The Steam Deal Thread V2 - Dig into those holiday games. V3 thread coming soon!

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Welcome to the Steam Deal Thread V2! You can find the V1 thread (2010-July 2011) here. Read post #2 of this thread for Steam FAQs and more.

This is a Wiki post. Please read this
We appreciate you helping keep this thread up to date. The sales change virtually every day so no one person has the time to update them all. If you notice a game is no longer on sale, feel free to delete its line from the sale list. Of course, if you see a game is on sale, add it to the list. Make sure your changes match the thread's format! For example, every game that's on sale is part of an unordered list. When adding a game to the list, copy an existing line and update the link, title, and prices. That way, the format stays correct. Do not list percentages off! We list the original price and the sale price here. If you have any suggestions for major changes to the post/thread, PM me (EastX) about them.
for instructions on updating the thread.

Steam Games and DLC on Sale - Updated 2/12

Preorder Deals - Updated 2/12

Group Buys - Updated 07/23

Several multiplayer Steam games are available in 2-packs or 4-packs. These packs offer a discount over buying multiple copies of a game separately. We also maintain group buy trade threads for several games, so please use those threads if you're interested in setting up a group buy.

Free Stuff


There are several free games and mods on Steam. These are a few choice ones; you can find a full list here. Note that free games are not permanently attached to your Steam account like actual purchases would be. You'll need to manually download a game again from the website if you uninstall it.
Past Special Sales


Visit www.steamgamesales.com to check previous sale prices on Steam games. We do keep track of some older sales here though:
Steam Retail Key List

What is a CD key and where can I find it?

The CD Key is a serial number with a combination of 13, 18, or 25 letters and numbers - it can be found on a sticker inside your game's case or printed on the game's quick reference card.
The CD Key acts as your proof of purchase for the game - Steam Support may ask for it if you need to establish your ownership of an account. It is recommended that you keep your CD Key in a safe place to ensure the security of your account.

Which retail CD Keys are accepted on Steam?





All retail Valve games and a number of third-party games can be registered to your Steam account. All of the following games can be registered through Steam:
  • Valve CD Keys in this format: ####-#####-####
  • Valve CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Valve CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • AI War CD Keys in various formats
  • Aliens vs. Predator (2010 Release) CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Alpha Prime CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Audiosurf CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • BRINK CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is not accepted on Steam
  • Cities in Motion CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Civilization V CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Commander: Conquest of the Americas CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Cricket Revolution CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dark Messiah CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dark Messiah Multiplayer CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dark Messiah CD Keys may also have been printed incorrectly, please see the Dark Messiah article
  • Darksiders CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: The number 2 and letter Z may look very similar.
  • Dawn of War II CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dawn of War II - Retribution CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Defense Grid CD Keys in this format (Direct2Drive only): 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Duke Nukem Forever CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Empire: Total War CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-DDEFGH3-IJK4L-MNOPQ-RST56
  • F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • F.E.A.R. 3 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Fallout: New Vegas CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Football Manager 2009 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2CD3FGH456I7JK8LMNOP9Q
  • Football Manager 2010 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2CD3FGH456I7JK8LMNOP9Q
  • Football Manager 2011 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Front Mission Evolved CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Global Agenda CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: Keys purchased directly from the Global Agenda website cannot be registered on Steam.
  • GTI Racing CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • GTR Evolution CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Homefront CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Humble Indie Bundle in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Humble Indie Bundle 2 in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Humble Indie Bundle 3 in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Just Cause 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: Please input all O's and 0's as Q's for Just Cause 2
  • Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Killing Floor CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • King Arthur - The Role-playing Wargame CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lara Croft Guardian of Light CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • The Last Remnant CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lionheart: Kings' Crusade CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lost Planet: Extreme Condition CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lost Planet: Colonies Edition CD Keys are not accepted on Steam
  • Mafia 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Magicka CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Metro 2033 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • MLB Front Office Manager CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Mount & Blade CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Mount & Blade: Warband CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Mount & Blade: With Fire and Sword CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • NBA 2K9 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Napoleon: Total War CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Order of War CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Prey CD Keys in this format: AAB1BB2C345CDD6E E7
  • R.U.S.E. CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: R.U.S.E. keys from Ubisoft's Digital River service are not accepted on Steam
  • RACE - the WTCC Game CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • RACE 07 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Ragdoll Kung Fu CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Railworks CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Red Orchestra CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Rogue Warrior CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • SiN Episodes: Emergence CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Saint's Row 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Serious Sam HD CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Shattered Horizon CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • The Ship CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Ship Simulator Extremes CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Silent Hill Homecoming CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Sniper: Ghost Warrior CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Space Trader CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Speedball 2 - Tournament in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Star Trek: D-A-C CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • STCC - The Game CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Super Meat Boy CD keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Supreme Commander 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Torchlight CD Keys in this format: 1ABC-D3FG-4567-JK8L
  • Note: Only keys purchased directly from Runic Games or Perfect World prior to May 19th, 2010 can be registered on Steam.
  • Total War: SHOGUN 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Unreal Tournament 3 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2-3FGH-456I-K8LM
  • Velvet Assassin CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings in this format: AB-1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM
  • Worldwide Soccer Manager 2009 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • X3: Terran Conflict CD Keys in this format: 1ABC-D3FG-4567-JK8L
  • Zeno Clash CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
Opposing Force CD-keys cannot be registered through Steam. Opposing Force was included in a retail Half-Life package. The Half-Life CD-key included in the package will unlock all of the games in that package, including Opposing Force.
Note: Only the retail games listed above can be registered through Steam. No other retail games can be registered and downloaded using Steam.

