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PinkyThePig
Premium Member
join:2011-05-02
Tempe, AZ

PinkyThePig to Chubbysumo

Premium Member

to Chubbysumo

Re: How to take billions and turn them into millions

said by Chubbysumo:

I am not for pirating, but look what steam did to the video game market. When companies embraced it, it took off, and game piracy plummeted a ton. There used to be dozens of top level warez groups that would put out games, now there are only 3.

That is exactly how it worked out for me. I used to have no issue with pirating games if they were single player only or largely single player. After I discovered steam it was awesome. Not only would I never lose a CD Key again but I could install my games wherever I went and keep the saves etc. with them as well. Plus I no longer have to decide between crappy game A and crappy game B that were the only 2 games left at a local Best Buy. If the Movie market would wisen up and realize it is their business practices that are causing so many people to be file sharers then maybe they could reclaim some business.
Rekrul
join:2007-04-21
Milford, CT

Rekrul

Member

said by PinkyThePig:

That is exactly how it worked out for me. I used to have no issue with pirating games if they were single player only or largely single player. After I discovered steam it was awesome. Not only would I never lose a CD Key again but I could install my games wherever I went and keep the saves etc.

Provided it's on a system with Internet access. Try to install them on a system that's not connected and you're SOL.

If Valve ever decides that you've violated their terms of service, your entire Steam-crippled game collection becomes useless.

If Steam ever goes down, you'll lose all your games. That "promise" that Valve will release an offline patch doesn't mean a thing unless they're willing to put it in writing. And if Valve is ever sold to another company, THEY will have the final say about which games get supported and which ones don't.

Also, when Valve decides to jack up the system requirements for Steam, you'd better be ready to upgrade your system (if you haven't already) or you'll suddenly find that you can no longer play your games.

Did you know that retail packages of Half-Life II list the minimum version of Windows as 98, but you can't actually run it on Windows 98 anymore because they changed Steam's requirements? The same thing will happen when they change the requirments to Windows 7. Anyone still using XP is going to be forced to upgrade if they want to continue playing the games that they "bought".

Thaler
Premium Member
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA

Thaler

Premium Member

said by Rekrul:

Provided it's on a system with Internet access. Try to install them on a system that's not connected and you're SOL.

Use a backup install copy from an internet-connected computer. Problem solved. Also, if your primary computer(s) are not internet connected, then Steam really isn't a service for you. Having a 56k internet connection requirement isn't a big thing to ask of a gaming rig.
said by Rekrul:

If Steam ever goes down, you'll lose all your games.

Offline mode. It will continue to operate for some time without syncing with Steam servers, but I really doubt Steam will be out of commission for a time period of greater than a month.
said by Rekrul:

Did you know that retail packages of Half-Life II list the minimum version of Windows as 98, but you can't actually run it on Windows 98 anymore because they changed Steam's requirements?

If your gaming rig today is operating on Windows 98, you're already doing it wrong. Requiring XP or greater basically covers almost all the target audience. And if the OS really is make-or-break...then pay the $30 and get a new copy. This is all assuming there's absolutely no work-around for Steam on Windows 98.

I will agree that the games you purchase from Steam are nowhere near as openly usable as those you purchase from GOG (Good Old Games - DRM free). However, since gaming studios aren't willing to go that route entirely just yet, putting up with unobtrusive DRM will do for now. I will gladly trade my nonexistant Steam troubles in exchange for eliminating my reliance on physical media & CD-keys.