The only problems that will come up about Steam are the lack of a physical copy (though physical copies are fucking meaningless with DRM) and the fact that you can't trade in your games.

Of course I love Steam due to the fact that I despise Gamestop with every inch of my being and have never been one to sell my games.

*quickly googles Steamworks CEG*

I read Alpha Protocol is using some shitty 3rd party DRM instead of Steamworks.

Fuckin lol

Doesn't it make a little custom .exe for each person? So even though the game isn't difficult to crack, you have to make a crack for each person who wants a crack. Millions of people.

I dunno, that's how it was explained to me.

>>57879662
Personally the only reason for me to get a physical copy is was all the cool stuff you used to get with it.

Do you remember when instruction manuals were a fucking novel in size with so much additional information?

>>57879338

>implying my games are beautiful and unique snowflakes and not part of the same compost heap

Steam is already a giant DRM system - I really don't understand why people use it.

The main issue is that each game is locked to your steam account for life. If you don't like it (no returns) or have finished with the game you can't give it to a friend or sell it. That's forbidden.

Bought a game with the expectation that all you family could play it? That's forbidden too. According to their terms you need to buy another copy of a game for each player, even if they play in the same house on the same pc.

>>57879875
>My developer thinks I'm cool

>>57879841

Nowadays you go to wikia or some place. Those are usually much better than instruction manuals ever were.

>>57879841
Yeah, I just found a poster from my UT2k3 (yes, 2k3) box. It made me feel like they used to care.

>Your game is yours
>You're only allowed to play it when Valve says it's ok for you to play it

Yeah, no. The funniest thing is Valvefags who don't realize that Steam is DRM too.

>>57879912
That's the thinking of a console gamer.

We don't like your kind around here, boy.

>>57879912
>even if they play in the same house on the same pc.

Log into the same account you retarded douchebag.

>>57879912
Guess what, this is true for all computer software.

>>57879998
This.
Have fun trying to resell a game you've legally purchased.
Steam is DRM too, and it's bordering on intolerable. The only difference is that Steam actually provides a level of convenience and lower prices on games to balance out the bad aspects somewhat.

>>57879912

You can let your family use it all you want. Steam isn't the first product with a retarded EULA that isn't enforceable in court. According to the sticker that came with my Intel CPU, Intel still owns that sticker if I stick it on something they disapprove of they are allowed to take the sticker back (no really).

Yes, Steam is DRM.

But it's so non-intrusive that it feels downright dirty to even mention it in the same sentence as the kind of shit Ubisoft for example pulls.

>>57879912
Bollacks. I and mine share accounts all the damn time to play each others games.

>>57880142

I don't sell games, because that's retarded. What now?

I like owning my games, which is why I don't like Steam.

There's the very real possibility that Valve could put up a paywall [Only $5 a month!] and deny you access to your games. Or all kinds of other crazy stuff like that. [an extra 50 cents a month if you want to play games on the weekends!]

It's simply too much control for anyone to have over the games *I* paid for.

>>57879998
Look at this: http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/9/13/03945/7308

It's an article from 2003 that is your thought type today. Maybe it's time to move forward?

>>57880227
This is something that would apply to ANY download service.

>>57880171
And this is against the Steam user agreement, which could lead to an account ban, denying you access to all your legally purchased games.

>>57879912
>If you don't like it (no returns) or have finished with the game you can't give it to a friend or sell it.
You can unregister games in steam. It's complicated, but possible and legal.

>>57880227
You don't own games. You own the license to use it.

>>57880227

Um, no. You have a pretty dim understanding of how this works. You bought a license. They are required to let you use your license.

>>57880267
That's if they give a fuck, which by all accounts they should not.

>>57880255
Why? These things are still true.
If the Steam network has problems, you are denied access to games. Version updates are also forced, and you are unable to install a specific update if you want.

I don't understand "moving forward" when these problems, and others, are still true.

>>57880267

Yeah, except that people talk about sharing accounts with other people in the house all the time on steam forums and valve encourages it so....