Other Keys that can be redeemed on Steam (CAG tested & verified)
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The Ball (bought @D2D and tested by voken)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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From what I've gathered so far, the DOW1 and DOW2 (minus Retribution) games + expansions are highly recommended for their story content. Retribution doesn't have a good plot, but its gameplay has all the features of the previous games + improvements. So if you want to play single player with a good story, then get DOW1 + DOW2, with Retribution optional. If you just want to play multiplayer, then Retribution is good enough, and I think you can still play with people who don't have Retrib (??). The DLCs all appear to be cosmetic stuff.

I mainly want to play single player campaigns and see all the story content. I picked up Retribution on sale earlier, so my plan is:
- DOW1: Platinum Edition
- DOW2: Gold Edition (slightly cheaper on Amazon, can be activated on Steam, I believe) (if you don't have Retribution, then DOW2 Complete Pack seems to be the way to go ** correction: DOW2 Gold + Retrib off Amazon is cheaper than Complete on Steam)

Does that sound about right for people who've played these?

Also, it seems like DOW1: Soulstorm is not included with the Platinum edition. Is this worth getting?

Thanks :mrgreen:
 
[quote name='HeSaveDave']I'm on the Steam page looking at the Warhammer sale and I'm a little confused. There is a list of like 20 titles, some being DLC. Do I have to buy the whole 61.29 thing to get the deal on DOW 2? How do I get DOW 2 and the DLC itself? confused.[/QUOTE]


The only available DLC are for DOW 2 Retribution and are not on sale.
 
I'm just as confused as the rest of you, so confused that I was thinking heck with it. However, it sounds like getting DoW2 Gold is the way to go for me as well, and that should be all I want/need. I'm not an RTS fan at all, but I played the demo, and it was a lot more fun for me than the typical click stuff really fast formula.

So I guess I'll grab it on Amazon. Amazon has a download version and a boxed version. Boxed is cheaper, and shipping is free for me, but I don't want it, and I'd have to pay tax. Hopefully no tax on the download?

Then again, maybe I should just wait. Will Dawn of War 2 Gold eventually be $6.99 on a Steam sale anyway? It's not like I'm going to play it right this minute. It's almost upsetting the amount of backlog I have.
 
