Steam to offer refunds to EU customers for 14 day period

[Saracen]

Seems to me this is rather the digital equivalent of Distance Selling protection for physical media, provided you don't break seals/shrinkwrap. I.e. it's not about trialling/testing the game, any more than you can if you bought a DVD in a store, unless the store chooses to allow it.

Where, I guess, it does offer some protection is for buyer's remorse over impulse purchases .... as long as it's not installed, etc.

Ultimately, though, the choice, dear reader, is yours. Steam offer a service, and either you accept it on their terms, or you don't. Nobody is compelled to use them, so here's a radical thought .... if you don't like the way they do business, if you don't like the terms under which you hold an account, don't buy from them. It ain't exactly rocket science.

Personally, as I've said many times, I don't accept the basic premise of their operating model, which is that many games require an 'account' and that access to games you've bought and paid for can be rescinded at any time and at their discretion by locking or closing that account. It's not my only objection to Steam, but it's enough in it's own right that I'm not paying them money on that basis.

So you lot have a choice. You can moan and wail over these changes, including them adding in the onerous bit on proxies, AFTER many of you have handed over large sums for games previously bought, but ultimately suck it up and hand over money anyway. Or you can refuse to buy any more. I know which way I'm betting most people will go, which is despite the moaning, you'll pay up anyway.

In which case, I don't have much sympathy.

[RT-XD]

Should be hourly based on whether you can return it. If someone's played it for about 5 minutes, purely because of a game-breaking bug, then they should be able to return it.

[watercooled]

People are entitled to complain about something even if they use it you know. People complain about bills but still pay them.

Steam is an unfortunate necessity for a lot of games now as it's a fairly common DRM/distribution platform. To refuse to use it would be to miss out on an awful lot of games. If you decide you're happy to miss out on them due to disliking the platform then fair enough, but don't get all sanctimonious and criticise other people for making the trade-off. You almost certainly accept some optional things despite not being overjoyed with every last word of the contract.

[Saracen]

People are entitled to complain about something even if they use it you know. People complain about bills but still pay them.

Steam is an unfortunate necessity for a lot of games now as it's a fairly common DRM/distribution platform. To refuse to use it would be to miss out on an awful lot of games. If you decide you're happy to miss out on them due to disliking the platform then fair enough, but don't get all sanctimonious and criticise other people for making the trade-off. You almost certainly accept some optional things despite not being overjoyed with every last word of the contract.

People are entitled to complain. I'm entitled to my view.

I'm also not in the mood to be called sanctimonious for doing so, and you've been here long enough to know that. Insults are against our rules. Unless you want a suspension, apologise.

[watercooled]

So it's OK for you to undermine our views and talk down to people but threaten to ban people when your are undermined?

Reported.

Oh and just to be clear, I was talking about your post, not you personally.

[Saracen]

So it's OK for you to undermine our views but threaten to ban people when your are undermined?

Reported.

And suspended for 7 days.

I did not insult you.

And a warning. This is not up for public discussion.

[Jonj1611]

No need to suspend him, that was uncalled for and again a step too far.

[Saracen]

No need to suspend him, that was uncalled for and again a step too far.

What part of "not up for public discussion" isn't clear?

That is the ONE free remark. Any further comments like that and those doing so WILL join watercooled's suspension without further warning.

[abaxas]

[Saracen]

Back on topic, please.

[M O N S 7 A R]

so here's a radical thought .... if you don't like the way they do business, if you don't like the terms under which you hold an account, don't buy from them. It ain't exactly rocket science

Not exactly easy to do, 90% of games are on Steam.

[kalniel]

Not exactly easy to do, 90% of games are on Steam.

It's very easy to do. Unless PC games are suddenly essential these days.

Also many good games have alternatives to Steam - most of the games I've bought recently I've been able to buy direct from the developer in fact.

[abaxas]

I just wait for sales or buy keys from other places.

I'm not to worried about my recent purchase of Company of Heroes. It cost 3.19 and is easier than trying to patch the original DVD as the update servers have long since dissapeared. Without steam, the game would be dead.

[v3teran]

Steam support is terrible for games that dont work. I dont actually buy anything on steam anymore.

[herulach]

Steam support is terrible for games that dont work. I dont actually buy anything on steam anymore.

Steam has never provided support for games that don't work, just like Game, EB, HMV etc never have. They do have pretty good support (at least IME) for issues with Steam however.

[Chadders87]

Steam support is terrible for games that dont work. I dont actually buy anything on steam anymore.

While I agree, I also think Steam has come a long way in the last few years. I never buy games pre-release, I have made the mistake of buying into Early Access. After being burned by developers abandoning a game in an un-finished state, and also another game whih changed from being potentially epic to a bland "Tablet" style game, I have stopped buying into them. As for other games, I love the review system and forums and will always read through them before buying a game. Its the best way to see if a game is broken or not...

As much as I think this update is lip-service to the EU, I will take advantage of it.... Buy in the sale, then spend a few days deciding if it was worth it. If not I will get it refunded

(p.s. not all Early Access games I bought are regrets, Prison Architect is still a fav and Feudal Life is awaiting a sale)