You're just grasping at straws.

Steam is how DRM should be. Unlike what other shitty companies make, Steam doesn't fuck around with you or restrict you from playing games you bought(I had that quite a few times with other DRMs).

>>57880227
Cannot possibly happen. Steam themselves even stated they can't do anything like that.

>>57880255
Caring for the environment is so 60s. Don't you think it's time to move on and just trash the fuck out of this shit?

>>57880394
You can play offline without having access to the internet now.

When was the last time a game had problems because of an update? Just be thankful the developers are still interested in supporting it.

glorious pirate master race here

I let this loli express my feelings

>>57880052
>I want to be able to do what I want with the game I paid for!

>Console faglogic

Uh ok. You DON'T want to be able to sell your used games, or lend them to a friend? What is fucking wrong with you? You want to be able to do LESS THINGS with what you purchased?

>>57880394
>If the Steam network has problems, you are denied access to games.
Offline mode, bro.

>>57880317
That's not how it works. It's like with movies. You don't buy the movie itself. You don't own the rights to redistribute it, sell copies of it yourself, do official advertisement for it, you don't own the rights to the characters, story, etc.

What you do own is a copy of that movie. It is no different with games. You aren't buying a "license" to play a game, you're buying a copy of the game. You have no right to do anything with the contents that falls outside of personal or fair use, but you own a copy of that game.

If someone would actually take Valve to court, I'd certainly hope that the courts would rule in a similar manner, but given their stance lately...

it is your machine is

>>57880264
Haha, not through stardock.

>>57880317
I'm not buying a license when I pick up a physical disc at a store.

Your game is yours (and no one else is)

Man throwing balloon - Ubisoft
Man - Paying customer
Balloon - DRM
Water - Pirates

>>57880599
Why would I want to sell my used games? If I bought them I'll obviously want to play them again after I've finished, be it a year or two or whatever down the track. I've often told my friends about a game I've bought and given them my account to play it on.

umad brah

Steam is fine, I just have little use for it, and no use for it beyond Valve multiplayer games.

>>57880622
I remember the "good ole days" where steam needed to update to be used in offline made.

Made a lot of fucking sense.

>>57880694

thrower - ubisoft
water - game
drm - balloon
man - customer

>>57879998
>when its okay for me to play it
All you have to do is have it on a machine logged into the account. You can have games on separate machines, but you just can't have more than 1 person on the account at a time. If you have it installed already, you can just play in Offline mode if they're down or you lost connection. I don't see the problem in this.

>>57880710
Oh look, more erosion of consumer rights, just because some faggots decide they don't care if they have less right to do what they want with a product.

DRM thread?

>>57880710
Sorry, but your stance is one shared by very little people. Lots of people want the option to sell things they don't use anymore, and you're a total fucking idiot for arguing against that.

Basically, you're arguing from a stance that wants to be able to do less things with what you purchase.

If Valve goes under they'll just provide offline capable versions of all of their games.

They're a privately held company. If Gabe says "give them the games they bought" then Valve will do it.

>>57880648
>I'm not buying a license when I pick up a physical disc at a store.

When was the last time you read the shit you were agreeing to when you installed off a disc? It's still a licence, the devs/publishers can pretty much still do all that shit people are complaining about.

>>57880891
If Valve goes under, there's no guarantee they'll be in a position to do so.

There's also no guarantee that the other companies distributing their games via Steam will say it's okay.

>>57880848

No, actually read the thread first.

>>57880770
But I liked the idea of pirates bursting out and ruining everyones day when the DRM gets hacked ;_;

>>57880908
Either way, it's much harder for them to enforce their bullshit if you have a physical copy of it.

It's gonna be kinda hard for nintendo to come down to your house and confiscate all of your NES games because your license expired or some shit. They wouldn't bother with that.

But if all you have is a digital copy, it's much easier to control it. That's the point.

>>57880908
EULAs, especially shrinkwrap EULAs, cannot trump written law.

