Steam for Dummies

[DeathAdder]

Can someone please answer a few questions about Steam? I've looked at the Steam site, and found a few titles I'd like, but I don't quite understand why everyone raves about Steam, from what I saw.

Everyone seems to say that Steam is so cheap, but it didn't seem particularly cheap to me. What am I missing?

If I buy Steam games and download them, are they then tied to that PC?

Thanks in advance - assume no knowledge at all.

[Kit]

- Steam games are tied to the account you create.

- Steam has loads of sales - every week you get sales, weekly, weekend, seasonal, flash. So if you keep an eye on them you can get some bargains. Best way to keep track is to create a wishlist in your account then you'll be notified when your favs are discounted.

- Steam is popular purely because it's the best digital distribution platform. None of the others come close.

[briareos_kerensky]

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- Steam is popular purely because it's the best digital distribution platform. None of the others come close.

I would argue that games bought from GoG or Playism don't require a client that you have to start to play a game.

[Baseley09]

Thats true but im sure a lot of people like myself prefer games all under one client, neatly tidied away without a load of loose shortcuts clogging up your desktop.

[speedlolita]

I have 180 games on Steam and I don't seem to recall buying 150 odd of them. lol

Once you go Steam, console content handling is laughable.

[Kit]

I would argue that games bought from GoG or Playism don't require a client that you have to start to play a game.

GoG's brill but I like steam for the community/social aspect - that seems like an oxymoron if ever there was one ha.

I feel GoG has been ace at keeping a lot of old (not so popular) titles relevant, which has eventually led to a few updated re-releases. I think that's where the whole System Shock revival came from right?

[kryss]

95% of the games I have on Steam came from Humble Bundles.
They have some great discounts, like getting Ikaruga for $5 a few months back was sweet.

[DeathAdder]

Thanks. It looks a good way to buy old games, which are hard to find in any other form.

[QualityChimp]

I'm pretty sure Steam is an streamlined and cost-effective effective way to buy games you're never going to play!

The estimate is that around 40% of games bought on steam go unplayed!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/04/17/nearly-37-of-all-registered-steam-games-have-never-been-played/

I don't have a device powerful enough to run modern games, but I've happily discovered GoG and bought SHOGO, Kingpin, Roller Coaster Tycoon and Screamer!

[DeathAdder]

Well, if I can get my pile of shame down to just 40%, that will be a start.

I want Age of Empires II and Railroad Tycoon for starters.

[charlesr]

Tycoon and Screamer!

Screamer!!!! What a great game. Forgot about that.

[DeathAdder]

No idea how that link got into my post.

[QualityChimp]

A couple of sections of the forums have adwords active, this being one of them.
It confused me when I first saw them on a post I made!

[DeathAdder]

Another question if I may - do I have to be online to play my Steam games?

[Neon Ignition]

Project Backlogue on Steam is very early for me.

Out of 457 owned games I've completed around 35

And another Steam Sale starts in a few days...