Well this, Desura, sounds like a good idea then, I think I'll have a look see.

Does it say which games are DRM-free, and which ones aren't?

Except Desura also offers direct downloads, doesn't force updates and doesn't have any inherent DRM (the client doesn't need to be running). The fact that they offer direct downloads makes the client completely optional anyway.

Please think before you put finger to key and don't assume you know the reasons people don't like some digital distributors, thanks.



It doesn't unfortunately. I have asked about that in the past and they just assured me that most of the games were DRM-free. I've just been individually asking the developers of games I'm interested in whether there's any DRM.

Hmm.. so take it on a game by game basis?

Not as 'convenient' as I'd like, but as long as the info is available.

Except you don't need to run the client every time you want to play (or indeed at all since they now have direct downloads), so yes I can praise Desura whilst complaining that I have to run a client to play Steam games.


Yeah unfortunately. If enough of us ask, you never know, they might add that info. At the moment I just send a PM to the developer's Desura account.

Those are different people. It's mainly the pro-steam folks who have that particular complaint against origin.

I don't think Desura is fashionable just yet - people are only starting to discover it. What you say might well be the case in a couple of months though. The reason you get praise for Desura from the same people who complain about Steam is that Desura actually addresses those complaints. Desura can stand to improve in some areas but I honestly can't think of a single gripe I have with Steam that also applies to Desura.

Add meeee: KeenanW

Went to add you, turns out that you're already one of the two friends I have on Desura. :P

yeah, and for what games? indies that are already available DRM-free everywhere else! and you praise Desura for that?!?

i'll be impressed if you can say the same thing about non-indie games that come with DRM on other platforms.

Ok, I've taken the plunge and installed this new fangled cupboard thing and added my Humble Bundle.

S'nice so far.. and there's a chat client, it gets better.

the point is that it's relatively easy for Desura to offer its games DRM-free when the vast majority of them are DRM-free indie games. that's not much of an accomplishment. in fact, i don't even know why you would go through a client for those games when you can direct-download them DRM-free elsewhere.

you act as if Desura was better than Steam or Origin while ignoring the fact that Desura offers only indies that are DRM-free anyway.

colour my impressed when you can download games like NFS: Hot Pursuit or Morrowind from Desura DRM-free without needing the client to run the games.

I think it's better.

There's no BS attached to it, I can keep my indie stuff in one place and get updates and news about them, now without resorting to steam or origin.

I think that's not too shabby. I know you don't feel the same way, but this, in principal, is nothing like the other two who have the unlterior motive of overall control.

dude, i never meant anything else. i have nothing at all against Desura.

Yeah I know what you're saying, but I think you're also saying that you don't feel it's any better than the other two. I was just trying to point out that in the things that matter, it's very different. This actually is a tool, rather than being a form of control made up to look like a tool.

Do you see what I mean?

i do.

but i have plenty of indies DRM-free dowloaded directly and backed up on an external drive. i'd have no need for a client just to do that. seems unnecessary to me.

the point of Steam is that it's a replacement DRM. you have to deal with Steam alright, but you no longer have to deal with SecuROM, StarForce, Tages, SolidShield, ProtectDISC, etc. that's the big advantage, IMO.