>>57880626
>>57880648

You may own the actual CDs, but you don't own the content.

Discs ≠ Owning the game.

>>57880976

it is now, fagget

>>57880891
you already can play steam games offline, can't you?

Sure, Steam is, in actuality a pretty rigid system; but it's so fucking convenient that I couldn't imagine computer games without it.

Seriously though, if I'm somewhere without an internet connection I'm already raging pretty hard.

>>57881039
Again, no. That's not how it works.
You own a copy of the game, with limited rights with regard to what you are permitted to do with it.

These rights are defined by law, not by an EULA.

>>57880970

Yeah there is. Companies don't die overnight. Just look at Blockbuster. They are flat out guaranteed to die very soon, yet at the moment they still have millions of dollars in income every month.

It's really not expensive to have a server that just uploads one file to unlock steam. It would take something like a meteor hitting Seattle to render Steam unfixable.

>>57880835
You're worrying about nothing.

You need something that might seem scary to crusade against but everyone else doesn't give a shit.

So much bu­t­t­hu­rt.

Girl - paying customers

Dodgeball freak - Ubisoft

Big guy - pirates

>>57881101

Yeah but you need to login at least once.

So if you go buy a new computer, you have to login, then you can play offline after that. Valve would make it so that you don't have to login.

>>57881171
Anything that erodes rights is scary.
Too bad most retarded Americans are too complacent and narrow-minded to see that.

>>57880423
>Steam is how DRM should be

No. DRM shouldn't be in the first place.

AFAIK the truth is Valve have no legal obligation to provide a patch that will make your games run without Steam in the event they went bust, but would to be if they felt like it... which they have no reason not to quite frankly

>>57881173
dodgeball freak = green man

for future reference

>>57881101
I have my account in offline mode on at least 3 computers right now. All my games are playable simultaneously. So, yes.

>>57881251
>hurr, only americans are complacent sheep
No, EVERYONE is a complacent sheep. Some sheep think they're not though.

>>57881171
>ur buthurt cuz i dont care about rites

Jesus you are so stupid.

>>57881130
Copyright law does not trump contract law.

>>57881271
>store all registration keys on your comp (or write them down)
>steam going down the drain and not providing support
>pirate all games
>use legit keys

Problem with STEAM is what happens when the system gets shut down. In twenty years you still have physical copies of games (I still have C64 games etc.) but when STEAM upgrades or shuts down one day you lose everything.

>>57881251
How's it like to be afraid of everything?

>>57881415
You've got nothing.

Show me some hard evidence that I should be worried.

The day Steam goes down is the day we have more important things to worry about than video games.

>>57881431
Actually, to an extent, it does. There are some rights you simply cannot sign away, period. Contracts can be invalid.

One of those ways is to have the "contract" hidden until you make a purchase and open the product.

>>57881490
Play those games often eh? Do you even still have a working Commodore 64 or do you just emulate? Pretty sure those games are freeware now too.

>>57881534
You, maybe. There's no issue on either side.

>>57879912 Bought a game with the expectation that all you family could play it? That's forbidden too. According to their terms you need to buy another copy of a game for each player, even if they play in the same house on the same pc.

Oh please, just shut the fuck up already. No one takes this shit seriously, not even Steam. It's just there to cover their bases from publishers. You aren't going to get banned for account sharing unless it's from 18 people in 18 different countries.

I love steam
I love having to open it up even to play single player games
I love it when steam deletes my friends list
I love it when steam wipes my achievements
I love it when steam decides not to open up at all
I love it when steam crashes
I love that steams browser is pure shit
I love that my games are only tied to one account and I can only play that game on that account
I love buying a game pack which included a game I already own and not getting that game as an extra gift
I fucking love steam DRM and that valve can VAC ban me at any time they want
I love getting stupid fucking updates about how Train simulator 9000 has another 12 $40 DLC additions
I love that steam forcibly updated its UI, not making a choice even if you preferred the old UI.

