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The Impulse/Steam scam: Gamestop is selling Steam client required software on Impulse

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The Impulse/Steam scam: Gamestop is selling Steam client required software on Impulse

from Stardock Forums

It seems like everybody is using "WinCustomize talk" for general discussion. I cant actually find a general discussion catagory.

So heres the latest for steam exclusive games being advertised on Impulse:

"Half-Life, Portal and More! Valve Games Are Now Available on GameStop PC Downloads!"

When I first saw this I thought "wow thats pretty cool". In the fine print however, it says the steam client is required, and thats at the bottom only after clicking on the "read more" and in small letterings.

This trickery is done, ON PURPOSE by Gamestop no doubt having some sort of agreement with Steam. Steam sees the threat impulse poses. Impulse, while not very widely known, has a very superior DRM scheme to Steam.

Its very easy to miss that *steam required* fine print when your purchasing an "impulse" game. Even on retail copies, the part on the back of the game where it says the said fine print is designed to be overlooked.

So, why is Steam so bad? If you have an excellent internet connection then you wont have any problems with it, but people like me who have the lowest end connections speeds absolutely abhor it and even still people with decent connection speeds find it annoying.

Heres the stupidity of Steam:

The DRM is designed to prevent "unparalleled anti-piracy, making it a very popular retailer for software publishers and developers", yet every game on Steam has been pirated or will be pirated in the future. This raises questions as to how necessary Steam's intrusive DRM scheme is.

Mandatory updates: I have no idea why updates are mandatory when you have to be securely connected to Steam in order to play in the first place. Whoever in the company decided that this requirement was a good idea to implement was high or something, because anyone with half a brain can clearly see its not going to prevent pirating.

Games install more than once: I dont get this either. You buy a retail copy of the game, "install it from the disk" and then you are required to "update" when in reality you are just downloading and installing the whole fucking thing over again. Utter. Fucking. Stupidity.

Games download from overly secure connections: Even the worst internet connection in the world doesnt take 2 whole days to download 2-4 gigs of data. Thats how long it took me to install my game.

This is why PC gaming is dying, or at the very least vastly reduced.

 

624,852 views 120 replies
Reply #51 from Elemental Forums Top

It's like meeting someone from 2000 years ago and telling them the earth isn't flat. Doesn't matter what you say, they'll just keep saying the earth is flat and that's a fact. Only until you take them up in a spaceship and show them the earth is round will they actually believe it. In this case I don't think there's anything anyone can type that will make any difference... we just have a thread with "Earth is flat! Earth is flat! You're wrong, the earth is flat!"

Reply #52 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting jackswift85, reply 51
we just have a thread with "Earth is flat! Earth is flat! You're wrong, the earth is flat!"

oh oh oh I want to join in that one.

The earth is a circle. The Bible says so. Isaiah 40:22.

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Ryat, reply 52



Quoting jackswift85,
reply 51
we just have a thread with "Earth is flat! Earth is flat! You're wrong, the earth is flat!"


oh oh oh I want to join in that one.

The earth is a circle. The Bible says so. Isaiah 40:22.

 Anyone can travel to the four corners of the Earth, therefore, the world must be square. ;)

Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It's turtles all the way down.

 

Reply #55 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The logic is hard to follow.  Wouldn't you automatically assume that any Valve game would require Steam?  I would.  

I'd also wonder why anyone would want to buy a Valve game from Gamestop and download it via Impulse.  Seems like you're just asking for problems there.  Steam is so much easier to deal with than Impulse/Gamestop.  

(And you'll need Steam anyway.  Ya know, it's a Valve game you're buying.)   :thumbsup:  

 

Personally, I might have gotten my issues with Impulse ironed out, but it took some time.  Steam just simply works.

You can buy a game and be playing it the same day.  It'll automatically be updated and it sits there in the cloud in case your computer goes for a swim at the local pool.  You can even trade games with your friends and the Steam community if you want.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm really looking forward to Stardock's new SD Central.  With it, I'll hopefully be able to "Revo" Impulse/Gamestop never have to deal with it again.  But I'm not getting rid of Steam.  

