Buying Flatout 2 on Steam.com

Bubbapoo · 12-25-2006, 06:03 PM

I was thinking of downloading FlatOut 2 from Steam.
Can anyone answer the following questions:

1. Do I need to be online for the single player game? If so does this mean the game runs as slowly as if I was using remote computing? Would there be a constant stream of uploading/downloading which used up bandwidth?
2. If my computer needs to to be restored to factory settings (a common Dell feature) do I lose the game?
3. Are there any regional issues? I am based in the UK, and it looks like Steam is US based.
4. Does Steam come with any malware - including programs that start up automatically?
5. Has anyone had any good/bad experiences with this service?

Thanks for your help

Kind regards

BlackSky · 12-25-2006, 06:21 PM

Don't get it on steam. its crap.

Bubbapoo · 12-25-2006, 06:48 PM

The game or steam? While I will concede that there may be the odd area for improvement in the game, it generally consitutes passable entertainment. The demo has certainly warranted heavy usage on my part.

AKADeadly · 12-25-2006, 07:00 PM

I've always liked Steam and have had no problems with it on my side.

-There is a way to play offline for most games, never done it thou so your gonna have to read around
-Once you create a Steam account its on there for life, so if you switch PCs or something all you need to do is DL it again
-I don't believe so
-I don't believe so
-I <3 steam but I would rather get boxed games for the boxes :P

KamisoriX · 12-25-2006, 07:55 PM

I would never buy a steam game. always a boxed version and make sure it doesn't want steam to be running

Bubbapoo · 12-26-2006, 12:04 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I bought the game from Steam in the end.

It seems fine. It downloaded 3Gb in about an hour and a half (avg 670kbps/sec). It did hit me with 15% tax charge which was a little sneaky. I guess the issue of only owning a download is mitigated by the fact that the Steam server registers that you own this game and allows you to play it on other PCs. With respect to Steam running on my PC in the background is has the same memory usage as bluetooth software and less then my antivirus software does - neither of which are designed to be too onerous for a PC to run in the background.

I would add that I recently went through a phase of many hardware failures which required restoring my computer to factory settings. As such I have found that while occasionally I may want to install some of the games I have sitting in boxes next to my computer, I never find I have the will to dig out dvds, search for cd-keys or wait around clicking "Yes" buttons in order to reinstall them. The Steam install process seemd to bypass all this hassle.

The biggest advantage is obviously getting the game within 2hrs of deciding to buy it.

Hence, Steam is alright, but they should review their prices to at least match Amazon.

P.S. Flatout 2 is a good demo, but only a so-so game...

AKADeadly · 12-26-2006, 12:28 AM

I like the game, but I think most of its because of the soundtrack =/

Bubbapoo · 12-26-2006, 12:32 AM

Yep, the soundtrack is very good not least because it features two songs by Supergrass.

KamisoriX · 12-26-2006, 02:12 AM

funny thing about steam is that they keep the original price of a game even all the stores are selling for 50% less

Bubbapoo · 12-26-2006, 07:07 PM

Certainly suggests a flaw in their business model...