Steamworks features aren't a part of the Steam DRM system. Games can easily detect that they're not available and not use them, and some DRM-free games on Steam do that.

Yes, you are right, I remember these days too)

Online stores basically eradicated the publisher's greatest fear: second hand sales. 15 years ago you could buy a game, play it until you're done and then sell it for a third of the original price for example. Today you can't do that anymore.

Yes, and I think it's quite unfair. But thats what license says(

I understand you now. So you're not arguing that they're not managing their digital rights with copy protection, you're saying that it shouldn't be categorized as under the umbrella of what "Digital Rights Management" should be. So what is your definition or what should be under the umbrella? Items that could potentially interfere with the the game if the DRM fails?

You actually do have that option technically, it just isn't allowed. Don't forget the M in DRM - it's not so much about what rights you have, but to what extent the right holder is able to enforce any restrictions. You are not allowed to do everything you want with DRM-free media either, but the right holders can't directly prevent you from doing it (only by legal actions).

I've though the R in DRM is for Restrictions (j/k). They can't prevent it, but I also can't legally get rid of the games I don't want anymore.
That is the price we pay I guess for having cheaper games than 15 years ago. I couldn't imagine even today to pay 50+ euros for a game.

I disagree here. GOG games are mostly DRM-free, but not completely. We still have games with instruction manual look-ups and some games where you need to ask for a serial number to be 100% functional (Neverwinter Nights comes to mind).

Although GOG provides everything to satisfy the DRM requirements, they are still necessary. If GOG went down today and you lost your NWN s/n, you could not play multiplayer. Or if GOG went down and you lost your manual, you could not play a few games with the instruction manual check.

Not super-strong DRM (and even admittedly NWN's DRM is formed from the basics of how multiplayer data is relayed, so it's purpose wasn't just DRM, it had a dual-purpose). But still a little sprinkling of DRM.

This is the best post in the thread.

On the other hand it has been replaced by extreme sales and massive Steam/Origin/Uplay key selling and trading (e.g. people buying huge amounts of keys for very low prices in bundles, sales or cheaper markets and reselling them for prices only slightly higher than the discount prices, outside sales, all year).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't looking up on manuals unnecessary? You can just type anything you want and the game will still proceed (Master of Orion asked for the names of ships, but no matter what you answer in the GOG version, it still gets it right.). And Neverwinter Nights is a bad example, because the servers are shutting down soon. (Do you even need a key to play on any unofficial servers?)

Yes, though I don't trust key resellers, nor do I like trading game keys. In a way I'm happy with how things are (especially GOG). I'm a hoarder, so selling my games wouldn't be an option anyway. Still it is something that has to be kept in mind.

Very wide definition :

You have the functionality that you expect and have use of in the intended context. And then you have everything that has nothing to do with it => this second part is DRM.

Practical example :

For instance on gog, there is a DRM on getting the installer of the game you bought (you want the installer for the game, you have to log on gog which has nothing to do with installing the game).
Once the game is installed, you play it on your computer without anything else = DRM free game.

Edit : To be clear, I even consider putting ads in a free game some kind of DRM. And I am not against all forms of DRM (under my wide definition)

I'm still playing my DVD version (you don't need the disc in the drive to play) so I'm still playing with those credentials. But I too should probably request my MP key for it. :)