Steam Or Not Steam?

2

Comments

  • taboofirestaboofires Join Date: 2002-11-24 Member: 9853Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--robke+Sep 10 2003, 02:32 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (robke @ Sep 10 2003, 02:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> so why does that user agreement contain this:
    "By using Valve's online sites and products, users agree that Valve may share with other parties aggregate information and individual information but not personally identifiable information gathered by Valve in the course of the continuing use of Valve online sites and products."? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That's pretty standard for collecting data about your hardware (vid card, proc speed, etc.), and is used when deciding what hardware to support when making a new game. Blizzard does it in the form of a "survey" when you install a patch, but they're nice enough to ask you first each time.

    There's other valid info they could make use of, too. But don't worry about getting you in trouble if it says "not personally identifiable information." Or, more accurately, if they do get you in trouble while saying they won't, it would make for an easy lawsuit.
  • Lightning_BlueLightning_Blue Sunny Domination Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10647Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    <!--QuoteBegin--snozzle+Sep 10 2003, 03:44 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (snozzle @ Sep 10 2003, 03:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> oh please even on that petition is a mistake. you can buy the game half-life .. so how is it discriminating - 56k is outdated compared to the # of people using broadband and higher =\ <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not true.

    Remember, many people live where Broadband is too expensive or not available.
  • TeflonTeflon Join Date: 2003-08-27 Member: 20289Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Lightning Blue+Sep 10 2003, 04:50 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lightning Blue @ Sep 10 2003, 04:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--snozzle+Sep 10 2003, 03:44 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (snozzle @ Sep 10 2003, 03:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> oh please even on that petition is a mistake.  you can buy the game half-life .. so how is it discriminating - 56k is outdated compared to the # of people using broadband and higher =\ <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not true.

    Remember, many people live where Broadband is too expensive or not available. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    True to a degree. While the number of 56 *** users vastly outnumbers broadband users by at LEAST 20 to 1, that also includes old farts on AOL who don't game.

    I'm sure an analysis of <b>gamers</b> and their connection speeds would be closer to 50/50.
  • JummehJummeh Join Date: 2003-04-07 Member: 15276Members
    50% is a very large amount of customers to risk :/
  • ReDMulockReDMulock Join Date: 2003-06-28 Member: 17766Members
    Please get over it... Unless you yourself are on 56k why even talk about it. Hell... most of the servers i play on kick 56kers as is, and when playing fps 56k people somtimes hinder the gameplay for the broadband people.... Lag teleporting, and delayed hitboxs. Sometimes it helps the 56kers <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->. As games get more complex and more data is needed to transfer between client and server 56k gamers will be fewer and fewer.
  • AlthalusAlthalus Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9866Members
    edited September 2003
    Yea, but how about the system requirements on the HL box...
    Supposedly some "newbie" buys a copy of HL wants to go online...
    He notices that he has to DL 500-1 000Mb of files...
    And if he has 56K (Box says 28.8K is minimum)
    How in the .... is he going to be able to play ? <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->

    [EDIT] Muah owned you all at Forum joining date <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • AlthalusAlthalus Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9866Members
    edited September 2003
    FFS LAG <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • PseudoKnightPseudoKnight Join Date: 2002-06-18 Member: 791Members
    Morons should not be allowed to download betas. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> Keyword: beta.

    Don't judge Steam until the final version is released. Even then Valve is planning on improvements.

    There is no "spyware".
    Valve isn't going to sell your information.

    Steam is a system good for both developers and users alike. Ask anybody who knows a beta from their own arse. Someday you're going to regret your words. Either that or you're going to stupidly hang onto them so you can be right and miss out on the fun.
  • Elite_GuardElite_Guard Join Date: 2002-11-29 Member: 10258Members
    i quit Half-Life because of Steam
  • criticaIcriticaI Join Date: 2003-04-07 Member: 15269Banned, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--Elite Guard+Sep 10 2003, 10:00 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Elite Guard @ Sep 10 2003, 10:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> i quit Half-Life because of Steam <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    bye <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • LazerLazer Join Date: 2003-03-11 Member: 14406Members, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester
    <!--QuoteBegin--cri.tical+Sep 10 2003, 09:14 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (cri.tical @ Sep 10 2003, 09:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--Elite Guard+Sep 10 2003, 10:00 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Elite Guard @ Sep 10 2003, 10:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> i quit Half-Life because of Steam <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    bye <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    i second that.
  • DarkDudeDarkDude Join Date: 2003-08-06 Member: 19088Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Elite Guard+Sep 10 2003, 09:00 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Elite Guard @ Sep 10 2003, 09:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> i quit Half-Life because of Steam <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You don't need Steam to play Half-Life do you?

