How many games can you, or are you, playing simultaneously.

[taggart6]

I have 1-2 games per device I keep in play. 1 I play till a i beat and the other tends to get replaced by something else.

I also jump frequently from one device to the next.

Case in point, I haven't touched my PS3 for gaming in 2+ months.

I'm really getting into D&D now that I have a group to party with.

[Nater]

Heh, good thing I boycott steam, else I'd be in even more games simultaneously.

What are you, some kind of Luddite? Not to mention you'll never be able to play Valve games, the best in the business. I don't buy games in stores anymore, mainly because no one carries PC games to begin with.

I usually play one multiplayer game (Bad Company 2) and several single player games. Right now I'm playing through Mass Effect again (the first one is much better), then I'll play through the second one. I'll probably play through the entirety of Fallout 3 because I didn't bother to play the expansions when it was new. I think after that I'll play Oblivion because I never did, maybe Dragon Age. I've never been into the whole swords and sorcery thing, but I'll give them a try.

[BoaConstrictor]

What are you, some kind of Luddite? Not to mention you'll never be able to play Valve games, the best in the business. I don't buy games in stores anymore, mainly because no one carries PC games to begin with.

I usually play one multiplayer game (Bad Company 2) and several single player games. Right now I'm playing through Mass Effect again (the first one is much better), then I'll play through the second one. I'll probably play through the entirety of Fallout 3 because I didn't bother to play the expansions when it was new. I think after that I'll play Oblivion because I never did, maybe Dragon Age. I've never been into the whole swords and sorcery thing, but I'll give them a try.

No, I am not a luddte (hey thanks for teaching me a new word, I always appreciate expanding my vocabulary). I just don't like paying money for something that A) does not come in a physical form B) Robs me of a box and manual that I get at retail (I am a collector at heart). C) Depends on another company for whether what I paid money for will even exist 10-20 years from now. I play a lot of old games and I appreciate that I truly own them, whether with Steam, where it all depends on their server, I dont own anything, I just rent it out while steam A) Exists and B) Valve allows me to play them. If for some reason Valve decides not to let people play the games they bought, thats it. If for some reason Valve goes out of business, chances are, you will never play your games again. And dont tell me that Valve can never go out of business, bigger giants have fallen in the past.

Its funny how people make a big deal out of companies using "ridiculous" piracy prevention measures like forcing you to maintain an internet connecting, installing something on your computer, etc, while Steam is in some ways the same thing, yet everyone has been led to believe that it is the greatest thing ever because they dont have to go to the store...the horror of having to get up and go somewhere.

Basically I like to own the games that I play. I don't mind not playing Valve games as I am not a fan. I liked Half Life 1 and TFC, but played Half Life 2 at a friend and it was imo, a lot worse than the original, I totally hated it and don't see why it gets so much love. The NPC (Alyx) annoyed me beyond all means and I wanted to shoot her as I did to NPCs in Half Life 1, but the game didnt allow that. Lame. I also loved TFC (and TF and Weapons Factory for Quake 2), but I cant get into TF2's ridiculous art style/graphics...the kiddy pixar graphics, the entire "atmosphere" of that game is a huge, huge, huge turn off to me and prevents me from getting into that game.

So basically, nothing Valve makes these days interests me, since they have dropped in quality since the Half Life 1 days, and I dislike Steam since its basically a rental service where you pay full price for games. As for stores carrying games, Gamestop/EB and BestBuy carry PC games and I also order a lot of games online.

I would reccomend Oblivion before Dragon Age, but thats if you like open world type of games with a lot of freedom to do what you want to do. Dragon Age is more limited, on the rails, storyline game.

[Nater]

What business case does Valve have for 'not letting people play their games'? Absolutely none. 20 years from now you'll be able to emulate any game today on a cell phone, that argument isn't valid either. Also, you own them. You don't 'rent' them. You usually can't install physical copies of a game on more than one machine, Steam will let you download and play your full catalog no matter where you go. As for the box and the manual, doesn't matter. If games came with manuals like they did 10 years ago, you might have a point. The manual for Alpha Centauri is sitting on my desk and it's the size of the average paperback. But it's not like that anymore, manual are worthless and you can probably get a pdf copy if you want. I don't care so I've never looked.

As for Valve, if you have boycotted Steam then how would you know their quality has dropped in since Half Life? You wouldn't unless you played them on an inferior console. Half Life 2 was excellent, so were Episodes 1 and 2. TF2 and the L4D games are some of the most fun I've had in a multiplayer game not named Battlefield.

[Nik00117]

Valve has stated in the past they have planned for if they ever have to shut their doors. They have a patch that they'd release which would allow you to conitue playing your games even after their demise.

That being said I suspect that if Value were to ever cease to exist it would a bumpy road and I'd of switched platform well in advance.

[BoaConstrictor]

What business case does Valve have for 'not letting people play their games'? Absolutely none. 20 years from now you'll be able to emulate any game today on a cell phone, that argument isn't valid either. Also, you own them. You don't 'rent' them. You usually can't install physical copies of a game on more than one machine, Steam will let you download and play your full catalog no matter where you go. As for the box and the manual, doesn't matter. If games came with manuals like they did 10 years ago, you might have a point. The manual for Alpha Centauri is sitting on my desk and it's the size of the average paperback. But it's not like that anymore, manual are worthless and you can probably get a pdf copy if you want. I don't care so I've never looked.

