Exactly. This is some the reasons why some of us despise DRM-based clients and draconian subscription agreements - and the limitations that come with it. You effectively get chained to the internet, and is not able to do anything without it.

Supporting all distribution platforms is so much better than an exclusive distribution rights agreement, both for the customers and the developers.
Monopoly sucks.

Acting like Steam will impair game preservation is ridiculous. It's a massive platform used by millions to sell thousands upon thousands of well known games. When it goes under, be it 20 years or 50 or whatever, there will be an official solution. Even if there isn't this is the fucking PC we're talking about, the games will be fine. Fuck, they already, today, can be played without Steam if you choose to go that route.

It's a hollow as shit argument.

Diablo 3 style client-side things? Streaming? Those are the real fucking battles.

Havn't read through this whole thread yet so don't know if It's been mentioned.
Ages ago when Steam really started to get big, Gabe Newell said that if Steam were to go bust and be shutdown, there would be a 30 day period (I think it was) for people to download all the games in their Steam library outside of Steam for use once Steam was shutdown.

While I have heard something like that, there's a couple of problems here - a) what they say might not be what they'll do, and b) it's not Steam going bust that I'm worried about - Gabe won't be there forever...

"Zandolf: Thanks. that has been bugging me. Still wonder why it was needed for mods. Sorry for going off topic folks."

Dude, that's why I wrote the above in an earlier post. I'm not sure where you're going with all this:
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SirPrimalform: Desura definitely doesn't insist on being online all the time

SirPrimalform: It isn't?
http://www.moddb.com/mods/portal-pro/downloads
Pretty sure there's a downloads page for every mod hosted.

SirPrimalform: Can you link to the mod(s) that required Desura to install?
Also yes, when you run Desura it wants to be online (unless you click the offline button).
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Until a few months ago, I had never seen a download button for Desura on moddb.com, but it is there now. And, a few month ago there were mods with Desura download only buttons. Now they have added a moddb download button above the desura button, I probably wasn't the only one asking questions. I neither know why it happen or why Desura would do this for a mod or anything else for that matter, but maybe that's why I asked here after inquiring with Desura and moddb.

Now, what's your deal? I asked some questions, people here were nice enough to answer my questions, and thank you all very much for that, then you come along trying to cast doubt on what I said. What does that do for you? Really sad dude.

Holy Crap I have over 500 games on Steam , I'm screwed there is no way I could Download 500 + games in just 30 days !!

(continuing to whisper)
Yes we are currently few in number, but in time...in time we will rise and rid this world of "onion smut" once and for all.

For some reason i can't access the steam page right now. Anyone else having issues?

EDIT:

...

I shall use the PM system.

Then I guess you can find some solace in knowing that when Steam goes under they certainly are not going to patch the client requirement out off the games as the creditors and publishers would not allow that.

The only games Gabe can even fantasize about promising to make DRM free are the ones made by Valve and even then the rights for those could fall in the hands of the creditors. For the other games it all depends on whether the publishers are willing to let the lost games to be redeemed in their own online shops or advise the customers to sue Steam as if it would still be able to give refunds in it's current state. Surely it would cause a lot of anger on the internet, but as we have seen the almighty Joe Average will keep buying games no matter on how bad terms he needs to accept and the publishers get away with it once again.

They're each $9.99, I was only planning on buying 1 and 2 and I just figured adding a free game wouldn't hurt. Buying them here would've meant that I could've bought just the two games I wanted, bought Tactics at a later date and still have saved a bit of money. Not only that I'm not forced to log into a client everytime I felt like playing and I get a few cool things like the soundtrack.

In fact, under the Interplay bundle, I got all three Fallout games for about $3.30 so even on that front GOG had them beat. Granted, it only worked out for me because I had none of the games on that deal but it works out cheaper nonetheless.

So $3.30 + goodies - DRM or $6.79 with just the DRM? You can decide which was the better deal.

Sweet thread, grow, show them all, show the ills and folly of DRM.

[url=http://harmonia.meccahosting.com/~a0002223/devil_dude.jpg]http://harmonia.meccahosting.com/~a0002223/devil_dude.jpg[/url]

Are you saying that Steam has become so powerful that they can dictate the publishers to agree on letting Steam unilaterally decide whether their games can suddenly be released as DRM free? And even if so, when Steam goes under the creditors would see any DRM free patches as diminishing the company's worth and would sue anyone releasing them.

I've never been to America but Christianity there seems to be like an "Ugly version" of the religion, not to mention the incredible hypocrisy I see from some people there sometimes regarding it and religion in general

Anyway, im starting to get off-topic here, welcome to club OP