Really sick of games on steam needing 3ed party log ins.

[Mrbloodworth]

Its retarded at this point.

Its its on steam, use my steam log in. Stop asking me to make yet another log in/user name/password/more spam so you can feel special.

/rant

EDIT: Also, if you are going to require a CD key, the please make sure I can PASTE into the god dam field!

[Malakili]

I wonder what caused this burst of outrage?

[Mrbloodworth]

I wasn't going to name names.

[Nightblade]

Even the free to play crapfests they threw on steam recently allow you to just jump in and play (using your steam log in), there's no excuse for this.

[Reg]

What this thread needs now is someone to jump in and mindlessly defend the concept of requiring third party log ins under Steam.

[Amaron]

Even the free to play crapfests they threw on steam recently allow you to just jump in and play (using your steam log in), there's no excuse for this.

Sadly Champions Online thought it was too good for that.

[Pennilenko]

I don't have any problem with third party log ins. It only takes a second, and I completely understand that the companies still need to collect my info so i can be annoyed later on with email offers. They also need the income from selling my information too.

[Azazel]

Bad Company 2 at least lets you use your saved EA soldier/profile on any install of the game. Other people's steam accounts, non-steam installs, etc. That seems a good reason in itself.

[Hawkbit]

I don't have any problem with third party log ins. It only takes a second, and I completely understand that the companies still need to collect my info so i can be annoyed later on with email offers. They also need the income from selling my information too.

It is a widely known best practice that you should use the same login and password for everything you do online, too.  Adding more logins utilizing the same info just increases the security of these programs. 

[Trippy]

Even the free to play crapfests they threw on steam recently allow you to just jump in and play (using your steam log in), there's no excuse for this.

Yeah I was pleasantly surprised that Spiral Knights on Steam not only doesn't need an extra login you don't need to manually register either. On the other hand if the SK user database ever gets hacked my Steam info is probably fucked.

[Prospero]

If you haven't yet, turn on the crude two factor authentication Steam added recently. It makes it so crackers will need access to your email account as well.

[Ookii]

Bad Company 2's 'save password' feature is also wonky on the Steam version so I have to type it in every time.

You also forgot the part where you launch the game and it asks you if you want to play the game or view support information.

[Trippy]

If you haven't yet, turn on the crude two factor authentication Steam added recently. It makes it so crackers will need access to your email account as well.

I can't it's broken on the Mac (or was)

More specifically I couldn't log in to my Steam account from my Mac with that turned on even though I authorized that comp. PC worked fine.

[Azazel]

Bad Company 2's 'save password' feature is also wonky on the Steam version so I have to type it in every time.

You also forgot the part where you launch the game and it asks you if you want to play the game or view support information.

It used to work just fine on mine until I had to change my EA password after Sony got hacked, since I couldn't remember what my PSN password was. Now I have the same issue.

[Fordel]

If you haven't yet, turn on the crude two factor authentication Steam added recently. It makes it so crackers will need access to your email account as well.

SteamGuard?

[Mrbloodworth]

Even the free to play crapfests they threw on steam recently allow you to just jump in and play (using your steam log in), there's no excuse for this.

Yeah I was pleasantly surprised that Spiral Knights on Steam not only doesn't need an extra login you don't need to manually register either. On the other hand if the SK user database ever gets hacked my Steam info is probably fucked.

I don't believe they use there own database. Its all steam stored, as far as that sort of thing goes. All transactions are handled by the steam store, only thing SK knows is steam says you have X amount of steam bucks.

Bad Company 2 at least lets you use your saved EA soldier/profile on any install of the game. Other people's steam accounts, non-steam installs, etc. That seems a good reason in itself.

Like steam cloud?

[Azazel]

What? No. It's an EA game with your online profile/etc all stored on EA's servers. It's like having a Steam install of Everquest or something - if you have a legit account for the game, you can play it on any PC, whether it's a Steam install of the game or not.

Unless you think that SOE/EA/Whoever makes all those other F2P MMOs should share all of their user data with Steam?

[Mrbloodworth]

That's not what I was getting at. For instance, ARMA 2 Free uses a steam log in, they ( Bohemia interactive ) do not have your info, and all player data is stored in the cloud. Point being, steam already has the info ( Billing, settings, player stats ), so, other than marketing there is simply no reason for it. Spiral knights have your toon info, however all billing and log in are handled by steam, they do not have that info.

And yes, other than character data, MMO's on steam SHOULD simply use the steam billing and log in. After the addition of the wallet, there really is no reason not to anymore. Granted, this is all a pet peeve of mine, but I hope as we move forward, it happens less and less. This goes triple for "Games for windows" what a useless hassle.

Right now steam offers developers:

• Log in systems.
• Save game and profile systems.
• Billing systems.
• MT Currency.
• Anti cheat and global banning
• Distribution and patching

[cironian]

Even if you want to have a copy of the user information for your own use, there is no technical reason not to at least run the authentication through Steam. I'd be surprised if the Steam API didn't already offer some kind of ticket system where the central Steam login server sends you a signed piece of data saying "Hello! This guy is steam user #484573, signing into 'My Little Pony: The Old Republic' on July 5th 2011, 12:34 GMT". Your own MMO servers can use that user ID to map to character and account data just as well as you could with a username/password pair.

[Azazel]

stuff

You're missing the point. My friend who has a copy of BF:BC2 on disc can come to my place and play BC2 via my copy installed on Steam, as he is able to login to the central game server with his own account. Likewise, I can go to his house and play on my BC account on his non-Steam install. Just like I can log into anyone else's install of WoW, or EverQuest, or LotRO, GW or Champions whether they have a Steam version (where applicable) or not.

I agree that G4W is a wank. That sort of shit for SP games and games without persistent stats/unlocks/etc can go fuck itself. I'm happy for separate logins for games that have persistant stats/unlocks like BF:BC2 or MMOs with unique accounts that are the sort of thing that you might play in different locales, on different computers, but still using your own account.
Do you understand my point, or are we still talking across one another?

OK one more try, just in case:

My friend Zoltan has a copy of BF:BC2, installed from DVD. He does not have a Steam account because he is a heathen.
He can go to your house, you fire up Steam on your PC, load BC2, and he is then able to play on his saved soldier on your PC, by loading up his EA account.
Likewise, You can go to his house, and despite him not having a Steam install, can load up his copy of BC2, login to your EA account, and play. Without Steam being on his PC at all.

[Lantyssa]

Forcibly convert him into a Steam-cultist, then he could log into Steam at your place or you could log into Steam at his.

If he resists using Steam, why do you even talk with him?  Is his handle 'sinij'?

[sinij]

You rang?

I personally see it other way, steam login should not be required, especially for single player games or games that have their own matchmaking service.

[Malakili]

You rang?

I personally see it other way, steam login should not be required, especially for single player games or games that have their own matchmaking service.

Don't buy games on Steam then.  And no, you don't need to remind you that you already prefer not to.

[Lantyssa]

You rang?

Thanks.  My teasing people works so much better when you play along.