AisuSeijin
04-10-2008, 01:12 AM
Hello,
Before you flame me or ask, yes, I've read several topics regarding offline mode. Some of them not really too clear as people usually just post a topic about one specific thing they're having trouble with, and not really the whole of the situation. I've also read the page on the Steam Support page.
Now, I don't have a problem with Steam being a service that verifies accounts and the fact that you actually paid for a game. Requiring the internet to verify that a game was actually registered and paid for is a perfectly fine idea... But the way Steam itself controls this system is rather... unique, to put it kindly.
According to what I've figured out... Steam doesn't want to just verify that you paid and own the game just once... It wants to do it... Everytime you wish to play the game. You'd think once is a enough, but apparently not. However, Steam, in it's ingenious nature, is kind enough to provide the ability to play these games offline.
But, wait a second. Just how does Steam allow you to play games offline? Well, if I got this straight, this is how it works:
1) You connect to the internet each time you want to play the game.
2) You're give the ability to then put Steam in "Offline" mode, to play a game.
3) You run the game "Offline."
4) If you wish to close Steam, restart your computer, or wish to NEVER connect to the internet ever again, you're out of luck, as Steam forgets that you connected to the internet to confirm you actually own the game the next time you want to play.
So basically, you need to BE ONLINE, TO PLAY OFFLINE. That doesn't make any sense and just basically defies the purpose of an "offline mode," because you actually need to be online in order to play offline, everytime you want to play.
I personally have no problem with this, and although I think Steam itself is a very... unnecessary system, I don't mind using it as I'm connected to the internet 24/7.
However, I do have several friends interested in playing Portal. I was discussing with one of them in which how the Steam service works, he thought the system was fine as long as it only checked once that the game was paid for, but doesn't have an internet connection always available if it was "one of those systems that forces you to play only if you have the internet."
So, I suggested they wait until the retail, DVD-ROM "standalone" version comes out. It came out, alright. I bought the Orange Box in full (after already buying Portal itself via Steam) and the "standalone" version of just Portal for the PC, for my friend. When I got home, I decided to pop in the Orange Box and install the other games, like Half-Life 2, etc. When the auto-start comes up, it has the options "PLAY, REINSTALL, UNINSTALL" ... Wait, Re-install? I haven't installed it ye... oh, wait. IT RECOGNIZES STEAM! So, apparently, the DISC versions, require that you install the Steam service, create a steam subscription... and, again, STILL VERIFY THE GAMES YOU JUST BOUGHT, EVERYTIME YOU RUN THEM. I'm guessing the same is with the separate version of Portal.
So, let me get this straight. The service of Steam is available to pay for and download various games via the internet. Sure, it's great for those who have constant access to the internet. However, some people have been stating that they have problems with the Steam service, or have stated that their internet connections aren't really that great and wish they had an alternative to the Steam service in order to acquire the games. So, what's released, months after the Orange Box is released, are DVD-ROM versions allowing people to purchase them in stores, with "standalone" versions of each game they desire, I.E. Portal. However, when you go to install the game, it gives you the same exact service you could've easily setup via the internet forcing you to use the same system and verfications that most people were trying to avoid.
I'm somewhat confused about this... I'm wondering if there's TRULY any (legitimate) way to play the games you acquired offline. What's odd is... Why, if you bought the game in the store, own the physical discs AND were asked to use the CD-KEY that came along with it... Why, why oh why are you forced to verify the game several times & use Steam in order to play the game. This... makes no sense. And these games truly aren't "standalone" if Steam needs to hold it's hand.
It would be much appreciated if anyone could help me in this matter... And if anyone from Steam/Valve can explain the "Offline... but really must be online to play offline" mode, that would be great as well. It would be really great, and we'd all love you forever, if Steam could be upgraded to truly play games offline. Also, what's the reason for requiring Steam / being connected to the internet... in order to play something you PHYSICALLY already paid for, and have the files themselves with you.
Why can't it just be easy and say, let us buy a game like Portal, pop in the disc, install the files... And click Portal.exe (Or in reality, hl2.exe) and avoid any non-sense and just let us play the game directly?
Thanks for your time, and in advance, and help you can give. Whatever replies given will help determine if I need to return the "standalone" version of Portal back to the store and tell me friend he's out of luck, or if I can turn this into a great experience for him, and get the game to work without all the non-sense and effort of having the internet all the time, and have him thinking with Portals.
