BillyHorrible said:redknightalex said:BillyHorrible said:iWantEllenPage said:I still don't know what Steam actually is. The last game I played on a PC was Oregon Trail and that was like 20 years ago.Short description: It's a program out of which you can buy and play games on computers, many games have achievements.
I'm sure someone with more experience on Steam can correct me on this but I think I've got the core there.It's also a DRM platform. Most people don't see it like that but, in essence, it controls a lot of how you play and "own" games. I've never felt right about purchasing games that are only available if you use Steam, ie Skyrim, but when that's the only option it's the lesser of two evils.Isn't that the same as when you buy games through PSN? I haven't had any PC gaming experience since the LucasArts point'n'click adventures so when looking at Steam my mind just went "ah, a program to play digital games with, but also buy them with".Although there are many comparatives that act as similarities, the main difference is that you cannot have a PS without PS-Operating System (PSN is kind of different), but you can have a PC without Steam; yet without Steam you cannot play your Steam (PC) game. Imagine if playstation hardware could operate with alternative system software (legitimately) and that's the closest analogy I can think of.
It's important to keep in mind that lots of people get PC gaming that aren't being played through steam (think of them like PSN games without trophies), especially with rival services like (EA) Origin, Uplay, and even Epic Games Launcher (*spit*). And then there's people who buy from DRM-free sources like humble bundle, GOG, Greenman gaming (I think?), etc. - and though games can be 'added' to Steam, these games are fundamentally separate from Steam.
Steam is a client, by some accounts, a library, or a platform, but it's also an immeasurably huge service system through which many many PC gamers centre their whole gaming sphere, which makes it the best catchall for PC gaming branch of True Gaming Network.
Sorry for the long post, I regret everything