As for Valve, if you have boycotted Steam then how would you know their quality has dropped in since Half Life? You wouldn't unless you played them on an inferior console. Half Life 2 was excellent, so were Episodes 1 and 2. TF2 and the L4D games are some of the most fun I've had in a multiplayer game not named Battlefield.

If you would have read my post, (which is a good idea when participating in a forum discussion) you would have seen that I played Half Life 2 on a friend's computer and hated it. I also gave my reasons for disliking TF2.

As for Valve's "plan" in case they go out of business, first of all, I am not going to go on some corporation's "word" no matter how much everybody loves them and second of all, it's still not on CD or a physical media that I can store. As long as there is an option to go into a store and buy a real physical copy of the game, with CD, artwork and the box, I will exercise that option over paying for the right to play the game off their server. Its no different than these anti piracy schemes that everyone always trashes.

Its just a preference that I want to get something for my money, something that I know I will have years from now. I dont know about having these games on a cell phone 20 years from now, that doesnt really concern me as I dont even know if I will play game 20 years from know. With the way things are going, we may not even have games 20 years from now or even the internet.

Manuals are worthless? Maybe for the people who never read them. Of course, maybe you dont need them due to the over simplification of games nowdays...which makes for a vastly inferior product. Usually when they simplify things for the masses, the quality drops drastically. And PDF copy is NOT a manual because I dont want to print out 20-30 pages of the manual after I already paid for the game. And no, I am straining my eyes to read it on the monitor, thats why I dislike Ebooks.

What people dont realize is that services such as steam are all a ploy to eventually deprive you of owning your games. You will just be renting them in the future so that companies can finally "defeat" those evil pirates. And you know what, when companies act like they do now, they make the pirates seem like the good guys!

[Kamakazie]

You do own the games you buy on Steam, you're not renting them. And you do get manuals with most steam purchases, they're just digital.

[vrao81]

I only play a max of two games at a time...any more than that and I get the games plotlines confused.

[Lee_T]

I generally only play one "main" game at a time and a few small time waster (games that you can play for 5 minutes and drop).

For example right now I'm playing The last Remnant with Shadow Complex and Lumines on the side.

[Snakespy]

Ok BOA, I have never liked a Valve game with the exception of CS:S. So I can agree with you on that point. SORRY world but it is true. I have tried to, and put hours into: Half Life, Half Life 2, TF2, HL Deathmatch, DoD...etc etc since everyone seems to like them. But guess what. Not for me.

Now on your boycotting steam. Get off your fing pedestal and actually see what steam has to offer. (Manuals that come in games nowadays do NOT pass as manuals, all you get is a character list and a controller scheme. That is IT). You have to buy the actual books now. SO, your point on manuals is completely and utterly mute. Believe me that's what I used to think as well. Guess what; times change. Get used to it. You are missing out on hundreds of good games at a good price with your little "boycott" if you can even call it that since you are in the extreme minority of people doing it. Most people have realized that it's stupid to do so. Get out of your hole and live a little man!

[BoaConstrictor]

Ok BOA, I have never liked a Valve game with the exception of CS:S. So I can agree with you on that point. SORRY world but it is true. I have tried to, and put hours into: Half Life, Half Life 2, TF2, HL Deathmatch, DoD...etc etc since everyone seems to like them. But guess what. Not for me.

Now on your boycotting steam. Get off your fing pedestal and actually see what steam has to offer. (Manuals that come in games nowadays do NOT pass as manuals, all you get is a character list and a controller scheme. That is IT). You have to buy the actual books now. SO, your point on manuals is completely and utterly mute. Believe me that's what I used to think as well. Guess what; times change. Get used to it. You are missing out on hundreds of good games at a good price with your little "boycott" if you can even call it that since you are in the extreme minority of people doing it. Most people have realized that it's stupid to do so. Get out of your hole and live a little man!

There is nothing that interests me on steam. Also I am not paying money to rent a game. When all games go to digital distribution like Steam (if that is indeed "the future") is the day when I stop playing games. Just because everybody else marches into being ripped off with a smile on their face, I am not giving up my rights. I am not going to pay money for air. In fact, Steam has made me see pirates as benevolent. I would rather have pirating and pirates flourish because the developers who push you to use their services to buy games rather than own a physical copy, deserve nothing but piracy of their product. They are already forcing you to pay money for something you do not own.

I am not in a hole. Just because you and the rest of the people have been led to believe that digital distribution is the greatest thing since the invention of computers doesnt mean I am in a "hole". It just means that like so often in life, I am on the opposite side of the majority because I can think for myself and not "follow the leader".

[PriMaTe]

As much as I like steam, I see Boa's point, but that's the risk you have to take. Given Valve's history, i'll gladly take that risk.

[innocentbastard]

I usually play 1 maybe 2 if I am playing anything at all. Currently I am not playing anything though. I just can't find the game that scratches my itch.

[vrao81]

I'm currently focusing all my attention on System Shock 2....to bring another game into the mix would detract from the brilliance that is SS2.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I'm currently focusing all my attention on System Shock 2....to bring another game into the mix would detract from the brilliance that is SS2.

That's another thing about great games; usually when you're playing one, it's really all you want to focus on.

Whenever I'm playing a truly immersive or great game, I really don't care about any other games for awhile. Every free chance and opportunity I get I'm looking to play it, and not really focusing on other games.

This can be a real problem with open-ended strategy games like Civ or Total War, as they can go on indefinitely and just get more and more compelling as they go.