Post by Sayyadina on Jul 14, 2015 0:27:30 GMT -5
A Game Hub is a a site which provides access to a broad collection of games.
While I have heard them referred to by other names, I find "hub" to be a more accurate description of what they actually do, and since I'm the guy that's writing the thread, I get to call them what I want to. The two things that most all game hubs share in common is live chat, a primary forum, and most often will have communities (sub forums) for each game they provide access to. Some hubs are limited to a small collection of games that all require a purchase, while others will have a broader range of games to include some F2P (free to play) offerings. Generally one can find a mix of pc, platform and on-line games at hubs.
A game hub can be something of a mixed bag. While they have certain attributes that make them desirable, they also have something of a down side. On a positive note, they are a great way to view and sometimes sample a large variety of games, and an excellent means of finding a ready made community. On a more negative note, every hub I have come across will require that you run them as the client when playing one of their games, even if it is a pc game that you have downloaded onto your computer.
To be honest, I find most all hubs to be a little invasive, but consider the value of a good hub to be greater than the inconvenience.
The thing to bear in mind here is that when you purchase a game from them, what you have actually purchased is game access. If the hub goes out of business, you will most often find yourself out of access. When deciding to do business with a game provider, try to deal with one that has a proven track record, and will likely be around long enough for you to get fair use of the products you have purchased.
Steam
steampowered.com/
A massive library that includes Demos and F2P titles, coupled with frequent sales, make Steam a good choice for finding a game to suit your personal choice. The Steam store features computer software and hardware as well as games. A myriad of features are offered, to include community forums, chat groups, member communities, awards system, game developer aids, personalized search features, and much more.
There are a couple of issues I find fault with at Steam. The first is that you have to run any game purchased there through the Steam Client, including PC titles, but it may not be fair to hold that against them considering that is standard practice for game hubs in general. The second is that Steam has a ton of features to offer but, is not very user friendly when it comes to learning what they are and how best to make use of them. Those adept with various forms of social media will probably find Steam easier to navigate than others. While I admit a bit of frustration at learning how to navigate Steam, I have no complaint with the variety of games found there or the selling price for most of those titles. Considering my entertainment budget is limited, I find the value of Steam outweighs the aggravations.
Uplay (by ubisoft)
uplay.ubi.com/#!/en-US/
Uplay is a cross-platform service available in more than 50 games. It enables actions, rewards and social interactions.
Uplay is accessed online and can be downloaded to your PC for direct management of your gaming library.
Uplay is also available on Playstation, Wii, Xbox, iPhone & Android devices.
While I have heard them referred to by other names, I find "hub" to be a more accurate description of what they actually do, and since I'm the guy that's writing the thread, I get to call them what I want to. The two things that most all game hubs share in common is live chat, a primary forum, and most often will have communities (sub forums) for each game they provide access to. Some hubs are limited to a small collection of games that all require a purchase, while others will have a broader range of games to include some F2P (free to play) offerings. Generally one can find a mix of pc, platform and on-line games at hubs.
A game hub can be something of a mixed bag. While they have certain attributes that make them desirable, they also have something of a down side. On a positive note, they are a great way to view and sometimes sample a large variety of games, and an excellent means of finding a ready made community. On a more negative note, every hub I have come across will require that you run them as the client when playing one of their games, even if it is a pc game that you have downloaded onto your computer.
To be honest, I find most all hubs to be a little invasive, but consider the value of a good hub to be greater than the inconvenience.
The thing to bear in mind here is that when you purchase a game from them, what you have actually purchased is game access. If the hub goes out of business, you will most often find yourself out of access. When deciding to do business with a game provider, try to deal with one that has a proven track record, and will likely be around long enough for you to get fair use of the products you have purchased.
Steam
steampowered.com/
A massive library that includes Demos and F2P titles, coupled with frequent sales, make Steam a good choice for finding a game to suit your personal choice. The Steam store features computer software and hardware as well as games. A myriad of features are offered, to include community forums, chat groups, member communities, awards system, game developer aids, personalized search features, and much more.
There are a couple of issues I find fault with at Steam. The first is that you have to run any game purchased there through the Steam Client, including PC titles, but it may not be fair to hold that against them considering that is standard practice for game hubs in general. The second is that Steam has a ton of features to offer but, is not very user friendly when it comes to learning what they are and how best to make use of them. Those adept with various forms of social media will probably find Steam easier to navigate than others. While I admit a bit of frustration at learning how to navigate Steam, I have no complaint with the variety of games found there or the selling price for most of those titles. Considering my entertainment budget is limited, I find the value of Steam outweighs the aggravations.
Uplay (by ubisoft)
uplay.ubi.com/#!/en-US/
Uplay is a cross-platform service available in more than 50 games. It enables actions, rewards and social interactions.
Uplay is accessed online and can be downloaded to your PC for direct management of your gaming library.
Uplay is also available on Playstation, Wii, Xbox, iPhone & Android devices.