Do I Actually Own the Games I Purchase or Am Gifted?

[motherthot]

I have enjoyed Steam for the past few months and it's a great service. I like gaming on PC and all but in actuallity I'm just purchasing something that doesn't exist. Lately family and friends who also use Steam are telling me their issues with this application. Steam support seems to be on the lacking side because of the anonimity. There is no phone number for the consumer to call if they were to have any problems and we have to rely on the mysterious "support". Lots of people come on here to have fun, game, chat and all of that good stuff but it just seems that Steam can take your money and go if they wanted to. Not saying they would but they still could in theory. I simply just want to know if I actually own the games I purchase because it is quite odd that I even have doubts about this. If I were to go to the store and buy a game I wouldn't think that an employee from said store would knock on my door and take the game back because of the unsurity of a friend buying me a card. Just to make a suggestion (that I'm sure that has been said many times) Steam should really get a phone number so I would not have to wait however long for a response from the anonymous support. I can't really think of anything else at the momment.
Sincerly, "Anonymous User"

[Hextravert]

In theory, you have nothing to worry about if the gift in question was purchased fair and square.

引用自 champhawk +：

I have enjoyed Steam for the past few months and it's a great service. I like gaming on PC and all but in actuallity I'm just purchasing something that doesn't exist. Lately family and friends who also use Steam are telling me their issues with this application. Steam support seems to be on the lacking side because of the anonimity. There is no phone number for the consumer to call if they were to have any problems and we have to rely on the mysterious "support". Lots of people come on here to have fun, game, chat and all of that good stuff but it just seems that Steam can take your money and go if they wanted to. Not saying they would but they still could in theory. I simply just want to know if I actually own the games I purchase because it is quite odd that I even have doubts about this. If I were to go to the store and buy a game I wouldn't think that an employee from said store would knock on my door and take the game back because of the unsurity of a friend buying me a card. Just to make a suggestion (that I'm sure that has been said many times) Steam should really get a phone number so I would not have to wait however long for a response from the anonymous support. I can't really think of anything else at the momment.
Sincerly, "Anonymous User"

[Ranko]

do any of us really own anything?

[motherthot]

@ Hextravert -Yeah that's understandable. I believe everything I do on here follows the guidelines in all seriousness. Let's just say for example that I am somehow connected to some conveluted arangement where I was gifted a game from a stolen account. If I where to be permabanned I would lose access to games I payed for?

[Grimminski]

You don't actually own anything you buy digitally. Instead, you're purchasing a license that allows you to play a game, watch a movie, or read a book. That license can be revoked at any time.

Buying a game on Steam is like renting it for an undefined amount of time.

[motherthot]

引用自 Jammy Bastard：

You don't actually own anything bought digitally. Instead, you own a license that allows you to play a game, watch a movie, or read a book. That license can be revoked at any time.

Buying a game on Steam is like renting it for an undefined amount of time.

I enjoy tangible products so the fact that I would be paying for (for example purposes) a copy of Grand Theft Auto at my local store for a certain ammount of money is equal to me buying it digitally from Steam. Seems sort of backwards for "renting". I can't get a refund? Seems sort of a high price to play on a platform I'm starting to get into (PC).

[Grimminski]

引用自 champhawk +：

I enjoy tangible products so the fact that I would be paying for (for example purposes) a copy of Grand Theft Auto at my local store for a certain ammount of money is equal to me buying it digitally from Steam. Seems sort of backwards for "renting". I can't get a refund? Seems sort of a high price to play on a platform I'm starting to get into (PC).

Renting is just the example I used, but it's more like an extended trial if you want to be really cynical about it. While it is possible to get a refund on Steam, it's only ever allowed if the game doesn't work. Origin and GOG do offer a refund though.

[motherthot]

引用自 Jammy Bastard：

引用自 champhawk +：

I enjoy tangible products so the fact that I would be paying for (for example purposes) a copy of Grand Theft Auto at my local store for a certain ammount of money is equal to me buying it digitally from Steam. Seems sort of backwards for "renting". I can't get a refund? Seems sort of a high price to play on a platform I'm starting to get into (PC).

Renting is just the example I used, but it's more like an extended trial if you want to be really cynical about it. While it is possible to get a refund on Steam, it's only ever allowed if the game doesn't work. Origin and GOG do offer a refund though.

