Steam and its DRM

[Nathan Pipinpadaloxicopolis]

You can tell Steam to run in Offline mode until you tell it not to.

give that man a medal! saying "I did not read the rest of the thread".

Except I did, you were not clear, but it seemed you were saying that your internet occasionally cuts in and out. It also seemed you were saying that you were telling a game to run in Offline mode when this happens, but Steam would return to Online mode and then cause problems.

I'm telling you to turn Steam to Offline mode entirely (Steam menu -> Go Offline), basically disconnecting Steam from the internet entirely so there is no interference happening at all, until you want to reconnect it. If there are still problems between Steam and your internet connection when you do this, you're doing something wrong.

give that man a medal! saying "I did not read the rest of the thread closely"

srsly though

offline mode has been suggested, was my point, and more than once. the problem being, that offline mode on steam is strangely unreliable. I dont know specifically why OP is having offline troubles, but i've had it require an internet connection to enter (lolwut?).

 

[Nathan Pipinpadaloxicopolis]

dw dude. he's kind of right in a way. if there are technical reasons not to use steam, then its probably better that you didn't use steam.

not that you shouldn't fix your internet, OP.

and geez, man up a touch will you!

As far as I'm aware it would only matter if the game itself asked you to sign into some service like GFWL.
Otherwise it's only a problem when you're installing.

well you also have to run the game, possibly through steam, which requires either a connection to the steam servers or offline mode. if you have a look, the whole question of this thread was actually "does game x, when bought through steam, need steam running to play". the answer? some yes, some no. if yes, then it IS a problem, whenever you go to open the game. if no, then yes: "it's only a problem when you're installing."

 

[kibayasu]

offline mode has been suggested, was my point, and more than once. the problem being, that offline mode on steam is strangely unreliable. I dont know specifically why OP is having offline troubles, but i've had it require an internet connection to enter (lolwut?).

Then, as his apparent arbiter for this thread, tell him to disconnect from the internet entirely and see what Steam does then. As long as a game runs once with the internet, it doesn't need it again. Nor do you even need to connect to the Steam servers.

 

[Dys]

IF you computer wasn't a bomb from the year 2000, then there wouldn't BE any load time.
Similarly

My internet is fairly dodgy at times which means I often need to attempt to run offline mode

. ever thought of fixing your internet before using an online service?
Again, there is no wait time for Steam to give the ok to play.

Hey man, there's this awesome new platform that you can use to eat resources while playing games, you're probably going to need a rather costly upgrade for your computer in order to run it on top of games that your rig could otherwise handle, but you should definitely get it. All poor design choices of this application aside, the only reason you could ever have poor performance is because you're a douchebag who's living in the past and should just upgrade. Oh, also you should probably get a fibre optic connect for it as well, it can get a bit laggy and being unable to afford/living somewhere with poor internet is your own fault.

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."

I have a large library of impulse games, not one of which requires impulse to be running once it's been downloaded and activated, it doesn't seem unreasonable...I'm also pretty sure that I can play games I've bought on the playstation store (on my ps3) on a PSP (if they are compatible)...That PS3 example is somewhat flawed.

Also for Offline mode its is 100% your own software/Hardware configuration issues not steam i have it running perfectly on my increasingly aged laptop (core 2, integrated graphics - barely able to run most games but portal works fine)

I couldn't even begin to tell you the problems I've had with steam offline mode (that I've notably not had with steam online mode), I have two gaming computers, a desktop with a core2duo, high end ati graphics (admitadly a few generations old) and a big lump of ram as well as an Asus G73JH notebook. Both computers far exceed the power requirements for running steam games, and both regularly run steam games (in online mode), however going to a lan without internet and try to make offline steam play nice is often hit and miss. It has got a lot better than it was at it's worse, but it still isn't an especially reliable or user benefical system.


@ OP, a game bought on steam will not launch, unhacked, without steam running. If, for any reason, this is a problem, avoid steam.

 

[Vohn_exel]

The only time I ever had a problem with this was with Garry's mod, which for some reason wouldn't run in online mode on my laptop. I have a PC now and it all seems to work fine. I'm enjoying Penumbra: Overture at the moment and plan on getting the sequel thats on sale, especially since I can't run Amnesia.

 

[Fiannaz]

Yep any game that isnt played online via steam just need to have steam started in order to run NOT to keep it running. If u happen to disconnect while ur in a game on steam it will NOT shut down or any such. My friend got a crappy connection wich keeps going up and down at times and he can still play Civ 5 as long as the connection is up when he starts the game

 

[Nathan Pipinpadaloxicopolis]

offline mode has been suggested, was my point, and more than once. the problem being, that offline mode on steam is strangely unreliable. I dont know specifically why OP is having offline troubles, but i've had it require an internet connection to enter (lolwut?).

Then, as his apparent arbiter for this thread, tell him to disconnect from the internet entirely and see what Steam does then.

blarg blarg honk (i know what an arbiter is, but halo/rvb references are fun), and he's asleep, apparently.


