Ban on DRM

[Aradiel]

it would be impossible to use steam if you don't have the net - in much the same way it is impossible to use twitter without it - unless they start taking postal updates

Though that is the case, I disagree with the point you are trying to make. Orange Box, DVD version. Half Life 2, DVD version. Just Cause 2, DVD version. You get the idea - if you buy the physical product, then you can install it from that physical product. Assuming you have an interent connection depsite buying the physical version this is silly.

but if you have the DVD version you - iirc - don't have to activate it through steam.

I'm honestly not sure on that matter and will check when I can, for curiosity's sake.

[rancidpunk]

agreed - but if you are going to be using a DD medium - then you are going to have an internet connection - so imho this argument is moot.

it would be impossible to use steam if you don't have the net - in much the same way it is impossible to use twitter without it - unless they start taking postal updates

but if you have the DVD version you - iirc - don't have to activate it through steam.

No, you do have to activate it through Steam and you have to be in online mode to do it. I just tried to do it offline with Napoleon TW and it told me I had to be connected to the internet to activate the game.

I only have Steam installed because the bloody meatworld dvd I bought from Asda wouldn't work otherwise and I wasn't going to pay an extra £10 to buy it online. Let the companies release games available only to people with an internet connection, but why should they then be allowed to sell exactly the same product in it's physical form that is not fit for purpose without web access. If you have no internet connection and wish to activate your product it would mean taking your PC tower to a connection, activating your product and then taking your tower home again to start playing the game offline. Not a great option if you live in the middle of nowhere. Updates however would then just be a matter of downloading them to a flash drive when you get a chance and installing them when you get home, afaik this is not possible with the initial activation of a game.
DD games, music and films generally cost more to buy than their physical counterparts in a poor attempt on the part of the media industries to maintain their monopoly on distribution, they get away with it because they can still claim the consumer has a choice of where to purchase them. This choice is effectively not available for games that require online activation.

[scuzzmonkey]

No, you do have to activate it through Steam and you have to be in online mode to do it. I just tried to do it offline with Napoleon TW and it told me I had to be connected to the internet to activate the game.

my mistake - I didn't think this was the case.

In which case, yes, this is stupid and needs to be sorted out

[martindevans]

In which case, yes, this [steam] is stupid and needs to be sorted out

Why? The second post on this thread says:

The risk associated with banning DRM is that it saddles society with one particular way of how things must be done

A more desirable approach is to solve the same problem by increasing freedoms rather than by restricting them, for example by passing legislation that explicitly permits...

In my opinion, that's a better way to do things, and it's what steam already does. Yes, basically, steam is just another DRM service which one would think restricts gamers. However, steam is a fantastic example of increasing freedoms (even though it includes DRM) because it allows you to download the game again at any time, as many times as you like, on any computer, your save games are always available no matter what machine you're on etc, you get the idea. Steam is the kind of service we should be encouraging. Yes, it protects the games the developers create, just like any other DRM, and it should come with the DRM warning label to make sure gamers know this, but it has loads of fantastic features which makes the experience of using and playing these games far smoother.

[guyincognito]

I don't think banning things is the right move. You need to get the companies to realise its not in their best interests and also consumers to realise what DRM is and why it is bad. If you try to ban it you will just get DRM by another name then you will need to ban that it will be whack-a-mole, like trying to stop piracy.

[scuzzmonkey]

i was refering to still having to activate the phsyical retail copy through steam is a pain, i'd assume the only reason not to get the DD version was because you don't have the net and/or didn't want to use steam.

[rancidpunk]

Scuzz, have you compared the prices on steam with the prices on amazon or play.com for the game, as they are usually considerably cheaper than the DD.

[scuzzmonkey]

Scuzz, have you compared the prices on steam with the prices on amazon or play.com for the game, as they are usually considerably cheaper than the DD.

tbh, i only ever by bundles off of steam and the wednesday sales - so no i haven't checked