Right click the games name on your games list, scroll down the popup list and left click on properties.
in the box that pops up click on the updates tab, left click the box that states "Always keep this game up to date", scroll down and left click on the option "Do not automatically update this game".

that should take care of your issue.

Yeah, I defend Steam sometimes but the forced patches thing drives me up the wall. Also not being able to choose which DLC to install. Why they can't have a system within the properties menu to choose versions and DLC is beyond me.

Actually no that will not work. See, all that does is make it so that Steam does not automatically update the game, as in the game is not updated the instant Steam sees an update exists. HOWEVER Steam will not allow a game that is not current to run. Thus, upon attempting to launch the game Steam forces a manual update. It quite literally is update this game or you cannot play it.

It is also bothersome that as Blaze said it is quite possible to purchase a game, download the game, and then be forced to update the game in order to play it. One would think Steam would have a patched and up to date version all ready to go and waiting in the wings for those without the base installed yet.

That feel when you hate Steam...I know that feel.

Ahh, okay I didn't know that, I've never had cause not to autopatch a game before.

However I don't understand your second issue at all, I have 314 games on my steam account and not a single one of those has done what you describe. I buy a game on steam and steam downloads the whole game along with all patches up to date in one single download.

It's been my experience that steam does exactly what you say it doesn't.

Odd. I guess it's a YMMV, because on both Crusader Kings II and Civ V I ran into that. *shrug* No idea what caused the difference.

Something like that happened to me with The Secret World. So that I had to download it twice through steam and twice through the launcher. So, 60 gigs downloaded before I could use it.

But that is because the launcher does its own validation and downloads, and since steam does not distribute the latest files for a MMO. That was really a pain in the ass. Other than that? Steam autopatches always for me.

But yeah, steam autopatches for compatibility reasons, you have less control over the games, but it makes sense for multiplayer games. Shame when singleplayer game patches break things (happens like half the time with Dredmor)

Exactly, every MMO does the same thing, since these games usually have their own launchers not related to Steam.

I much prefer GOG over Steam as well hence why I only buy Valve games off of Steam. I do this even for games that are not on GOG but are on Steam such as Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Trine 2. The thing is, GOG does not support Linux whatsoever while Steam does, so I've been playing a lot of Valve games and a lot of gratis and libre games as well. GOG could really do with supporting Linux soon.

Steam's alright when you have a long library and want to keep everything organized. Also, a lot of games usually require it so there's not a whole lot you can do about it. Beats Uplay and Origin, at least.
But I'll admit I dislike a couple of things:
1. Sometimes, the games don't stay in their appropriate folders and therefor I always have a backup of the list whenever that happens.
2. Sometimes the store is slow as f**k, or doesn't work at all when under a heavy load. It also seems to experience minor glitches every now and then, such as in the community marketplace (all items not showing).
3. The most annoying thing of all: Booting up a game, especially for the 1st time, takes sometimes ages. It always seems to want to install something before starting up: that's why I prefer GOG every time if I can and the price between the providers is the same.

But yeah, as far as DRM goes, there have been worse offenders than Steam, which is why I really don't quite get the most hardcore and vocal anti-Steam users all the time.

Don't worry about it. StingingVelvet probably has a few misconceptions regarding Linux from the olden days. It's so incredibly easy to use these days, even I can use it!

This sounds like the kind of crap you'd get in an xbox vs ps3 forum. Save us from the immaturity!

Personally I enjoy both Steam and GOG, I don't wish anyone to leave GOG and I have to wonder why you would.

You might think your being supportive with such a statement but please think about what you're wishing for, you wish to exclude others at the expense of the very thing you claim to enjoy. If GOG is to thrive and become a true competitor to steam (this competition is good for us customers, particularly if GOG can remain a DRM free competitor) then they will see an ever increasing overlap with steams current customer base. Insulting these people and shooing them off will limit GOGs ability to grow.