This is why I guess....

[hgilmer3]

you shouldn't like STEAM. I am trying to retrieve my account and they keep telling my email address is invalid and my username is invalid, except they just sent me an email to my email address and my username populates into the correct field.

So, now I am unable to log in and I can't get into anything to actually email them to ask them what the problem is.

[Scott_WAR]

Forums (for support included) and the steam client are different accounts. Make sure you arent trying to use your forum log in info for the client or vice versa. I have seen a lot of people make this mistake.

[hgilmer3]

That was exactly part of my problem. There are other issues, too, and this is an extremely difficult (and frustrating) way to retrieve an account.

Now, I have to wait for them to email me an answer.

[LarryP]

That would be frustrating. So far I've not had a problem getting in, it's getting out when they have huge sales. [;)]

[jardail]

I use steam regularly, I have to agree with Larryp, it's not the getting in I've ever had issues with.  It's the getting out.. without my credit card being a few dollars lighter.

Steam isn't perfect by no means.  Right now tho there's nothing out there it's equal and some of the pricing for games?  Wow.  I've saved close to 200 dollars buying through them on games I would have bought full price somewhere else.

Get Steam, it's worth it IMHO.

[JudgeDredd]

Steam threads show up just about every week.

People have legitimate complaints, and thanks to them, issues may get resolved - but I've not had an issue (apart from GTA IV - and that was more to do with the various mridiculous, ludicrous DRM I think) and saved LOADS of money on their regular sales. I think one of THE most played games I've ever played was Plants vs Zombies that I paid £6 for - got over 100 hours out that baby and played it a few times through!

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I think one of THE most played games I've ever played was Plants vs Zombies that I paid £6 for - got over 100 hours out that baby and played it a few times through!

When I saw your original post about Plants vs Zombies, I tried it then bought it and played the heck out of it. What a fun game! [:D]

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

That would be frustrating. So far I've not had a problem getting in, it's getting out when they have huge sales. [;)]

Ditto![:D]

[Fallschirmjager]

Odd thing is that in six years of having Steam I don't think I have ever been logged out of my account. That is no exaggeration, not once do I remember actually logging in. Even when I get a new PC I simply download the software and enter my username and it logs me into my account. I know my password but have never actually used it. I shut off my computer maybe 5 times a year unless the power goes out so that is part of it and I have had broadband for 11 years so my internet connection is always on as well.
I may just log out for the hell of it and see what it takes to log back on.

[DuckofTindalos]

Same here. Never had a problem.

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: Leatherneck_MT

I use steam regularly, I have to agree with Larryp, it's not the getting in I've ever had issues with.  It's the getting out.. without my credit card being a few dollars lighter.

Steam isn't perfect by no means.  Right now tho there's nothing out there it's equal and some of the pricing for games?  Wow.  I've saved close to 200 dollars buying through them on games I would have bought full price somewhere else.

Get Steam, it's worth it IMHO.

You're right there's nothing out there it's equal but a couple or three taht are better. Direct 2 Drive allows you to own the game once purchased. GoG also allows you to own the game once purchased. Digital River allows you to own your games once purchased. You don't ever need their clients again once you download the games because you can burn their .exe to a disk or rom and save them just like any boxed retail game for later installation. Gamersgate is also near the same as D2D as some game files will work without GG activation, but, some still require it.

Steam on the other hand owns "You", once they have your games they always have your games. If you have need to reinstall or redownload games because of a reformat or bad drive Steam owns you. So, you are right nothing is equal to that farce of a direct download of a site when it comes to owning games you bought. I would never buy a full retail price game from Steam. I'll buy those $2-$4 sales ones and back them up with boxed purchases from Amazon or Ebay later on.

[Widell]

Technically I doubt you own D2D, GoG or DD distributed games.... Check the EULA and you'll most likely find you own a license to use them. Most likely goes for the boxed stuff you have as well. The only difference is that Steam can actually revoke your license in practice, which the others can't.

