Windows How do you buy your PC games?

Ok. I feel like a complete idiot, but I've never bought a PC game before and I would like to know how the gaming enthusiasts buy theirs? I've heard of steam but I would imagine you pay full price? And if I buy retail, I have to keep the game in my optical drive?

My gaming computer will be offline for many months at a time so I want the method with the least intrusive DRM.

Your's Mr B.

 

I either buy off steam (they have amazing special deals) or sometimes form play.com. Steam does have an offline mode so you can still access games bought off steam when you have no Internet connection.

 

Ah, so you buy them boxed unless you find a bargain?

 

I prefer to buy from something like steam, it's really easy, no need to fanny around with disks, but if I can find it significantly cheaper from somewhere like play I'll get it from there.

 

I buy all my games off Steam. It gets rid of clutter for one thing, offers amazing deals for another and lastly has a great update and patch system. It basically removes hassle.

 

I buy on Steam if I have room to spare before my bandwidth caps, or if it's dirt cheap.
Otherwise I buy boxed from Play.com, coolshop.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk, thegamecollection.net, or wherever's cheapest (e.g., Zavvi sometimes).

 

I use http://www.find-games.co.uk/ to find the best price online. Also check out http://www.hotukdeals.com/

IMO steam is only worth it when they do specials e.g. dirt 2 on steam and on amazon

 

Pretty much all from steam. If I do go retail I always use the find-games site that bob linked to.

 

If I have the choice between retail stores and Steam, I'll always buy it on Steam for the convenience. But if it's a Steamworks game then I'll almost always buy it retail or online where it will be cheaper than on Steam (usually anyway). These days though about 75% of my game purchases are in the Steam sales.

 

Steam, almost always for the absolute handiness of it. Unless there's a special edition or something else cool that you can't download. Saying that I never really buy anything thats not in a weekend or midweek or Holiday (aaahh the memories...) sale but there's always loads of good stuff on sale.

Occasionally something will be cheap enough to make it worth getting the box, usually the 3-for-£10 deals in-store in game (great for older games) or on the Game website (cheaper than the shop + free delivery). Amazon also, very occasionally. Don't think I've ever bought a pc game of ebay, couple bargains on Wii games have been had tho!

 

Steam, on depending on pricing I order from play.com and usually receive it 1 to 2 days later.

 

same as everyone else, Steam if it's about the same price, otherwise cheapest retailer i can find.

 

Steam, it's just bloody easy.

 

Mostly from plat Steam if there is a sale on. The time it takes me to download from Steam i'm usually just as quick ordering from play.

 

I'm pretty sure everyone will agree Steam is usually best when buying games. Try buy the games you want from Steam.

 

TBH more often than not their prices are too high. There about the same as in a Store and usually more than in an e-tailer.

 

It's all about the sales At some point, it WILL be on sale. Depends if you must play it now or not. I bought waaaay too many games in the Holiday sales and am now working my way through them, really no need to buy anything right now but the occasional weekend sale has grabbed my attention too

 

I mostly buy my games from steam sometimes play.com, I just hate having all those disks around though.

 

I have not bought a game anywhere other than Steam in about a year! Even if it is not on sale I HATE disks!

 

I tend to buy pretty much all my games through Steam these days, as with most people I really can't be bothered with the discs and am happier in the knowledge that I can't loose or damage a download.