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General discussion (archive)Steam "offline mode" not really offline anymore?(427 posts)(427 posts)
(427 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted July 01, 2013
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isis12: I don't use Steam much and have always kept it in offline mode which worked fine so far. Yesterday I put it online for the first time in months to install a new game. As always, there was some kind of client update. One change that I noticed was that even when I put it back in offline mode, the store and community stuff was still working. Clearly the client was now connected even in offline mode. Since there didn't seem to be an option anymore to truly keep it offline, I just used my firewall to block Steam and to my satisfaction anything but my library section stopped working.

Today, when I start Steam it tells me:
"Steam - Error. Unable to connect to the Steam network. 'Offline Mode' is unavailable because there is no Steam login information stored on this computer. You will not be able to use Steam until you can connect to the Steam network again."

WTF? I never had login information stored because it wasn't neccesary for offline mode and I have no idea why it should be. Does anyone know of any reason for that kind of change, or better yet, how to get around it? Do you have the same problem? Should I just stop using this "service"? (don't answer the last one)

Sorry to ask about this here but I don't use the Steam forum and my chance getting a competent answer is probably better here anyway.
Steam being cunts non-shocker. The only way to deal with them is to not deal with them.
Posted July 01, 2013
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Crosmando: Your view of the industry is pretty static. You really think that current batch of publishers now will always be the same? And it doesn't really matter what method of DRM they move towards, because the other side of the industry, the indie and Kickstarter funded projects, is already moving in the opposite direction. Crowdfunding is growing in size by millions of dollars every month.
I think you're making up things I didn't say to argue against.

Crowdsourcing is a lovely thing but it doesn't change the fact people don't care about DRM. It doesn't change the fact publishers are seeking out alternative methods of monetization. It doesn't change the fact piracy sends no real message of importance outside of "a certain percentage of people will download this for free no matter what you do."
Posted July 01, 2013
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StingingVelvet: In the end those of us who care about game preservation and DRM are in the small minority.
The PS4/Xbox One scenario has plainly shown that this claim is without merit.
Posted July 01, 2013
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StingingVelvet: In the end those of us who care about game preservation and DRM are in the small minority.
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jamyskis: The PS4/Xbox One scenario has plainly shown that this claim is without merit.
How so?

Most of the outrage centered on used games, plus they were squeaky wheels. Like I wrote in the post and you cut out, people would have bought the damn thing in droves as soon as it had a couple exclusives they wanted.

Unlike the mythical Xbox One data we don't have we do have a clear image of how well people accept online DRM: Diablo 3's ten million copies sold, despite widespread reporting on the requirement and people like me bitching about it. Best selling PC game of all time.
Posted July 01, 2013
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StingingVelvet: How so?

Most of the outrage centered on used games, plus they were squeaky wheels. Like I wrote in the post and you cut out, people would have bought the damn thing in droves as soon as it had a couple exclusives they wanted.

Unlike the mythical Xbox One data we don't have we do have a clear image of how well people accept online DRM: Diablo 3's ten million copies sold, despite widespread reporting on the requirement and people like me bitching about it. Best selling PC game of all time.
Just to get things in proportion, since I missed this part of history: how were sales of Assassin's Creed 2 on PC? Ubisoft eventually lost most of it's PC business, but I'm going to guess it's first game with crappy policies sold well?
Posted July 01, 2013
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jamyskis: The PS4/Xbox One scenario has plainly shown that this claim is without merit.
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StingingVelvet: How so?

Most of the outrage centered on used games, plus they were squeaky wheels. Like I wrote in the post and you cut out, people would have bought the damn thing in droves as soon as it had a couple exclusives they wanted.

Unlike the mythical Xbox One data we don't have we do have a clear image of how well people accept online DRM: Diablo 3's ten million copies sold, despite widespread reporting on the requirement and people like me bitching about it. Best selling PC game of all time.
I assure you that reason it sold so much is because its Blizzard and Diablo I.E. Brand Recognition.

If the WHOLE industry embraces Always Online DRM, only a few developers are gonna get away with it while everyone else burns to the ground.
Post edited July 01, 2013 by Elmofongo
Posted July 01, 2013
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Misanthropic: C. Like Spiky said, say anything negative about Steam around here, (or on most parts of the intrawebs for that matter), and you'll be downrepped for it.
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Crosmando: It's because the GOG forums are full of retarded contrarians who feel that they are special unique snowflakes, so they defend Steam simply because it's DRM and this is a site for selling DRM-free games.

Silly children.
Or its because i like Steam? Also, no not everyone on this forums downreps people for opinions. I dont really give a rats ass why you or anyone else dislikes Steam. I like it. Doesnt mean i need to down rep you for it. Most of us here are not children bro.
Post edited July 01, 2013 by StonerMk2
Posted July 01, 2013
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Elmofongo: I assure you that reason it sold so much is because its Blizzard and Diablo I.E. Brand Recognition.