Unless Gamestop buys it.  8C   

 

<edit>  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not invalidating the op's or anyone else's views, I'm just not following the logic as presented.  Some people don't like Steam and they're not wrong for their view.  I don't like Impulse/Gamestop in its current form and my opinion is obviously correct in an objective sense.  ;)  </edit>

Reply #56 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Rovert10, reply 49
Besides it isn't a scam at all really unless steam and impulse are selling at different prices then I don't see the point.

why would selling at higher price be a scam anyway?

 

---

besides we all know it's some weird bloke trapped inside some sort of egg.. he smacked it into 2 and 1 bit becomes the sky and the other bit the earth.

he then topped himself and one eye became the moon whilst the other the sun... blood -> river, limbs mountains, etc.

Reply #57 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting MottiKhan, reply 55
 

I'd also wonder why anyone would want to buy a Valve game from Gamestop and download it via Impulse.  Seems like you're just asking for problems there.  Steam is so much easier to deal with than Impulse/Gamestop.

Clarify.

Wouldn't you automatically assume that any Valve game would require Steam?  I would.

Yeah, which is why I was so surprised (and later disappointed) by the ad on gamestop.

Personally, I might have gotten my issues with Impulse ironed out, but it took some time.  Steam just simply works.

Clarify

You can buy a game and be playing it the same day.

Depending on your internet connection.

It'll automatically be updated and it sits there in the cloud in case your computer goes for a swim at the local pool.

Theres more issues caused by cloud than problems solved.

You can even trade games with your friends and the Steam community if you want.

A cool feature I suppose, but not that cool.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm really looking forward to Stardock's new SD Central.

Never heard of it.

No, Im not attacking you. Your free to think whatever you want.

Reply #58 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 48

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 44Your statements/claims are ALL meaningless,



Because they are all based on a false premise...

Stop right there. Why do you think it is a false premise?

or an inability to interpret the meaning of a statement in English which was actually devoid of subversive ambiguity.

I love it when people use words they probably dont even know the meaning to themselves. Its like a child trying to pick up a buster sword. What were you saying here?

You can stop at 'true'.  PC game sales are more profitable now than before consoles became 'competition'.

What gave you that idea? Not saying your wrong, but some figures would be nice.

It's about as meaningless as arguing books are less popular [reduced sales/profitability] since television.

Books were always one of the few forms of entertainment that couldnt be matched, before TV that is. Once TV was introduced, less people read books because TV was easier and some thought better. What is "meaningless" about the logic here? It makes perfect sense. YES; of course the market is definitally still there, but proportionally smaller than before.

That you do...but to defame a company/product through a 'belief' that something is true is no defense in court.

Wait... were in court?


To believe something is black when all others believe it is white defines you [most commonly] as delusional at best.

So... Socrates was delusional? Galileo was delusional? Plato was delusional? [insert other thousand brilliant minds that defied the ideas of others] was delusional?

You can even believe [if you must] that the world is flat whilst most others believe it is round....

Well this analogy can be used both ways. I would say from my perspective that your actually the one saying the earth is flat..

Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 58
I love it when people use words they probably dont even know the meaning to themselves. Its like a child trying to pick up a buster sword. What were you saying here?

Which word has you confused?

What possessed you to presume the statement - "Half-Life, Portal and More! Valve Games Are Now Available on GameStop PC Downloads!" should be read "Half-Life, Portal and More! Valve Games Are Now Available on GameStop PC Downloads and thus no use of Steam is required!"?

Once you had tripped over self-delusional presumption the rest of your diatribe was redundant and ill-conceived.

Some can excuse that as poor English comprehension, but others may regard it as the efforts of a troll.

I'd suggest rethinking further responses as it falls on me to determine whether your contributions are the former or the latter.

Reply #60 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 59
I'd suggest rethinking further responses as it falls on me to determine whether your contributions are the former or the latter.

The accusation is hypocritical seeing that your basically saying I cant comprehend english, but either way...

The card youve pulled is unfair. Now the only way to win the game is simply not to play. Ive explained my reasoning multiple times and you will obviously not be convinced one way or another. Because of this, Ive nothing to gain through replying to you and could possibly end up getting this topic locked.