I think I got it.

I believe Dawn of War gold is needed to play Dark Crusade and Soulstorm. Dark Crusade and Soulstorm are I think expansions to Dawn of War gold. So your best bet is to get the platnium collection then decide if you want Soulstorm,

Now I do know exactly how Dawn of War II works.

Dawn of War II is the standalone game. Chaos Rising needs DOW II to be played because it's an expansion so just get the Gold pack off Amazon.

DoW II Retribution is a Standalone game.
 
[quote name='Sir_Fragalot']I think I got it.

I believe Dawn of War gold is needed to play Dark Crusade and Soulstorm. Dark Crusade and Soulstorm are I think expansions to Dawn of War gold. So your best bet is to get the platnium collection then decide if you want Soulstorm.

Now I do know exactly how Dawn of War II works.

Dawn of War II is the standalone game. Chaos Rising needs DOW II to be played because it's an expansion so just get the Gold pack off Amazon.
[/QUOTE]

Dark Crusade and Soulstorm can actually be played seperately without owning the base game. They're standalone expansions. Chaos Rising and Retribution are also standalone expansion and don't require the base game of DoW2.

I'd recomend DoW 2 gold to anyone who wants a different type of RTS campaign, and DoW 1 if you're interested in a more traditional RTS. The story between 1 and 2 doesn't really carry over, like it was said before, a character here or there you'll recognize.

For what it's worth I thought DoW2 and Chaos rising had the best stories of the bunch.
Retributions story is lacking and kind of boring, but if you're interested in multiplayer mainly, that's the only one you need.
 
Off-topic, but has Deathspank ever been a deal? $15 still. Feels like I've been waiting forever for it to be cheaper. And there's already a sequel and another on the way.
 
[quote name='Jesse_Dylan']Off-topic, but has Deathspank ever been a deal? $15 still. Feels like I've been waiting forever for it to be cheaper. And there's already a sequel and another on the way.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I'm hoping for the first two to go on sale when The Baconing releases, then grab the third in the Christmas sale if I like the first two.
 
[quote name='Jesse_Dylan']Off-topic, but has Deathspank ever been a deal? $15 still. Feels like I've been waiting forever for it to be cheaper. And there's already a sequel and another on the way.[/QUOTE]

It was 50% off during the holiday sale last December, which is when I got it. I decided to wait on the expansion since I wasn't sure how I'd like it and have been waiting for a deal on it ever since. It didn't go on sale during the summer sale, so I guess I'll have to cross my fingers and hope it goes on sale again this December.

I was really hoping there would be a sale to promote The Baconing.
 
It almost seems like they're trying to distance The Baconing from the previous two games. And now I've got my eye on The Baconing wondering if $11.99 is as low as it'll go. But yeah, a three-pack for $20 would be nice! I honestly think the first two look the most interesting, even though the company themselves keep saying the first two had boring mechanics and The Baconing is so much better. Ron Gilbert didn't work on The Baconing, just on the first two. Odd.
 
[quote name='Jesse_Dylan']Off-topic, but has Deathspank ever been a deal? $15 still. Feels like I've been waiting forever for it to be cheaper. And there's already a sequel and another on the way.[/QUOTE]

http://www.steamgamesales.com/view-history.php?id=3153

Pretty sweet link that someone posted during the summer sale. It's helped gauge prices during daily deals.


Also thanks to everyone for the information about DOW. I'm not looking to play multiplayer- so it looks like I'm in for DOW2 gold edition. Though I'm a little hesitant, I've never played a RTS game and if they are anything like TD games I'm in trouble. I'm absolutely horrible at TD games.
 
[quote name='CapnO']Also thanks to everyone for the information about DOW. I'm not looking to play multiplayer- so it looks like I'm in for DOW2 gold edition. Though I'm a little hesitant, I've never played a RTS game and if they are anything like TD games I'm in trouble. I'm absolutely horrible at TD games.[/QUOTE]
There's nothing particularly TD about it, really :)

You're given up to three little "squads" per mission which support your main "commander" character, and you complete a series of objectives (and sub-objectives, if i recall) based on that. There's little to no emphasis on building up your base, it's all about managing your squad, getting your snipers into position behind your heavies, and so on. Think tactics, not resources.

The whole thing "feels" pretty cool too. I'm not a Warhammer obsessive but I've always liked the universe they created. DoW2 gives a great insight into that without getting too heavy.

If it's £10 (or whatever), it'll be worth it. Plenty of gameplay there.
 
[quote name='krushnine']From what I've gathered so far, the DOW1 and DOW2 (minus Retribution) games + expansions are highly recommended for their story content. Retribution doesn't have a good plot, but its gameplay has all the features of the previous games + improvements. So if you want to play single player with a good story, then get DOW1 + DOW2, with Retribution optional. If you just want to play multiplayer, then Retribution is good enough, and I think you can still play with people who don't have Retrib (??). The DLCs all appear to be cosmetic stuff.

I mainly want to play single player campaigns and see all the story content. I picked up Retribution on sale earlier, so my plan is:
- DOW1: Platinum Edition
- DOW2: Gold Edition (slightly cheaper on Amazon, can be activated on Steam, I believe) (if you don't have Retribution, then DOW2 Complete Pack seems to be the way to go ** correction: DOW2 Gold + Retrib off Amazon is cheaper than Complete on Steam)

Does that sound about right for people who've played these?

Also, it seems like DOW1: Soulstorm is not included with the Platinum edition. Is this worth getting?

Thanks :mrgreen:[/QUOTE]
Soulstorm is just the improved version of Dark Crusade, with Battle Sisters added among others. They're super OP BTW, once you can train this one unit capped at two (can't remember the name) that can devastate entire armies alone. It was better than Dark Crusade, but overall meh. Everything is standalone in my list below, with DOW1+2 having expansions. Also, the games are entirely different.

DOW1=Pure RTS
DOW DC=Conquest RTS, No campaign (you conquer the same map every time, but starting position is different pending race chosen)
DOW SS=Dark Crusade with tweaked gameplay
DOW2=Squad-based Action RPG

I got bored with DOW2 after the first expansion, never tried the second. Of the series, I felt DOW1 was the best and definitely the Imperial expansion. Everything following just dumbs down the experience into niche gameplay and was just OK.
 
[quote name='HeSaveDave']I feel better about myself knowing it's not just me lol.

Looks like it may be cheaper to go with DOW2 Gold on Amazon. And Retribution.

Is that the best deal guys? Are those two the biggies that us nubs need?[/QUOTE]

Any idea how Amazon's PC download works? I know that DoW2 needs Steam so I'm wondering if I could just pay less than $1 to do their download code and they give me the cd key to install on Steam thereby saving like $1.40 lol
 
Question. I know that when redeeming Dawn of War II Gold Edition on steam, if you already have Dawn of War, you receive a gift copy of the game. However, does anyone know that if you already have Chaos Rising, can you also receive a copy of Chaos Rising?
 
[quote name='Vampjoe']Any idea how Amazon's PC download works? I know that DoW2 needs Steam so I'm wondering if I could just pay less than $1 to do their download code and they give me the cd key to install on Steam thereby saving like $1.40 lol[/QUOTE]

I bought Retribution from Amazon this summer, and here's how it worked for me.

1) Pay Amazon Money
2) Amazon e-mails you a Steam Key
3) Enter key into steam and start downloading
4) Play game on steam
 
[quote name='helmet']Question. I know that when redeeming Dawn of War II Gold Edition on steam, if you already have Dawn of War, you receive a gift copy of the game. However, does anyone know that if you already have Chaos Rising, can you also receive a copy of Chaos Rising?[/QUOTE]

The steam duplicate page states only Dawn of War II, so I believe the base game is all you get, sadly. I wish you got Chaos rising and Retribution, it'd make buying the full pack a lot more attractive. Of course, I don't really care about the ~$50 worth of DLC contained in the pack - most of it is purely cosmetic, which I could care less about.

