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Steam Arrggghh

Washac

Washac

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jul 2, 2006
2,540
136
So I buy games via Steam, I have nothing to show for my money other than a game icon and whatever info Steam needs to connect me to play purchased game.

Now when I want to play my games I get messages saying the game/games are not available and to try later. Yea OK, so I pay for a game I cannot play when I want because they have problems.

Is that not selling something that is NOT fit for purpose ?

Bye Bye Steam, well in respect of purchasing any more, just wish I could dig the games off of there system that I have purchased already.
 
Are you not connected to the internet or something when trying to run it? Did you let it update? Many of the games get updated quite frequently.
 
It takes a long time to download some of the games.. you have to leave it running... some are big and can take many hours.
 
Worst case scenario usually involves reinstalling the Steam app. It's rare that the 'game not available' message is actually on their end.

Donwload a fresh installer file and try that. Don't worry, you wont have to re-download the games if you use the default locations.

If it's game specific, verify the integrity of the game cache.

If you just want to vent; mission acomplished.
 
I also hate modern distribution channels, take itunes. I can buy music off it but I never receive the CD even though Apple has my home address. I just get some file.
 
Dagless said:
I also hate modern distribution channels, take itunes. I can buy music off it but I never receive the CD even though Apple has my home address. I just get some file.
Click to expand...

That totally defeats the purpose of digital downloads though...
 
Yes it was bought and downloaded sometime ago.

No it was not updating.

Yes I am online, what a crazy question that is.

Steam itself is OK, other things are OK.

Steam is no more for me.

----------
Dagless said:
I also hate modern distribution channels, take itunes. I can buy music off it but I never receive the CD even though Apple has my home address. I just get some file.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, very toungue in cheek in that.

I must say though I did once purchase a live recording of a band from iTunes and it came with no info as to when and where it was recorded and it also had gaps between the tracks with clicks and pops, total tosh........

If I had bought the CD version, no difference in price, I would have got a case a CD with no track gaps and some artwork containing all the band and recording information, who is kidding who with all this buy online and get a file rubbish.
 
Last edited:
Never had a problem with any of the 106 games I own on steam.

I think this thread can be chalked up to trolololololooool

:D
 
Eh, it's always the simple things that trip you up that you don't think to check for, and I bet that's what's happening here.
 
Nightarchaon said:
Never had a problem with any of the 106 games I own on steam.

I think this thread can be chalked up to trolololololooool

:D
Click to expand...

Excuse me but one of my games has not worked when I want to play it, so anybody who tells of problems is a troll ?

Well thanks for your rudeness.

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JonasDK said:
Classic troll.
Click to expand...

Sorry but one of my games on Steam has not worked when I want to play it, I get a message asking me to try later.

I am angry that I pay for a game and when I want to play it I cannot.

So when you post regarding something you are abgry about I will be rude to you also, is that fair ? I think so..........
 
At any point did you consider contacting Valve or asking for help? Rather than jumping online and having a bit of a rant.

I've had to contact Steam support a couple of times, same for iTunes. No system is perfect. It's how they deal with your problem that matters (fwiw Steam support has been absolutely incredible in the past. All my issues were fixed in 24 hours after just one message to them)
 
deadwulfe said:
If it's game specific, verify the integrity of the game cache.
Click to expand...

Do this.

When I updated to Lion I had to do this for all my games because it caused errors.

Just right click on the game name in the library and do properties and it should be in there somewhere or just in the right click on the game name. Not at my mac so can't tell you where exactly.
 
Washac said:
Steam itself is OK.
Click to expand...

I disagree, but whatever. Either keep spending your time bashing it or try reinstalling it or verifying the game cache. Your choice, but most of the folks here don't care for the bashing.
 
Dagless said:
I also hate modern distribution channels, take itunes. I can buy music off it but I never receive the CD even though Apple has my home address. I just get some file.
Click to expand...

Considering the number of times i have moved over the years, give me electronic all the way. 9 years in my current location but another move in about 2 months. 90% of my boxed games will be for the bin and probably a number of cd's and books as well.

But I have issues with steam all the time.
Can't connect, Errors that games are corrupted but no way to fix, I ran up steam just now to get the exact error message but nothing happens past clicking the play button.

Its a great idea, their selection and price are great. But the technical issues have definitely turned me off. I have even been considering buying a couple of games I have on steam again off the app store just so I have reliable access.
 
The only issues I have ever had with steam was when upgrading to lion and the verify the integrity of the game cache worked for that easily.

If you have issues hit up Steam support. Most people when they have issues go to internet to find solution and then don't find solution and then complain without even asking the people that make the software.
 
In fairness to the original poster, I've seen cases where updates or downloads couldn't start and the problem was on steams end (and I received a "try again" message as well). But this almost always occurred during their ridiculously sensational sale periods, such as the daily christmas deals. In my case a bit of patience did the trick.

On the other hand, for other issues I've had, Steam support have been nothing but exemplary. They set an example of what good customer service is. If you haven't contacted them yet and just presume for some reason that your "steam is ok", then you can keep on ranting here, and in all likelihood, nothing will get solved.

I'll keep using steam thank you. Its my go to, and always will be my first preference over any physical media, or the apple mac store.
 
This happens sometimes for me with Skyrim. Just set steam to offline mode then it should start just fine.

Corporations claim that drm'd files for games, movies and music are the future and people believe it. You don't own a game, a dvd or a cd anymore, you can't resell them or lend them to a friend. You just buy the right to use media for the same price as owning media before.
 
chaosbunny said:
This happens sometimes for me with Skyrim. Just set steam to offline mode then it should start just fine.

Corporations claim that drm'd files for games, movies and music are the future and people believe it. You don't own a game, a dvd or a cd anymore, you can't resell them or lend them to a friend. You just buy the right to use media for the same price as owning media before.
Click to expand...

Actually you always owned the physical media, you only licensed the content of the media, so your cd or DVD. , or old Betamax tape, the physical item was yours, what it contained was licensed from Sony or MGM or Microsoft or whoever .

With a modern digital download you don't own anything, you just have the license and the right to use the files that are the software, they are not yours to do with as you please anymore than they were when they were on the CD or floppy disk or Tape or punchcard in years gone by

Drm is just a way to enforce that license that has always existed
 
Nightarchaon said:
Actually you always owned the physical media, you only licensed the content of the media, so your cd or DVD. , or old Betamax tape, the physical item was yours, what it contained was licensed from Sony or MGM or Microsoft or whoever .

With a modern digital download you don't own anything, you just have the license and the right to use the files that are the software, they are not yours to do with as you please anymore than they were when they were on the CD or floppy disk or Tape or punchcard in years gone by

Drm is just a way to enforce that license that has always existed
Click to expand...

Yet with physical media I have the advantages I described above. But a steam game or a movie bought from iTunes I can't resell or lend to a friend, yet it costs the same as the physical media does, even though discs and packaging don't have to be manufactured. Of course it's understandable why content distributors love digital distribution. ;)

In my opinion physical media and online distribution can and should coexist. Both have advantages and disadvantages, one can not say one is the future and the other isn't.
 
chaosbunny said:
But a steam game or a movie bought from iTunes I can't resell or lend to a friend, yet it costs the same as the physical media does, even though discs and packaging don't have to be manufactured. Of course it's understandable why content distributors love digital distribution. ;)
Click to expand...
It doesn't really cost that much to make bulk CDs and packaging... or shipping. Running a huge data center, bandwidth costs involved, etc... can get really expensive as well to handle being able to run a digital store, and those have ongoing costs, not just a 1 time print and sell cost.
 
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