Steam

[gardibolt]

I've never used Steam before, but it seems to be an acceptable compromise that doesn't drag us into DRM-land. So I am feeling pretty secure (ha!) about getting Empire whereas I didn't about Kingdoms. I appreciate Jack adding the comment that you can tell Steam not to load automatically and it remembers that setting. I've got too much junk loading automatically that I can't figure out how to stop.

[Belgolas]

I've never used Steam before, but it seems to be an acceptable compromise that doesn't drag us into DRM-land. So I am feeling pretty secure (ha!) about getting Empire whereas I didn't about Kingdoms. I appreciate Jack adding the comment that you can tell Steam not to load automatically and it remembers that setting. I've got too much junk loading automatically that I can't figure out how to stop.

In XP click on run, msconfig, then click on the start up tab and deselect stuff that doesn't need to be open. In vista you just need to type msconfig in the search bar. Note do not deselect the video drives and other important drivers like wireless, etc. I am not responsible if you do.

[oldgiffer]

Ok, I didnt read the last comments but couldnt see it answered earlier:

First off, im a fairly active steam user, and have been for some years. By all means, im no fanboy, but I will share my steam experiences, atleast how the service have been for me.

1. Auto updating:
I have ~40 games on steam, and ALL games have the option of;
- Always keep this game up to data
- Do not automatically update this game

2. Resource usage:
I use steam on my laptop, and my home stationary computers, all varied in specs, one good one bad one decent, i have M2TW boxed and on steam, and tbh, i notice no difrence in performance.
On my vista rig, the steam application uses about 15-20mb of RAM, with todays RAM prices and availability is just so little it isnt even noticable.

3. Allways checking online, allways need activation.
Your steam computer needs to be online, once. The first time you run the game, you must be online. After that you can just go to File -> Go Offline, then start the steam application in offline mode ever after.

Overall, since i created my Steam account back in 2003, i've been a happy customer. The stability of the service is good, support is acceptable. I've never had much problems with download speeds, it's ususally good enough to max out my connection. However I have a couple of friends that have complained a couple of times, but i know too little details about the situations to make anything out of it.

All in all, Steam is not the worst thing that could happen, in my humble oppinion that is :)

Cheers
- v0rtex

EDIT: LOL, just spotted this; You last visited: 02-19-2006 at 21:11

[Polemists]

So has anyone ever had steam not work and try to contact customer support?

E-mail, phone, etc?

Does steam even have a customer support?


Can that customer support

procure me


a

DEMO

[oldgiffer]

Well I have had 2 cased with their support;

1. The store not working properly
- solved in ~24 hours

2. My account was hijacked and all my games went *pop*
- I think it took about 12 hours from start to finish. So my experience have been good, but as with all customer support, theres probably good storys and bad.


But, I guess im just the lucky one :P

[Polemists]

I just wanted to make sure there is a customer support as some clients don't have it...


It's good to know they do have a customer support...

that way come tommorrow I have someone new,

to ask

for

DEMO

[knoddy]

my only worry with their customer support would be the fact that its probs only in america so we have to call up at some ridiculous hour just to get through at some crazy cost :S

but then i dont know much about steam so i could be wrong.


to the steam forums polemists so we can ask


for a


DEMO