I've been coming across more and more titles of games that are not available on CD, only via download. I hate this. Thus far I have passed up a few titles simply because I dislike not having a CD. But I fear at some point all games will go this route and then I will have no choice.

But I read that often when you download a game, then you need the software installed from the site you get the game from. Seeing as I mod, any time a file might get corrupted, then what. I have to buy a new download again?

I also here about bad patch support from download companies. The support is independent from the original publisher.

I think all this computing in the cloud stuff sucks anyways. But the cloud is another topic altogether. I guess I may try a downloaded game, I'll find one that is $12, that way if it doesn;t install correctly, my loss is minimized.

I have been downloading games for quite some time now (Steam & Impulse to name two). Thus far I have had only three problems in about 7 years, and all were resolved with a refund, exchange or credit. One was false advertisement, and two others simply didn’t download correctly.

Everyone who is not aware, must take note that any DLC provider that sells software that does not work properly, or as advertised, is subjetc to a refund, exchange, or credit. Don't fall for the Terms of Service (TOS) policies. This is especially true with regards to the American consumer. The FTC, and Consumer Affairs have strict enforceable laws to protect the consumer. There is no such thing as a “No Refund Policy”. If a foreign company sells to an American consumer, then that country also must abide by American Consumer Laws.

I have a couple of these cases a month, and the mere threat of civil action is enough for these DLC’s to reconsider their position. The TOS is not written in stone, and often by attorney’s using it as an intimidating factor. If you look at these TOS policies you will notice that 95% don’t list case law, or regulations like you find in Copyright Laws attached to just about every media device sold. They would like you to BELIEVE it to be law, but more often than not it isn’t.

If you request a refund politely, and describe your problem carefully... you will find them more receptive, and agreeable to your request. If not... follow up with your newly acquired knowledge of the law, and that legal action may be persued. One of these will work without filing court papers, or seeking legal councel.

Just some helpful advice, and I didn’t even charge a fee.

I just never liked downloading games and DLC's ( via steam,playstation store,xbox marketplace ). I always buy box edition like I will do today with RDR:Undead Nightmare

Like Redgreen stated, one day this will be in the past. Just like video rental stores. There are fewer, and fewer of them around now. Let’s just face it. Computer games are far cheaper for the manufacturer to make them downloadable, than to package, and distribute them.

The writing is already on the wall.

I know that,I just don't like it.


Oh well...

(11-08-2011 10:49 AM)redgreen Wrote:  Seeing as I mod, any time a file might get corrupted, then what. I have to buy a new download again?

I also believe that DLC’s will acquire the means to mod certain games.

For instance:

This game may be modded with the following programs... or some other method will develop so as to not corrupt the game file signatures. These games may probably even include a full editing program that’s already featured in many games out today eliminating the use of moding programs.

Frankly speaking, downloading games isn't just the future, it's a lot more convenient as anyone things.
First of all; it's utterly bull's crap that you need to buy a new downloadable game the moment you mess up a previous download.

Downloading a game is simular to buying a boxed version, with the exception you don't have a box. You get a special page in your profile only you can access. At that page you'll find all games you've bought to download. Even if that game was bought 5 years ago.

So the moment you mess up a file and you need to re-install the game, all you need to do is move to that site, pick the download you need, download and install it. That's it.

Another advantage of a download site is that the product-key you get is always valid. And it will remain valid, because it's assigned to you the moment you buy the game. With a boxed version you never know if someone else had bought, played and returned the game; thus making your key invalid.

Then there's the fact download sites often offer special actions. i.e. Gamersgate had Patrician III for free if you pre-ordered Patrician IV; while Steam offered special content (DLC) when pre-ordering Patrician IV.
Both have special week offers, which usually contain older games offered for a low price.
Gamersgate also shows you games you might like as well, based upon which games are bought by those who bought the same game as you did.
i.e. if 70% of the people who bought Patrician IV also bought Tropico 3, that game is reccommended to you.

Both Steam and Gamersgate post the patches at your games page the moment they're available. However, Steam is autopatching your game, while you need to download them at Gamersgate. Even the manual is available to download at both sites, making it a lot easier to look for something.

All in all I found download sites to be a lot more useful as I thought they were first time I had to enter one to get an add-on to a game I liked at lot. Since then (3 yrs ago I think), I've bought 2-3 boxed games and bought 10+ downloadable games, including a few I couldn't find when they were for sale as boxed versions.

Thorin

Well, my experience with Steam was a disaster. I won't use a download again. I had the deluxe Patrician IV, and after a while it wouldn't launch. No idea why. I redid the password on their site, which never accepted the new password, tried numerous times to get to Steam help, could never get any human reply or help. I finally repurchased the game, nondeluxe, as a Walmart disc.

Nevermore. I feel cheated and abused.

I agree with Thorin. I never had a problem with Steam. There customer service is top notch as far as I’m concerned. With one exception though. Thorin stated that your key code is always valid. This is not always the case. Some sites let you use it for a limited number of times. Direct 2 Drive, and Impulse is amongst them.

That being said, I love downloading games for their convenience instead of waiting on long lines. 90% of my games are downloaded, and out of that Steam is my major point of purchase. You just have to know how to talk to them, as many people are rude, obnoxious, and threatening when something goes wrong, and making a complaint, instead of talking calmly. Steam always responded within 48 hours of any problem I ever had, and rectified it. For me, they are the better of all the DLC providers out there.

I emailed their customer service five times. Polite description of the problem I was having. No responses ...

(11-08-2011 09:42 PM)Baltic Trader Wrote:  I emailed their customer service five times. Polite description of the problem I was having. No responses ...

