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I don't use Steam nor will I unless steam makes Steam client optional and allows to download all games and patches as stand alone installers DRM free.
I prefer buying things from GOG because they're always DRM-free here, but I'm comfortable with Steam as I never had problems with it at all. I only buy games on Steam nowadays when I'm absolutely sure they won't be released on GOG any time soon.
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Petrell: I don't use Steam nor will I unless steam makes Steam client optional and allows to download all games and patches as stand alone installers DRM free.
This
In effect, yes. If a game is Steam only I tend to go "Well, I'll just wait and see if it gets a DRM-free release."

There has simply never been a game that I've wanted to play enough to overcome this.
I'm not exactly a DRM lover, but I never had any problems with Steam whatsoever.
And as with any program / platform our there, there are things I like and things I don't.
I guess technically I'm a Steam user as I created an account years ago to play a freeware game. Deleted the client weeks later and never touched Steam again. Maybe I should check if the account is still active and if is ask them to delete it.
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Br0adsw0rd: i just strictly refuse to agree to STEAM's "statistics function" for free - spyware is spyware it doesn't matter how you name it.
its electronic world today - all electronic info is used by someone for statistics.

credit card companies know what we buy, shops with bonus cards know what we buy, some markets follow customers movements inside their building if you happen to have smartphone (by MAC address i believe) - and lets not even start about insurance companies or info tied to your social security number.

if one wants to live "anonymous" these days, its nigh impossible. in western countries anyways.

anyways, i consider that statistics part of steam no different from what any other company with customers does.
Im in a similar boat to some others in here such as jamyskis.

There was a time when I refused to buy steam games or any digital games for that matter, but over timeI have come to understand that if I want to pay certain games I either have to put up with steam or I simply cannot play them.

Most of my steam purchases have been through heavy discounts but there are also some that I have bought on steam simply because I wanted to play the game and it was either steam or dont play it, Im not spending even more money to buy a console to play a game id rather play on the PC.
I tolerate Steam. Never had any problems with it, unlike some other forms of intrusive DRM I've encountered. Prefer not to buy from there, but if they have a game I really want to play, and it's on sale, I'll buy it. Recently, I've bought from Steam a bit more than usual, but only sale games with Linux versions.
Does it still count as a boycott if I just never signed up? Even to redeem a free code?
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TwoHandedSword: Does it still count as a boycott if I just never signed up? Even to redeem a free code?
Probably more than having stopped bying on or using it.
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TwoHandedSword: Does it still count as a boycott if I just never signed up? Even to redeem a free code?
Now that is most probably just indifference or laziness. If you would like to play games from Steam but don't want to sign up, then this would be a boycott.
Post edited November 07, 2013 by Trilarion
I don't buy Steam games because I don't like DRM but I also don't take issue those who do purchase from there. That said, I do have a pretty respectable Steam library, mostly due in part to codes and gifts. When I spend actual money on games I usually buy from here, Humble, Desura, and very rarely GamersGate.

I don't know if that would be considered boycotting...
Post edited November 07, 2013 by fortune_p_dawg
My preferences:
1. A DRM free retail copy of a game(some re-releases of old games),
2. A retail copy of a game that has DRM but doesn't needs to be activated via internet(old games for example),
3. A retail copy of a game which needs to be activated via internet(Assassin's Creed series or Skyrim),
4. DRM free digital version(for example here at gog.com),
5. Digital version with DRM(games bought via Steam).

As you can see, I don't hate Steam or UPlay. I haven't got any problems with them, but I am afraid of them a little bit, because there are many people who does.
I prefer games on CDs or DVDs. I will only buy a digital copy(and only via gog.com or Steam) of a game when it's the only way to get it or when it's much cheaper than in the store. But it has to be really a good game, otherwise I will wait while the game will become cheaper in retail shops(The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing).
In general, I don't trust the digital distribution much. Yes, Valve stated that they can release a patch that will make their games playable without Steam, but what will happen if they go bancrupt and I haven't downloaded my games? From where will I be able to download them? This applies for the other digital stores as well.
And there is something tha I call "emotional value". This is something that digital copies haven't got yet(probably never will), only the boxed copies have. It's a thing that you see your games on the shelf, you can put down them in anytime, you can watch at them, hold them in your hands, read the annotations written in the back of the box.
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fista1: 4. DRM free digital version(for example here at gog.com),

I prefer games on CDs or DVDs. I will only buy a digital copy(and only via gog.com or Steam) of a game when it's the only way to get it or when it's much cheaper than in the store. But it has to be really a good game, otherwise I will wait while the game will become cheaper in retail shops(The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing).
In general, I don't trust the digital distribution much. Yes, Valve stated that they can release a patch that will make their games playable without Steam, but what will happen if they go bancrupt and I haven't downloaded my games? From where will I be able to download them? This applies for the other digital stores as well.
I've still got a bit of an irrational attachment to hard copies of games as well, but this seems odd to me. If the digital version of the game is DRM-free, then simply purchase, DL, and burn to disc/store on HDD/USB stick and it's yours forever. Doesn't matter what happens to the store itself. I have all my GOG and Indie bundle games stored on my storage drive as well as backed up on an external.

For myself, the list would be similar except that number 4 would be number 2 for me and the others would move up in position.

(On a side note, even though I use Steam, I have no faith whatsoever that Valve will release a patch to make all their games playable without Steam if the company is going down the tubes. I think anyone that believes Valve will do this is fooling themselves).