Steam Logon Required?

[enfestid]

Just wondering, but will a Steam logon be required everytime you wish to play SiN: Episodes?

I assume it is, but I'm just wondering. It's definitely my most hated feature of Half-Life 2.

[ertertwert]

Are you complaining about actually typing in your login details (which is saved) or just the fact that you have to wait 5 seconds?

[Tiletron]

Well yeah, since SiN Episodes will be mostly released online (content, patches, special enhancements, etc). You have to remember that this game will reflect the SOURCE technology that Valve originally intended it to be; a system that is continuously updated and expanded by the developers.

Barring the obvious thing that it is a SOURCE-based system, it seems much more economical for developers to recieve updates to the architecture via Steam.

... so yes, I would presume you would have to stay logged in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I think the better question is, if you've waited 6+ years for the game and want to play it online, do you really want to be stuck playing with people who don't have a legal copy of the game, or would you like to play with people who actually have been willing to pay $15? Steam wasn't just built to help provide content to modteams, if was originally designed to fill a loophole in piracy that occured with teh first Half-Life...

[vechTer]

As much as many people hate Steam right now, pretty soon they will realize that it isn't that bad. When EA and other developers come out with similar systems, we will find our computers cluttered with them. Only then will Steam seem incredible.

EA has said they are working on something similar to Steam btw /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[ATimson]

Originally posted by vechTer:
EA has said they are working on something similar to Steam btw /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif


Gah. Why can't they just license the quite-functional, and proven, Steam? I mean, wouldn't it be nice to just have one system, instead of ten? Especially if most aren't all that good (*cough*GameXStream*cough*).

[JimmyC]

Originally posted by vechTer:
... we will find our computers cluttered with them.


Which is exactly the thing most people don't want. Half a dozen applications running in the background, taking up CPU cycles, sapping memory, conflicting with each other. Not a pretty picture and I'm not sure how incredible it will seem.


EA has said they are working on something similar to Steam btw /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif


Doesn't surprise me a bit. I'd bet a lot of the larger development houses are either working on something similar or have done some serious research on it. I'd bet that Microsoft and Sony are even working on something similar for their consoles, though the potential lack of a hard drive might be a tough obstacle to overcome.

[Apprentice]

Originally posted by enfestid:
Just wondering, but will a Steam logon be required everytime you wish to play SiN: Episodes?

I assume it is, but I'm just wondering. It's definitely my most hated feature of Half-Life 2.


Yes, just like any other game that has and will be released through the network.

You'll need to start Steam in order to start and play SIN: Episodes, will become tough on some systems that run Windows XP with only 512 MB RAM and the number of machines with that combination is close to infinite . . .

[ATimson]

Originally posted by Apprentice:
You'll need to start Steam in order to start and play SIN: Episodes, will become tough on some systems that run Windows XP with only 512 MB RAM and the number of machines with that combination is close to infinite . . .


I wouldn't be too sure about that. I played HL2 on an XP machine with only 512 MB of RAM, and only a Radeon 9000 for the video card. Nary a problem at all. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[enfestid]

Originally posted by ertertwert:
Are you complaining about actually typing in your login details (which is saved) or just the fact that you have to wait 5 seconds?


Please use intelligence before you decide to belittle me and what I have to say.

I am displeased with the Steam service not because I have to log on, or because my password can be stored, but because it is royally a pain in my ass. I have a wireless connection, as it's the only broadband option available in my area (no DSL or Cable), and sometimes the connection can go out due to weather problems. If I ever wanted to play a Steam-based game, I cannot. The offline feature should work, but for some reason it does not whenever my internet connection goes out (an odd coincidence, no?).

And it's just a pain in the butt when you have a laptop capable of running Steam-based games, yet you have to log-on wherever you are -- which can be anoher pain when you are somewhere where a connection is not readily available. Again, you'd think the offline mode would work, but it's only worked a few times for me.

So, I'll repeat: please do not patronize me when you do not know the facts.

[Meeps]

Steams offline mode does infact work, the only way i seem to get it to work tho is by logging on successfully once with my user and pass being saved - which you will only have to ever do once then just reboot your PC/Lappytop making sure that you can not and will not connect to any network of any kind then when you open steam it will say some stuff about not being able to connect and asks you if you wanna log in using offline mode.... thats what happens for me anyway..

Also I see no wrong with steam, infact i think its great... the idea of having multiple apps that are like steam but are for specific producers i dont like though...just to save system resources you would have to close one then log into the other just to go play a different game

[enfestid]

Originally posted by Meeps:
Steams offline mode does infact work, the only way i seem to get it to work tho is by logging on successfully once with my user and pass being saved - which you will only have to ever do once then just reboot your PC/Lappytop making sure that you can not and will not connect to any network of any kind then when you open steam it will say some stuff about not being able to connect and asks you if you wanna log in using offline mode.... thats what happens for me anyway..

Also I see no wrong with steam, infact i think its great... the idea of having multiple apps that are like steam but are for specific producers i dont like though...just to save system resources you would have to close one then log into the other just to go play a different game


In fact, it does work for some people. But, it does not work for others. Do I know why? Not a clue... I've done everything their tech support said, every advice I've been given by other Steam users, and none of it works. I've talked to a number of other people who also share the same problem. My information is all stored, and it still does not work -- it gives me a standard error for some reason.

I too like the IDEA of Steam, but I also think it was poorly executed in numerous areas and still needs work. I believe an offline version would be better for the customer, too, granted with a few more security features on Steam.