I already boycott game, but only because they're [censored]. Why would a PC gamer ever venture in there?

Unfortunately I have to have Steam installed as a couple of the games I have won't run without it but I hate it as I can't sell on any of the games I've completed.

I am sorry but when I was offline Steam would not allow me to play these games 'offline'. It only allows me to play them offline if I am connected to the internet. Because it could not connect to the Steam network it would not allow the loader to go any further!!

Regarding Game wanting a monopoly on the PC market - I doubt it very much, how many games are released for the PC nowadays. They are mainly for the various consoles and this is what ALL the retailers are selling. Go into ANY retail shop, supermarket or reseller and you will find the PC games shoved somewhere in the corner whereas the Console games are prominently displayed! That is where the money is nowadays unfortunately and the PC market is getting left behind just like the Spectrum, Atari, and Commodore etc. were in their day.

Were you trying to install the game in offline mode? That would cause a problem as they need to be activated but I am not aware of steam forcing users to be online to play. Some games do require you to be online (C&C4 and Starcraft II that I know of) but it is not a steam setting.

No I had already installed the games. They were Football Manager 2009 and Civ V. Both are usually fine whilst I have an internet connection (apart from occassional times when they cannot connect to Steam because it is busy??) but cannot be played when no internet connection is available.

Just what i and many have been saying on these forums and many others for years,the PC may be the most powerful platform of choice but as you pointed out many developers and more than likely PC gamers have switched over to consoles..

Except the hardened few like Guesty,Falcon and Gzero on these forums that i know of.................

OT, but developers (or publishers rather) favour consoles because they are popular and they are popular purely because they are perceived to be cheaper by the public. Consoles hold back gaming considerably. Nothing worse than playing a new game with tame graphics and simplified controls because the devs were forced to make it compatible with 2 year old console hardware.

In reply to a post by 12eason:

Nothing worse than playing a new game with tame graphics and simplified controls because the devs were forced to make it compatible with 2 year old console hardware.

Yes there is. Try 6 year old console hardware.

I agree with that point but the facts are thats how its going unfortunatly,we do need next generation consoles though.