"tell him to disconnect from the internet entirely and see what Steam does then."

the example i gave was my experience with it, and i was in a location with no internet access.

 

[nicebuffalo]

you can download the game then take out the folder in program files (x86)-steam-steamapps-common and put it where ever you want. Then download a crack from thepiratebay.org or any torrent website and it will have no connection to steam.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Ummm, why is requiring Steam to run games a bad thing. Sure, it's a form of DRM, but it's the most agreeable I've found. Hell, I got a new computer and all I had to do was install Steam and then I was able to reinstall my games with no trouble.

How many DRM systems can claim THAT user friendliness?

 

[Nathan Pipinpadaloxicopolis]

IF you computer wasn't a bomb from the year 2000, then there wouldn't BE any load time.
Similarly

My internet is fairly dodgy at times which means I often need to attempt to run offline mode

. ever thought of fixing your internet before using an online service?
Again, there is no wait time for Steam to give the ok to play.

Hey man, there's this awesome new platform that you can use to eat resources while playing games, you're probably going to need a rather costly upgrade for your computer in order to run it on top of games that your rig could otherwise handle, but you should definitely get it. All poor design choices of this application aside, the only reason you could ever have poor performance is because you're a douchebag who's living in the past and should just upgrade. Oh, also you should probably get a fibre optic connect for it as well, it can get a bit laggy and being unable to afford/living somewhere with poor internet is your own fault.

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."

I have a large library of impulse games, not one of which requires impulse to be running once it's been downloaded and activated, it doesn't seem unreasonable...I'm also pretty sure that I can play games I've bought on the playstation store (on my ps3) on a PSP (if they are compatible)...That PS3 example is somewhat flawed.

Also for Offline mode its is 100% your own software/Hardware configuration issues not steam i have it running perfectly on my increasingly aged laptop (core 2, integrated graphics - barely able to run most games but portal works fine)

I couldn't even begin to tell you the problems I've had with steam offline mode (that I've notably not had with steam online mode), I have two gaming computers, a desktop with a core2duo, high end ati graphics (admitadly a few generations old) and a big lump of ram as well as an Asus G73JH notebook. Both computers far exceed the power requirements for running steam games, and both regularly run steam games (in online mode), however going to a lan without internet and try to make offline steam play nice is often hit and miss. It has got a lot better than it was at it's worse, but it still isn't an especially reliable or user benefical system.


@ OP, a game bought on steam will not launch, unhacked, without steam running. If, for any reason, this is a problem, avoid steam.

lol harsh critique for hyperbole. for the record, steam was running fine on my roughly 2003 pc
the only troubles i have with LAN and steam connections is TF2's weapons system, which is huge and bloated and hilarious and fun, and the offlinage itself.

you prolly shoulda read the rest of the thread though. there are some that run without steam. obviously not anything on the source engine though.

 

[Plazmatic]

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!

thats really suspicious op... I have heard nobody but from people play on Hitachi and pirate games complain about steam DRM, its not invasive and not unfair.

 

[Firetaffer]

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."

Steam IS DRM, however not all DRM is bad, and steam is an example of that.

 

[Funkysandwich]

I've never had any problems with steam, I use it for pretty much all of my gaming (I don't own a console, so only game on PC) and it is fine. Never had any problems with it at all.

Offline mode works fine, but my extremely slow broadband connection has actually never dropped out (My router hasn't been reset in about 2 years) so I don't use it.

You'd be hard pressed to buy a AAA PC game that doesn't come with some form of DRM, and it's nowhere near as bad as GFWL or Ubisoft's horrid creation. Not that I see steam as DRM, more of a online store you can buy games and play them through.

 

[Dys]

lol harsh critique for hyperbole. for the record, steam was running fine on my roughly 2003 pc
the only troubles i have with LAN and steam connections is TF2's weapons system, which is huge and bloated and hilarious and fun, and the offlinage itself.

I am very harsh. I don't actually argue that steam is a bad system, it's not. It just isn't the best, nor is it worthy of all the inexplicable love it gets from people, the gushing fanboy juices inspire the snappy critic in me :S

you prolly shoulda read the rest of the thread though. there are some that run without steam. obviously not anything on the source engine though.

Orly? I've never heard of that, though I suppose in fairness it's been a long while since I've tried any third party games that use steam without it being inbuilt (like killing floor or dawn of war 2). That's a good thing, I'm actually rather impressed if that's the case.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

No you don't. Despite what people are telling you, if you launch the game without using the interface it does not require Steam to launch it first. I just launched two games that I purchased from Steam first before posting this and can guarantee it works.

Instead of using the client, go into C:/programfiles/Steam/SteamApps/common and find the game you want, then dig through the file until you find the .exe and send make a copy of that and make a shortcut on you desktop. Problem solved.

Thanks dude, I'll definitely try that out to see if it works!

