Ditto, but for civ5!

As for hoping fanboys don't regret their devotion to Steam because of hackers, ahem just hackers?? Is that it?? When there are so many more weird and wonderful things that could bring such regret!!! Steam get sold out, go broke, merge with Apple computers, start charging rental fees on all your games, start charging fees for this and that other, blah blah and all the good things that come with the eventual absolute power they will gain over everyone's computer games, gee, the sky is the limit and you just say 'hackers'?????

I played Dungeonsiege 3 just recently after buying the box set. Collecting loot/interacting is really shitful compared to D2 or D1. I have already played D2 before, so I'm now playing D1 and it is still better than D3

There's plenty of valid reason to hate Gamestop.  I don't , but there are plenty of reasons people do, and they're valid.

Eh, I can understand not wanting to deal with Gamestop, I have had some unpleasant experiences with them.

I used to be quite wary of Steam for the simple reason that you could not enjoy a game without being connected to the internet. As broadband became the norm (at least where i live), this ceased to be a problem, and i now support Steam as its a very convinient way of getting updates, etc.

What i *dont* like on the other hand, is that there are a "gazillion" other platforms out there that tries to take market shares away from Steam. Not that i am against competition, what i am against is having to run 3+ different clients (Steam, Impulse, Origin, etc etc), that is, from a consumer point of view beyond retarded

I am a big supporter of Steam. Steam is very good apps for pc

I have never had a problem with Steam, and the only problem with Gamestop is that the actual stores themselves have dropped any PC support whatsoever except preorders.

I will never again buy a steam game because of their Orwellian policies. Every so often they come up to me and say "We are changing the terms of the deal you have with us and if you don't agree we will delete all of your games and you can't play anymore".  Every time they update, it gets worse - before too long you will have to agree to let steam function as policeware or they will delete all of your games.  This is more than a privacy issue or a trust issue, this is an issue that the entire industry of video game companies has decided they are entitled to steal my private information and sell it to companies like spokeo for profit while paying me no royalty for using my information as the product.

With digital distribution there are advantages:  you can generally install games on a different machine, without worry of a scratch on a disc.  you don't normally have to have a clunky manual to type in DRM passwords every time you want to play.  If your house burns down and your computer is destroyed, your digital property survives the fire.  But these days, a hacker can steal your account and gift himself your games - no longer is digital property theft-proof, there is a risk in it.  Also, most digitally distributed games require constant internet connection meaning when a storm knocked out my internet several months back i could not play my games.  There are many reasons i might not have internet access "right now" and i should not be unable to play my game because of that. And fusing digital distribution with the ability to destroy my ability to play the games just because i say no to something i don't like makes the model less attractive.

Steam might not be the only company responsible for this plague, this parasite model that is anti-customer in the worst way.  Steam however, is the most influential catalyst.  I can understand steam denying me access to steam community, store and workshop if i disagree to new terms of service, but deleting my games?  really?  this is how a bully operates.  he tells you that you have to agree with what he wants or he will punish you and deprive you of something.  Steam uses bullying as its policy and while it might not function as full spyware/malware right now - it could change to become that tomorrow and your choice is to agree or lose all the games you paid for. This threat always lingering over my head.  Digital distribution is a good thing on paper but even with steam sales, you have games released at different prices in different countries - living somewhere means you have to pay more!  And they don't compete with each other, the steam prices are never cheaper than going to the store except during insane sales which are backed up by the threat that i not only don't own what i paid for - but you can take it away from me.

I want an honest pro-customer game industry that understands the rights of the customer - after all, it isn't like i am allowed to tell steam my new terms of service is that they are not allowed to collect any information about me or else they lose all the money i paid them for games, and they aren't going to reimburse me if they do delete my account.  Also, there is no way to contest any decision steam makes that you don't like - you can't even take it to court any more.  Steam knows how expensive it would be to sue them for a policy change and they know they will find at least one judge who agrees with them entirely.  Customers should be allowed to play their games without being connected to the internet, and have permanency over their purchases. Steam is not the only guilty party - the entire industry is just a parasitic, destructive force as a whole.

So while i have some games that were before steams Orwellian policies, i stopped buying their games and am committed to never again buying a product that someone can repossess for my refusal to let them have the free service of collecting all my information and selling it to their friends without paying me a royalty.  Part of the problem is they get paid more from these companies and advertisers than from customers - they have no interest in gamers, who are now just a medium to let them contract information fishing scams for bigger money.  so who is their real customer and what is their real product?  it feels to me that the 'game' is just a front to install malware and make you agree to the malware because of a financial investment you have in a program that requires that malware to run.

Yes, that´s why i was very dissapointed when Brad sold out and put all the SD games on Steam, and made them Steamworks. And not only that, but most people in the SD boards seem to love Steam nowadays. It´s good that thet european consumer group is challenging steam for their orwellian policies, and forcing them to abide by that european ruling that digital games should be resold. They´ll probably have steam on court.

Been using Steam since the Orange Box came out in 2007. Never had a single problem or issue. Nothing but postive things to say about it. Don't have several dozen boxed games taking up space. All patches and updates done automatically means one less obstacle to playing and maintaining the game. Great sales at various times of the year. Easy way to meet and communicate with friends for MP.

People ranting about the paranoid stuff like omg hackers omg what if they decide to start charging rent are ridiculous. Might as well say omg Burglars stole my boxed games omg the sky is falling omg Armageddon no more internet... 

A lot of the hate for Steam seems to be unwarranted paranoia and mis-information about DRM.  My experience with Steam from the point of view of someone who actually uses it is this:

I started using it when I bought the Orange a few years ago, and it has been fantastic.  I have an easy to use list of all my games right there in front of me.  They update automatically, which is super convenient.  Through the Steam sales, I have purchased dozens of games that I never could afford at full price.  It's also a dream for indie developers (which is reason enough to support Steam).  I have a ton of great indie game that I would never have known existed if it wasn't for Steam.  In fact, I will only buy a game if I can activate it on Steam (if possible).  None of this makes me a "fanboy", I just appreciate a great and convenient system when I see one.

Fixed that for you.