Wasn't trying to be "cynical". I posted this to try to grasp an understanding of this situation and it just feels Steam holds a lot of power when it comes to your purchase. I understand how the service works but your still buying a game. It seems like your on a tightrope with Steam holding down the other side of the rope. Customer support still could use improvement.

[Grimminski]

引用自 champhawk +：

Wasn't trying to be "cynical". I posted this to try to grasp an understanding of this situation and it just feels Steam holds a lot of power when it comes to your purchase.

I was being cynical with the whole renting/trial thing.

[motherthot]

I guess. This discussion just seems redundant with the back and forth. It still kind of proved to me what I thought of the situation.

[aiusepsi]

They pull games from accounts if the purchase of that game was fraudulent; which is kinda reasonable, if you ask me. If the purchase was fraudulent, it means you never really bought it in the first place.

Also as far as I'm aware they don't ban tend to actaully ban accounts such that you can't play. They can lock down purchasing priviledges, etc. but it's always proportional to what offence was committed, for example misbehaving on the community will earn you a ban from community features.

[motherthot]

引用自 aiusepsi：

They pull games from accounts if the purchase of that game was fraudulent; which is kinda reasonable, if you ask me. If the purchase was fraudulent, it means you never really bought it in the first place.

Also as far as I'm aware they don't ban tend to actaully ban accounts such that you can't play. They can lock down purchasing priviledges, etc. but it's always proportional to what offence was committed, for example misbehaving on the community will earn you a ban from community features.

That's a good response. That makes sense but has there been cases where the actions in your statement have been implemented? The support needs adjusting as I said before a numerous ammount of times.

[HLCinSC]

引用自 champhawk +：

引用自 aiusepsi：

They pull games from accounts if the purchase of that game was fraudulent; which is kinda reasonable, if you ask me. If the purchase was fraudulent, it means you never really bought it in the first place.

Also as far as I'm aware they don't ban tend to actaully ban accounts such that you can't play. They can lock down purchasing priviledges, etc. but it's always proportional to what offence was committed, for example misbehaving on the community will earn you a ban from community features.

That's a good response. That makes sense but has there been cases where the actions in your statement have been implemented? The support needs adjusting as I said before a numerous ammount of times.

You are buying a license as said before. If you read the fine print, even when you buy physical consoles and their games you are still being granted a license.

Games you buy here will remain in your library forever and can always be downloaded even if the game has been removed from the store.

In terms of ownership, the only real worry is if Steam goes out of business. Even then their is probably a contengency plan, but in all reality steam would be sold as most companies would kill to get access to Steam's user base.

If you do face account issues support will work with you and only punish you for clear violations of the ToS/SSA.

Account locking most commonly happens for a few reasons (and is not neccesarily permanent in all cases): 1. Chargebacks 2. Sharing Accounts (Not using Steam Family Sharing) 3. Selling Accounts 4. Knowingly dealing in stolen games/items 5. Using VPN's to get games cheaper 6. Scamming other users

[motherthot]

引用自 HLCinSC：

引用自 champhawk +：

That's a good response. That makes sense but has there been cases where the actions in your statement have been implemented? The support needs adjusting as I said before a numerous ammount of times.

You are buying a license as said before. If you read the fine print, even when you buy physical consoles and their games you are still being granted a license.

Games you buy here will remain in your library forever and can always be downloaded even if the game has been removed from the store.

In terms of ownership, the only real worry is if Steam goes out of business. Even then their is probably a contengency plan, but in all reality steam would be sold as most companies would kill to get access to Steam's user base.

If you do face account issues support will work with you and only punish you for clear violations of the ToS/SSA.

Account locking most commonly happens for a few reasons (and is not neccesarily permanent in all cases): 1. Chargebacks 2. Sharing Accounts (Not using Steam Family Sharing) 3. Selling Accounts 4. Knowingly dealing in stolen games/items 5. Using VPN's to get games cheaper 6. Scamming other users

Thanks for the detailed response. You cleared up some things that were bothering me with Steam. I still have a few problems with Steam but it's better to get a basic understanding of how it works. In my opinion Steam support seems very vague with answers and the lack of a "human" element is a little unsettling. I'd rather talk to someone over the phone if I felt that the issue I was expiriencing needed that service. Email and forum discussions are nice and all but when it comes to a corporation, that is most likely making huge amounts of income, it should at least have a phone number to call.