Thank you Matrix, for no DRM

[Arctic Blast]

Oh, there definitely are fanboys out there...in my experience, Steam and Impulse are the two digital download services with the most ardently over the top groups of them. I like Steam, but I'm not going to sit here and claim that it's above fault in any way.

As for removing the games...I think if you completely delete the Steam folder, that should clear out the game installs. Since you can simply move the entire Steamapps folder to a new computer and the games will show up in Steam on that computer, it seems to me that this would clear most of it out. After that, I'd suggest something like CCleaner to find and remove all of the leftovers.

[Zakhal]

ORIGINAL: Joe Black
Oh, and they still haven't answered the support ticket that I raised on morning of the 3rd.

Seems like their support people are not working very actively on holidays but its been like 4 workdays now since the 30th so I would assume they would have sent somkind of explanation by now whats going on.

This is what I picked from the steam forum:

The problem comes up when people have PayPal take the money back. Usually Steam is still verifying it, then the money disappears, and they'll disable your account. It will eventually get reactivated, but is a much more lengthy process.

There was somkind of delay between paypal and steam and you took the money back before steam could finish verifying. They might disable your account just to make sure you dont get the game since you didnt pay for it. But in anycase it sounds it might take a while before it gets fixed.

I bet if you had followed steams advice and just contacted support and not raised dispute in paypal this would have been fixed by now allready.

[joeblack1862]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

Well, I could say "...steam fanboys" and "...how blinkered some of them are" kind of cross the line, but then I'd be showing myself as a sensitive arsehole, wouldn't I...and sensitive I am NOT! [;)]

You could say, my calm demeanor slipped a bit there, after a lost bank holiday weekend (I was right in the middle of a Railroad Tycoon 3, only available on Steam, when they cut me off) it has proved more difficult to not mention how I feel.

It won't happen again! [:D]

[joeblack1862]

DOUBLE POST, Sorry

[joeblack1862]

ORIGINAL: Zakhal
Seems like their support people are not working very actively on holidays but its been like 4 workdays now since the 30th so I would assume they would have sent somkind of explanation by now whats going on.

I was told by some of the posters that Steam are often not available on holidays... Would have thought it should be the opposite, but maybe you can explain why that wouldnot be (as I believe you said you worked in this area for someone else?

ORIGINAL: Zakhal
This is what I picked from the steam forum:

The problem comes up when people have PayPal take the money back. Usually Steam is still verifying it, then the money disappears, and they'll disable your account. It will eventually get reactivated, but is a much more lengthy process.

There was somkind of delay between paypal and steam and you took the money back before steam could finish verifying. They might disable your account just to make sure you dont get the game since you didnt pay for it. But in anycase it sounds it might take a while before it gets fixed.

Yes, I was told that as well. The only problem I have with that is the entry in my support ticket by the Steam support person saying that the money had been returned to me and there was no further problem. 4 days later, my account is disabled without a reason or any communication.. and I check my account to see the money has been taken out.

Now why doesn't this happen when I buy from Matrix, GOG, GG on Paypal? To be fair they have all failed on me, but they have never taken my money. Just an observation, I am finding it hard in the light of this to accept that Paypal is at fault. it looks more like the method used by Steam to process Paypal orders is not the same as Matrix, GOG and GG and that is why the problems occur. The others have somehow managed to deal with the Paypal issues.

[joeblack1862]

I hope you don't mind, but I'll leave any further discussion to others.

I wanted to just present the facts but I am slipping in to a more open discussion about Steam. Don't want to go there.

I'll keep you all informed how it pans out and try to just tell you the facts as they happen, if you want. But no more opinions on Steam from me.

Each to their own, and God bless you! [:D]

[JudgeDredd]

Hey Joe - I wasn't having a pop...my emphasis was meant to be on this

...I'd be showing myself as a sensitive arsehole, wouldn't I...and sensitive I am NOT!

[joeblack1862]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

Hey Joe - I wasn't having a pop...my emphasis was meant to be on this

...I'd be showing myself as a sensitive arsehole, wouldn't I...and sensitive I am NOT!

Neither was I JD, I think my attempt at humour failed...[:(]

I'll try again:

...I'd be showing myself as a sensitive arsehole!

Don't they have a cream for this?

[DampSquib]

ORIGINAL: Joe Black

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

Hey Joe - I wasn't having a pop...my emphasis was meant to be on this

...I'd be showing myself as a sensitive arsehole, wouldn't I...and sensitive I am NOT!

Neither was I JD, I think my attempt at humour failed...[:(]

I'll try again:

...I'd be showing myself as a sensitive arsehole!

Don't they have a cream for this?

Yes they do stick it round ya VALVE.[:D]

[joeblack1862]

ORIGINAL: DampSquib

ORIGINAL: Joe Black

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

Hey Joe - I wasn't having a pop...my emphasis was meant to be on this

Neither was I JD, I think my attempt at humour failed...[:(]

I'll try again:

...I'd be showing myself as a sensitive arsehole!

Don't they have a cream for this?