I wish my backlog wasn't so large, and I like RTS's more, so I could justify picking up DOW1. But I'm still having fun with 2, so I think I'm going to wait a bit longer. It's not like they won't all be on sale again.
 
[quote name='CapnO']http://www.steamgamesales.com/view-history.php?id=3153

Pretty sweet link that someone posted during the summer sale. It's helped gauge prices during daily deals.
[/QUOTE]

Excellent! Thanks very much!

Well, for me, DoWII Gold on Amazon comes out to $14.55 with tax. 44 cents isn't really worth it to me. I'll probably just hold off. I'm sure eventually all the DLC will be bundled for the same price or something.
 
[quote name='Jodou']So fucking sick of this shit. What's the point of buying retail if I'm forced to use Steam anyway? I miss the old days when you actually owned games and there was no DRM. Worst part is nobody seems to care, so they can just get away with it. Do I seriously need to go back to piracy to send a message?[/QUOTE]

Lol, I think you missed the point of his post. You don't have to register your retail copy of Skyrim on Steam if you don't want to. What he was trying to communicate is that Skyrim supports Steamworks, meaning any CD key should be capable of being registered on Steam, giving you all the benefits that come with using Steam. It also means that if you're someone who primarily uses Steam as your source of PC gaming you don't have to wait for Skyrim to go on sale on Steam. If another digital service or B&M store has it cheap, you can tie that copy to your account.
 
Actually, I think you DO have to register your copy of Skyrim with Steam; you just don't have to buy it there. That's how other Steamworks games I've bought retail, like Civ V and Shogun 2, have seemed to work. I could be entirely wrong though.
 
Steamworks games must be registered with Steam. I'm not sure what he's ranting about though, because software has never been something you own even if you have a physical disc without any DRM. And those releases were few and far between, I might add (CD Keys and code wheels are DRM).
 
[quote name='Genocidal']Steamworks games must be registered with Steam. I'm not sure what he's ranting about though, because software has never been something you own even if you have a physical disc without any DRM. And those releases were few and far between, I might add (CD Keys and code wheels are DRM).[/QUOTE]
Correct, Steamworks forces you to use Steam for registration and ultimately launching the game. My point is, once it's registered on Steam the disc becomes a coaster. I'll never use it and I'll never truly own the contents on that disc ever again. CD-keys in the past simply unlocked the disc (hence why they're called CD-keys) for installation purposes. So again I say, what's the point of buying retail if I'm forced to use Steam? Additionally, I'm at the mercy of Valve when it comes to what I own on the account.

If my account gets hacked, locked, banned -- whatever, then I lose access to those games. What risk is there if I never had to register on Steam? None. I could sell it, give it to a friend, whatever the fuck I want because I own it and nobody could stop me otherwise. I buy retail for that freedom, but Steamworks is the most bullshit DRM I've ever had the displeasure of using. For indie games, it's fine. They don't generally have physical releases. For everything else, it should be my choice.
 
[quote name='Genocidal']And those releases were few and far between, I might add (CD Keys and code wheels are DRM).[/QUOTE]

Hell, for that matter I think you'd be hard pressed to find games released in 2000 or later that didn't have annoying as hell disc checking. (SafeDisc, SecuROM, etc) I mean sure back then you could pop in the disc and go. No online activations or the like. At the same time though, I actually know enough folks who have had damaged discs and thus lost their games. Other friends have lost, misplaced, or simply had the serial rub off of the case and thus they can't even install their games with legit keys.

Point being, we activate the game on Steam, and then it's available for us to play whenever the hell we want without any disc swapping or the like? I can simply double click on a title in my Library and have it run without jumping through any hoops, much like those silly DOS menus in the days of old?

