how steam works, the short version:
you download the steam client (it's free, here)
create an account (also free, here)
you buy games (not free, but often cheaper than retail*)
the client downloads the games to your local computer.
You can now play those games regardless if you are online or not (This may vary from game to game (Dragon age 2 anyone?), but there is no defacto requirement that you validate a game every time you want to play it).
* If you're patient you can get games for 75% off. They have sales frequently, and sometimes they have other promotions like the portal 2 one: Pre-order Portal 2 (at 10% off) and you get a copy of portal 1, if you already own a copy, you can give the new copy to someone else
fair warning: you will find yourself tempted to buy lots of games.
Today's promotion is Grand Theft Auto IV ($5), GTA: episodes from liberty City ($7.50), or both for $10.
I have bought games I own on other platforms simply because it easier to play them through steam than to go scrounge up the disk for my ps3.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy
you download the steam client (it's free, here)
create an account (also free, here)
you buy games (not free, but often cheaper than retail*)
the client downloads the games to your local computer.
You can now play those games regardless if you are online or not (This may vary from game to game (Dragon age 2 anyone?), but there is no defacto requirement that you validate a game every time you want to play it).
* If you're patient you can get games for 75% off. They have sales frequently, and sometimes they have other promotions like the portal 2 one: Pre-order Portal 2 (at 10% off) and you get a copy of portal 1, if you already own a copy, you can give the new copy to someone else
fair warning: you will find yourself tempted to buy lots of games.
Today's promotion is Grand Theft Auto IV ($5), GTA: episodes from liberty City ($7.50), or both for $10.
I have bought games I own on other platforms simply because it easier to play them through steam than to go scrounge up the disk for my ps3.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy