Steam vs Direct2Drive?

[wannabe_pirate]

So, to my undying shame, I haven't yet purchased MI2SE. I've been doing an unpaid internship for the last 5+ weeks and when it was released I was forced to make the choice between purchasing the game or living. Now that money isn't so tight, I'm going to download it, but as it was just released on D2D I thought I would ask Mojo which one it prefers.

 

I've downloaded FOA, Loom, the Dig, and SMI SE all through steam (as well as Oblivion) and I haven't had any problems. The achievements look pretty cool. But I've heard some people raise the question of not getting a physical game file (which i would like very much, especially since I seem to have a laptop curse lately)

 

My question is, is there any justification for getting the Direct 2 Drive version?

[Gabez]

I've never used D2D, but looking at their web-site, I don't see how they're essentially different from Steam: it's still all download-only.

 

In fact, with Steam it's easy to "back-up" your files onto CD or external hard-drive (right click on any title in your library), and I've moved computers several times, and redownloaded my games with no problem anyway. Steam also has the advantage of in-built chat and it pops up "XX is playing Monkey Island 2 Special Editon" on all your friend's computers, which looks quite cool.

 

However, Steam can be annoying for some people. It is a myth that you need to be connected to the internet and logged in every time you play the game, but though that isn't true, Steam does encourage you to operate like this, and it also encourages you to use it to launch your games. In other words, Steam likes to take over.

 

D2D is also 4p cheaper. Think of all the penny sweets you could buy for that! (The answer is four).

 

...but if your main concern is having a secure version of the game, I would go for Steam, and try and back that up on an external medium.

[MusicallyInspired]

With D2D you can download whenever you want and you never have to be online to install or play the game. With Steam you can also download whenever you want but it's online activated. Steam also has achievements which D2D does not. And if you ever lose your copy it's still always connected to your Steam account and, once you download the Steam client and log in, you can play it on any computer anywhere. This isn't any less true for D2D, though.

 

For people who hate Steam (for various reasons) the D2D version is probably the perfect version to have is you'd feel the most free with it. Myself, I like Steam so I get as many games for it as possible (minus TTG games). I like the Steam community features and the overlay UI which allows you to surf the web and stuff while playing any game. Even so, I'll still probably buy a copy from D2D as well eventually "just in case."

[DustCropper]

I used D2D for MI1:SE and Steam for MI2:SE (only because Steam was the first to sell MI2 and I needed it FAST).

 

I haven't had any big problems with either version so I don't think it's a big deal which one you take. Since I have no real interest in most of Steam's features (like chatting with friends, achievements) I do prefer D2D for it's simplicity.

 

You don't need to install any extra software to play the game (they offer some sort of program for downloading but you don't need to use it). When you've downloaded the installer it's just an .exe file that you can easily backup.

 

I can't remember activation too clearly, but I think you might need to be online the first time you launch the game. I'm not sure about this though. Also every time you install the game you need to enter your product key. But I can definitely say that once you've activated the game it doesn't matter whether or not you're online.

 

One thing that annoys me about Steam is that after I've played my game, Steam still runs on my system and I have to manually close it from my taskbar. Maybe there's a setting to turn that off. But with D2D, nothing else appears to be running... just the game while I'm playing it.

 

Steam has several great features in addition to the game, whereas with D2D you basically just get the game. So if those features seem appealing to you then I'd recommend Steam. But if you just want to keep it simple. D2D is the way to go.

[DustCropper]

But I've heard some people raise the question of not getting a physical game file (which i would like very much, especially since I seem to have a laptop curse lately)

 

On D2D you simply download the game's installer (usually an .exe or packaged as a .zip file). After that you can easily backup and transfer the file to any computer.

[Thrik]

I personally like Steam best because it just works tremendously well as an all-in-one platform, kind of like Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network on their respective consoles. The way it automatically keeps everything up to date, syncs up your save games and stuff over the web (depending on the game), networks with your friends, tracks achievements, etc is just really nice and slick. Such a change from the abomination it was when it launched — it's now nigh perfect IMO.

[Snugglecakes]

I much prefer D2D. I've never been a fan of anything that requires online activation. No offence meant here, but it's another example of an American company thinking that the whole world is like America... ie. always online with reliable internet. That is simply not the case for many people. I also travel around, and am often stuck in a hotel with no internet access etc. Steam does work most of the time but I still don't like the idea. Download from D2D, make your own backup, and take it on the road with you. Miles better.

 

It's also just the idea that you have to rely on someone else for something. In the old days you bought your game in a box and looked after it, and you didn't have to phone anyone or go online when you wanted to install it again. That's how it should be. Steam goes against my grain.

[DustCropper]

No offence meant here, but it's another example of an American company thinking that the whole world is like America... ie. always online with reliable internet.

America is ranked 16th in terms of internet access per-capita. A lot of Americans don't have reliable internet access, which is why many Americans complain about this aspect of Steam. So I wouldn't say online activation is "an American thing".

[Snugglecakes]

Ok ok my apologies then.

 

Just seen a few things from American tourists during this world cup that made my eyes pop out my head!

[DustCropper]

American tourists making locals' eyes pop out of their heads... that I won't argue with.

[SyntheticGerbil]

America is ranked 16th in terms of internet access per-capita. A lot of Americans don't have reliable internet access, which is why many Americans complain about this aspect of Steam. So I wouldn't say online activation is "an American thing".

 

That's true, but a lot of the Americans without internet live in rural areas and really don't comprise the amount that are always online and gaming. I would think Americans still have a large percentage online even with most of the country still having the resort to dialup (no joke!).

 

However, I have many podunk type relatives who probably would be playing online at all times of the day if they had a reliable connection where they live.

[DustCropper]

That's true, but a lot of the Americans without internet live in rural areas and really don't comprise the amount that are always online and gaming. I would think Americans still have a large percentage online even with most of the country still having the resort to dialup (no joke!).

 

However, I have many podunk type relatives who probably would be playing online at all times of the day if they had a reliable connection where they live.

I agree, I think by sheer numbers the US has among the most high-speed internet users in the world. But when I visit my family's home in a rural part of Texas, I'm lucky to get a decent connection through their shoddy dial-up on AOL.

[Thrik]

I think in general various parts of Europe are far better connected than the US and the UK. Some of those countries have pretty much ubiquitous fibre whereas we're still struggling with copper phone lines. And then there's Japan... :~

[Snugglecakes]

We're pretty connected in the big cities here, but out in the middle of nowhere there's nothing. And all the copper wire gets stolen.