So my brother bought me Dead Space for $7 off of Gamersgate for xmas, or part of xmas. I'm wondering what you all think of Gamersgate. Dead Space will not install, it keeps asking for a disk, and as a digital copy this shouldn't be an issue. But my story aside...have you used it? and what do you think of it compared to steam?

I use Steam, but it has been acting up recently on both my PC and Mac when I try to update Left4Dead and Left4Dead 2, so I am kinda on the fence about it. 
 
As for GamersGate, I have never heard of it before. I might have to look into it.

Never heard of it.

I use Steam for all my games, Impulse for the one or two exclusives they put up, and just recently I started using Games for Windows live whenever they have games on sale there for 99 cents- so I can't give any comparisons for gamersgate. Based on my experience though, I would just use steam. Other then a few updating problems from time to time I have yet to have a single problem with steam.

I always though Steam was the standard. More and more publisher/developers are turning to them for their PC needs. Granted at different times you could have a game cheap somewhere else but the odds are very good that the same game would be just as cheap or cheaper at some point on steam.

I've also never heard of it.  I bought Civ V from direct2drive because they had a better pre-order.

I've heard of both, but I have never heard anyone talk about using GamersGate. Everyone seems to be using Steam, and perhaps for good reason. 
 
I don't think many of us are liable to an opinion since most of us have never used, nor even heard of GamersGate, but I think Steam is probably better.

I prefer getting games that run through Steam, the last game that I bought on DVD was Alien vs Predator, I found it really cheap online, but as it is activated on Steam I didn't even have to take the DVD out of the case, I just activated the Steam code and it downloaded and installed the lated version. I hate having to swap disks to play different games. Windows Live still insists that the Disk is kept in the drive, so it sort of defeats the purpose.
 
EA also have something called the EADM (download manager) that allows users to go to the EA Store, but strangely this will not apply the latest updates to games or let you buy DLC, so all it really does is act like a launcher and buy new downloadable versions of games or activate game keys for products that you've purchased. They covered nearly everything that they needed to, but then stopped at updating the software and giving users access to DLC, which I think is pointless. I have not tried Gamersgate, and reading that you needed a disk to run a game has already put me off looking at it.

Steam is, quite simply, the best platform for digital distribution. No two ways about it.

" So my brother bought me Dead Space for $7 off of Gamersgate for xmas, or part of xmas. I'm wondering what you all think of Gamersgate. Dead Space will not install, it keeps asking for a disk, and as a digital copy this shouldn't be an issue. But my story aside...have you used it? and what do you think of it compared to steam? "

Some how, I kept reading the title Gertsmangate vs Steam. I'm like what does Jeff have to do with steam?!

GamersGate carved out a niche by catering to people who enjoy Eastern European developed games.  They also sell other major AAA titles, but they don't seem to make up the bulk of their business.  Like Paradox Interactive's games (I do)?  Then you'll like GamersGate.  I don't have many games through them, but my experiences with them have always been positive.
 
Of course, nothing beats Steam in the convenience category.  They go all out in creating a consumer experience, that goes far beyond just another store. That's what puts Steam miles ahead of every single other digital distribution service, GamersGate included. 

I have a few games via GamersGate: Penumbra Requiem and Bionic Commando Rearmed. They seem to work just fine, so no complaints. :)

" Steam is, quite simply, the best platform for digital distribution. No two ways about it. "

GamersGate is pretty decent. some of their games, specially the older ones are DRM free which is a plus for some people. Like L3illy3ob it has a nice selection of european developed games, if that's your thing. Contact GamersGate support, if that's a common problem they'll know how to handle. 
 
Like others here, I favor Steam because it's kind of becoming a standard for PC game but if a game I want won't have any special benefits from being on steam (achievements, steam cloud, etc) than I'll look for it on other services as well.

I use Gamersgate to get hold of all my Paradox titles. It's better for those games then Steam as there is no game client required. 
Also the expansions tend to come out earlier on Gamersgate.  As for a Steam vs Gamersgate debate, I find both digital platforms to be quite useful in helping me avoid EB. 

I've used GG maybe a dozen times and never had any problems with it.

I'm a huge fan of STEAM, but I'm also a sucker for good deals, and since I wanted two games for xmas, from my brother Amnesia Desk Descent and Dead Space, he got them for me at STEAM and Gamersgate--respectively. Also...to @Darko:  I'm not going to get a crack, I bought this game and it should work.

