ehh haven't been able to log in to my steam account for 2 days now (still waiting on steam support to get back to me) don't get me wrong steams nice and all but when something like this happens and i cant even play the 40+ games i payed for it kinda sux >.>

Wow... just wow... And here I was actually looking forward to playing Fallout: New Vegas. I'll be returning it to the store after work. If it requires Steam to "hijack" my game, then it isn't worthy of my hard earned cash.

Steam may have its virtues, but as an occasional, on-and-off as opposed to "dedicated to the point of obsession" gamer, I just don't see them.

Yes, it's nice to not need a CD to play. Yes, it's nice to have your game auto-patched with the latest stuff. But my impression is that half the troubles I have with Fallout: New Vegas are because of Steam. Once it's online, the game constantly crashes to desktop. I take it offline, the game still crashes to desktop. Only when I reboot and don't go online AT ALL can I play the game for more than five minutes straight without it crashing to desktop. Now, if I had the option of uninstalling Steam and still playing FNV, that'd be splendid, but why was Steam made the ONLY way for me to access the game?

my guess is that someone at Beth had this thought

"PC Gamers love Steam, so let's use that to protect & help distribute the game"

that sounds nice & all but it's an over-simplification of the customer/fanbase.

we PC gamers are in truth a varied & diversified group

It says right there on the case.

'Requires internet connection and free steam account to activate'


Good luck returning the game when theres nothing wrong with it. Most places won't even give a refund when there IS something wrong with a game.

Personally, I've had no problems with Steam whatsoever and am extremely happy to be rid of Games for Windows Live, which ruined my enjoyment of Fallout 3. Pretty much due to similar complaints many have made in this thread. Sure, my game is bugged in several ways (ED-E gone, the option to make Arcady tag along has disappeared from the dialogue menu, half a dozen quests frozen and can't be resolved), but I'm confident that coming patches will sort out some or all of this. Steam, though, has worked spotlessly for me. Just to add another perspective.

Exactly!

This suggests that once activated the game no longer requires an internet connection nor Steam. This is not the case. If they were honest the back of the case would say:


Requires Internet connection and Steam for the life of the game.
Requires Internet connection and Steam account to activate. Requires Steam to be running and up to date to play. Steam updates require an Internet connection.


And all this would be prominently displayed on the box in a section larger than a postage stamp. At least GFWL could be uninstalled with out impacting Fallout 3.

Offline Mode not work for you then? :rolleyes:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-agcb-2555

If I'm going out on the road I simply select Steam's Offline Mode before I disconnect from the internet. The rest of the time I'm always connected to the internet, but isn't everyone on broadband ... are you guys on dial-up or something?

I personally am on broadband, but not everyone is. There are still large patches where no broadband access is readily available. If I were to move about 45 minutes away from my house my only internet option would be via satellite.

Also the fine print in the Steam agreement states that Steam has to connect at least once every 3 weeks to keep itself current.

like me, I use dial-up because that's available(DSL isn't) & affordable (Satellite isn't) in my area.

Yep, it says it on the back of the case in fine-print that barely anyone would notice. You're telling me that after a long day at work with many other things on your mind, you'd take the time to scan every inch of the box? At least with Games for Windows it is right there on the top of the case where everyone can see it.

Hi,

I posted in another thread my situation but I guess no one from the devs bothers to read this stuff.

Add me to the list. Another Fallout fan (from way back in the beginning days) is now left out in the cold due to the stupid decision to use Steam. It would not be so bad if it really made any difference in the scheme of things.

Bethesda (and other companies) need to wake up and realize something... NOT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO INTERNET SERVICES INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN THE United States!!!

... and before someone asks who did not read my original post... I am a United States Navy service connected disabled Veteran currently under care via the Veterans Administration and Hospitals. I currently get LESS than a thousand dollars to live on each month in disability during this process so even if I could get internet service, I could in no way pay for it monthly. I am at my daughters right now for Christmas so I am checking things. But other than that....

