Your Thoughts: Digital Download PC Games Via Steam, GOG, etc

[enderfall]

I started a thread recently regarding playing old PC games on new Vista/Win 7 (and lesser extent XP) systems. It proved a good discussion to some of the ways to get these games to work via virtual boxes and the like. I'm still trying to see how well I can get some games to work in these ways, but maybe I'm lazy and would rather have a guaranteed way for the games to work.

So I started looking into Steam, Direct2Drive, GOG, etc. as a source for purchasing older games. It appears that each of these services are different is certain ways such as DRM, distribution, etc. While I could not seem to find any confirmation, it appears that if you DL a game like X-Com, it will run flawlessly on new systems and further will be compatible with future OS's through revisions of the client software.

I've always been adverse to the idea of not having a physical disc for both collecting, resale, and ease of use (mainly in console games), but the idea of using a service like Steam is growing on me; if only for the PC gaming compatibility described above.

So I open the discussion to those of you here to describe your experiences and some potential downfalls of using these services (beside the obvious lack of resale). Also, do you think that these services will alst as it would seem that if they would fail, you would be SOL to retrieve the purchases that you paid for down the road. Thanks.

[fastbilly1]

I really like how valve has approached it. You can still buy a disc version of their titles. BUT when you activate it on steam, you have all the benefits of the download aswell. For other titles it is hit or miss (ie UT3 will do that but Titans Quest wont for some reason). Plus steam has Half Life - I have to like it by default because of that.

Good Old Games has a pretty system too: cheap prices, downloadable exe, and you can access your purchases anywhere. I am a big fan of that.

As for other digital download situations, I view them as lost money. I do not trust the companies. Sure that is the pessimist in me talking but too many of these services, and they start dying off.

[J T]

For old games, GOG is the best. They update the games to work on XP and Vista systems (both 32 and 64 bit). On Steam, that is up to the publisher. Some of the older games still won't work on a new system if you buy them through Steam. I bought the King's Quest series through them and some of those games won't work on Vista 64. Thankfully, a lot of older games still work anyway. I bought the X-com series through Steam and it seems to work just fine.

Also Steam requires you to use their client program. It's kind of like an i-Tunes for videogames. You have a games list with all your game, access to the Steam store, and a community section for interacting with others through, chat, voice chat, social profile pages, and message boards. I really like the Steam client and I prefer to use it. Some people don't like it and are bothered by the fact that you have to use it to play most of your games you buy through Steam. The Steam client is often used as a type of DRM that is much less intrusive than other forms of DRM.

GOG never has DRM. You can copy your games as many times as you want and play them without having to use any client software, insert a disc, or log in online. This also makes them far easier to backup. GOG also gives away extra bonuses with many of their games. Many of your purchases allow you optional downloads for desktop wallpapers, soundtracks, art sketches, etc.

If the same game is available at both Steam and GOG, I almost always go with GOG. I'll even spend an extra couple of bucks if I have to in order to get the GOG version. I've got nothing against Steam. It's a great service, but I like to give my support to GOG when I can because I appreciate their no DRM policy and they clearly care about the old games and put in the extra work to make sure old games will play on modern systems.

As for Direct2Drive, Impulse, or Gamersgate... they are all below Steam and GOG in my opinion. D2D is the best of the three and your best option for modern games if you don't want to have to use the Steam client. None of them really excite me too much unless they have a really good special.

[MrPopo]

So with GOG it is very easy to burn the installer to a disc to keep it around in case the service is discontinued. With Steam you can do the same thing with the directory in steamapps/common. However, this only works with old games that were created pre-Steam (so they don't rely on it).

With old games there are two ways it can go. Some old games will run fine on modern copies of Windows, so you just get the game straight up (though they usually aren't designed to deal with things like widescreen). Older games get released with a copy of Dosbox and the appropriate configs to run them. So the shortcut that gets installed if you get Descent 1 & 2 from GOG is a link to Dosbox and a given config for the game. This is great for the majority of users but still allows power users to further optimize (I use a source port for Descent for better joystick support).

[8-bit Legend]

Enderfall, does your name and picture refer to the books writteb by Orson Scott Card?

[fastbilly1]

I would like to amend my statement. If it shows up on sale (which ofcourse I will find out via JT), on something not steam or GoG, I may purchase it. I still fully believe that all Direct Downloads should be at a discounted rate.

[jfrost]

For me, these services are great. It's quite difficult to find regular retail editions of games in Brazil, so if I can buy them for a decent price online and support the developers, I will. Normally I wouldn't be able to do that (I mean, getting games without spending a million dollars).

[enderfall]

For old games, GOG is the best. They update the games to work on XP and Vista systems (both 32 and 64 bit). On Steam, that is up to the publisher. Some of the older games still won't work on a new system if you buy them through Steam. I bought the King's Quest series through them and some of those games won't work on Vista 64. Thankfully, a lot of older games still work anyway. I bought the X-com series through Steam and it seems to work just fine.

Also Steam requires you to use their client program. It's kind of like an i-Tunes for videogames. You have a games list with all your game, access to the Steam store, and a community section for interacting with others through, chat, voice chat, social profile pages, and message boards. I really like the Steam client and I prefer to use it. Some people don't like it and are bothered by the fact that you have to use it to play most of your games you buy through Steam. The Steam client is often used as a type of DRM that is much less intrusive than other forms of DRM...

Thanks J T. I know you are an advocate for these services, so your input is appreciated. Keep up the work in tracking down those sale prices too!

So with GOG it is very easy to burn the installer to a disc to keep it around in case the service is discontinued. With Steam you can do the same thing with the directory in steamapps/common. However, this only works with old games that were created pre-Steam (so they don't rely on it).

Thanks, that will definitely sway certain decisions in where to purchase a game.

Enderfall, does your name and picture refer to the books writteb by Orson Scott Card?

Yes. I came up with the name years ago and ended up keeping it for continuity.

[enderfall]

So what about any other negatives?

I've read that there is concerns that:
- the services may go under (thus giving GOG a little bit of an upper-hand right now)
- not all of the games work on modern systems (but I'm sure there is documentation online to find out compatibility with newer OS's)
- Price vs. disc based copies (I agree, DL should be cheaper!)

Anything else that no one else has addressed?