I had the unique opportunity today to help someone try and get Steam working in order to play Half Life 2.
Step 1: Install Steam. Check.
Step 2: Connect Steam to the internet. Eeeh...
Step 3: Determine firewall was causing connection issues. Change firewall settings.
Step 4: Set up new Steam account.
Step 5: Enter CD key for Half Life 2.
Step 6: Realize CD key for HL2 was registered previously to a different username (that the guy didn't remember).
Step 7: Enter CD key again in "Recover lost account" page.
Step 8: Wait for email to arrive.
Step 9: Use info in email to recover existing account.
Step 10: Let Steam decrypt HL2 (about a 15 minute process on a brand new laptop)
Step 11: Let Steam download more updates for HL2.
Step 12: Play?
I used to be a big computer gamer. Give me a trackball, high end graphics card (Geforce 2, if that dates me well enough), good keyboard, high res graphics, surround sound, etc.
I purchased a PlayStation 2 a few months ago, mostly for Gran Turismo 4 (cheaper than real track time). I've since picked up a few other games, and... I've realized something. It's *simple* to use.
Step 1: Purchase game.
Step 2: Put game CD/DVD in Playstation, close cover, hit power button.
Step 3: Play.
I think this is the real draw of consoles - they're simple, and... honestly, lounging back on a couch is a lot more comfortable than sitting in an office chair.
-=Russ=-
Posted by rgraves at September 5, 2006 05:57 PM