POLL: Do you use Steam for Football Manager or not?

I thought it would be interesting to see how many people on these forums use Steam (and those who don't) - and post your reasons why if you wish.

I use Steam not only for Football Manager but also most PC games I buy - I find it incredibly useful to keep all the games up to date automatically. It is also much better these days with the ability to take screenshots and to save them on the Steam Cloud, which you can then post on here.

I've tried Steam, but chosen not to use it.

FM is the only game I play on the PC and I found the achievements to be quite annoying. I can see how it would be quite useful if you were playing multiple games though.

I prefer installing from a disc, rather than via Steam. At least with FM you're given a choice, because some games you have to install Steam to run the game.

When it comes to updates and patches for games, I always find that they can be sourced elsewhere and downloaded much, much faster and reliably. That's important to me, as I have satellite internet and don't wish to waste my limited bandwidth on failed downloads.

I like steam it's easy to use and I have never had any problems with it at all. I also like the achievements although they are not important at all for me it's a bit of fun to try and get them.

i use steam, easy way to keep the game up to date and ive never had any problems

Having spent a few decades ending up with games I can no longer play/install because I lost/scratched a disk somewhere along the line I've been an enthusiastic convert to steam since it first launched.

Not fussed particularly about the achievements but do like not having to worry about patches, steam just keeps everything up to date. Though a nice fast internet connection helps.

Well, yes, I use steam, I don't see a reason not to.

I prefer installing from a disc, rather than via Steam. At least with FM you're given a choice, because some games you have to install Steam to run the game.

I'm the same, never really understood paying more for a digital copy of the game that is generally more restricted than a retail version, though the steam sales over the last couple of years have meant I've amassed a decent sized collection of steam games (plus several more on other DD sites in their sales) for about the price of 2 full-priced games.

I'm also not a fan of games that force you into using Steamworks when you have bought the disk, I'd prefer more games to offer a choice like FM2011 did.

I use Steam, purely so that I don't need a CD as I play FM on my laptop and don't want to have to take a CD everywhere

Wasn't one of the selling points of CM of old that you never used to need to have the disk in the PC or am I misremembering that?

Steam. Achievements + auto download for updates = WIN WIN

Steam all the way, especially now that they have a Mac store too!

I use Steam because I dont have to keep track of a bunch of discs. Its great to have a place where all the different FM's are stored, and I can install it on whatever PC I want without the hassle of bringing my discs with me. I have never had any problem with it what so ever, and the achievements, the auto-patching and the fact that I can get it as soon as it is released are added bonuses.

Steam. It's just easier to handle my games collection through there.

I am from argentina, and ..yes use Steam for Football Manager. Steam is great !

I've hated it ever since I had a bad experience with it when installing FM09. So I avoided it ever since.

However, recently I bought Terraria via Steam, and it seems to have changed quite a bit. I think maybe I might try installing FM on it in the future and maybe try some other games via Steam.

Originally, I kind of hated that it was intrusive and I also disliked having a third-party application on my computer in order to access a game. But now, I figure having all of my games in one place and some of the other features (automatic patch updates etc.) are worth it.

i like to be patched so steam is the way forward for me. couldn't care less about my achievements tho!

I didn't purchase FM through steam, which I regret since I had alot of issues with the Uniloc/byteshield crap way via GAME, will never make that mistake again. I love steam

My DVD drive won't read DVD's anymore on my laptop so i'm forced to install FM on another computer and then download it onto my laptop. It's been quite useful and i've never had any problems with Steam so I can't complain.

FM is the only PC game I play so I happily use the disc as it stays in my laptop 99% of the time. I also have satellite internet with download limits so I like to keep track of exactly when I'm getting updates and the size of them.

I used Direct Download for FM11 ... and man, does the ByteShield suck or what. So that will be the last time I do that. Next time it will either be on disc or Steam. Whether it'll be one or the other, doesn't matter too much. I usually download my games, as I am too lazy to go out and find the game in a store, and too cheap to want to pay for postage fees

Steam, never had any problems with it. Quick, easy and automatic updates. Also I change PC's every couple weeks between different houses, so it's just easier this way.

Quick question regarding launching FM via Steam: can you set it to launch in windowed mode?

Normally, in the past, I've had to include the '-windowed' thingy in the shortcut bar to get it to work. Can you do that with Steam? :confused:

Hope someone knows what I'm talking about as I haven't explained myself terribly well! :o

Quick question regarding launching FM via Steam: can you set it to launch in windowed mode?

Normally, in the past, I've had to include the '-windowed' thingy in the shortcut bar to get it to work. Can you do that with Steam? :confused:

Hope someone knows what I'm talking about as I haven't explained myself terribly well! :o

Isn't windowed mode decided in the game preferences?? .... although I don't use steam, my FM11 starts in windowed mode every time, after I selected it in the Preferences.

Quick question regarding launching FM via Steam: can you set it to launch in windowed mode?