Complain about DRM all you want, but I'd say convenience for installing and running games is at an all time high. No discs, no keys to manage. If I reformat, lose a hard drive, or simply in my idiocy accidentally wipe out my Steam folder (Yes, it has happened. No, I really don't want to talk about it. It's a sore subject) then I can redownload my titles with minimal effort. Sure we're forced to tie some games to a Steam account. Boo hoo. I'm willing to pay this price for what I consider an overall superior user experience to "back in the old days".

EDIT -
I'd just like to comment mostly due to the "but Steamworks is the most bullshit DRM I've ever had the displeasure of using" hyperbole there. I mean honestly, of everything you've used Steamworks is the most bullshit? You have to log in to an account, and deal with the convenience of synced cloud settings / saves? Personally rootkits and -ESPECIALLY- limited activations rate far, far, far worse to me than Steamworks ever has. With Steamworks I can download the game as many times as I want, on as many machines as I want and still have full access to them offline.

Steam accounts getting hacked? Sure it may happen, but honestly with the latest protection measures in case it's pretty unlikely unless they have full blown access to both your Steam account -and- your e-mail. In which case, you should consider some new password schemes. Steam account getting locked or banned? I for one don't know a single person having to deal with this. If this is a concern for you, maybe you should reevaluate what you're doing to get locked or banned?

It's true, you can't do ~whatever you want~ with the disc. You can't give it to a friend and the disc becomes a coaster. (Which isn't true. You can still use it to install the game rather than downloading through Steam!) I find that to be a legitimate case. I still have trouble though seeing how the sheer amount of convenience here comes across as "the most bullshit DRM i've ever had the displeasure of using". Please, if there are rootkits being installed, limited activations / installs, or always on DRM let me know. Otherwise I have yet to see Steamworks as being remotely close to being bullshit, at least in my own experience.
 
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[quote name='Genocidal']Steamworks games must be registered with Steam. I'm not sure what he's ranting about though, because software has never been something you own even if you have a physical disc without any DRM. And those releases were few and far between, I might add (CD Keys and code wheels are DRM).[/QUOTE]

Wasn't aware of that. I figured it was an option. I suppose I can understand his point of view in that context, though I will say it's somewhat moot since every PC game has some form of DRM. I'll take Steamworks over GFWL or SecuROM.
 
Or we value the convenience of having access to our games wherever and whenever once activated without having to dig around for discs and keys and worry about limited installs and the like.

Either way, this is the Steam deal thread, so I doubt this audience will be sympathetic to your complaints. Feel free to start a thread airing your grievances about Steam and Steamworks so we can stop cluttering up the deal thread.
 
I can see Jodou's point.

One nice thing about GoG.com is you actually do kind of "own" the games you buy. You can archive them on your HDD (although I've never bothered). Those are old games, though, I suppose (except for The Witcher).

On Impulse, what does the "archive" function do? If you archive an Impulse game, like, what's that good for? On Steam you can "backup" the files. What does that even do?

I honestly prefer having all my games "stored" on the internet. Yes, I'd be screwed if something went wrong with Steam, but I dunno...

But yeah, this is all sort of off-topic anyway.
 
[quote name='Jesse_Dylan']
On Steam you can "backup" the files. What does that even do?
[/QUOTE]

The "Backup" option for Steam backups the entire game in case you need to delete it or it gets deleted. You wouldn't need to redownload the game. So it's much quicker to reinstall.

I have all my Steam games backed up to my external drive since it's much faster to reinstall from there than to redownload.
 
[quote name='Jesse_Dylan']I can see Jodou's point.

One nice thing about GoG.com is you actually do kind of "own" the games you buy. You can archive them on your HDD (although I've never bothered). Those are old games, though, I suppose (except for The Witcher).

On Impulse, what does the "archive" function do? If you archive an Impulse game, like, what's that good for? On Steam you can "backup" the files. What does that even do?