Before you flame me or ask, yes, I've read several topics regarding offline mode. Some of them not really too clear as people usually just post a topic about one specific thing they're having trouble with, and not really the whole of the situation. I've also read the page on the Steam Support page.
Now, I don't have a problem with Steam being a service that verifies accounts and the fact that you actually paid for a game. Requiring the internet to verify that a game was actually registered and paid for is a perfectly fine idea... But the way Steam itself controls this system is rather... unique, to put it kindly.
According to what I've figured out... Steam doesn't want to just verify that you paid and own the game just once... It wants to do it... Everytime you wish to play the game. You'd think once is a enough, but apparently not. However, Steam, in it's ingenious nature, is kind enough to provide the ability to play these games offline.
But, wait a second. Just how does Steam allow you to play games offline? Well, if I got this straight, this is how it works:
1) You connect to the internet each time you want to play the game.
2) You're give the ability to then put Steam in "Offline" mode, to play a game.
3) You run the game "Offline."
4) If you wish to close Steam, restart your computer, or wish to NEVER connect to the internet ever again, you're out of luck, as Steam forgets that you connected to the internet to confirm you actually own the game the next time you want to play.
So basically, you need to BE ONLINE, TO PLAY OFFLINE. That doesn't make any sense and just basically defies the purpose of an "offline mode," because you actually need to be online in order to play offline, everytime you want to play.
I personally have no problem with this, and although I think Steam itself is a very... unnecessary system, I don't mind using it as I'm connected to the internet 24/7.
However, I do have several friends interested in playing Portal. I was discussing with one of them in which how the Steam service works, he thought the system was fine as long as it only checked once that the game was paid for, but doesn't have an internet connection always available if it was "one of those systems that forces you to play only if you have the internet."
So, I suggested they wait until the retail, DVD-ROM "standalone" version comes out. It came out, alright. I bought the Orange Box in full (after already buying Portal itself via Steam) and the "standalone" version of just Portal for the PC, for my friend. When I got home, I decided to pop in the Orange Box and install the other games, like Half-Life 2, etc. When the auto-start comes up, it has the options "PLAY, REINSTALL, UNINSTALL" ... Wait, Re-install? I haven't installed it ye... oh, wait. IT RECOGNIZES STEAM! So, apparently, the DISC versions, require that you install the Steam service, create a steam subscription... and, again, STILL VERIFY THE GAMES YOU JUST BOUGHT, EVERYTIME YOU RUN THEM. I'm guessing the same is with the separate version of Portal.
So, let me get this straight. The service of Steam is available to pay for and download various games via the internet. Sure, it's great for those who have constant access to the internet. However, some people have been stating that they have problems with the Steam service, or have stated that their internet connections aren't really that great and wish they had an alternative to the Steam service in order to acquire the games. So, what's released, months after the Orange Box is released, are DVD-ROM versions allowing people to purchase them in stores, with "standalone" versions of each game they desire, I.E. Portal. However, when you go to install the game, it gives you the same exact service you could've easily setup via the internet forcing you to use the same system and verfications that most people were trying to avoid.
I'm somewhat confused about this... I'm wondering if there's TRULY any (legitimate) way to play the games you acquired offline. What's odd is... Why, if you bought the game in the store, own the physical discs AND were asked to use the CD-KEY that came along with it... Why, why oh why are you forced to verify the game several times & use Steam in order to play the game. This... makes no sense. And these games truly aren't "standalone" if Steam needs to hold it's hand.
It would be much appreciated if anyone could help me in this matter... And if anyone from Steam/Valve can explain the "Offline... but really must be online to play offline" mode, that would be great as well. It would be really great, and we'd all love you forever, if Steam could be upgraded to truly play games offline. Also, what's the reason for requiring Steam / being connected to the internet... in order to play something you PHYSICALLY already paid for, and have the files themselves with you.
Why can't it just be easy and say, let us buy a game like Portal, pop in the disc, install the files... And click Portal.exe (Or in reality, hl2.exe) and avoid any non-sense and just let us play the game directly?
Thanks for your time, and in advance, and help you can give. Whatever replies given will help determine if I need to return the "standalone" version of Portal back to the store and tell me friend he's out of luck, or if I can turn this into a great experience for him, and get the game to work without all the non-sense and effort of having the internet all the time, and have him thinking with Portals.