Yes they do stick it round ya VALVE.[:D]

There ya go JD, all fixed for you! [:D]

[joeblack1862]

Account still disabled, still no contact from Steam Support.[:(]

[joeblack1862]

Sent a private message to one of the Valve guys on the forum. He got back to me immediately to tell me that the support ticket was on the list but the person had been ill. He apologised and said it would hopefully be sorted out today or tomorrow.

So that may be a bit of advice for any of you chaps to use in future if you have issues and no response to a ticket.

No contact from support yet.

(If you want me to stop this monologue just say so, I have no idea if people are finding it useful).

EDIT:
I should add all the Steam / Valve staff I have managed to speak to have been helpful and polite. The issue seems to be the process and the time it takes to get to speak to someone.

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: Joe Black

Sent a private message to one of the Valve guys on the forum. He got back to me immediately to tell me that the support ticket was on the list but the person had been ill. He apologised and said it would hopefully be sorted out today or tomorrow.

So that may be a bit of advice for any of you chaps to use in future if you have issues and no response to a ticket.

No contact from support yet.

(If you want me to stop this monologue just say so, I have no idea if people are finding it useful).

EDIT:
I should add all the Steam / Valve staff I have managed to speak to have been helpful and polite. The issue seems to be the process and the time it takes to get to speak to someone.

Keep it going, Joe. [:)] That's been my experience with various retails as well...if you find yourself waiting and waiting, a PM or email to an admin usually spurs things along.

[wodin]

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

Yes and keyboard overlays too.

How Ive wished for keyboard overlays...especially with flight sims. The last flight sim I bought with a keyboard overlay was in about '98. Can't remember the name...think it was Total Air War. It was agreat game anywya. Also the first game I played to use anti aialising.

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: wodin

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

Yes and keyboard overlays too.

How Ive wished for keyboard overlays...especially with flight sims. The last flight sim I bought with a keyboard overlay was in about '98. Can't remember the name...think it was Total Air War. It was agreat game anywya. Also the first game I played to use anti aialising.

Aaaah, keyboard overlays. They were definitely helpful. Unfortunately, the explosion in different keyboard layouts, sizes, dimensions and everything else essentially killed them. [:(]

[Obsolete]

While this link may refer to the very recent past, it is unfortunate that it also points to our future:

http://twitter.com/Ubisoft/status/10184920360


Oh yes, and I forgot, I also love it how Ubisoft once again is so smart in how they word things, as though this were just a minor inconvenience to a very few clients.

[joeblack1862]

Hi All,

My next installment of this Game Purchase that wasn't from Steam:

Well, well, well. What can I say. Paypal are absolutely spot on. They have gone up in my estimation big time.

Last Friday, Steam finally contacted me:

1. They said they had re-enabled my account and provided the game I attempted to purchase from them free of charge.

2. I queried this, I said I didn't want the game as I already owned it and could they give me another game at the same price (I had missed the free of charge bit..)

3. They then spelt it out that the game was free as they had spoken to Paypal and my money had been refunded.

4. I checked my bank account, no credit nor any future transactions uncleared. Just the £13.99 debit. Checked Paypal, the escalated case was still showing, waiting to hear from the seller.

5. I emailed back to Steam to point out that they had not refunded me (nor by the looks of things, spoken to Paypal). That was last Friday 9th April. So I had indeed paid for the "Free game".

6. No reply from Steam, even as I write this on the 14th April.

7. Paypal emailed me tonight. They said they had found the case in my favor and that they had taken the money off Steam and returned it to my account. It will take five days to clear.


Thank you Paypal.

[joeblack1862]

Three weeks and it is still going....

They have now removed the "free game" (didn't ask me if they could). I did say in my correspondance that it being there was of no consequence to me. I didn't say remove it.

I actually find that disturbing. The account was disabled without contacting me. (To those who say it is because I raised a dispute on Paypal, here are a few facts; the dispute was raised 8 days before the account was disabled. It was only ever at "Talk to the Seller" level).
They also add a game without checking if it is something appropriate. They remove it just as quickly without checking with me. It doesn't feel like I have any say in "My Account" or any rights at all.

Although I have my money back (thank you Paypal) I am continuing communication with Steam in order to make my point about this last 3 weeks of frustration. It may do no good, but I have to make the effort to talk to them. You could say it is a customers duty or else how will they ever know. Yeah, I know you all think I am wasting my time [:'(]

Tell me to stop if you are all bored with this please. You won't hurt my feelings, honest [:)]

[Arctic Blast]

I'd say keep it going if you still want to, Joe. [:)]

[joeblack1862]

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

I'd say keep it going if you still want to, Joe. [:)]

Okay [:D]

And to spell out "Talk to Seller" level at Paypal. When you raise a dispute this is the first level. Paypal do not get involved, they just register the start of the dispute process and leave you to "Talk to the Seller". If it's resolved then the dispute is closed by you and Paypal never get involved.

If you are getting nowhere, then you raise the "Talk to Seller" to the next level. At this level you lose control of the dispute. Paypal take over and talk to the seller. They then make a decision and that is that. If they find in your favor, they recover your money, easier to do with a big company like Steam, obviously.