If the WHOLE industry embraces Always Online DRM, only a few developers are gonna get away with it while everyone else burns to the ground.
Depends really. I'm with velvet here in the notion that people would've bought an Xbox One anyway, especially if it had the games they wanted. In the end, it's all about the games.

If both Sony and Microsoft had pulled the DRM thing, there wouldn't have been a turnaround at all. The only reason it happened is because their competition isn't doing it (yet).
Post edited July 01, 2013 by Pheace
Posted July 01, 2013
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P1na: Just to get things in proportion, since I missed this part of history: how were sales of Assassin's Creed 2 on PC? Ubisoft eventually lost most of it's PC business, but I'm going to guess it's first game with crappy policies sold well?
Sold fairly well in the first couple of weeks, then nosedived massively thereafter, such that at one point, Assassin's Creed 1 for PC was priced higher in retail than Assassin's Creed 2.
Posted July 01, 2013
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StingingVelvet: I think you're making up things I didn't say to argue against.

Crowdsourcing is a lovely thing but it doesn't change the fact people don't care about DRM. It doesn't change the fact publishers are seeking out alternative methods of monetization. It doesn't change the fact piracy sends no real message of importance outside of "a certain percentage of people will download this for free no matter what you do."
That's some pretty bold assumptions you're making there. Most people didn't even know what "DRM" stood for and what it is not too long ago, the fact that it's now it our collective vocabulary and is a widely understood concept is itself a step forward.
Posted July 01, 2013
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jamyskis: Sold fairly well in the first couple of weeks, then nosedived massively thereafter, such that at one point, Assassin's Creed 1 for PC was priced higher in retail than Assassin's Creed 2.
I'm going to guess people got their AC fix on console, instead. I wonder what would have happened if it was a PC exclusive such as D3 or Simcity, or if any of these 2 was on console as well.
Posted July 01, 2013
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StingingVelvet: In the end those of us who care about game preservation and DRM are in the small minority.
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jamyskis: The PS4/Xbox One scenario has plainly shown that this claim is without merit.
And SimCIty 2013 have shown that it has merit - just as I predicted. It is doing rather well now.
Posted July 01, 2013
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StingingVelvet: In the end those of us who care about game preservation and DRM are in the small minority.
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jamyskis: The PS4/Xbox One scenario has plainly shown that this claim is without merit.
The only thing the PS4/Xbox One scenario showed is that gamers are still very good at bitching about features they don't like. However, they've also repeatedly shown in the past that most of them were all talk and would still buy products they were swearing they'd never buy just a few weeks before release.

See the Modern Warfare 2, Diablo 3 or Sim City sales for proof of that.
It's likely that people would still have bought the Xbox One no matter how angry they were about the always-online thing as soon as a Halo or other big exclusive title was released on it.
Posted July 01, 2013
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amok: But they want. They will use those number to increase security and implement different revenue streams to make sure they will milk the pirates also.

The only way to fight DRM is to show that it can be just as profitable,and maybe even more, to not implement it. Piracy do not do so, it shows them that they need stricter controls.
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Crosmando: You are making some pretty wild claims there, how can you claim to know how these corporations and their management think, what their business plans are and what their thoughts on piracy are?

Again as I said, if these publishers continue to make incorrect assumptions like that, then they will end up paying the price themselves. No game is uncrackable and piracy cannot be stopped, as I mentioned, whatever they think now eventually they will have to come to that conclusion.
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amok: but they gained a lot of new players on also. I would not be surprised that the # of fans today is pretty equal to what it was before. The new fans would probably not mind a sequel when the time is right.
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Crosmando: You're making that assumption now, can you say that will be the case in a few years time? Markets are rapidly changing.
I like to think that my wild claims and assumptions are just as valid as yours :)
Posted July 01, 2013
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P1na: Just to get things in proportion, since I missed this part of history: how were sales of Assassin's Creed 2 on PC? Ubisoft eventually lost most of it's PC business, but I'm going to guess it's first game with crappy policies sold well?
I don't think anyone really knows that, we're assuming things. Also that game was on consoles first and was a poor port, plus not a real PC style game, so it's use as an example is limited. If AC2 had always on DRM on consoles it would have been a real test.

Anyway this is all a silly debate on assumptions. People dismiss Diablo 3 because it's a big name game and has strong multiplayer, but that's the core point. If a game is desired by a lot of people and sells the DRM right ("it's a feature!") then people don't care. You'll never convince me the majority care as long as the game works.
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This is my favourite topic
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General discussion (archive)Steam "offline mode" not really offline anymore?(427 posts)(427 posts)
(427 posts)