    <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'><!--endemo--> *steam haters*

    I think the final version is out now, download it and see how it goes then come back and hate on steam, because if it sucks, I'll be in the same boat you're in.
  • monkeymastermonkeymaster Join Date: 2003-02-20 Member: 13771Members
    [SIZE=3]STEAM.....IS.....CRAP.....AND....USELESS....THERE....IS....NO....POINT....OF....IT....ITS....LAME[SIZE=3]

    steam is ****, and gooseman is a retard for releasing CS to STEAM.

    ill say this again, IF THE NS DEV TEAM RELEASES NS TO STEAM THEY THEY ARE ALSO RETARDED! THERE IS NO POINT OF THIS!....it just makes life harder for ppl with dialup, why cant they just leave the updates like normal ?.

    RIGHT CLICK FKN SAVE TARGET AS! EASY FOR EVERYONE!..and u can pause and resume like taht too!

    eh, release anything you want on steam, but please dont take away the freedom of being able to go to a site and just right click save target as! PLZ!...

    ive downloaded cs 1.6 threw steam at least a dozen times, and it it just comes up with disconected half the time!
  • MasterEvilAceMasterEvilAce Join Date: 2002-11-29 Member: 10268Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Steam is great, but it takes awhile for it to load up for me.
    I hated steam at first, but after a few patches that fixed some stuff, I liked it. I also liked having less/no cheaters on a server.


    Long loading time must be because of the 500mb GPF(or whatever) file for every mod i've installed with steam... does it read it or something, all the time ? If so.. damn. that's my problem.
  • monkeymastermonkeymaster Join Date: 2003-02-20 Member: 13771Members
    yeh steam is constantly downloading updates isnt it ?
  • DEADscottDEADscott Join Date: 2003-03-29 Member: 15022Members, Constellation
    Won will cease to exist, we don't have a choice.

    Q: Is WON going away?
    A: Yes, once we have completed the rollover we will slowly remove parts of the WON system as they become obsolete.
  • monkeymastermonkeymaster Join Date: 2003-02-20 Member: 13771Members
    STEAM IS **** CLOSE THIS THREAD!!! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • wRavenwRaven Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6482Members
    Like Steam or not, it dosen't matter. Want to play HL, HL2, or any other Valve Game/Mod, you need Steam. End of story. You can't figh it, you can't change it, and you can't stop it.
  • ParasiteParasite Join Date: 2002-04-13 Member: 431Members
    edited September 2003
    /edit: Steam is not Spyware, this is the explaination for why people find "personal information" in the gcache file...
    <a href='http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1298&perpage=15&pagenumber=18' target='_blank'>The cache file gets created on the client using the Windows CreateFile() command. This command will create the file but not initialize it. Due to the large size of the file, we don't bother initializing the empty data blocks in it as this can take an appreciable amount of time. On NTFS machines, files created with this method happen to have the property of appearing empty (initialized to zero) but for FAT32 machines, it shows up as whatever old data was sitting on drive in the sectors that just got allocated for the cache. The people that are reporting this behavior are actually seeing old data from their hard drives.</a>
  • Paranoia2MBParanoia2MB Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7832Members
    Hmm
    I finally came up with a decision. I'll use steam, I don't give a h00t. And I'll be getting the Hl2 Bonus pack. I may get the steam thing instead, but for steam. Is it 10 bucks every month?

    I read something about Steam from the Valve guys, so I guess i'll use it. So i'm over it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • ParasiteParasite Join Date: 2002-04-13 Member: 431Members
    Be aware that there are several ways to purchase HL2:

    RETAIL:
    1. SINGLE PLAYER ONLY!!!!! (cheaper, no mod support etc)

    2. Multiplayer, plays HL2 and other source engine mods (mods are free).

    STEAM:
    1. SP (same as above)
    2. MP (Same as above)
    3. Valve subscription: $10 monthly, you get access to all released Valve games. HL2, CS2, CS:CZ, TF2 and any bonus/additional content all within the first year or so of subscription. Not to mention mods that Valve adopts for retail (like DoD and CS for HL1) Its definatly a good buy for year one, but can they continuously pump out what is essentially the value of 4 games per year?

    And scince everything expt HL2 SP is tied to your steam account they will know who is allowed access to what games etc.
  • White_Kite_FaunaWhite_Kite_Fauna Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16133Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--wRaven+Sep 10 2003, 11:06 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (wRaven @ Sep 10 2003, 11:06 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You can't figh it, you can't change it, and you can't stop it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That's the spirit!
    The spirit of great victorious man arrived! Everybody drop dead in fear!

    You obviously did not play NS much, did you?

    Well that was 1 of the things I "really" learned from NS: Never surrender, always fight till the end.
    (The other was about team work)
  • JummehJummeh Join Date: 2003-04-07 Member: 15276Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--[ReD]Mulock+Sep 10 2003, 11:53 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([ReD]Mulock @ Sep 10 2003, 11:53 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Please get over it... Unless you yourself are on 56k why even talk about it. Hell... most of the servers i play on kick 56kers as is, and when playing fps 56k people somtimes hinder the gameplay for the broadband people.... Lag teleporting, and delayed hitboxs. Sometimes it helps the 56kers <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->. As games get more complex and more data is needed to transfer between client and server 56k gamers will be fewer and fewer. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    This is very unfair. In many places it is either too expensive or simply not available. Also HL is very playable over a 56k modem, although there are distinct advantages if you are on broadband.