Woah, you can't just get at a guy for telling you to sort out your internet connection and hardware, then change the terms of your main gripe.
It's gone from "being dodgy" to "being dodgy because of the weather", that's a little shady leaving that out of your argument.
With the information he provided, he was correct.

Anyway I have Reccetear installed, turned my steam into offline mode and restarted the programme.
Loads just fine so even if your net cuts out, you'll be fine.

I don't have to give the full story if I do not want to. My internet is dodgy sometimes is a sufficient enough reason, the sometimes does not require my definition for the purposes of debating offline mode.

Well, that you complain about Steam because you have problems running it in offline mode and online mode does kinda give away that your network might be crappy. I have played a lot of games through Steam, and well, my internet connection has dropped a few times with no result other than me being unable to upload scores in one game.

Really, you're not asking anything here anymore. You're still here so you can state your opinion that Steam sucks. Well, it does have it flaws I guess, but it's better than what you can expect from other DRM you can find on retail games. Some games are impossible to install on 2 computers at the same time.
Steam requires that you run Steam. I have steam starting up with my computer and Steam is running before I can actually open anything else. It takes 5 seconds from when you decide to run the game before the game starts, if you got a computer that's good (mine's pretty bad and it still boots in seconds). It's time that you stop whining and let go now.

This is generally why I hate starting threads like this.

I ask a question regarding Steam stating that I would rather use another digital distribution platform.

Here comes the chorus of 'Why don't you like Steam?'

I explain my reasons why I don't like Steam and would rather use a different platform.

Here come the chorus of uninformed 'You're just whining because you're computer can't handle it'.

My faith for the people of the Escapist dies a little inside.

thats really suspicious op... I have heard nobody but from people play on Hitachi and pirate games complain about steam DRM, its not invasive and not unfair.

Damn... being called a pirate... takes me back to a year ago, the first time I posted on the Escapist about my opinion on Steam and I instantly got called a pirate for disliking it.

Just because I dislike Steam it does not make me a pirate...

What's your problem with Steam?

I thought I'd come back to this. The list is long and the reasons are many but I'll pull up a recent event as an example.

About 3 weeks ago I finally upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7. So of course I had to wipe my hard drive, only saving a few GB of personal files on an external hard drive.

I decided to give Steam another chance, the internet loves it, it has a bunch of deals I could take advantage of, and my Steam friends list of people I actually speak to grew from 3 to 5.

So I downloaded Steam, installed it all, logged in and got ready for Dawn of War 2 and Empire: Total War.

Don't screw this up Steam, and all is forgotten.

5 minutes into Dawn of War 2 installation, 'The Steam servers are too busy to handle your request right now. Try again later'.

So my disc based copy of Dawn of War 2 can't install because your servers are on the fritz? Oh joy...

Then again with Empire: Total War. Clicked install, a few seconds later. 'Downloading Empire: Total War'. Wait why? Why are you downloading 4GB worth of stuff when the disc is in the tray?

Steam and me obviously do not get along, I'd much prefer to use other platforms or just have my copy run from disc.

 

[Lyri]

I don't have to give the full story if I do not want to. My internet is dodgy sometimes is a sufficient enough reason, the sometimes does not require my definition for the purposes of debating offline mode.

Wait, no.
You can't give out half a story and expect people to help you out. What you've said has been earlier was just a general, sweeping "It's bad and cuts out at intervals".
Had you said "It cuts out because of the weather in my area otherwise it's ok" then that would change the advice and responses you where given to your problem in the first place.
Also, yes it is required to state that because some games won't run in offline mode, like Batman:Arkham asylum requires you to login to GFWL, if you can't do that then you can't save your progress.
Other games do not require that process but ultimately few do.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Wait, no.
You can't give out half a story and expect people to help you out. What you've said has been earlier was just a general, sweeping "It's bad and cuts out at intervals".
Had you said "It cuts out because of the weather in my area otherwise it's ok" then that would change the advice and responses you where given to your problem in the first place.
Also, yes it is required to state that because some games won't run in offline mode, like Batman:Arkham asylum requires you to login to GFWL, if you can't do that then you can't save your progress.
Other games do not require that process but ultimately few do.

Why?

I gave out sufficient information. At times, my internet is unreliable.
At what times and why are irrelevant.

It's too early for me to understand the rest, but GFWL offline mode works better for me with the whole 'offline profile' thing it's got going on.

It doesn't matter anymore now anyway, I've got my answer, I've got a theory to test, and it ultimately looks like I'm going to GamersGate.

 

[Hashime]

Sorry, do you mean "Steam, and it's DRM" or "Steam and its DRM", it is bugging me...
Steam's DRM does not bother me as it is not intrusive (offline mode) and it gives publishers a way to distribute on the PC without worrying about piracy (as much).

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Sorry, do you mean "Steam, and it's DRM" or "Steam and its DRM", it is bugging me...
Steam's DRM does not bother me as it is not intrusive (offline mode) and it gives publishers a way to distribute on the PC without worrying about piracy (as much).

I know... it's bugging me too. I should really try and edit the title.