Sooo...

Congratulations sir. You win.

Reply #61 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 59

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 58I love it when people use words they probably dont even know the meaning to themselves. Its like a child trying to pick up a buster sword. What were you saying here?

Which word has you confused?

What possessed you to presume the statement - "Half-Life, Portal and More! Valve Games Are Now Available on GameStop PC Downloads!" should be read "Half-Life, Portal and More! Valve Games Are Now Available on GameStop PC Downloads and thus no use of Steam is required!"?

It doesn't require a huge jump of logic to assume that. What JCD and many people don't get is that PC gaming has become worse than the credit card industry when it comes to agreements. Its all about the fine print. Many times you sign away many of your right simply by installing a game. People don't expect one DD service to sell subscriptions to another service.

Now I certainly don't prescribe the the same thinking that JCD does.. but then again I expect people to actually read EULAs, TOS etc. And if they don't its their own fault when they screw themselves. :D

 

(my favorite is when someone complains they lost access to all their steam games. Well no duh dumbS$&% you bought games on steam.. you agreed to it. I agree to to sell you anything I own but reserve the right to deny you access to it at any time for any reason. Send me money :digichet: )

 

Reply #62 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 58
You can stop at 'true'.  PC game sales are more profitable now than before consoles became 'competition'.


What gave you that idea? Not saying your wrong, but some figures would be nice.

- http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/97047-thank-you-farmville-pc-gaming-will-soon-overtake-consoles

A second article with some stats :

- http://www.techi.com/2011/09/consoles-vs-pc-gaming/ 

Look at the games revenue chart... seem that PC game is really alive... scroll down... best selling console game with 692000 copies ... compare to a PC game with 721000 copies...

Well, if Jafo have reply in place of me, he will have take the Stardock "sins of solar empire" for example, with over 2 million copies sell before steam release!!! ( https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?aid=413536 )

It seem that increase in games sales are due to online store ( 80% )... it seem that PC game is dead because in usual store, PC section is so tiny that you can miss it... but for a distributor, it is the global sale who count, not only these in physical shop...

a other article : http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/blogpost/10174154/

one more : http://www.thegamersblog.com/2011/11/27/understanding-the-numbers-pc-vs-console-sales-figures/ 

Per­son­ally I think the shift to dig­i­tal dis­tri­b­u­tion ser­vices such as Steam, Impulse and GOG has been a god­send for the PC gam­ing indus­try con­sumer and devel­oper alike and here is why.  The devel­oper no long has to worry about print­ing costs, dis­tri­b­u­tion fees and all the costs that come along with pro­vid­ing a phys­i­cal copy of a game and those costs are astro­nomic.  The aver­age retail copy of a $50 dollar game sold at a retail store brings in a net profit of about $8 where as a game sold on Steam for the same price brings in about $35 dollars.

If you wish, simply use google with "pc vs console game sales" ... you will find over 104 million result... i know that you have a slow internet connection but it is maybe a good idea to stop use smoke signal for reach internet...

I was using slow dial up modem long time ago... to slow for download large game but there is plenty of alternative ( by example, i use the TV cable for my internet connection )

Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 60
Now the only way to win the game is simply not to play.

It's not a game at all.  To assert 'scam' in writing is Libel.  Verbally it is Slander.

It is not a 'game' when you defame a practice or product/company's professionalism.

No, not a game but instead an invitation to censure and/or civil prosecution.

Where would you prefer it be taken?  Precedence has you in an untenable position.

If it's 'very easy to miss the 'steam required'' then better your reading comprehension/ sight / attention skills.... which-ever is the cause.

*****************

Re Thoumsin's comment about slow access.... once took me 8 hours to DL a service pack for Windows.... all 80 MEG of it.

No,.... not GIG, - Meg.

Reply #64 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 57

No, Im not attacking you. Your free to think whatever you want.

The thought never crossed my mind and your replies aren't rude enough to be considered an attack of any kind IMO.  We simply disagree.

But since you asked about my Impulse issues...

