Valve, Steam, and why I hate them.

**Bijo** · 11-27-2007, 20:43

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** · 11-27-2007, 20:48

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** · 11-27-2007, 21:42

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** · 11-27-2007, 21:57

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.

**Husar** · 11-27-2007, 22:36

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**lars573** · 11-28-2007, 04:44

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**Lemur** · 11-29-2007, 16:42

Originally Posted by Husar

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

Originally Posted by lars573

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.

**lars573** · 11-29-2007, 17:53

Originally Posted by Lemur

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** · 11-29-2007, 20:45

Originally Posted by Lemur

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?

**Fragony** · 11-29-2007, 17:27

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

**caravel** · 11-29-2007, 22:27

Originally Posted by Fragony

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.