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General discussion (archive)Are you kidding?? My first encounter with DRM!(207 posts)(207 posts)
(207 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted May 10, 2014
I must ask, let's say you purchased a game by EA in the past on Steam.

Now, when they're no longer supporting the platform I'm wondering if you are still able to play that old game?
Post edited May 10, 2014 by Tpiom
Posted May 10, 2014
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Akhiris: Valve always said that if they were going to shut down the servers that they would unlock the games and you would have them forever.
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Snickersnack: It would be a great relief to many people if a link or some other form of citation could ever be provided for this simple decency on part of Valve. :/
I wouldn't wait for it. The question is: Even if Valve wanted to provide such service - would they have the legal means to do it? I would expect most of the publishers/developers of said games not to be that happy seeing their games suddenly freed of DRM by essentially a third party. They'll probably sue whoever responsible to hell and back.
Posted May 10, 2014
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Tpiom: I must ask, let's say you purchased a game by EA in the past on Steam.

Now, when they're no longer supporting the platform I'm wondering if you are still able to play that old game?
yes - all games bought stays in your library.

and EA still sell their games on Steam, by the way. Right now there is a weekend deal on Dragon Age games.

edit - same as on gOg, for example if you bought Fallout games, they are still in your library here.
Post edited May 10, 2014 by amok
Posted May 10, 2014
If becoming "Steam Aware" in 2014 is your first encounter with DRM, you are still looking pretty good in the grand scheme of things. There are a lot of worse things still floating around out there. DVD's that don't work in some drives, games that take longer than they have to to boot, games that have activation limits, games tied to companies or services that are dying/sold, games that require not one, but two (maybe even three) layers of protection or accounts to play. Not being able to play because authentication servers are on the fritz or decommissioned. E-Books.

Welcome to a world where companies feel more entitlement to what's inside your wallet than obligation to give you what you paid for.
Post edited May 10, 2014 by gooberking
Posted May 10, 2014
low rated
So you've been under a rock for over a decade to the PC gaming scene and didn't know that some games are linked to clients...and then you huffed and puffed and got some pats on the back for it. Okay then. Next up, man cries over threatening looking pancake and seeks support from online community.
Posted May 10, 2014
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Akhiris: Valve always said that if they were going to shut down the servers that they would unlock the games and you would have them forever.
Please stop spreading that lie.
Posted May 10, 2014
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Akhiris: Steam is probably the most unobtrusive DRM you will encounter. Valve always said that if they were going to shut down the servers that they would unlock the games and you would have them forever.
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Gandos: People constantly say that Steam is the least obtrusive form of DRM, but that's not actually true. The CD check version of SecuROM was the least obtrusive form of DRM to the point that it hardly qualified as DRM, since it didn't prevent you from doing almost anything you wanted with your game (whether it be to back it up, borrow it or sell it). While Steam is not the worst form of DRM (although I have no idea why people would tout this as something praiseworthy), having to go online to install your game and have it permanently attached to an account with no chance of removal is certainly quite obtrusive, especially for a single-player game.

Also, the whole "Valve said they would unlock the games if Steam shut down" thing is an urban legend. Newell never said anything of the sort and, honestly, the claim never made much sense to begin with.

In any event, I sympathise with the OP. I also think his example illustrates well how people don't really become aware of the value of DRM-free until they've experienced the problems with DRM first-hand.
SecuROM had a habit of screwing up people's machines, I don't see how it was innocuous. I've never had a problem with Steam's DRM.
Posted May 10, 2014
Holy Shit, I just realized something from the thread title.
The OP is John McEnroe!
Posted May 10, 2014
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koima57: But I don't mock you! Relax... To ease your worries, Steam is seemingly the head of digital stores, and it has been stated if they ever go out of business, you / we will have a way to keep our purchases. Also, ther is an offline feature in their client.
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Fenixp: Yes, 'it had been stated', somewhere, at some time. I am yet to see any form of official announcement. Really, don't rely on that.
This. Very much this. This, to my knowledge has NEVER been stated officially.
Posted May 10, 2014
Even if you didn't mind Steam DRM you can't even trust that since many games on Steam include additional DRM that isn't mentioned anywhere on the store page (resulting in some nasty surprises for early buyers). The Big List of 3rd Party DRM on Steam covers many known cases but is perpetually incomplete due to largely relying on player reports of DRM features since the developer/publisher often doesn't bother to provide such information on the store page.
Posted May 10, 2014
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cmdr_flashheart: How does downloading GOG games work for you? I play Steam mostly offline, but I have a shitty download speed as well, ~400kb/s.
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tinyE: Hmmm, maybe I was misinformed. I was told than many, not all, but many of Steam's games require Steam to be active to play which means being logged on. If I'm way off base here let me know so I can stop making an ass out of myself. :P
There are some like from Ubisoft that like to add additional DRM but I don't think I've seen any games that aren't upfront about it on the game page. None of my games require me to be online to play except for maybe Civ5(don't remember for sure on it)?
Posted May 10, 2014
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hscott2hughes: Well...it seems I've been had. Not by the retailer. They were very prompt and friendly. I'd be happy to do business with them again. No, I've been had by the game manufacturer. I thought I was PURCHASING a GAME on this DVD. But, apparently, NO. As far as I can tell, there is NO GAME stored on this disc. There are NO "STAR TREK" PROGRAM FILES on this disc. The only program on this disc is essentially a LINK TO WEBSITE called "Steam.com"
.
.
Oh, those bastards. I hear they are also tied to porn rings and responsible for most of the 'penis enlargement' spam emailing.

Zombied quite a few PCs too from what I understand.

Better do a really good virus scan...or maybe even format and start over.
Posted May 10, 2014
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tinyE: Holy Shit, I just realized something from the thread title.
The OP is John McEnroe!
If he was John McEnroe he would go back to the game store, and trash the place while screaming obscenities.
Posted May 10, 2014
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MaximumBunny: Next up, man cries over threatening looking pancake and seeks support from online community.
Attachments:
threatening_panc.jpg (64 Kb)
Posted May 10, 2014
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1322: *pic*
LOL :D
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This is my favourite topic
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General discussion (archive)Are you kidding?? My first encounter with DRM!(207 posts)(207 posts)
(207 posts)