After Impulse did an update, I couldn't play any of my games.  The serial numbers, even though they were listed in both the Impulse client and in my emails were showing up as invalid when I tried to launch them.  It's been a common complaint and has been posted in the Stardock forums and the Impulse forums.  (I was even able to re-download them through Impulse, but they wouldn't launch.)

Try to find a way to open a support ticket on the Impulse Driven site.  Go ahead, I'll wait.  While you're doing that, think of the new users who need help.  It's not user friendly at all.  Their "support" link takes you to their forums.  No links to open a ticket there either as far as I can tell.

You could try asking in their forums, but you're just likely going to get an unhelpful and rude reply by their moderator named "BigDogBigFeet".  Go ahead and look.  It's pretty entertaining at first TBH, but it gets boring after a while.  Some of us have chatted about it, but it's old news.  I don't visit that site for that very reason.

Now go to Steam.  Buy a game and download it.  Start playing.  That's about it. Their support links are clearly marked.  But you're probably not going to need them because it works.

 

Reply #65 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting MottiKhan, reply 64
After Impulse did an update, I couldn't play any of my games.  The serial numbers, even though they were listed ....

Have know similar problem... after having upgraded from the Stardock impulse client to the Gamestop one... no help from Impulse but Stardock people have help me ( and consolidate my multiple account in the same time )...

Quoting MottiKhan, reply 64
Now go to Steam.  Buy a game and download it.  Start playing.  That's about it. Their support links are clearly marked.  But you're probably not going to need them because it works.

Well, Steam client have some problem for years... mainly related to bios cached in memory and protected memory area... when i boot on windows, 4 time on 5, i end up with a BSOD... solution proposed by steam is to disable all bios caching in memory... it work but windows is not anymore able to see my hardware raid system using sata drive via a SAS adapter...

They don't plan to correct these problem because it is very rare and will never happen on desktop board since it is server hardware...

Well, it is maybe OS related too... happen with win xp pro x64, with vista x64 but don't happen with Linux... Yes, Steam is working on Linux... not the case for Impulse... I have like Impulse from the time it was owned by Stardock... unfortunaly, a lot of game selected on impulse was buy on Steam due to the "this game is for US only" on impulse...

About the OP, there is no scam/trickery/conspiracy ... it is written that you need steam... in fact, it is a good sign that product are not reserved to a single exclusive distributor... best will be a single client who allow to work with multiple distributor...a little like kopete ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopete ) who is a messaging client who support a lot of various protocol... dream to see something similar with online game distribution... a single client who can work with Steam, Impulse, GOG, the planned new Stardock central, and more...

Quoting Jafo, reply 63
Re Thoumsin's comment about slow access.... once took me 8 hours to DL a service pack for Windows.... all 80 MEG of it.

No,.... not GIG, - Meg.

Well, it happen... main reason why i don't buy/download new game at the release date... just wait a few days and server are not anymore overloaded...

As for windows update, it is planned at night... so, it is done when i stand-up in the morning ( at least the download because some update ask you to click a "i agree" or "i have read the license" button )...

 

Reply #66 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting MottiKhan, reply 64
You could try asking in their forums, but you're just likely going to get an unhelpful and rude reply by their moderator named "BigDogBigFeet".

Understatement of the year my friend!
And is it just me, (and GC2 forum vets will recall) or does JCD remind anyone else of Wheeloffire? The unending strive to keep defending a beaten argument is a tell for me. If i read about playing on interstates its closed deal!!

;P

Reply #67 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 63

It's not a game at all.  To assert 'scam' in writing is Libel.  Verbally it is Slander.

As if the said organization didnt deserve the slander.

It is not a 'game' when you defame a practice or product/company's professionalism.

Right, because Im retarded enough to think that this was a actually a game. No, I meant it metaphorically, which is something you should have caught on to.

No, not a game but instead an invitation to censure and/or civil prosecution.

Your saying that Im threatening to prosecute, or your prosecuting; which one?

Where would you prefer it be taken?  Precedence has you in an untenable position.

So you ARE threatening prosecution... how does that even work? How in the hell do you plan to prosecute me?

If it's 'very easy to miss the 'steam required'' then better your reading comprehension/ sight / attention skills.... which-ever is the cause.

