Posted November 30, 2012
Pheace: DRM-free is DRM-free. When arguing that, then a CD-key to limit online ability is just as much DRM, and it's disingenuous to just let that slip because they happen to be the most DRM-free place out there. It's still DRM.
Maybe, if you really include everything, including manual keyword checks of ancient DOS games, into the DRM umbrella term. For those to whom DRM means having to activate a game online to an authentication server before you can install/play it (ie. you are dependant on the existence of some central authentication servers by the game's IP rights holder), GOG games are very much DRM-free, because none of them require that.
Yet, I don't see those "some people" going to the "DRM-free games on Steam" discussion to inform the author that the Steam games in his list are not really DRM-free because their multiplayer component might still require even online activation to a central authentication server.
http://www.gog.com/forum/general/list_of_drmfree_games_on_steam/page1
I guess they also consider the Steam games on that list DRM-free because it supports their own agenda. But when a GOG game has a multiplayer CD key, these same people yelp and complain that the game cannot be called DRM-free.
Sounds like a troll, smells like a troll... must be a fisherman, trolling.
I, on the other hand, have no argument calling the games in that Steam list DRM-free, if they really work as suggested (ie. after the initial download, they can be freely copied to another PC and the single-player part works there without further actions or activations).
Post edited November 30, 2012 by timppu