I fucking love Steam. Best thing I ever fucking installed.

>>57881490
It won't, you dumb ass. Those networks are designed with scalability in mind. Do you really think you're more intelligent than their network technicians?

>>57881689
Only because it's awful publicity if they fuck up on banning people for a handful of shares.

It's still forbidden, and if they felt like it, they could fuck every single person up who did it.

STEAM IS TAKIN MAH VIDYA GAEMS

>>57881770

>Use Steam since 2007
>Besides some crashes to me doing stupid shit like running 6 games at once never have it randomly lock up on me

:l

>Implying Steam isn't the exact same shit as DRM

>>57881770
Iv been using Steam since its inception and have not encountered any of these problems beyond it fucking up lots during its launch phase.. you, or your computer is doing something horribly wrong

This reminds me of the whole Arizona illegal immigration law thing.
>State existing laws that have been around for decades
>OMG IT'S A CONSPIRACY!

u niggas is dumb

>>57881770
>I love that my games are only tied to one account and I can only play that game on that account
Why would you have more than one account?

>>57881803

Actually Steam doesn't work on old versions of windows anymore. So if you bought HL1 on Steam then for nostalgia and it runs great on your old computer, then you can't play it anymore because of the update.

>>57881876
>I haven't had any problems personally, therefore everything is fine!

Man, I just updated Steam actually. What the fuck is this new shit UI? Can you not minimize it back to just a list of games?

>>57880870
This has baffled me quite a lot.

Why are people such fucking tools lately?

Unless you're someone from publisher/company X with their unreasonable rules/demands/DRM, there's no logical reason for people to be a said company's advocating little bitch.

>>57881827
Take your tinfoil hat off and stop being a paranoid idiot.. no one gives a fuck but you. Just don't share your account with some random boy in China who will sell access for a nickle an hour.

>>57881770
Why does this stuff never happen to me, or majority of other users?

>>57881827

Yeah, they could also decide to run out of their office building right now and go on a killing spree. Clearly they are going to and we should kill them first.

>>57879662
>implying you can trade in pc games anyway

>>57882022

Or maybe we understand that selling games sucks.

Why the fuck would you buy the game if you're going to get rid of it? Just pirate it.

...what?
you guys like steam?steam is fucking gay

>>57881989
Your computer is out of date, fucking get with the times. That shit isn't even supported by MS anymore. Don't be an idiot.

you guys do know that you can create backups of all your steam games, right? We've seen how bad the servers can get on big release weeks, what do you think would happen if Valve said they had to shut down Steam at the end of the month?

DL and back up your games while you can, but really, at this time there's no point in worrying about Steam closing down.

>>57881689
>I can do illegal things because I'm not getting caught.

>>57882152
Who the fuck cares if you think it's a good idea or a bad idea to do something in your personal opinion?

The question he was really asking is "Why do you stand by and cheer on the loss of consumer rights?"

>I love steam
So do I

>I love having to open it up even to play single player games
I like talking to people and achievements are nice.

>I love it when steam deletes my friends list
No system is perfect but I haven't seen any wide spread deletions.

>I love it when steam wipes my achievements
They're not important.

>I love it when steam decides not to open up at all
You can usually figure out the problem in 5 minutes if you're not retarded.

>I love it when steam crashes
I do too, it means I've actually had to put some effort into making it crash.

>I love that steams browser is pure shit
The old one was but the new one is super.

>I love that my games are only tied to one account and I can only play that game on that account
I wouldn't want to be having to remember a lot of account names and passwords. How many email accounts do you have?

>I love buying a game pack which included a game I already own and not getting that game as an extra gift
Give them an email.

>I fucking love steam DRM and that valve can VAC ban me at any time they want
Good, stop being a douchebag.

>I love getting stupid fucking updates about how Train simulator 9000 has another 12 $40 DLC additions
What if you were interested in Train Simulator 9000?

