thread and forum). The games on Steam are always updated to the latest patch...but I can still download mods or use an older patch if I want (i.e. TW series).
Trying to log on to the forums here can be an obtuse and frustrating process (i.e one login for matrix games, one for forums) where on Steam I have one login that I can set to auto login and be happy.
I very much want to support Matrix...I love what they do..but that desire is hampered by the obsolete product delivery and website/forum setup, by the high cost of the games and by the inability to play the games I have purchased at that high price. Just my views...your mileage may vary.

[Rtwfreak]

I adore Matrixgames product delivery because once I have it it's mine for as long as I keep a good backup of the setup.exe and the cd keys even though Matrixgames will store them for you in the members section as well. I don't have to worry if Matrixgames goes down for maint or there is a problem with the distribution servers or other technical things I've experience with Steam and I don't have to worry if they (Matrixgames) go out of business. The games I bought from them are mine forever. That is not the case with Steam. Steam also controls your account and if they think you've done something they don't like they can Ban that account much like EA and I don't like that one bit because I might call someone stupid or ignorant or an idiot out of rage one day and get my account banned and all those games I bought would be forfeit. And don't give me this bs if I don't act that way I won't have to worry about it. Everyone loses their temper from time to time and throws out a few choice words they regret later on. [:D]

[mrensing]

And don't give me this bs if I don't act that way I won't have to worry about it. Everyone loses their temper from time to time and throws out a few choice words they regret later on.

LOL. Nope, won't argue with ya. But I will submit that you know the consequences of doing so...can't put the blame on Steam, or EA.

cd keys even though Matrixgames will store them for you in the members section as well.

Disagree. I have my CD keys...its the game download links in the members section that aren't working for me for some reason that customer support can't solve. I repeat...I have purchased and have a legal CD key, but can't download the game onto a new computer. And the Matrix answer to that is to shrug their shoulders and say 'too bad'. No bueno, mi amigo.
I actually bought the hard disks when I purchased the games, but I have no idea where they are or if I still have them. I move every 2-4 years (military) so packing CD's is a pain in the kiester. That's why I personally prefer the Steam format...my games are always available. Here, obviously, they are not. Different strokes for different folks.

[Rtwfreak]

If you'd have registered those cd keys in the Members section you would have been able to download all your games. So in this case like you say it's my fault for how I act on Steam or EA it's your fault for not registering your cd keys in the Members section and thus you wouldn't have seen the shrugged shoulders and too bads. So your fault not Matrixgames. [:D]

I have "Never" had an issue with Matrixgames storage or redownloading my games because I do what is necessary to do to keep things in order. Steam on the other hand is a joke. I can save the "setup.exe" of every game I've bought from Matrixgames as well and store them on multiple storage devices if I choose. So, there's no reason in the world not to be able to download or resetup your games you get from Matrixgames unless one is just a lazy azz.

[Hanal]

What annoys me about Steam is that you are forced to use it even when you buy a hardcopy of the game....I bought the new X-COM hardcopy with the sole purpose of avoiding using Steam, and if I needed to leave the disk in the drive to play, so be it. It turned out to be a complete waste because I still needed to sign up to STEAM in order to actually load the game. I would not have bothered buying the discs if I knew that. Anyway, because of this, I was unable to try playing the game on my notebook because my 4G wireless internet connection would time out due to the large download file. At least I have broadband on my desktop and so installed the game there. Therefore, Steam has prevented me from enjoying a game on the platform of my choosing which is why I will always be a critic of such systems even though I am now forced to use it.

[Vyshka]

ORIGINAL: Rtwfreak

If you'd have registered those cd keys in the Members section you would have been able to download all your games. So in this case like you say it's my fault for how I act on Steam or EA it's your fault for not registering your cd keys in the Members section and thus you wouldn't have seen the shrugged shoulders and too bads. So your fault not Matrixgames. [:D]

I have "Never" had an issue with Matrixgames storage or redownloading my games because I do what is necessary to do to keep things in order. Steam on the other hand is a joke. I can save the "setup.exe" of every game I've bought from Matrixgames as well and store them on multiple storage devices if I choose. So, there's no reason in the world not to be able to download or resetup your games you get from Matrixgames unless one is just a lazy azz.

