THE NEW THREAD IS HERE
Trading is now live, as if you don't get all your stuff from fellow PA people or from SteamGifts.com
Coping With Steam: Reinterpreted Artistic Commentary on Our Shared Affliction
Most Frequently Asked Questions
1. Steam's search tool is cumbersome and not very informative. Is there a website, other than Steam's, I can go to find out what's on sale?
2. Can I register this copy of (Insert Game Here) on Steam?
Here's a list of games you can register on Steam. You can always add a non-Steam game to your Steam games list, so that people can see you playing it. You can also use this to add your own shortcuts with fake names to your Steam games list to make it look like you're playing Episode 3. Hilarious
3. If I buy a game pack that already includes a game I own, can I gift that game?
Not usually. You're welcome to ask in this thread, although if you Google it it'll probably be answered even faster.
4. Why isn't __Insert Game Here__ available in my horrible little corner of the earth?
Many Steam games might be unavailable in your country if you have the temerity to live outside of the United States. This is not Steam's fault. Regional game availability is determined solely by the publisher, who should be the source of your ire. Gifting works regardless of region so you might find some helpful person in North America who can gift you the game.
5. How do I get an invite to the Penny Arcade Steam group?
The most convenient way is to just post a link to your Steam profile page (getting one of the swank signatures described below makes it easy) and ask for an invite.
Some Words on Gifting
If you receive a game or pack via a gift or a contest,
remember to thank that person either through a PM or by announcing it in the thread. We are classy gentlemen and will act as such.
Steam's new gifting features allow you to store up games in your gift bank when you purchase them, instead of having to email yourself the gift link. It'll be an option during checkout.
An Important Word on Contests
If you decide to run or participate in a giveaway contest for gift copies of games, please remember that all entry submissions must now be made via PM. The forum mods have stated that pages of the thread being filled with pictures, videos, etc. submitted as contest entries will lead to such contests being banned. So please, for the sake of the thread – take it to PMs.
Helpful Stuff
Steam Mover
Does your Steam library have 800 games? Do you wish you could move some of those games to different hard drives instead of deleting them entirely and then downloading them again when you want to play them?
Steam Mover is here for you.
Steam Price Guide
Do you have the misfortune to live somewhere other than America? Steam hates you! Luckily,
this cool website with prices for Steam games all around the world is here to help, so you can know if you want to ask an American friend to buy the game for you or not.
AUSTRALIANS!!!!
You need this program.
It reconfigures your Windows IPSEC settings (run it as an admin) to block out all but the servers which don't count towards your download quota on Steam. Now supports a bunch of ISPs through a graphical interface.
Basically guarantees you won't add to your download quota with Steam.
150KB/s
Download TCPview:
TCPView
Then, use TCPview to close all Steam TCP servers (this is important, NOT the UDP ones, just the TCP ones). Steam will then reconnect to a different server, which will hopefully get you a better speed. If you don't go faster in a couple of seconds, retry until you get a speed you like.
This shit totally needs to go into the OP, I've tipped this to so many people already.
Cool Community Add-Ons
Steam Signatures
With such a cool service, someone must have done some extra things to build on it. The forums have one such man, who made some super cool Steam signatures.
Suds is his name and killing is his game. Except for the killing. The signatures automatically use backgrounds for the games and the correct icon. Pretty neat, and they're 100% free!
Sample signature:
Steam Calculator
You can also use a script on
his Steam Calculator page to see how much your Steam account would be worth if you had taken advantage of some obscure, arcane combination of special deals that nobody could ever have taken advantage of. Or something sort of like that.
Steam Roulette
Having trouble picking a game out of your burgeoning [strike]backlog[/strike] gamebank to play? Let VicWhiten's
Steam Roulette decide! Just type in your Steam community ID (easier if you set up a custom URL on your Steam profile page), and Steam Roulette will read your library and randomly pick one game every time you hit "Spin the Wheel!" It even connects to Steam to allow you to install or start the game with a single click.
What's all this about serving "The Newell?"
It started with this comic:
And now it is our unofficial official motto.
Posts
http://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/o97oO/the-witcher-enhanced-edition-directors-cut
I'd like to think I'll be in a good mood when I return. But I'm pretty sure I won't.
CorriganX on Steam and just about everywhere else.
That comic makes me want to play that game
I learned this the hard way last Thanksgiving.
Tom Clancy Shootmans, what's the best? Tycho tells me Lockdown is super awful.
Oh, shit. I thought it was just the Splinter Cell games that were on sale. But the RS:V and GRAW games are on sale too?! I played both of the RS:V's on the 360. Loved the first, liked the second. I don't recall them playing much differently, but I just didn't like RS:V2 as much for some reason. I've been really wanting to check them out on the PC since I got a PC capable of running them, so I guess those are getting added to the library before the day is out. Never played the GRAW games, though I've heard good stuff. Might have to grab those as well.
So think tommorow will be it's own day of sales, or the best of? I'm hoping it's new deals.
2008, 2012, 2014 D&D "Rare With No Sauce" League Fantasy Football Champion!
http://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/NTCX0/payday-the-heist
Less New Contests.
http://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/iiBCL/renegade-ops
http://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/XeaWx/dungeon-defenders
So, uh... hm. I should go looking through the sales for cheap 60~75% off games to stock up on for tomorrow.
Many thanks for the contests, good sir.
2008, 2012, 2014 D&D "Rare With No Sauce" League Fantasy Football Champion!
I'm hoping for new. Or at least some new and some best-of's for people who missed things. Mostly because I want the DoW dlc to go down even cheaper.
Otherwise...I guess half off is good enough...
This needs to be reposted so everyone can see Minor Incidents classiness since it got stuck at the end of the old thread.
This is pretty much exactly why I like Polynomial. Sometimes I just need to float in a Donna Summer Galaxy of I Feel Love.
Those new comic edits are awesome Tycho.
edit: according to my signature, I apparently really like Dungeons of Dredmor for the last two days.
I just lose all focus on what I'm looking at after awhile.
I'm sorta waiting for the next big update to really play it again, though.
And you're once again welcome. I'm serious about staying away from the Imperials, by the way. I'll be keeping an eye on you.
Off the top of my head...
Aliens Vs. Predator Classic is $1.24 (75% off)
Cargo: The Quest For Gravity is $4.99 (75% off)
@starmanbrand also gifted me Dungeons of Dredmor! There better be a monocle in this game to match his classiness.
You're certainly giving Iolo a run for classiest steam gifter.
Jamestown, $5.
Why doesn't Steam have AvP2?