They are alienating many of us who gave them their business from way back in the early 80's. Had we not supported them all these years, there is no freaking way they would be around today.

Sure anyone younger than 30 is probably living their lives as if the internet were something they could not live without.. but for the millions of gamers and computer users above the age of 40, we do NOT live this way nor assume anything.

Malakie

'...on the back of the case in fine-print...'
I suppose that's why they used a white text with a big red background...ya' know, so it wouldn't catch your eye :whistling:
"Notice: Product offered subject to YOUR acceptance of the Steam Subscriber Agreement"
For everyone in this thread complaining about your issues with Steam, whether it's that you can't get an internet connection, or you don't want it to auto-patch or that it's making your game run horrible(btw, just got FONV not too long ago, installed, patched, no issues...if you're running a halfway decent system you should not have issues) y'all need to just stop complaining. It's printed in a clear print on the back of the box so that you should understand that when you make your purchase you are, in fact, agreeing to use said client to play your game. Whether that system is bugged or not, or you just straight up don't like it, you agreed to it when you put your money on the counter(or swiped your debit/credit card), that's why they put it on the back of the box.
Personally, I love Steam. I don't need to worry about updating my games because it does it for me(and you can also patch them yourself if you choose to), when i'm searching for a hard to find game instead of having to visit ten different GameStops to find it I can just download it and be done with it, it works! I don't see what the big issue is here.
I'm just sayin'...from what i've read the big issue in this thread is that you HAVE to use Steam...but face it, you agreed to it when you purchased the game.

I was living on $600 NZD a month. That's about $450 USD


The internet thing irks me. I spent a week in an area with no internet and played in offline mode just fine, but when I got back home, our broadband has run out so we're on dial up til next month. Not too bad, but for some reason Steam hates dial-up and would. Not. Connect. For two days straight. Two days of no New Vegas. Currently trying to find employment, so I don't have much else to do, and at night I like to play New Vegas as I have trouble sleeping before 3 am. Our internet just now had a nice little speed boost, so I managed to finally connect to Steam so I can now play. I couldn't keep playing Steam in offline mode, because I chose "restart online" when I got home, and from there all I could do was look at the connecting to account window. Very frustrating.

Steam regularly keeps me out of New Vegas, a good few hours a day it will prevent me from playing, and often when I do get to play, it kicks me out of my game to show me that stupid Steam Updates window.

Steam has added no value to NV whatsoever, and I am definitely going to avoid buying full-priced games that use Steam from now on. However, the cheap games they sell on the Steam store are pretty amazing, so I would probably buy a 10-15 dollar game from Steam. It has its good points, and if it works fine for people, then I envy them. For me, however, it's been a constant source of frustration.

Hey Guys.
Her a little Episode of my Steam-Experience.
Im a German, so i bought the German No-Gore-Version first. Anyways i see no Sense in Dismemberment of Bodyparts, so that is noc bigger Problem.
but, NVSE dont Works with this Version, and maybe never will cause the Guys dont get our Version where they live.
So i decided to buy the PEGI-AT-uncut Version. Nice so far?
Steam didnt check the new Version, and forces the update to my previous German Version.
After some reinstalling with the try to avoid that i contacted the Steam Support.
Their Answer was, they are not allowed to "sell" any other Version to Germans oder german IP's. Pfffff
So i wrote them that theres no need to sell me an other Version, i allready got it, only need the "right" update to my new Version of the Game.
Answer was, to send a Photo or Scan of the Bill and the CD-Key of that Version.
I did that, in the wrong Way first in one File, then the right Way one File for Bill and another for the Key.
Answer was: Sorry Man, thats no original Key!!!
What the Hell.....?
Between any of their Answers were about 24 Hours. So i mess around with that Sh.... since five Days now.
Where ahve the good times gone when i was the Boss over "MY" Computer, and can decide myself when and what update i wanna do?
For sure i will never again buy a Game running on Steam.

Greets Veldrin.