Steam account - many problems normal ?

[Cov]

Hello people

Sorry, I have not much experience with these things.
With PC games, I used to install and play them, either as single player only, or with multiplayer.

Have bought quite a few games via ebay and noticed that the installation process of some games are different.
You need to be online in order to install the games.
With half life 2 and Lost planet, part of the procedure was a big download which took a long time to finish.

1) I wonder if I have to do that everytime after I made a clean installation of my operating system ? I'm afraid yes.

2) I have purchased the game "Sin" a while ago and after installation, the icon just sits on my desktop and I cannot launch the game.
Neither when I log into my steam account, (Sin is listed though) but when I right click on it, it only gives me the option to purchase the game.

Have contacted Steam Support but they are not helpful and in fact ignore what I say ... very strange.

What should I do ?
Should I avoid buying anything which requires a steam account in the future ?

Should I be persistant and find a way to make it work ?
If yes, is that worth the hussle just to play a PC game I wonder ?

I really miss the old way, just to install a game and off you go.

[Bounty_Bam]

Hello people


1) I wonder if I have to do that everytime after I made a clean installation of my operating system ? I'm afraid yes.

One benefit to this is Steam keeps a log of all you steam-based games install. so should you need to reinstall windows, you dont need the disk to install your steam games again!..

Although it takes longer to install without the CD, as its got to download all the files.. so its actually easier to dig out your cd

ah well just thought you might want to know

[finlay666]

Although it takes longer to install without the CD, as its got to download all the files.. so its actually easier to dig out your cd

ah well just thought you might want to know

Errrr just make backups by going into File>Backup Games then back them up to another hard drive

or burn them to dvd, then it takes minutes to install EVERYTHING again

[Cov]

Thank you ... do I understand right that I backup the original game, for the purpose of a re-installation ? ... and it then would only take minutes to re-install ?

Sorry, but I don't get that.

How can a 5 to 10 minutes installation of each game boil down to a few minutes only for EVERYTHING ?
There is only so much data you can transfer and modern games are huge.

[SiM]

TBH, since you legally own the game and they are not willing to help you make it work... just head over to the bay and grab yourself a cracked version... if you are still using your own key then it is all good and "morally legal"

[Cov]

... just head over to the bay and grab yourself a cracked version...

Looks like the cracked version is liberated from all the vomit the original version comes with ?

haha

[finlay666]

Thank you ... do I understand right that I backup the original game, for the purpose of a re-installation ? ... and it then would only take minutes to re-install ?

Sorry, but I don't get that.

How can a 5 to 10 minutes installation of each game boil down to a few minutes only for EVERYTHING ?
There is only so much data you can transfer and modern games are huge.

Yes, and because it doesnt install the game, merely compresses all the game files, then uncompresses them

Because it is far more convenient than faffing around with a original version followed by 10 updates

[Cov]

Yes, and because it doesnt install the game, merely compresses all the game files, then uncompresses them

That would mean that the files on the original disk come uncompressed, which is not true.
Besides this, are we considering a download of the game after a clean install of the OS ? If yes, then I doubt very much that the download takes less time than installing the game from disk and updating then, depending on the speed of your ISP of course.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that I am not given the choice and authority over what I want anymore.
The Steam Vomit forces me to this procedure ... and that is what's bugging me so much.
If you're happy with it, then please go for it boy ... as much as you like.

If I decide not to be forced, than that should be my decission.

Thank you very much.

[Rosaline]

Steam games come encrypted, in an effort to reduce piracy (which sadly some members of this forum are openly encouraging).

This encryption system then requires that your install is verified online after installing it. Personally, however, I have only ever downloaded games via Steam, and I have never found any fault with it at all.

As has been said by other posters, steam provides you with the facilities to back up the installation files. I have also found that when using the same login, it is sometimes possible to just backup the steamapps directory itself.

The steps that have been taken by Steam are not unusual given the current state of the market, and indeed are actually better than the common alternatives. A number of non-steam releases include highly invasive copy protection procedures, or are hardware locked. Furthermore, steam also allows you roaming access to your games and avoids most problems stemming from loosing the discs.

The only thing that steam requires of you is that your game files are verified. This is similar to any other installation process, although more dependant on other aspects of your setup than just your hard drive speed. You are not being 'forced' to do this, and you were entirely warned of this prior to your purchase (I believe that the retail boxes carry a warning of internet access required for verification, yes?).

As for your problems with Sin, you have not yet provided us with the information needed to even begin to diagnose the issue. I trust, however, that you sensibly gave more detailed information to steam support.

If you were to provide us with full details of your issue, we might be able to attempt to help you with this. We would need to know exactly which SiN game it was you purchased, how you installed it (and before or after installing steam), where you entered any registration codes, and so on. A complete breakdown of every step you took, basically.

[SiM]

Steam games come encrypted, in an effort to reduce piracy (which sadly some members of this forum are openly encouraging).

If that's a stab at me, I wasn't "openly encouraging" it. He is still using his own key which is sort of not proper piracy then. Sometimes companies spend more effort trying to prevent piracy rather than actually provide a good service to their legitimate customer. If I bought a new application/game that was not activating/working properly and the company isn't willing to help me sort it out, I wouldn't hesitate to download it. Why should I spend hours trying to fix it myself, when all the pirates can play the game with 1% of the hassle!

[Cov]

Dear Rosaline ... thank you very much for your posting.

1. About the "advantages" of steam I thing I do understand now. My decission is: I reject these "advantages" for myself ... FULL STOP.

2. Yes, I have been warned by the small print on the back of the case that online registration is required.
Did I know what hussle and problems I encounter with this ? No, I didn't.
Would I ever buy a game again with Steam Vomit ? No, I wouldn't.

3. About the game "Sin".
What other information could I possibly give than explaining the following ?

- I have bought the original PC game SIN Episodes - EMERGENCE - Episode 1
- After placing the disk into my drive a window comes up and I chose "Install Sin Episodes".
- I accept the licence agreement.
- The installation process took about 6 minutes.
- I put in the CD-Key, and what happened ?

Dear Steam user,

This is an automated message generated by Steam account administration.

Steam has detected that your copy of SiN Episodes Emergence has already been registered to another Steam user. Your product's CD-Key (the number printed on the CD case which you were asked to type in after installing the game) matches one already in our database.

You will not be able to play SiN Episodes Emergence unless you provide an unclaimed CD-Key. To provide an unclaimed CD-Key, you will need a copy of SiN Episodes Emergence which has not already been registered on Steam. Double-click on the name of the game in Steam's "Games" window and then follow the given instructions.

As I bought this game from eBay a while ago, I have thrown my money out of the window, right ?

[Rosaline]

I take it when the box arrived from the ebay seller, it was not sealed, so that someone could have already taken the registration code?

Assuming that is the case, then sadly you have run afoul of a complete legal quagmire

You see, almost every single computer game now states, within the EULA (normally 'helpfully' available only within the sealed box...) that you are not buying the game, but a single, non-transferable licence to use the game. Second-hand games sales are a 'grey' trade - although the conditions of sale for new games expressly forbids this, they have been generally tolerated until late. With respect to the real legal situation, it is far more complex again, and perhaps a matter to contact your MP and MEP over so that you may regain the right to resell and buy second-hand that you may or may not already be entitled to.

Suffice to say, many games and programs, including a lot outside of Steam, now employ online authorisation key checking. Once checked and logged once, that's it. The key is then locked forever out for subsequent users, unless ownership can be transferred somehow (which is rarely ever allowed).

As such, be extremely wary when buying any software second hand, even those intended for use with internet connected consoles. Similarly, do not ever trust that the packaging is sealed properly. You should always look for this to be explicitly stated when buying online (or buy from a highly reputable trader), and carefully check the packing when purchasing in person from a store (many stores are known to have lax policies with regards to staff 'testing').

What to do if this happens to you after buying the game from a shop:

If the box you received from a reputable store was immaculately sealed and in pristine quality, then fear not! You have fallen afoul of authorisation key generation programs, but thankfully as the legal owner of the code, steam does allow you some recompense - and revenge!

The steam support area details what you must do in full, but to summarise, you will need to take a photograph of the original first-hand store receipt, the official media and of the printed authorisation key and send these to them in an e-mail. They should then be able to track down the current user, ban them from steam, and give you access to your game

Sadly this process will not be available to Cov even if they purchased from a very reliable trader on e-bay, unless they have included the original receipt for the game from a non-auction source and it is dated less than 90 days ago.

...Of course, that only applies if you still have access to the original printed key (which is all you need for the old, pre-steam, games). So when some scum entered a generated key for HL:generations into steam and steals your copy entirely and all the new free goodies, there is nothing you can do

For more information on all of this, please see Steam CD Key reset process

[Cov]

With all due respect and this doesn't go to you Rosaline, but to the crazy money generating machinery called Steam (vomit).

Dear Steam

You really wanna tell me that you are able to keep a database of all registrations worldwide - but you can't see if a game is actually being used or not.
Meaning: the original owner I have purchased the game from, has not used it simply because he hasn't got it anymore.
When I try to register it, I cannot.

Isn't that somehow very convenient for you Steam ?
You hope that I'm so stupid to purchase the game again ?

Haha

[Rosaline]

Cov, with all respect, you are attacking the wrong target here.

As I have already stated this is not new, and is now becoming universally common.

And as I have already stated, until their is a clear court ruling otherwise, the reseller and yourself are the one in the wrong here - the EULA is quite clear and must be followed.

If you have an issue with this, do not rant against a tool that is forced by the nature of the market to take up such features to be competitive. Instead, direct your energy towards campaigning for the legal status of EULAs to be changed, and for the grey market for second hand games to be made legal and required by law to be supported by the games industry.

Edit: If you want more information with which to base a letter to your MP and MEP on, take a look at the first sale doctrine. That particular website covered the US conventions, however I believe the same material is included within the Berne Convention. The discussion over the first sale doctrine also details why the software market is a mess and they get legally get away with this at the moment.

[-iceblade^]

lol... you're on OCN, aren't you?

If that's a stab at me, I wasn't "openly encouraging" it. He is still using his own key which is sort of not proper piracy then. Sometimes companies spend more effort trying to prevent piracy rather than actually provide a good service to their legitimate customer. If I bought a new application/game that was not activating/working properly and the company isn't willing to help me sort it out, I wouldn't hesitate to download it. Why should I spend hours trying to fix it myself, when all the pirates can play the game with 1% of the hassle!

Bioshock anyone? that is a case of how copy protection can so easily go wrong... the 5-install per disc thing is just completely ridiculous

[Ferral]

Right,

Chill out everyone.

Sim - At the end of the day piracy is piracy and is not condoned in any way here at HEXUS.

Cov - Top and bottom of it is the fact that you purchased this game from eBay, even though it is origional if the previous owner has it registered then you will not be able to use it. The previous owner has to contact Steam and pay to have the key released from the account so that you will be able to use it and become the new owner. I suggest that you contact the seller and if he / she will not set things right then you will have to take it up with eBay and Paypal via their complaints procedure.

I would also contact Steam again and make sure you have receipts handy and fully explain to them what has exactly happened, they may be able to help you with a procedure to actually follow. You also have to bear in mind that that Steam is used worldwide and has millions of users. It could take them a little time to get back to you.

Finlay has given you good advice with backing up the installation to disk. It is really easy to do. When you go into the properties of a game on Steam one of the options is actually back up game files. When you select to do this it will compress the files and save them onto your hard disc. You can then use Nero or whatever DVD burning software you have to put the files onto a disc for faster access at a later date in the same way you would backup any other file.

Then after you do your format and reinstall Windows and Steam you can restore the backup of the game files from burnt DVD instead of having to download the entire game again saving time.

Finally, when you do contact Steam it would help if you did not become aggresive and awkward towards them in any correspondence. If you take a nasty attitude towards them they are less likely to actually help you out.

Bioshock installation is not quite as bad as most people think. I spoke to their tech support about it when I was having problems with the sound on it and raised the activation issue. You can install / uninstall it as many times as you want on the same PC as it was origionally installed. If you change a part inside your PC then install the game it will then go onto the 5 activations as the origional configuration has changed.