Has nothing to do with my reading skills, and everything to do with the fact that the steam requirement isnt designed to be apparently obvious.

Do toy sellers want you to know that "batteries arent included", or do credit card companies want you to know that you sign your rights away when you sign up with them? Same concept. When gamestop sells their steam required software through impulse, they dont want people to know it requires Steam; I mean why would they?

[quote]

Quoting Thoumsin, reply 65

Quoting MottiKhan, reply 64After Impulse did an update, I couldn't play any of my games.  The serial numbers, even though they were listed ....

Have know similar problem... after having upgraded from the Stardock impulse client to the Gamestop one... no help from Impulse but Stardock people have help me ( and consolidate my multiple account in the same time )...

 

Yeah I knew what he described couldnt be the fault of Stardock directly, because I had some problems that I was able to bring to the Stardock support in the past. GameStop is the problem.

Reply #68 from Sins Forums Top


This is why PC gaming is dying, or at the very least vastly reduced.

Now that I look at it. PC gaming is definately not dying or even reduced due to online distributors and "bad internet" connections.

PC gaming is only lowered due to the cost of keeping up with the "high end" of things rather than consoles where you are guarenteed that every game you buy is playable (mostly).

 

I'll bring the arguement that online distribution such as Steam is definately bringing up the PC market as a fact for all sides from the consumer to the developer for the following reasons as examples.

1. People are not bond to the disc (ever heard of people just losing the disc and not able to reinstall)

2. Indie games get much more views popularity

3. Steam consistently does sales for at least "decent" games or even better.

Sure the whole download thing is a bit annoying but in the instance your comp goes haywire for some reason or w/e. The server will save you purchase and you can always just re-install later even without a disc. You are trading the speed of install and download from the CD for security. Which to me is a better trade off. I rather have my game forever and wait a few hours for download. Steam won't die at least not now

Indie games are now a much larger part of the market due to the advent of Minecraft and its massive popularity so now people will actually look at them. Steam and others will bring attention to particulary successful ones and host more bringing in this side of the industry more revenue. Terraria is a particulary successful one on Steam.

Sales, sales, sales. I can't stress this enough. Especially with the sales at Christmas and they do weekly ones I believe. Many games one or twice will get a considerable decrease in pricing. For us financially constrained gamers this is a plus and thus we can play a lot more games.

 

I don't see your point in how anything of this sort actually can kill the industry.

 

Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 67
As if the said organization didnt deserve the slander.

It's Libel...as it is the written word.

I'm not prosecuting anyone...it's not me being defamed.  I simply stated you expose yourself to litigation by making false accusations.

It's not contestible either as your claims of alleged 'scam' are simple delusion mixed with trollish argument.

The latter will end.

 

Reply #70 from WinCustomize Forums Top

"United States Federal District Court Oregon ruled that bloggers are not reporters, not exempt from libel accusations, Crystal Cox, a blog about a company’s remarks are defamatory, must compensate the other $ 2.5 million."

http://www.mikedanmarinoisaspermwhale.net/?p=1 

A simple Google search turned that up. There's also precedent for International action so no-one is either 'above the law' or far enough AWAY from the law.

 

There is a fundamental difference between "I hate Gamestop" and "Gamestop is involved in deceptive entrapment aka 'scam'."

One is a right of opinion, the other is Libel.

Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Because of me.  MottiKhan you mean you're that easy. lol.

Reply #72 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 69

your claims of alleged 'scam' are simple delusion mixed with trollish argument.

Clarify the reasoning behind your accusations please.

Reply #73 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JCD-Bionicman, reply 72
Clarify the reasoning behind your accusations please.

You claim it is a scam in that you seem to think it a fair assumption that if the steam game is offered through Gamestop/Impulse it won't need Steam in order to run.....That somehow the prerequisite for a Steam activated game no longer applies.

That is not a scam.  That is mis-comprehension.

Now, the longer you labour the point the more trollish this thread becomes.

Reply #74 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 73
Now, the longer you labour the point the more trollish this thread becomes.

You should see his other threads.  :rolleyes:

Reply #75 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 73
Now, the longer you labour the point the more trollish this thread becomes.


......something about bolting horses and shut gates.....