I'm sure most people would argue with this claim. Most bundles are Steam key bundles. When they're not they're Desura bundles, or on rare occasions Gamersgate or GOG bundles. In short, bundles sell keys, and they're very successful doing that. Not to mention that people are trading Steam games, selling them and gifting their keys. A part of Steam's success is the ease with which keys can be given.

I know about all the bundle stuff, but why isn't Valve doing it themselves and you get them at third parties all over the web instead?

Why would they? Every developer wants to be on Steam, and all the roads lead to Steam. Games you buy in various stores are activated on Steam and you play on Steam. This makes Steam highly valuable.

Okay so I broke down and created an account with them just to see what would happen. XD If they end up pestering me about never shopping there I may have to get really really upset and start crying.

Now all I need is 14.99 and I can pick up the one game they have that I want that I can't get here. :D

Which is?

I'd buy from Gamersgate if not for the DRM. What really pisses me off too is that they lie and say some games are DRM-free.

Well well well, will you look at that. Regional pricing works in our favour once in a blue moon. The game's price for me is 10€ or 13.8$. Yes, it's only 1$. Still, it's cheaper.

Damn, like what? I recently got HOMM III Complete from there for cheap :\

I think he's referring to the workaround necessary to make a standalone installer.

Like having a gamersgate account?

No, like backing up the temporary files.

Can you explain what that means, I have no idea- HOMM III is my first DRM-free from there.

edit: nvm, I know what you mean. Yeah, seriously, this is bullshit- what the hell kind of DRM-free doesn't let you keep the installer.

You can backup the temporary file from the GG folder, which is just as good, I think, but seriously awful to make people do that.

Heh, I just bought Democracy there (within the past couple of weeks or so), installed it, got ready to play and noticed that the game had "check for update" button right there, so just for grins thought I'd click it, and got two new updates that added two new scenarios to the game.

I don't know how old those updates are, but Democracy is IIRC over 5 years old. They're on Democracy 3 now. So this may just be another example of what you're talking about it. I actually couldn't believe it. I've gotten spoiled by GOG always having the latest versions (at least I think, now watch someone prove me wrong on that).

So now I feel like I need to go back to ALL of my GG games and check for updates. Something one shouldn't have to do with digitally purchased content IMO.

EDIT: I just looked in my Democracy folder, and the Democracy executable is dated 2006, so it's probably a great deal past 5 years old.

Online authentication for all games, even those listed as DRM-free.

Of course, people say that it is easily circumvented by copying some file, can't really confirm that.

Either way, I don't care, just the fact that they label it as DRM-free and then require internet connection leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'd rather just buy my games elsewhere.