Steam - whys it so shit?

[RowaN]

Please help me I'm stuck.

In the good old days, if you wanted to install something, you just downloaded/ran a single .exe file. But now I want to install Ridge Racer Driftopia demo, and its not that easy for some reason.

• Step 1: Register @ http://www.ridgeracerdriftopia.com/
• Step 2: Namco email you a "key code" and tell you to install the game "via Steam".
• Step 3: There is no link in the email, so Google "Steam", find their website and install the Steam client.
• Step 4: Search in Steam for "Driftopia" ... no results found.
• Step 5: Look in Steam for a place to enter a key code in the hopes that will trigger a download ... nothing found.
• Step 6: Scream "WHY ARE THEY MAKING IT SO F**KING DIFFICULT FOR _GODS_ SAKE!!!" at the top of your lungs.
• Step 7: Make a post on DF asking for help because the email Namco sent you was from a wonderful noreply@ address.

[rIKmAN]

Steam is great - love the GreenLight section, some gems in there.

As for your code...

Games Menu -> Activate a product on Steam -> Enter your code.

It's friday, I'll assume you've been drinking

[kjun]

Ridge Racer is also still in Beta, which is why it isn't just available from searching on steam.

[raelmadrid]

Step 3: There is no link in the email, so Google "Steam", find their website and install the Steam client.

your life sounds difficult

[macmilm]

You missed step 8 ... "Look like a noob"

[MsDG]

That is nothing, you want to try buying an AMD graphics card from Dabs that comes with 3 free games.

Here is what happened (short version)....

1) Got Graphics card with no info, card or voucher in the box (for the free games.)

2) Checked all emails from Dabs.... no info about games (other than you would get them)

3) Waited two weeks in case the codes would come in a email.... no

4) Emailed customer services at Dabs.... waited two days for response.

5) Got a response to say, "you have to email duncsdeals@dabs for codes.... (as if it was the most natural thing in the world).

6) Emailed duncsdeals@dabs... waited two days for response.

7) Got sent email code to enter into AMD website for free games.

8) Enter code into website.

9) Got emailed a code for Blood dragon (with instructions)

10) Also got told in same email that they were short of codes for other two game... (WTF, make up two new codes???)

11) To install Blood Dragon you have to create an account at UBI and go through similar Steam bollocks, redeem code and download

12) Waited a week.... got the code for the next game (Cyris 3)

13) To install Cyris 3 you have to log onto origin, create an account, download origin tool, redeem code and download

14) Sent email to AMD complaining about lack of code for last game.

15) Waited 2 days... got response that they were still short of codes (WTF.... just generate some more)

16) Waited another 9 days, finally got my code for BioShock 3

17) That required me to log onto Steam and go through all the bollocks in the original post!

Remember the days when you just got the Game CD's with your purchase?

[raelmadrid]

don't get me started on dabs!

[RowaN]

Thanks rIKmAN. Next problem is that Steam won't let me install the game to a USB stick.. I don't have a gig free on my hard drive. I give up.

macmilm - I'm not bothered about looking like a noob in your eyes. To be laughing at me because I can't figure out how to use an overly complicated and unneccessary garbage program like Steam, I mean, thats rather hostile isn't it? Calm down dear. I laugh at Steam, and call it out as noob software because it obviously hasn't been tested for user friendliness.

[RowaN]

Step 3: There is no link in the email, so Google "Steam", find their website and install the Steam client.

your life sounds difficult

I'm just pointing out this step because although Steam is perhaps familiar to you, I imagine a lot of people will have no idea what Steam is. The mention of it in Namco's email could be the first they've ever heard of it. So to have to Google it then guess they've found the right thing and install it.. not very user friendly.

[macmilm]

Thanks rIKmAN. Next problem is that Steam won't let me install the game to a USB stick.. I don't have a gig free on my hard drive. I give up.

macmilm - I'm not bothered about looking like a noob in your eyes. To be laughing at me because I can't figure out how to use an overly complicated and unneccessary garbage program like Steam, I mean, thats rather hostile isn't it? Calm down dear. I laugh at Steam, and call it out as noob software because it obviously hasn't been tested for user friendliness.

You seriously need to chill out ffs and learn to laugh at yourself.. If you think anyone on here was being hostile you should avoid forums for a while

[kjun]

Also none of those steps are actually a problem with Steam. While I'm sure there are plenty of people who have never heard of it, I doubt there are many of them that play PC games, especially unreleased PC games in test phases...

[raelmadrid]

I've just installed this, not bad at all - uses the unbounded engine

[kjun]

I was wondering whether to try it, but I think I'm done with f2p.

[WRATH OF BOD]

i have just done it, open steam, at top left in small writting click on games, then click on activate product from steam, past key code, it will download & activate for you, simple.

[Shotgunjim]

Even if you get discs, in most cases you need to use an online licensing tool anyway.

I think steam is great and makes it easier to manage your games (especially auto patching) and is a descent central hub fir navigation.

[thevortex]

At 1st I didn't like steam, but as I used it more often and increased my library of games I found it great. No more DVDs to lose or scratch, it will automatically check for updates, some games store your saves on the cloud.
I really like it now and I was able to add a few of my old disc games to Steam and it they are available to download.