Steam and its DRM

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

So as we can see from the many threads there are, there are many christmas sales all over the internet with many games going for ridiculous prices.

I have played the demo for Recettear and I'd love to buy it, but if I buy it on Steam will it require using Steam to run?

I hate the way Steam handles my games and I'd gladly pay £2 more at GamersGate for a DRM free copy.

So, do all games on Steam require Steam to run once downloaded?

 

[kebab4you]

Yes, but you can play them in offline mode(whatever reason you would need to do that)

 

[Dark Knifer]

I believe so, although I could be wrong. My experience with steam has been minimal, but when I got dawn of war 2, steam wasn't working and I could not find any other way to play the game (it was on a disk but still needed steam).

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Yes, but you can play them in offline mode(whatever reason you would need to do that)

Yes. However, if you're really concerned about it for some odd reason, you can run it in offline mode which uses less in the way of resources. Dunno why it's a big deal, though. >.>

Offline mode and me do not go well together.

That sucks though, I'll just pay more at GamersGate then. Thanks for your help!

 

[oreopizza47]

Well, since you are buying them online, through the Steam application, with said application having encased within it all the necessary components to play any given game once purchased, I'd like to know why you think it wouldn't need Steam to run, and how you see that as DRM. It's more like "well, I bought a PS3 game, so it's safe to assume that I'll need a PS3 to play it."

 

[kebab4you]

Well, since you are buying them online, through the Steam application, with said application having encased within it all the necessary components to play any given game once purchased, I'd like to know why you think it wouldn't need Steam to run, and how you see that as DRM. It's more like "well, I bought a PS3 game, so it's safe to assume that I'll need a PS3 to play it."

Bullox is this? Mean I can't play my ps3 games on my Snes? Should be something to tell me when I buy games ;_;

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Well, since you are buying them online, through the Steam application, with said application having encased within it all the necessary components to play any given game once purchased, I'd like to know why you think it wouldn't need Steam to run, and how you see that as DRM. It's more like "well, I bought a PS3 game, so it's safe to assume that I'll need a PS3 to play it."

Mainly because it's a PC game, they are less restrcited than consoles.

I have bought games through Impulse, Capsule and GamersGate and all of those have been DRM free.

Also Steam is DRM because a normal game functions so:

Click on game ---> Play game

A Steam game functions differently:

Click on Steam link ---> Steam runs ---> Wait for Steam to verify ---> Play Game

Anything that gets in-between me and my game = DRM.

 

[DanDeFool]

Honestly, I'd much rather have Steam's DRM then other forms of DRM which come with retail copies of games (like SecuROM, for example).

Of course, I definitely understand why you wouldn't want to need an internet connection to play your games. In my experience, offline mode works perfectly well (I've been w/o internet in my apartment for the last three weeks, and I've still been able to play The Void using Steam just fine).

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

'Kay. Still don't see the big deal there. Would you mind explaining? (not trying to start a war, just curious, like I usually am)

My internet is fairly dodgy at times which means I often need to attempt to run offline mode, but my current wireless set up is a bit unconventional (short range wireless ethernet connectors) and this means my computer can't easily tell when the internet has gone down.

Offline mode complains a lot and most of the time won't run, instead bringing up an update screen for some unknown reason.

I much prefer my games to not run Steam. We do not get along particularly well ever since it screwed me around with Empire: Total War.

 

[The Blue Mongoose]

Well, since you are buying them online, through the Steam application, with said application having encased within it all the necessary components to play any given game once purchased, I'd like to know why you think it wouldn't need Steam to run, and how you see that as DRM. It's more like "well, I bought a PS3 game, so it's safe to assume that I'll need a PS3 to play it."

Bullox is this? Mean I can't play my ps3 games on my Snes? D:

Nah mate. You need at least an Xbox to manage all the graphics they pump into PS3 games.

On Topic: Steam is just about the least offensive form of DRM on the market. It offers benefits as opposed to crippling your game. It's a social network, they have the store with the awesome sales, they keep your game updated... It's so gosh darn convenient and yes all of my Xmas money is being squandered there....

 

[Voodoomancer]

Huh?

Why is steam such a big deal? You open your library, and doubleclick the game.

Care to elaborate why having running Steam is such a big deal?

 

[subject_87]

On a lot of them it's not 'required' per se (i.e. they're not Steam-exclusive), but since it's Steam, you can pick up where you left off on pretty much any computer you want.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Huh?

Why is steam such a big deal? You open your library, and doubleclick the game.

Care to elaborate why having running Steam is such a big deal?

I posted somewhere up there my problem with Steams offline mode, Steam doesn't like to stay running when my internet is being dodgy.

I also turn Steam off so that it doesn't start a huge update without me realising while I'm playing an online game.

 

[moretimethansense]

Yes. However, if you're really concerned about it for some odd reason, you can run it in offline mode which uses less in the way of resources. Dunno why it's a big deal, though. >.>

It's a big deal because if for any reason Valve decided they didn't like you the three grand you've spent on games is wasted and you're left with a hard drive full of useless data that you payed for but can never use.

I don't mind Steam if you buy it from Steam, but when it's in boxed retail copies it make me want to just pirate the fucking thing, If I bought it and have the physical copy in my disc drive why should I be forced to get an account I don't particularly want, and tell them I do in fact have a sodding copy to play?

OP You have good taste, Recettear is a fantastic game.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Man up. really dude. most people run games from inside the steam window anyway (which boots up at startup may i add), so all that steam does is check that you've bought the game, then runs it. you know what else checks that you bought it when it runs? windows. gonna go ***** about that too? If your computer is so slow that the small time it takes steam to boot a game, then you probably should upgrade your 10 year old computer.

Please take your uninformed opinion somewhere else.

Read up the thread for more information, don't make assumptions and don't complain about someone 'bitching' when you yourself are bitching.

 

[Voodoomancer]

Spoiler: (A Quote)

Well, since you are buying them online, through the Steam application, with said application having encased within it all the necessary components to play any given game once purchased, I'd like to know why you think it wouldn't need Steam to run, and how you see that as DRM. It's more like "well, I bought a PS3 game, so it's safe to assume that I'll need a PS3 to play it."

Mainly because it's a PC game, they are less restrcited than consoles.

I have bought games through Impulse, Capsule and GamersGate and all of those have been DRM free.

Also Steam is DRM because a normal game functions so:

Click on game ---> Play game

A Steam game functions differently:

Click on Steam link ---> Steam runs ---> Wait for Steam to verify ---> Play Game

Anything that gets in-between me and my game = DRM.

There are a hundred different kinds of worse DRM out there. The other day it took my 3 hours to get DoW II to work because of Games for Windows Live, 3 password resets, 2 deleted an redownloaded profiles, and a lot of swearing. And you're complaining about having to simply wait 30 extra seconds for steam to start up? Don't.

And you could also just have Steam open up on startup. Then you can just open the game right away. Also, steam is also a social platform as well, and a chat client.