I can’t answer for your particular problem. How far did you pursue it? Did you just let it ride, and said the hell with it, or did you do as I prescribed in my previous post?

I outlined the problem; asked for assistance. Nothing disparaging, nor derogatory, simply a request for assistance. All contacts were by email, since there is no human point of contact. No response, over a two week period. As a side note, I am frequently called upon for conflict resolution at my job; I am good at smoothing ruffled feathers ...

So, no futher purchases. I am patient enough to await a CD. I am glad you had a good experience; many people here have, obviously. It isn't universal, though.

Well what I want is Kings Bounty: Platinum. Its only available for download. However I could get the equivalent boxed versions if I make 3 seperate purchaces for the Legend -Armored Princess - Crossworlds.

$29.99 for the D/l of Platinum or $13.99 + $13.99 + $6.99 I'm buying the 3 boxed games as I can get free shipping, so it will be $5 more. Its worth it to me.

But Actually I'll just buy the Legend 1st to see if I like it enough. Publishers could make more via boxed sets when they offer collector series. I think a fair amount of people would still pay $5 more to get it boxed. Throw in a map or something.

Hmm, maybe this is a good place to ask this question...

Regarding Kalypso's Anniversary sale going on right now, I'm a newcomer to Kalypso products, haven't played any of their other games except Tropico. So I'd like to ask, if any of you here play some of their other games and particularly enjoy them, give me your recommendations as to which you like the best. Yes I thought about getting the complete package deal, but I don't need that many new games, and I don't want to spend sixty bucks. But there are some pretty sweet deals going on right now, so I'd be interested in maybe getting one or two.

So, because this is a "games that sell via download" thread, give me your Kalypso recommendations. What are your favorite games and why?

(12-08-2011 10:11 PM)Tyroq Wrote:  Regarding Kalypso's Anniversary sale going on right now,

They have a sale, where is there info on that? I just went to the main site and didn't see anything about a sale under their game section.

I'm behind on games. Like I've played Port Royal 2 but not the 3rd version yet. I liked the 2nd one though and I imagine the 3rd one is similar. Its like a simpler version of the Patrician series. Port Royal may be a bit too simplistic, using the auto trade routes makes it too easy. Cause you can get a few going and then the wealth rolls in. Works better to limit the auto trade route to perhaps one. I found the naval battles to be fun. Its a good game just to while away a few hours and zone out. So far I haven't had the patience to learn Patrician. I think I have version 2 somewhere and just couldn't get into it.

The sale I'm referring to is the one announced here on the forum announcements. Unfortunately for you it's a Steam sale, so as far as I know it's limited to their downloadable games. This is why I was asking about it here on this thread, since its regarding the downloadable games sale taking place. I'm trying to decide which game or games I may be interested in enough to get. Has anyone played the Grand Ages of Rome game? Or that dungeon one?

Ok found the sale. Too bad its all multi packs. Also I think they miscount the number of games in the packages. From the ad:

Includes 19 items: Ceville, Darkstar One, Disciples III - Renaissance Steam Special Edition, DUNGEONS - Steam Special Edition, Dungeons: Into the Dark DLC Pack, Dungeons: Map Pack DLC, Grand Ages: Rome, Grand Ages: Rome - Reign of Augustus, Imperium

How is this 19 items? I see only 9 as each item is seperated by a comma. Plus 2 items are expansions and another item is a map pack. So only 9 items from 6 different games. Still the price isn't bad, but then I already have disciples 3. Now if they had a pre order for Ressurection or Demincon. Probably too far out for those.

Too bad they can't allow you to make your own package for a select group of games. Port Royal isn't in the list. I'd like to try Tropico but nothing else really jumps out at me.

Frankly speaking, although the sale itself is a good idea, I'm not at all pleased by the way it's done. Once again it's a "steam only" event; of which too many are happening lately. Almost as if there aren't any other download sites available.

I'm currently using two download sites, which are Steam and GamersGate.

Steam is the most known of these two, and is expanding rapidly as well. Main reason for this is that you need to activate a Steam account before you're able to play a game. I discovered this when downloading a game I bought at Gamersgate, but which needed to be activated through Steam.
Another thing Steam is doing lately is making the sales of some games exclusive theirs (like with this anniversary pack); thus again forcing players to become a "Steam member" if they like to play a game they like a lot.

Then there is the customers support Steam is having. I haven't had the "opportunity" to contact Steam's customers support, but what I read BT's post, it makes me shiver a bit.
I have had a problem with a game I once purchased at Gamersgate, but that problem got solved easily. Not by their customers support, but by support of the other buyers of the game. And that's because Gamersgate have the ability to ask questions, which then can be answered by other Gamersgate members. Something I think works a lot better, because it's often the games who'll find a solution to problems which are not using the common paths, like the devellopers often do.

What is an advantage of Steam over Gamersgate is the fact that Steam is always autopatching your games. Unless your game have another option. Gamersgate is putting the new patch in your purchased games list; under the game you've bought; but you still need to manually download and install the patch. Steams auto-patch system solves that for you; but a big downside of this is that each patch needs to be re-written, because patches in general are written with the un-packing / installation files coded in. Another thing I've seen over the past years is that Steam patches often need another hotfix to activate the pre-order DLC again, because the patch has erased that. Something I've seen happening with EU3W, Patrician IV and C:CotA.
Or was it perhaps because 2 of these games have the ability to download patches through the launcher??

Another advantage I noticed Steam has,is the fact you'll be able to find some of the older games you won't even find in the bargain bins anymore. Or at Gamersgate.

Overall I have to admit I'd like Gamersgate a bit more than Steam, most of it because of Steam's policy to get a monopoly and their lesser userfriendly site.


Thorin