Valve, Steam, and why I hate them.

[Sheogorath]

Alright, I wont deny that Half Life is a decent game. Its fun. There are zombies which explode quite nicely. The gravity gun is interesting as well.
My issue is with Valve and Steam. So please bear with me while I rant here.

Back when I first got HL2, we had dialup. Not only that, but my gaming computer wasnt even connected to the interet! Of course, nowhere on the HL2 box does it say 'You need an internet connection to activate this game', so, all unsuspecting, I shelled out $50. Naturally, once I got home, I was somewhat irritated.
I found myself with three options. I could a) Download a crack somewhere, b) Go through all the buggery of setting up an internet connection via dialup on another computer, or c) Contact Valve and work things out with them, somehow or other.
After a while trying to get the series of tubes connected to my gaming comp, I gave up and went for the Steam-bypass dealy, which, suprisingly, was quite simple and easy. Far less troublesome than my future experiences with Valve tech support.
Anyway, played HL2, it was great, etc.
Flash forward to a few weeks ago, I bought the Orange Box, activate via Steam (it took less time to download the Steam-bypass, FYI), and sat down to enjoy Episode One.
Apparently a certain issue is present whereby, after going through all the underground buggery and fighting off a hoard of zombies in an annoyingly hard battle, the game crashes on loading the first outdoor level.
Its unresolved.
I, naturally, contact Valve support on the subject after trying several suggested solutions to the problem. No success. I very carefully mention these in my first e-mail. I even put little bullets next to them so they were more noticable and convienient to read. I outlined my problem in great detail.
One week later, I get a reply:

Please follow the link below for more information:

Title: Troubleshooting Game Crashes
URL: http://support.steampowered.com/cgi-...ted=1127526153

Please attach an msinfo report if the problem persists.

I had, very carefully, mentioned that this had been tried. I shoot back that this had no effect and provide an MSinfo file.

Yesterday, I got this:

Please uninstall your video driver and then install the most current driver available from ATI. You can also try a couple older drivers like Catalyst 7.7.

Have you tried launching the game with the launch options -dxlevel 70 -nosound -window?

Please lower your resolution and turn down some of your video settings like AA and AF.

Yeah, thanks guys, thats some sheer genius there.

A quick google reveals that I'm not alone with this issue. Apparently there are quite a few people who experience the EXACT same crash that I have and have either been ignored or gotten the same treatment that I have.

I wont go into the standard rant about autoupdates, launch on start, performance issues, 'SERVER BUSY, YOU CANT PLAY YOUR GAME LOL', and having to be online, because they've been covered in great detail elsewhere.

I dont like Steam. I dont like buying games online. I dont like Steam monitoring my system performance without my knowledge. I REALLLY dont like paying $50 for a useless piece of round plastic that doesnt do what its supposed to, and I cant return to the store except to exchange for an exact copy which has the same issue.

Pardon my rant. Im just rather frustrated right now.

EDIT:
By the way, I in no way condone or encourage piracy. The use of no-cd patches/cracks to overcome technical issues is a real lifesaver sometimes, especially in the case of damaged CD's and so forth.
Remember kiddies, the IRAA will come and shoot you if you think too hard about downloading games illigally.

[Ramses II CP]

I played through that exact spot in Ep. 1 recently and fortunately ducked a crash. My issue with Ep. 1 is that it claimed to be incompatible with my video card, then claimed I needed to update my drivers, and then put all the settings on minimum. I had to go through and poke them all back up, and then the game played perfectly, of course.

Good luck with the crash. Ep. 1 seems a lot more squishy than HL2 was.

[lars573]

Of course, nowhere on the HL2 box does it say 'You need an internet connection to activate this game'

Ahh that's where you, and everyone else who read the box incorrectly, is wrong. The last requirement in both the minimum and recommended boxes says "Internet connection required", also found on MMO boxes. This is different from "Internet connection required for multiplayer" sported by most other games. It's not Valves fault you misread the label. Maybe they weren't idiot-proof clear, but they did their part.

[Fragony]

Should be on the box with very big characters as it's a rather unusual type of protection. And steam sucks, drains your memory and in general works terrible. Reinstalled rhe first Half-life a few weeks ago, immediatly bye because of steam. Slows down the system, was only made to force you to watch adds, and starts up without me asking.

[lars573]

It's in all caps and bold in the requirments box. More noticeable than the memory or CPU specs. But like I said it's not idiot-proof clear. Which is what your suggestion would be. Also steam isn't no reasource hog. It usually works great. The beta version was arse. But the finished product is great.

[Bob the Insane]

I never really have any issues with Steam personally, however a nice fat cable connection and a fast machine might be the reason for that...

You can disable the Start on Startup to if you like...

[Fragony]

I don't consider myselve an idiot when not knowing about idiotic copy-protection , espeically when it is so very unique. When I buy something I expect a the full package without any parade. Especially when the highly unique copyprotection is somewhere below the other specs to run it. Should be on the box where it can't be missed. Some people know nothing of computers but enjoy to play games, flashy box is enough.

[Husar]

Steam takes a lot of ressources?
Have it running in the background sometimes but never noticed any impact.
And yeah, you can have it not start with Windows which is quite a good idea.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I never really have any issues with Steam personally, however a nice fat cable connection and a fast machine might be the reason for that...