I honestly prefer having all my games "stored" on the internet. Yes, I'd be screwed if something went wrong with Steam, but I dunno...

But yeah, this is all sort of off-topic anyway.[/QUOTE]

I believe it just zips up your current files to store locally.
 
I believe Chaos Rising, like Dawn of War II run both steam and GFWL. Retribution dropped GFWL totally, so I'd believe that Chaos Rising would activate just fine.
 
[quote name='DaedalusIkari']You're in luck! Chaos Rising does activate in Steam. :D I got my copy off of the THQ Online Store and was able to activate it with no problems. =)[/QUOTE]

Thanks!
 
[quote name='Jodou']Lol, you guys are clearly missing the point or just being ignorant.[/QUOTE]

No, I think dude pretty well dissected your argument.

Although I love Steam and have spent plenty on it, I am somewhat concerned about the possibility of a mistake or arbitrary and unarguable decision being handed down from Valve which locks me out from my (343 and counting) games.

As a reminder, we have this thread to discuss deals, another thread for trading Steam stuff (and even a PC Games trade thread), and a thread wherein we talk about Steam itself. Arguments about Steam as DRM and how bullshitty it is belong in that last one.
 
So Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes is going to be on Steam, which is really exciting to me. It's $15, and if you pre-purchase, you get a free DLC. I wonder if that's really worthwhile, though. Is it like a $2 DLC? Or will it always be free? Trying to decide upon pre-purchasing or waiting until it's on sale.
 
[quote name='Jesse_Dylan']So Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes is going to be on Steam, which is really exciting to me. It's $15, and if you pre-purchase, you get a free DLC. I wonder if that's really worthwhile, though. Is it like a $2 DLC? Or will it always be free? Trying to decide upon pre-purchasing or waiting until it's on sale.[/QUOTE]

Whatever it is, it will eventually be free, if you wait long enough! :D
 
[quote name='CreepinDeth']The "Backup" option for Steam backups the entire game in case you need to delete it or it gets deleted. You wouldn't need to redownload the game. So it's much quicker to reinstall.

I have all my Steam games backed up to my external drive since it's much faster to reinstall from there than to redownload.[/QUOTE]

Have you tested the backup feature in Steam? Just a warning - it sucks and rarely works correctly. I had over 200 games backed up via Steam backup and only a few of the single folder backups would restore properly. I had to re-download about 75% of my collection. You are much better offer copying your steamapps folder to another drive and compress the individual game folders manually. It would be nice to hear they have fixed this, but I highly doubt it! Just view the steam support threads concerning the backup feature to see my point. Just trying to help...
 
Yeah, steam backups seems like a relic from when half life 2 came out, when people were still backing things up by burning dvds. Definitely much easier to just copy the steamapps folder
 
Huh, I've never had any issue with the backup feature. The last time I reinstalled windows I used it to backup all of the 1GB+ games I have and didn't have a single problem. My roommates were even able to use the backup files to install Borderlands instead of each of them having to download it individually.

It would be nice though to be able to backup things into one folder instead of CD/DVD sized folders.
 
[quote name='M_F_A_H']Does anybody have any experience with today's Daily Deal, a sidescrolling RPG called Aztaka?[/QUOTE]
There's an Aztaka demo! I'm gonna try it out. Been meaning to do so, and now seems like a good time.
 
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[quote name='jester55']Have you tested the backup feature in Steam? Just a warning - it sucks and rarely works correctly. [/QUOTE]

I tried to use it when upgrading to a new computer, and I found that it's so slow, I was better off just redownloading. Seriously. Maybe that's not a good option for people who have caps on their bandwidth, but I won't use the backup feature again.
 
All I did was copy the entire steamapps folder to my new drive. This way the files are there and all Steam did was quickly redownload a few minor updates and transferred my 120+ game library in a matter of minutes.
 
The Steam backup function - as others have noted - is kinda...wonky.

And - also, as others have noted - I seem to find the best way to "backup" my games is to just copy the steamapps folder.
 
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