Nevermind the subject, this is more of just a rant I guess...

Uninstalled Steam. I want nothing to do with their lousy startup menu, the constant "checking for updates" and games that simply refuse to play on my setup. Wasted 20 bucks on SimCity 4 only to find out that it's simply not compatible.

Not sure why everyone's in love with Steam.

Reminds me of Oracle, and I'm still trying to excise that shifty malware...

I will absolutely never touch another console unless there are some radical changes. No interest in the PS4, the other option is just laughable... and Nintendo's in the toilet...

Seems like the only thing that's left are small independent projects and GOG bringing back classics that I missed out on.

I've never really had an issue with Steam, and I've been using it since day one and own 400 games on it. I think PC gaming is just buggy sometimes, especially on a poorly maintained PC, and it's likely not Steam's fault Sim City 4 is not running for you.

Care to explain the issue? The game runs fine on my Windows 7 64bit PC.

The SimCity 4 PCGamingWiki page lists various possible fixes for the game not working on modern systems, notably a Simcity 4 Launcher that offers various settings and fixes prior to launching the game. I don't have the game myself to test but that sounds like a thing to try.

LOL

You should use this site to determine if your PC meets the min requirements for a game: http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri

It's more or less accurate, so might be helpful =)

Sorry you had a problem, but I don't see how it's Steam's fault. This would be like me blaming GOG or Topware Interactive because Jagged Alliance Wildfire doesn't work on my Win 8 rig.

:o I just realised that Steam now supports png screenshots. Yes! ^__^

Yeah that is more like rejection of a distribution channel/store than of AAA games, since that is not all that Steam carries. That also does not sound like the problem lies with steam. What are your system's specs? Also, Steam does not guarantee that older titles will work "out of the box", but there are usually solutions lying around.

Why I love Steam
- the amazing sales
- Steam updates the games for you, saving you time and sparing you a headache
- Steam accepts gift cards
- there is just so much you can do with Steam other than play games
- Steam makes it easy to see which DLC you have
- Steam makes gaming with your online friends, really easy
- Steam makes shopping for games, very easy
- Steam sells digital games and without Steam, there will be one less store that sells digital games

I'm not saying Steam is perfect. There are some things about Steam that really suck like it's offline mode and them not letting people get refunds or exchanges etc. But I still love Steam for the reasons above. Not love like in a fanboy kind of way or love your wife kind of way. I love Steam like a I love ice cream and pizza kind of way.

that's like... your opinion man. I think the steam's best thing ever and never had problems with it. Installed it when I got copy of hl2 with my radeon card ages ago.

It really isn't Steam's fault, if a game bought there doesn't run on your system. The developper proviedes the minimum preferences.

Your choice, but I think it's a silly one--Steam has nothing to do with your game not being compatible with your system. I was having trouble getting Legend of Grimrock to run awhile ago (it's fine now), didn't go blaming GOG.

For that matter, don't know what it has to do with AAA games. You have trouble with one big budget title, and that's it?

Don't go blaming steam for your laziness. Sim City 4 runs fine on an upto date computer. What specs have you got? Maybe we can help...

ok, good for you I guess

Steam's not like GOG. They don't promise the game will be compatible on your computer, or try to make it such. They simply sell the game in its original state, compatibility issues and all. You should've known this going into it and researched any common problems and fixes before buying any old games on Steam (or anywhere for that matter, GOG included).