Steam Powered Thieves..

[dogatemy...@gmail.com]

Greetings,

I just purchased a copy of Sin 2 at my local Frys Electronics. The box
is simply, well, a box with a couple of pieces of tape over the top and
bottom to keep the lid closed. The system requirements for the game
are listed on the box as being:

Developer(s) Ritual Entertainment
Publisher(s) Activision
Engine Quake II engine (enhanced)
Latest version 1.12 (Steam Version)
Release date(s) October 31, 1998
Worldwide April 5, 2006 (Steam)
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Mature (M)
Platform(s) PC (Windows / Linux), PowerPC (Mac OS / Linux)
Media CD-ROM
System requirements 166 MHz Processor, 32 MB RAM, 2 MB video card

There is nothing in this game that requires an internet connection. So
I took the game to my office, plugged in the CD and attempted to load
the game. The game responded with an error. After some investigation
it turns out the game requires an internet connection (or you have to
jump through a bunch of hoops). The game simply wouldn't load.

The internet connection issue doesn't bother me.. what bothers me is
that after some investigation I found out the CD does NOT actually
contain the game! You have to install the software then download the
game using Steam's anti-copying software at your own expense.

In this case it gets worse. It turns out someone else had guessed or
generated the CD key, installed the game and played it. So .. now I
have a CD that I bought that does not actually contain the game and an
invalid CD key used by someone else.

Of course Steam has offered to let me mail them a 2 page form full of
my personal information, a check for ANOTHER $10 (in addition to the
$40 I paid for the game) along with the original game that I bought.
Then.. if they feel like good Samaritans (or the post office doesn't
loose something in the mail) they'll be nice enough to send me a CD key
so I can activate the game on my PC. Of course they reserve the right
to keep my $10 and not send me anything.

I'm also told by Frys Electronics that Activision does not allow them
to accept returns of the game. I'm told they can trade it out for
another one but only of its opened because once it is opened then they
have to eat the cost of the game. Activision and Steam will not stand
behind their products. Of course they'll stand behind you and its
going to hurt if you don't play by their rules.

I'm tired of companies treating us like criminals. Here is a list of
Steam's games. Avoid them like the plague! Avoid anything with
Steam's name on it. There are enough quality games on the market that
we shouldn't have to put up with this trash.

Name Metascore® Price
688(I) Hunter-Killer
Sonalysts -- $19.95
Advent Rising
GlyphX Games 70 $19.95
AstroPop Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Bejeweled 2 Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Bejeweled Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
BigMoney Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Birth Of America
Strategy First 71 $29.95
BloodRayne
Terminal Reality 65 $9.95
BloodRayne 2
Terminal Reality 67 $19.95
BloodRayne 2 Demo
Terminal Reality 67 In account
Bookworm Adventures Deluxe NEW
Popcap -- Free Demo
Bookworm Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Call of Duty
Infinity Ward 91 $19.95
Call of Duty® 2
Infinity Ward 86 $29.95
Call of Duty: United Offensive
Gray Matter Studios 87 $19.95
Chuzzle Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
City Life
Monte Cristo 76 $39.95
Codename Gordon
Nuclear Vision -- In account
Counter-Strike
Valve 88 $9.95
Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
Valve 65 $9.95
Counter-Strike: Source
Valve 88 $19.95
DEFCON
Introversion Software 84 $14.95
DEFCON Demo
Introversion Software 84 In account
Dangerous Waters
Sonalysts 82 $19.95
Dark Messiah Might and Magic™
Arkane Studios 72 $49.95