Agreed. I have four games for Steam: The Hitman collection (three games) and Red Orchestra. Steam has never been a problem for me. One of the Hitman games did crash on occasion, but it's stopped. I can't blame it on Steam, though, because the same thing happened with HOI2. This problem fixed itself. Oddly enough, it seems some games need time to "get used" to my computer, and then they stop crashing altogether.

[Spino]

Not a big fan of Steam myself but it hasn't caused me any headaches. On the other hand the only games I've purchased as online downloads are a few strategy games from Matrixgames, none of which require an active internet connection to patch. As Husar stated you can rig Steam so that it doesn't load up when Windows loads and once you turn it off it doesn't spawn a TSR app that takes up memory or CPU cycles.

[Bijo]

What I dislike about Steam is how they.... necessitate your use of an internet connection. My wish regarding video games is simple: I purchase the product in a store, I install it offline, and I play it. All these protections encourage illegal activity. Well, it don't matter much for me anyway: I ain't playing. In some ways one would be better off getting a console.

[Xiahou]

I'm no fan of Steam and it has caused me headaches. Enough that I uninstalled it and didn't touch it or HalfLife2 for 2 years. TF2 finally motivated me to reinstall Steam and it hasn't burned me yet.

But I still don't like it.

My wish regarding video games is simple: I purchase the product in a store, I install it offline, and I play it.

[Mikeus Caesar]

The only problems i have with steam are problems of my own doing (reinstalling countless times on a badly maintained machine) which while annoying, are acceptable considering the brilliant games i have access to.

[Lemur]

One thing that may help with the headaches: Prevent Steam from starting up automatically. It's pretty easy.

On the Start menu, go to Run > msconfig > Startup > Steam

Click it off, and you're done. Might want to turn off some other botherware while you're there.

[Gregoshi]

...and sat down to enjoy Episode One.
Apparently a certain issue is present whereby, after going through all the underground buggery and fighting off a hoard of zombies in an annoyingly hard battle, the game crashes on loading the first outdoor level.
Its unresolved.

My son has run into the same problem.

[Husar]

One thing that may help with the headaches: Prevent Steam from starting up automatically. It's pretty easy.

On the Start menu, go to Run > msconfig > Startup > Steam

Click it off, and you're done. Might want to turn off some other botherware while you're there.

Steam also has an Options menu where you can turn that off.

[lars573]

One thing that may help with the headaches: Prevent Steam from starting up automatically. It's pretty easy.

On the Start menu, go to Run > msconfig > Startup > Steam

Click it off, and you're done. Might want to turn off some other botherware while you're there.

Overly complecated. Especially when steam has "start steam at windows start-up?" tick box.

[Lemur]

Steam also has an Options menu where you can turn that off.

Overly complecated. Especially when steam has "start steam at windows start-up?" tick box.

What, you guys trust the software? C'mon, doesn't it feel better to turn off the spigot at the source? Besides, once you're in msconfig, it's fun to check which services and software are so very important they just have to load into memory every time you reboot. I'm trying to create a Learning Circle here, a sacred space where children and adults can learn to love the Earth and msconfig. And maybe do watercolors.

[Fragony]

One thing that may help with the headaches: Prevent Steam from starting up automatically. It's pretty easy.

On the Start menu, go to Run > msconfig > Startup > Steam

Click it off, and you're done. Might want to turn off some other botherware while you're there.

I shouldn't have to do that, it should ask me if I prefer it, it's intrusive. And I can barely start my wii so that is way too complicated. And it was made for advertising revenues anyway, why do I need it simply to play a legally purchased game.

[lars573]

What, you guys trust the software? C'mon, doesn't it feel better to turn off the spigot at the source? Besides, once you're in msconfig, it's fun to check which services and software are so very important they just have to load into memory every time you reboot. I'm trying to create a Learning Circle here, a sacred space where children and adults can learn to love the Earth and msconfig. And maybe do watercolors.

I do. And I've never had a problem with steam that could be 1000% blamed solely on steam. Not with this PC. Because my dad uses it (yes i live at home). And he only uses the PC for pron. And he's very, very iiresonsible about it. He surfs for it with IE. Which means at any given time this PC is full with half the viruses and spyware known to exist. And he won't use Opera, because the UI is different than IE.

[Husar]

What, you guys trust the software? C'mon, doesn't it feel better to turn off the spigot at the source?

I knew you'd say that.
If I want to be sure noone connects to the internet from my PC I'll pull the plug of my router, or I could get loads of antispyware and antivirus protection programs which use more resources than the spyware does.
Also since when do you trust a Microsoft system utility?

[caravel]

I shouldn't have to do that, it should ask me if I prefer it, it's intrusive. And I can barely start my wii so that is way too complicated. And it was made for advertising revenues anyway, why do I need it simply to play a legally purchased game.

True enough. Why be forced to install what amounts to useless commercial / DRM crap on your PC, that you don't want and didn't volunteer for? This is effectively the same as having Starforce or any other copy protection inflicted upon you. Those who have downloaded cracked copies from p2p won't be effected at all, it will only be the mugs that paid up for it that will have to deal with it.

I used to be an avid CS 1.5 player back in the day. I gave up when v1.6 was released and Steam was inflicted on us. Since then I haven't bothered with Valve games and don't intend to again.