Not necessarily. If you purchased the games when Digital River ran the store you have to go their site, and you will need to supply info such as order number, or part of the credit card number. Even after the switch to Plimus not all games appear with download links in the members section when they are registered. The only 2 I am showing right now are CoG:EE and Harpoon:UE. No sign of Conflict of Heroes or others that I have purchased since November 2010. It looks like you will have to supply the same information to Plimus to track down the order and download again.

It is doable, and I have done it many times over the years for the older stuff I have purchased, but it can be a pain especially if you don't keep records of order numbers and cc# used.

[mrensing]

Rtwfreak...you seem to grinning a lot as you inform us how organized you are and how hopelessly idiotic we are for not registering our games with the members section. Since you have chosen not to RTFF let me repost some of my statements for you:

I have my CD keys...its the game download links in the members section that aren't working for me
I have purchased and have a legal CD key, but can't download the game onto a new computer

My games are all properly registered with the members section. I downloaded the latest link for the game onto my new laptop. The game will not install properly. Can not play the game. Shrugged shoulders and too bads recieved. End of story.


As far as "fault", there is no fault. Not sure why you feel the need to assign it to me if there was. This is simply the way that Matrix does business. You can take it or leave it.
I would think that the way Matrix markets and aligns itself (niche market, more expensive games, smaller but loyal customer base) they would place customer service at the pinnacle of their efforts...especially to ensure that their customers are very happy with their purchases and return for more. But they have not for me. The result?
In the last five years I have bought a total of 4 games from Matrix (2 now unplayable)...and I have bought 131 from Steam and 14 from Gamersgate/Gamestop (minor problems, all solved) For example, I will be purchasing Unity of Command this weekend from GG. I will pay less than here at Matrix and will be using a service I have never had a problem with over 5 years and 14 games. Most of my games come from those two services and that ratio is not likely to change unless Matrix improves it's delivery systems, forum/website technology and customer service...particularly ensuring the customer has access to their purchased goods. Christian is very friendly and seems to want to help...but results count more than intentions.

That is not to say that I will never purchase a game from Matrix. Far from it. If, in my opinion, the risk is worth the reward, I will most certainly purchase a game here. But the risk of being unable to access my games results in the 145:4 ratio mentioned above. This is what works for me. If Matrix works for you, great! Continue to use their service. No need to be snide and insulting (in two threads, no less) when it doesn't work for other folks though. To each their own.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: J P Falcon

What annoys me about Steam is that you are forced to use it even when you buy a hardcopy of the game....I bought the new X-COM hardcopy with the sole purpose of avoiding using Steam, and if I needed to leave the disk in the drive to play, so be it. It turned out to be a complete waste because I still needed to sign up to STEAM in order to actually load the game. I would not have bothered buying the discs if I knew that. Anyway, because of this, I was unable to try playing the game on my notebook because my 4G wireless internet connection would time out due to the large download file. At least I have broadband on my desktop and so installed the game there. Therefore, Steam has prevented me from enjoying a game on the platform of my choosing which is why I will always be a critic of such systems even though I am now forced to use it.

Yeah. I just installed DoWII Retribution thinking I would play a game tonight before turning in. Of course now I have to wait "6 hours" before I can play the game because it is updating with Steam or whatever. This is ridiculous! With a Matrix game I'm installed and ready to play in 10 minutes. I really see no advantage to having to connnect to the internet to enjoy a game and having to DL half the content when I bought it on DISC!

[GaryChildress]

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[GaryChildress]

Deleted...

[wodin]

Personally I do prefer Steams or gamersgate way of doing things..but hey everyone has their preferences.

[warspite1]

Well I've always supported Steam on these threads. However I went to purchase a game yesterday and was told my payment wasn't accepted - contact the help desk. 24 hours later and still no response from the "help" desk.........

Not great.

[GaryChildress]

I apologize to Vyshka and CG_Gamer for my rudeness yesterday evening. Work has been extremely taxing lately and Steam's idiosyncrasies are just not helping me when I get home after a 12 hour day. Still I should have stepped back and taken a breather before posting...but I didn't. I apologize. [:o]