How does gamersgate work? Is there a client like Steam? I just went over to have a look, and they have TDU for sale, which I've been meaning to get. 

"

Never heard of it.

"

I've also never heard of it but I don't use Steam either.  I prefer in-my-hand, pretty box and all, hard copies.

" Steam is, quite simply, the best platform for digital distribution. No two ways about it. "

" How does gamersgate work? Is there a client like Steam? I just went over to have a look, and they have TDU for sale, which I've been meaning to get.  "

Gamersgate is actually pretty good (It's where I bought all those crazy Paradox strategy games) You just download the installer, then it downloads. Once it installs, you can keep the files it downloaded in case you need to install again. I THINK you can do it over multiple computers too, and since it has no contact with an online server, you can both play at once. As far as I remember, anyway.
 
no client, either.

" @zudthespud said:

" How does gamersgate work? Is there a client like Steam? I just went over to have a look, and they have TDU for sale, which I've been meaning to get.  "

It seems it did require a client until 2009. But Wikipedia's also presenting me with a riddle about something called a Micro-Download, which I am unable to decipher. "

I have never heard of it.

" Gamersgate is actually pretty good (It's where I bought all those crazy Paradox strategy games) You just download the installer, then it downloads. Once it installs, you can keep the files it downloaded in case you need to install again. I THINK you can do it over multiple computers too, and since it has no contact with an online server, you can both play at once. As far as I remember, anyway. no client, either. "

I'm in the boat of people not having heard of  it.

I use the everloving hell out of Steam though. It's awesome.

For anyone that is interested....
 
For my copy of Dead Space to work, purchased off of Gamersgate. I had to redownload it with my RealTime Virus Scan turned off as apparently McAfee was causing issues with the download. This somehow got me an installer that realized it was digitally distributed as opposed to bought from a retail store. I find it very disconcerting that I had to disable my virus scan to download a game. Your thoughts....

I use Steam, Impulse and GamerGate. I have yet to have any problems with GG (which is more then I can say for the 2 others), but I for the most part only use it for Paradox Interactive and 1C games.

" For anyone that is interested....  For my copy of Dead Space to work, purchased off of Gamersgate. I had to redownload it with my RealTime Virus Scan turned off as apparently McAfee was causing issues with the download. This somehow got me an installer that realized it was digitally distributed as opposed to bought from a retail store. I find it very disconcerting that I had to disable my virus scan to download a game. Your thoughts.... "

I've used Gamer's Gate a few times, has some decent prices every now and again. 
 They also have some good service over there, who I'm sure would be more than willing to help get your Dead Space running.  
 
@mrhankey said: 

" For anyone that is interested....  For my copy of Dead Space to work, purchased off of Gamersgate. I had to redownload it with my RealTime Virus Scan turned off as apparently McAfee was causing issues with the download. This somehow got me an installer that realized it was digitally distributed as opposed to bought from a retail store. I find it very disconcerting that I had to disable my virus scan to download a game. Your thoughts.... "

I've never used gamersgate, but they've got Mass Effect 2 on sale for $8 right now. Definitely considering grabbing it.

Have used D2D, Impulse, GG, and Steam
 
Only one I've had problems with is Steam.

" For anyone that is interested....  For my copy of Dead Space to work, purchased off of Gamersgate. I had to redownload it with my RealTime Virus Scan turned off as apparently McAfee was causing issues with the download. This somehow got me an installer that realized it was digitally distributed as opposed to bought from a retail store. I find it very disconcerting that I had to disable my virus scan to download a game. Your thoughts.... "

iv never heard of it. i use both Steam and gog.com. personally i find gog to be a better/simpler service, but Steam is still really good. 

No useless client needs to connect when you want to play a game purchased via gamersgate or impulse. It's only steam that is using old drm tech.

Nothing is ahead of Steam, imo...

I buy everything I can on Steam, but there are a number of RPGs/adventures that Steam never acquires. Gamersgate is good for all the European games that never get released in North America, or if I just don't want to wait months or years for it. I've never had any problems with Gamersgate.

Steam > Gamersgate
 
 IMO.

Gamersgate sounds like a stupid name for the trial between the Government of California and the ESRB.

Just played Dead Space on steam, had no problems.  

No clue what gamersgate is but, I have had no problems with Steam.