I don't play games a lot, but just bought Rage for pc.

After having to wrestle with something called "steam", I'm now being told that I have a 23 hour download before I can play Rage !

Now hang on, I walked into a shop and bought a product, but it seems to me that I bought nothing, and now have to spend time and bandwidth on downloading it. There is nothing on the packaging to indicate this. If I really need to do this, then I won't. I'll be back to shop and kick and scream for a full refund even if the packaging has been opened.

I can't spend 23 hours downloading just for a game.

It's a patch, and yes it is required and you want it. Unfortunately this is how most games are these days.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5357-FSQM-0382

May be useful.

Good point PenGun, I was thinking 23 hours seems excessive.

The download time depends on how large the file you are downloading is, and how fast your internet connection is.
If you installed it through the disc (inserted disc into DVD drive), you shouldn't have to download the entire game (~22 GB's).

After the installation though, you will need to download the patches/updates for the game to play at all. You must download the patch as it includes the actual game *.exe to even play the game, which was omitted from the release version to make sure no-one would be able to play the game before the actual release, as it's quite common for games to get leaked 2-3 weeks before actual release.

I had the same problem.... only it actually told me it would be over a day to download. I dont think this is just the download of a patch or update.. its the whole 22GB game.

After searching the web for awhile I used the same workaround as posted in a previous message (#3), which worked (on the 2nd try, not sure why it didnt work the first time)


I dont think I need to point out the absurdity of buying the retail box and then downloading the game while the discs sit in the box unused. The least Steam could do would be to put an "Install from Disc" option on the menu. Making you run the game with a "-install D:" option is a workaround, not a solution .

I really can't imagine any non-game consumer product surviving in the marketplace for long with this sort of crapola. Gamers, it seems, will put up with just about anything

Hmmmm, that sounds mighty odd as I was able to install it from disk without needing to download. I just followed the instructions in the manual and ran the Setup exe on disk 1.

So, having got a bit pissed of about this, and having tried the suggestion above, I gave up for while. However, today the Mrs asked me how it was, so I tried installing again, it happened. Installed from CD. I have no idea what I did differently.

But, now I click "Play Game" and . . . . nothing, except do I want to send an error report to MS, every time.

Crap ! I completely understand why people who REALLY want to play games get games consoles. I don't care that much. I just won't buy any more.
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If it partially installed before that may well be your problem. Try doing the verify local files thing in steam?

It's a steam bug ... it should have shown the size of the patch ... the updater is stupid and lame.

steam ui is buggy piece of [censored], never admired it as a true PC gamer.

Hail, brother.

LOL. A true PC gamer. So what am I, chopped liver?

Steam is just great. All the physical media will be gone in a few years. Might as well get used to it.

Steam is a closed platform with ridicolous restrictions and policies for publishers and developers.

Nothing against digital - but nobody wants a Steam monopoly.

You will have to explain. I really like Steam myself and I'm not sure what you are talking about. I use Linux for everything but games and have for over 15 years now so the open sores is something I know a bit about. Free software I understand quite well.

It's a game distribution business and but I don't know what you mean by "closed platform". As many publishers and developers are quite fond of Steam you will need to explain the "ridiculous restrictions and policies for publishers and developers" as well.

It is a fine service and I use almost nothing else. With over 30 games on Steam I have has almost no problems at all and bought many of them for a very good price. There is a reason many of us moan and [censored] about Steam sales, they are so hard to resist.

I stand here.

Steam's sales are the only thing good about it.

You stand on a cliche, "true PC gamer", is hilarious.

Again, have you any examples of this "piece of [censored]" or are ya gonna stay apocryphal?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apocryphal

No, it's simple.
Steam is pointless, and is just in the way.

Why should anyone have to wait for Steam to start up so they can run their game? Why should I log in to play a game?


I enjoy playing my games without having to be online. Steam won't start up for me in offline mode unless there's internet. How stupid is that? WTF is the point of an offline mode that requires internet?

It's nice that Steam provides deals and shows you news and what not, but no one needs any of that, it's just taking up space, no matter how little.

I can start a game and be in it in seconds, there is no appreciable delay on my machine.. You have to log in every time? It should be automatic.


Ummm, you have to setup offline mode while online but after your game is verified up to date you can play offline all you want.

I think most of the problems people have with Steam is how comfortable they are with computers and networking in general. RTFM is too much for many people. The use of the word "stupid" to describe computer programs is a dead giveaway.

The problem is simply that Steam is unnecessary.
What we want is to buy a game, and launch it. Is that too much to ask?

If you like Steam and Steam-like services, good for you, but I'm happy launching the game after entering the serial key. Like Dead Space, or Need for Speed. Only reason I've got Steam is for Rage, cuz the damn game requires it.

If it's a Steam game you will need Steam.

I can browse the games available and pick a game, usually one on sale, and have it ready to play in about an hour or less. I do have a good connection but I have made it a point for many years to have one.

I do not have to leave my house. It is very convenient indeed.


The developers like Steam as it provides a non intrusive and quite effective DRM without alienating their fans. I don't like Steam like services much, but I do like Steam. Beats the heck out of the last century methods of acquiring games.