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: Widell

Technically I doubt you own D2D, GoG or DD distributed games.... Check the EULA and you'll most likely find you own a license to use them. Most likely goes for the boxed stuff you have as well. The only difference is that Steam can actually revoke your license in practice, which the others can't.

Well you are quite right in the technical ownage definition, but, I think you know what I mean. As long as i have those .exe saved I don't need any of those download clients again to activate the games I get from them except some Gamersgate ones. I've moved entire games though that I got from Gamersgate to another computer and they have run without any activation requirements. But, not saying all work this way but some of them have. D2D and GOG and DR of course I don't have any issues with to reinstall and play.

[ilovestrategy]

ORIGINAL: diablo1



Steam on the other hand owns "You", once they have your games they always have your games. If you have need to reinstall or redownload games because of a reformat or bad drive Steam owns you. So, you are right nothing is equal to that farce of a direct download of a site when it comes to owning games you bought. I would never buy a full retail price game from Steam. I'll buy those $2-$4 sales ones and back them up with boxed purchases from Amazon or Ebay later on.

I don't see how Steam "owns" me. I bought the game and they hold it for me. I have downloaded Half Life 2 on 4 different comps through the years. They held my copy of that game and I downloaded it when ever convenient for ME.

Is Steam perfect? Of course not. I've had 2 cases over the years where I had no internet and Steam would not boot up in OFFLINE mode. But what business is perfect? There is no business in existence without issues.

But I've had good times with Steam and as long that continues they will have my business. It was really nice to log in on my laptop and download Oblivion and Morrowind after I had them on Steam on my desktop.

The more I think about this the more I'm happy that they have my games, as you put it. I just log on and start downloading.

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: Fallschirmjager
I may just log out for the hell of it and see what it takes to log back on.

Last time I did it just took username and password, and straight in with no problem.

I've had no trouble at all with Steam to date, although I fully understand that many have. There's no getting around that it is the biggest player in the PC gaming future though, as the biggest digital distributor, and already the majority of PC games are sold that way. Another year or two and the only 'box copies' you see will be received via mail order and in another five the whole concept of a 'box copy' will be extinct.

[V22 Osprey]

ORIGINAL: Hertston

ORIGINAL: Fallschirmjager
I may just log out for the hell of it and see what it takes to log back on.

Last time I did it just took username and password, and straight in with no problem.

I've had no trouble at all with Steam to date, although I fully understand that many have. There's no getting around that it is the biggest player in the PC gaming future though, as the biggest digital distributor, and already the majority of PC games are sold that way. Another year or two and the only 'box copies' you see will be received via mail order and in another five the whole concept of a 'box copy' will be extinct.

Agreed, especially as faster internet connections that can actually download multiple Gigs of information become standard and downloading large games becomes more viable to more people.

[Perturabo]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

Is Steam perfect? Of course not. I've had 2 cases over the years where I had no internet and Steam would not boot up in OFFLINE mode. But what business is perfect? There is no business in existence without issues.

Except that it's Steam that creates the issue. I see no reason to give my money to people who create issues.

[V22 Osprey]

ORIGINAL: Perturabo

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

Is Steam perfect? Of course not. I've had 2 cases over the years where I had no internet and Steam would not boot up in OFFLINE mode. But what business is perfect? There is no business in existence without issues.

Except that it's Steam that creates the issue. I see no reason to give my money to people who create issues.

Ok, so Matrix is soooo perfect it can't have or create issues. Please. No program is perfect. With all due respect, this is lamest 'I wont use Steam' argument I heard all year.

[Greybriar]

I will not buy any game that requires Steam to be installed. End of story.

[NefariousKoel]

It's only a matter of time before the hackers start hacking & stealing accounts.

Evidentally this has been a big problem in world of warcraft and some other MMOs. I believe one company actually got hacked so bad that a truckload of logins were stolen.

So those of you with Steam accounts better keep all your protection up to date. Be paranoid of keyloggers and such. Also phishing.