    And the myth that 56kers create lag is BS, if they are really lagging (ie. teleporting etc) its not because they are on 56k, its because the network is a bit dodgy. Heck with 56k of bandwith, the server doesn't comunicate enough with it to actually strain. It is the BB connection people that sometimes encounter network problems, thats when it gets bad because they have the bandwidth to actually affect server performance.

    I have seen many more people that are on broadband with a massive fluctuating ping (40-1000), wereas 56kers are normally around 120-200 ping.

    Oh and before you ask yes I do have ADSL.
  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    edited September 2003
    <!--QuoteBegin--Parasite+Sep 11 2003, 11:00 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Parasite @ Sep 11 2003, 11:00 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Be aware that there are several ways to purchase HL2:

    RETAIL:
    1. SINGLE PLAYER ONLY!!!!! (cheaper, no mod support etc)

    2. Multiplayer, plays HL2 and other source engine mods (mods are free).

    (stuff) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Also,
    3. Collectors (Limited!) edition


    <!--QuoteBegin--Jummeh+above this post, sometime--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jummeh @ above this post, sometime)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have seen many more people that are on broadband with a massive fluctuating ping (40-1000), wereas 56kers are normally around 120-200 ping.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Do the broadband people fluctuate that much on the SAME SERVER, and is the server itself not crappy?
    I'd go with the 56kers having 120-200 ping on servers near them, and broadband people with 1000 ping to having bad service, or being on the wrong side of the world, or maybe some cable was severed between them and the server, and the lag is from taking a wrong route(far-fetched-story2k3).
  • wlibaerswlibaers Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8685Members
    Well, the download problems affect more people than just the modem users. For example, I have cable, and can download stuff very fast. However, the ISP imposes a traffic limit: Only 10GB total traffic in a 30-day period. (it's possible, but expensive, to buy more)
    When you use more than that, it reduces the speed of the connection to something similar to a 28k modem. I usually am not close to the limit, but having a program running that suddenly can decide to download a couple hundred megs of updates, perhaps several times every month, isn't good in this situation. Besides, I don't even have a gig of space free on my disk anymore, so it'd better not download too much.
  • monkeymastermonkeymaster Join Date: 2003-02-20 Member: 13771Members
    we can fight it, we can change it, we can stop it.

    we just cbf.

    anyways, im gettin all this from a freidn sharring it on kazaa right now. so its all good.
  • RaZaRaZa Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20144Members, Constellation
    Couple of things concerning the matter:

    I don't see why Valve are making such a big deal about auto-patching. They say:
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Say goodbye to game patches forever--they're a thing of the past. Steam will keep all of its games up-to-date for as long as you want to keep playing them. No more hunting for download sites just to get up and running!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Like it's *that* hard to go to FilePlanet or FileShack and search for "Half-Life"

    Btw, about the whole "Valve seeing my file directories and stuff", the FAT32 System (amongst others) <i>does not</i> delete things after you "Empty Recycle Bin". It just sits there on the HD as empty space, until it is overwritten, so chances are that Valve arn't snooping. I'm still a little skeptical towards it tho...

    Plenty more to say, but I cbf typing it, and I'm sure you cbf reading it.
  • wlibaerswlibaers Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8685Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--RaZa+Sep 12 2003, 06:46 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RaZa @ Sep 12 2003, 06:46 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Couple of things concerning the matter:

    I don't see why Valve are making such a big deal about auto-patching. They say:
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Say goodbye to game patches forever--they're a thing of the past. Steam will keep all of its games up-to-date for as long as you want to keep playing them. No more hunting for download sites just to get up and running!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Like it's *that* hard to go to FilePlanet or FileShack and search for "Half-Life"

    Btw, about the whole "Valve seeing my file directories and stuff", the FAT32 System (amongst others) <i>does not</i> delete things after you "Empty Recycle Bin". It just sits there on the HD as empty space, until it is overwritten, so chances are that Valve arn't snooping. I'm still a little skeptical towards it tho...

    Plenty more to say, but I cbf typing it, and I'm sure you cbf reading it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    For the capabilities of computer users, check this:
    <a href='http://theregister.co.uk/content/67/32742.html' target='_blank'>http://theregister.co.uk/content/67/32742.html</a>

    And for the spyware issue: the really suspicious thing is that there are conflicting explanations from Valve.
  • DarkFrostDarkFrost Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15154Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Say goodbye to game patches forever--they're a thing of the past. Steam will keep all of its games up-to-date for as long as you want to keep playing them. No more hunting for download sites just to get up and running!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Ill be perfectly honest, this, as with all steams features, THE ALL SEEING EYE does them all, even loads up c-d for you too, so umm, remind me why this is a good thing again?
  • PykmiPykmi Join Date: 2003-04-14 Member: 15473Members
    Well I've betatested Steam for quite a while now, but this "final" version is so **** buggy it crashes when I try to dl anything. And during loading those games from the old folder it crashed. Now I can't do that anymore. Yeah...

    <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
This discussion has been closed.