Name Metascore® Price
Dark Messiah Singleplayer Demo
Arkane Studios 72 In account
Darwinia
Introversion Software 83 $19.95
Darwinia Demo
Introversion Software 83 In account
Day of Defeat
Valve 79 $9.95
Day of Defeat: Source
Valve 80 $19.95
Deathmatch Classic
Valve -- $9.95
Disciples II: Galleans Return
Strategy First 84 $19.95
Disciples II: Rise of the Elves
Strategy First 80 $19.95
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey NEW
Funcom 75 $39.95
Dynomite Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Earth 2160
Reality Pump Studios 73 $9.95
Eets
Klei Entertainment 81 $9.95
Eets Demo
Klei Entertainment 81 In account
Feeding Frenzy 2 Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
FlatOut 2™
Bugbear Entertainment 76 $24.95
Fleet Command
Sonalysts -- $19.95
Full Pipe
PipeStudio -- $9.95
Full Pipe Demo
PipeStudio -- In account
GTI Racing
Techland -- $19.95
GUN™
Neversoft 76 $19.95
Garry's Mod
Garry -- $9.95
Ghost Master®
Sick Puppies 81 $9.95
Gumboy - Crazy Adventures™
Cinemax -- $14.95
Gumboy Demo
Cinemax -- In account
Half-Life
Valve 96 $9.95

Metascore® Price
Half-Life 2
Valve 96 $29.95
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch
Valve -- $9.95
Half-Life 2: Demo
Valve 96 In account
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Valve 87 $19.95
Half-Life 2: Lost Coast
Valve -- --
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source
Valve -- --
Half-Life: Blue Shift
Gearbox Software 71 $9.95
Half-Life: Source
Valve -- $9.95
Hammer Heads Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Heavy Weapon Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Heroes of Annihilated Empires
GSC Game World 65 $39.95
Heroes of Annihilated Empires Demo
GSC Game World 65 In account
Iggle Pop Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Insaniquarium Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Iron Warriors: T - 72 Tank Command
Strategy First 56 $19.95
Jagged Alliance 2 Gold
Strategy First -- $19.95
Medieval II: Total War™
The Creative Assembly 88 $49.95
Medieval II: Total War™ Demo
The Creative Assembly 88 In account
Opposing Force
Gearbox Software -- $9.95
Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast NEW
Sumo Digital 83 $19.95
Pizza Frenzy Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Poker Superstars II
Funkitron -- Free Demo
Prey
Humanhead Studios 83 $19.95
Psychonauts
Double Fine 87 $19.95
Psychonauts Demo
Double Fine 87 In account
nt.
RACE - The WTCC Game
SimBin 81 $29.95
Rag Doll Kung Fu
Mark Healey 69 $14.95
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
Tripwire Interactive 81 $19.95
Ricochet
Valve -- $9.95
RoboBlitz
Naked Sky Entertainment 80 $14.95
RoboBlitz Demo
Naked Sky Entertainment 80 In account
Rocket Mania Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Shadowgrounds
Frozenbyte 74 $19.95
Shadowgrounds Demo
Frozenbyte -- In account
Shattered Union
PopTop 67 $29.95
SiN 1
Ritual Entertainment -- --
SiN 1 Multiplayer
Ritual Entertainment -- --
SiN Episodes: Emergence
Ritual Entertainment 75 $14.95
Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete
Firaxis 90 $29.95
Sid Meier's Civilization® IV
Firaxis 94 $39.95
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Firaxis 88 $29.95
Space Empires IV Deluxe
Malfador Machinations 79 $9.95
Space Empires V
Malfador Machinations 69 $29.95
Sub Command
Sonalysts 84 $19.95
Talismania Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Team Fortress Classic
Valve -- $9.95
The Ship
Outerlight Ltd. 75 $19.95
The Ship Single Player
Outerlight Ltd. 75 $9.95
Typer Shark Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo
Uplink
Introversion Software 75 $9.95
Vegas Make It Big™
Deepred 76 $19.95
X2: The Threat
Egosoft 72 $9.95
X3: Reunion
Egosoft 71 $19.95
Xpand Rally
Techland 82 $19.95
Zen of Sudoku
Unknown Worlds -- $9.95
Zen of Sudoku Demo
Unknown Worlds -- In account
Zuma Deluxe
Popcap -- Free Demo