Normally, in the past, I've had to include the '-windowed' thingy in the shortcut bar to get it to work. Can you do that with Steam? :confused:

Hope someone knows what I'm talking about as I haven't explained myself terribly well! :o

If you just go into the games preferences and change the option to windowed mode. It will launch that way from then on

Got nothing against it, just don't use it for FM, Civ V recently is the only thing aside from FM 09 I've used on it. Just as well I don't as given I'm running Poland, I was able to keep playing when the patch came out that prevented such saves from being loaded, and was able to patch when the fix came shortly afterwards, plus after one patch (which was downloaded from the SI site) ruined any existing or new files on FM 08, partly spoiling that year for me, I tend to fear a repeat, though would still normally install a new patch quickly anyway. It's more a case of the old-fashioned ways not being broke for me mostly.

Steam all the way, you can still purchase the disc cheaper from any retailer but install through steam and get all your updates automatically. Never had a problem with it.

If you just go into the games preferences and change the option to windowed mode. It will launch that way from then on

Ah, excellent. So I didn't even need the '-windowed' bit anyway!

Thanks for that. I'll give that a whirl.

I was worried because I used to get the 'resolution doesn't work' error message, or something like that. The solution used to be to put the '-windowed' bit on the shortbut. But that might have been on an earlier FM. Is that solved for the latest FMs then?

I might try reinstalling my FM on Steam to try it out!

Just to clarify, this is what I mean: http://www.footballmanagerwiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Windowed_Mode

I've always had to do this to get windowed mode on:

1. Right click on the FM icon on your desktop & select 'properties'.

2. In the target field, add -windowed -small_screen at the end of the target, with a space between the target & -windowed -small_screen

3. Click 'ok'.

4. Double-click the Football Manager shortcut on your desktop & it should open up in a window.

last i checked you still needed the right resolution or higher to run in windowed mode,

nope dont use steam.

I've had my share of problems with Steam (not with FM though) but I still think it's a good system and worth using.

Got Railroad Tycoon 2 for £2.99 via Steam, which makes up for any of its other deficiencies:D

Still not using Steam and playing the game the traditional way, only real reason is I like collecting the games and look forward to adding a new game to the shelf each year.

I use steam but i always buy the CD version. Im not prepared to pay more than 5 eur for any game that is DRM protected. Thankfully FM has multiple install options and i can still play no matter what happens to my steam account.

I use Steam because the town I live in has worse assortment of games than Steam Store. I also like the bargains and that I don't need to bring with me a physical object to install my games on other computers.

last i checked you still needed the right resolution or higher to run in windowed mode,

I used to use 1024x768 for FM09 and could use the above properties adjustment to run in windowed. Wouldn't work this year so upped my resolution to 1280x768, then set windowed mode in game preferences. So in effect, you are right.

EDIT: To answer the question, I do use steam, but install it to steam via the disk. Works like a charm

I use Steam.

It is convenient and I don't have any problems with it. I buy most games on there these days.

I used to use 1024x768 for FM09 and could use the above properties adjustment to run in windowed. Wouldn't work this year so upped my resolution to 1280x768, then set windowed mode in game preferences. So in effect, you are right.

I'm already on that resolution, I think, so I should be okay then?

It definitely doesn't work without the '-windowed' bit on FM08 but I'm guessing it's probably changed for the newer FMs.

It would be really frustrating if I installed via steam and couldn't run in windowed mode. In fact, it would put me off using it. Can anyone confirm?

I might try to give it a test using FM10 later.

I run FM in windowed mode, as mentioned above once you change the setting in the game to run in windowed mode it will always start in a window.

As I mentioned also I love being able to upload screenshots quickly - press F12, upload to the Steam Cloud, get the link and voila!

Plus I get to chat to friends whilst playing. All this from one program, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't use it! Each to their own I suppose.

No. Never will do.

Just to clarify, this is what I mean: http://www.footballmanagerwiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Windowed_Mode

I've always had to do this to get windowed mode on:

Start game as normal then hit, 'Control + Uppercase + F'. Then if you must, maximise. Apologies if this isn't what you mean.

I don't use it. My interest in FM is in the game itself and not in the achievements given by Steam.

I just prefer using a disc. I'm very tactile.

I don't particularly like Steam, but I do use it - I have a netbook so using Steam allows me to install FM on that without having to buy an external disc drive.

I would prefer not to use Steam because FM is the only PC I play. However, my disc drive doesn't always work properly in terms of reading discs and when it does decide to work it sounds like a tractor so using and leaving Steam in offline mode is a good workaround.

I use Steam.. nice and easy way of keeping games updated and also they tend to have alot of discount from time to time..

I use steam, east to update

Use steam because i bought a laptop without an optical drive so it nice and light on the lap. No need for the disc with steam so just what i needed.

Steam.

I came late to this years edition so was really handy buying it with the updates included in the download. So ready to play from the get go.

I hate Steam(ing PoS) so no.