Is this page full of irony? I was to understand, that in order to play any game bought from Steaming pile of crap, one must have the client on, even offline.

Unless the user is playing a DOS game or something like Neo Scavenger, whereby the user can move the files to another location and it still runs without the client.

Steam has always been DRM, even when they claim DRM free...because yes, their mind set is "the DRM is always free*wink*" lol

clarify please

*points at the 21 pages of the thread since it was started.

OK, here is how DRM-Free is defined on this thread; once a game is installed, you can move its folder, run the executable and if it can run without the client being active, then it's DRM-Free. The best examples are the DOSBox games and the flash-based games, as Steam's DRM can't be applied on them.

Are we still having this conversation? I'll spell it out as clearly as possible: Steam is not now, nor has it ever been, DRM. There's an optional -- OPTIONAL -- component of the Steam platform that locks games to the client, and this list is a collection of games that DO NOT UTILIZE THAT *OPTIONAL* COMPONENT. The Steam program itself is as much DRM as GOG.com is, i.e., it isn't. The choice to utilize the *OPTIONAL* DRM that Valve offers is 100% up to the individual developer or publisher.

Typical reply from an Valve elitist.

Here you are. Comparison between the Carmageddon: Max Pack files provided by Steam and GOG. GOG provides the exact same executable Steam does, so either Carmageddon: Max Pack is DRM-Free on Steam, or it's DRM'd on GOG.
If you want, I can also try to look for the comparison I did with Carmageddon 2.

Steam is a DRM'd delivery method that can deliver both DRM'd and DRM-Free games. But feel free to consider a DRM'd delivery method the same as a DRM'd game.

Add SanctuaryRPG: Black Edition to the list, a wonderfully innovative and original rogue-like :)

Oh, sorry. In this case I only tried to copy it to a different directory so I did not realize that it still checks if Origin is installed. Sorry for the confusion and for the incomplete checking. But if the game only checks if Origin is installed I could imagine that it would be enough to export the according registry key.

Typical reply from an ignoramus that doesn't actually know what DRM is.

The steam client, as a delivery method, operates pretty much identically to the GOG downloader / website. It requires a username and a password, and checks that you actually have the right to download the game in question. After that, there are several games available from steam that never need the client again. If you consider that to be too much DRM, you better stop buying at GOG, because they implement the same level of DRM.

everyone can have her/his opinion

for me steam is not DRM-Free

steam is even beyond DRM, its a service based system
meaning you play the games as long as the service lets you, and in the term they set and those terms can change at any time

as for the comparison what some call drm-free steam...
how about not having internet in the computer you are installing?
how about all the processes a game installation does?
how can you install a game without an installation setup?
how about registry keys created during setup?
how about icons and start menu shortcut entries?
how about DLL files needed and copied outside of the games directory?
how about third party software needed to run the game?
how about having a way to check the integrity of the installation and files?
how about archiving/backing-up the game in a organized way?
how about the garanty the version will remain this way, drm-free?
how about patching the game?
how about official information from the seller informing the consumer what she/he is buying?
how about making games installation a thing about you and the game and not involving third parties?
how about supporting alternative ways to install a game besides restrict client based ones like steam?
and how about supporting competition and not letting steam become a monopoly?

for me only a version with a stand-alone offline installer can be called DRM-Free
that is precisely what DRM-Free is, a stand-alone offline installer.
this is what GOG has
this is what DotEmu has
this is what HumbleBundle has
this is what steam doesn't have

also i find it troublesome steam supporters using GOG, GOGs servers, GOG bandwith, GOG forums to promote games from a competing system,
knowing that some games they advertise here are also sold in GOG so potentionly damaging GOGs sales.
so my question is doesn't steam have their own forum system which the steam supporters can carry on this?
unless steam forums would censor and ban this king of information? is that the case?

but credit to GOG for the freedom of speech we have here
and it also proves GOG forums are a safe place for gamers to come and discuss anything with freedom and no fear of being banned
and i hope, no matter how many pages this thread has, there always will be GOG supporters that will challenge the argument steam can even be DRM-Free

ps: isn't it ironic linux supporters promoting steam?
steam is the closest thing to monopoly and killing alternative and choice in personal computing gaming which is precisely the reason why linux was created in the first place, to fight against monopoly and give choice and alternative to personal computing

pss: double irony; in the GOG forum, a GOG costumer defending GOG is down rated!?!? isn't something wrong?

I'm not even gonna bother with you.

Why installer? Arguable, an installer can be broken with OS / Software upgrades. Is not the most DRM free software packages those who are delivered 'as is' without any wrappers, such as an installer?

Also, if a game is delivered DRM free, what is the difference between a archived games (i.e. zipped folder) and one delivered as an installer?
are going to bother with JMich :)

Let me reply to you point by point, taking Carmageddon: Max Pack as the game being discussed. See my post above for the comparison between GOG files and Steam files of said game.

No problem, copy paste the game and you play.
Carmageddon doesn't have them. Games that do need them contain the info in installscript.vdf, in a human readable format.
Unzip and/or copy the folder
Installscript.vdf contains them, if they are needed
Right click on exe, send to desktop. Copy said shortcut to start menu if wanted.
Bit more complicated with DOSBox games, but I think a script or two should already exist for that.
Part of dependencies, see installscript.vdf again
See folder redists for any needed redistributables
Zip it. Archives do have a self check, or you can keep an md5/sha1 hash list somewhere. Whatever works for you
Archive with program of your choice, organize them according to taste
None. If you do keep the files backed up though, those don't need steam, and won't be revoked. Similar to Imperial Glory Mac edition from GOG
Steam required to download patch. Copy files to offline computer, play (assuming game remains DRM-Free of course)
1 license to the game Carmageddon: Max Pack. Additional software may be required.
Innosetup is a third party. Nullsoft is a third party. MSI install scripts are a third party. Archivers are a third party.
Copy pasting the game though isn't.
Copy pasting the files?
Take your pick. Origin, UPlay, GMG, GG, DotEmu, GOG, GetGamesGo, Fireflower Games etc. All have both DRM and DRM free games.

GOG Galaxy doesn't. Linux games come (also) as archives, not installers. Are those not DRM-Free, even though the exact same files are provided to you?
Haven't used DotEmu, no idea
HumbleBundle offers quite a bit of games as archives, not installers. Are said games not DRM-Free?
Yes, Steam skips the installation part of Deliver/Install/Play. Delivery is DRM'd, Play may be DRM'd or DRM-Free.

That is exactly the reason we discuss it here. Because people want to discuss it, and because we can discuss it.

And I hope at least a few of them will question what is DRM after reading this thread, and not blindingly go with a very strict definition. People have different definitions of DRM. Some require all 3 of the Deliver/Install/Play to be DRM-Free, others require only the Play part to be DRM-Free, some want both the Install and Play to be DRM-Free.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. What most Goglodytes don't tolerate is intolerance. Feel free to discuss and debate, but do have arguments. Don't just go "Your argument is false because I say so". Explain your reasoning. It may be different from others, but proper discussion is always encouraged.