Steam and its DRM

[Skelebob124156]

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.[/quote]

Exactly! If you buy a game on disc the game should be on the disc and not on a server i the middle of nowhere. Why can't people buy one of these ridiculous "Steam only" games on disc and not have to suffer Steam? valve will still get money but steam should be purely optional and for those with good internet connections. Steam is annoying gamers with no or bad connections.

 

[Harbinger_]

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?

To be honest this doesn't really bother me.

 

[Arehexes]

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?

You can play offline and don't miss out on that game dude

 

[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).

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

Yay, it is fixed!

 

[quhouv vhqwiufv qwiu]

If I purchase a game on gamersgate, and then I lose the game (i.e. hard drive dies without backup) can I download it again like I can on steam or would I have to buy it again?

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

If I purchase a game on gamersgate, and then I lose the game (i.e. hard drive dies without backup) can I download it again like I can on steam or would I have to buy it again?

You can download it again. All the games you buy are saved in your account.

 

[Something Amyss]

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.

Which is nice, but Steam always "hangs" on login for me.

Before people tell me my computer sucks, I have no problem playing the games themselves, or downloading them or playing online. I have a crappy computer, yes, but it's played every game I've bought perfectly so far. It's just a weird problem with actually logging in.

Just being pre-emptive, since the default reaction seems to be to jump down people's throats. "How DARE you not like DRM? How DARE you imply Steam doesn't run perfectly? How DARE you not be a slobbering fanboy?"

 

[Mr Pantomime]

Yay Reccetear. Downloading it now. But I have to say, it is a bit annoying when steam wont start up when I want to play World of Goo...

 

[galdon2004]

Wow, it's amazing how people are defending Steam. I mean... it's like they can't even fathom why someone wouldn't want to run Steam along with their game. Do any of you own a computer perchance?

Steam may be the best DRM out there but it's still DRM. I'll choose a DRM free version any day.

I'd like you to know, that statement there makes me hate you. Also that it is actually difficult to make me strongly dislike someone in one move. Congratulations.

The problem with DRM is not that DRM exists; but that CERTAIN companies have taken to an invasive and inconvenient form of DRM that HAMPERS the gaming experience. Considering that millions of potential profit are lost on people who think they DESERVE to play the game for free, that game companies need to earn millions just to break even, AND that game companies only earn a small slice of what you pay at the store counter, a fact you would know if you bothered to watch Extra Credits on this very site, Game companies NEED to do SOMETHING to protect themselves.

What EA did with SecureROM, and what Ubisoft did with it's DRM where it would BOOT you from the game while playing if your net slipped, are both WRONG, and you should go rage at them

Steam did things right, they did things better. Steam doesn't invade on your gaming, it doesn't make your gaming difficult, the verification is in the background I don't even notice it asking at the start when i play on my snail computer on a standard DSL connection.

In exchange for it asking the server ONCE at the start to confirm it's a legitimate copy? We got: Extremely nice customer support. A chat client. A social network. The ability to play on any computer you want. it's own achievements system. Player profiles and stats. Things that ENHANCE your gaming experience, ESPECIALLY for people who enjoy multiplayer games.

Do not shut them out because it's DRM and you hate it in all forms, respect that they came up with not just a non-intrusive DRM, but one that ENHANCES your experience rather than impedes it.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Steam doesn't update while you're in-game (provided it's a game you activated via Steam). It will pause ALL downloads as soon as you launch a game. Even if it's not a game you purchased via Steam, but added to your games list.

Well that's generally the problem, I also play non-Steam games and I don't add them to my Steam list.

 

[AlphaOmega]

It's DRM, but its in my opinion the least annoying form of it.

to the OP: boot up steam, if your connection drops its no problem you can just keep playing.

 

[Plazmatic]

[

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...

its not that you don't like steam, lots of people don't like steam. Its that you don't like steam DRM. Don't try to simplify what i'm trying to say in order to try to move people to your side next time.

Steam doesn't update while you're in-game (provided it's a game you activated via Steam). It will pause ALL downloads as soon as you launch a game. Even if it's not a game you purchased via Steam, but added to your games list.

Well that's generally the problem, I also play non-Steam games and I don't add them to my Steam list.

then simply stop the updates to the games, simple as pause all, and even if you restart you computer, the updates will still be paused. If your talking about steam client updates (the actual update to steam itself) it does not update unless you tell it, it can.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

its not that you don't like steam, lots of people don't like steam. Its that you don't like steam DRM. Don't try to simplify what i'm trying to say in order to try to move people to your side next time.

Oh I see... well not really.

Well I do not use Steams other features... to me Steam = DRM, there is no difference.

To clarify, I'm fine with DRM, I realise developers have a right to protect their properties and deserve to be paid for what they do.

I simply do not like Steam.

 

[Zechnophobe]

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.

Just to note, Steam will not download things while you are playing a game. It automatically stops all downloads if you are playing another steam game. (you can tell it to resume the download by alt tabbing out of the game, and clicking resume however).

 

[Signa]

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.

Well there's your problem right there. Steam will NOT update while you are in-game. This actually bothers me because I have a very strong internet connection, and I'd like to save time by multitasking. Also by closing Steam, you are preventing the game from doing whatever DRM thing it needs to do. Blah Blah, all DRM is bad etc, etc, but I don't think that Steam asks for too much blood considering what you get.

Also apologies if some one else addressed this already. I didn't feel like reading 3 pages to find out.

 

[Delusibeta]

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

If by "Capsule" you mean "Green Man Gaming", then nope, that's not DRM free.

Also, my masterwork of the New Vegas Nexus Forums, How To Install Steamworks Games From The Disc (without having to download a silly amount of stuff) [http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/248306-how-to-install-steamworks-games-from-the-retail-disc/] will help you the next time you install Steamworks games from the disc (although why the hell some people have Steam automatically download any game it feeds while others e.g. me has it install from the disc as intended is beyond me. I suspect it's more likely something at your end or something, or a dodgy ClientRegistry.blob, or something).

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Just to note, Steam will not download things while you are playing a game. It automatically stops all downloads if you are playing another steam game. (you can tell it to resume the download by alt tabbing out of the game, and clicking resume however).

Well there's your problem right there. Steam will NOT update while you are in-game. This actually bothers me because I have a very strong internet connection, and I'd like to save time by multitasking. Also by closing Steam, you are preventing the game from doing whatever DRM thing it needs to do. Blah Blah, all DRM is bad etc, etc, but I don't think that Steam asks for too much blood considering what you get.

Also apologies if some one else addressed this already. I didn't feel like reading 3 pages to find out.

I realise that, but I do mean any online game. I often play non-Steam games, and more often than that I'm playing an online Xbox 360 game while my PC is running.

But thanks for the help anyway!