>I love that steam forcibly updated its UI, not making a choice even if you preferred the old UI.
You can make the new one act and look like the old one.

>I fucking love Steam. Best thing I ever fucking installed.

Right back atcha

>>57882250
Illegal and breaking TOS are two entirely different things

>>57882224

No, it worked and then due to an action by Valve it doesn't work. Don't try to redirect blame. You look like a fucking idiot when you do that.

>>57881658

Not the same guy and don't have a C64, but I do however still have a working nes, snes and what not and I do still fire them up when I want to play one of those older games. Playing on a pc isn't the same, also not having the physical copy of said game also isn't the same for me.

>>57882295

Sorry, there is no personal preference here. If the goal to save money then pirate the game. You're fucking dumb if you think what you prefer has any bearing on reality.

How can anyone possibly think Steam will be shut down within our lifetimes? Steam is not a console, they can't just go "okay time for people to buy Steam 2 and rebuy all their games". Steam does not have a a limited lifespan.

>>57882358
They updated their software and the current libraries are not backwards compatible with OUTDATED AND UNSUPPORTED operating systems. Why should _ANYONE_ care about that? You shouldn't be using Win95 or ME anyway.

The amount of Steam bashing in here based on pure speculation and false pretentions makes this the funniest thread all day. Maybe you guys should read the ToA before you try to spew anymore nonsense.

Not to mention all the completely off-chance examples that happen one in a million. "Gee, better use a Mac because there's a chance your PC can get sup3r 1337 h4x3d." It's sounding that dumb.

>>57882437
You're right, there is no preference involved in the question I asked and you're dodging.

Why are you not only accepting, but supportive as well, of the destruction of consumer rights?

I love Steam.

If it was a woman I'd marry it and have children with it.

BUT OH SHIT I CAN'T GET RID OF MY CHILDREN AND I'M ONLY STUCK WITH ONE WIFE

>>57882473

Are you retarded?

Seriously, you're retarded. Here is what happened:
-Something worked
-Valve changed it, knowing that it would break for some people

Here's what Valve should have done:
-Something worked
-Valve should have made their new software check the OS beforehand, and only updated if said computer featured a supported OS, and not update if otherwise

You are a fucking tool. Stop talking. And no, just because some guy doesn't have any reason to buy a new computer until Valve fucked with him is not in any way his fault. He just wakes up one morning and can't play his game all of the sudden.

>>57882625

Because in this case it's worse than the alternative. I didn't dodge any question.

>>57882625
I have the right to let Valve show me a system that works. I have the right to agree to the terms that I use the system which I agree to it if it is fair. I have the right to buy video games and support an industry. I have the right to call you a fuckwit and enjoy my games.

>>57882716
What are you even talking about? HL1 works fine on my 64-bit Win7 pc.

>>57882716
I bet you were upset when id didn't support anything below 2000 when Doom 3 was released.

>>57882819

Not Half-Life. Steam.

If you have an old computer and lost your copy of HL1, you could download steam, rebuy HL1 (or put in your CD key if you still have it), and you could legally play HL1 again. Then Valve changed Steam so that it doesn't work on old computer. And there was no warning or anything to the user. Steam just stops working one day. And Steam is required for that copy of HL1.

>>57882763
Resale of a game is worse than having your rights circumvented?

Seriously now, do you work for one of these video game companies that is using DRM to forcibly curb resale of games? I can't think of many reasons why a person would honestly say something like that.

>>57882859

No, I wasn't, and now you're trying to change the argument.

No, you won't ever get paid for sucking Valve's cock this much, by the way. I know you were wondering that.

>>57882716
Like I said, no one cares but you because you are either too lazy or too stupid to get with the times. It's not even like it's hard to pirate a new OS, so it looks like you're just lazy and stupid and using Valve as a scapegoat because you're (surprise) lazy and stupid.

What part of unsupported are you not understanding here? It shouldn't come as a shock to you that your unsupported OS is no longer compatible with rapidly updating current software. Go be a fucking idiot somewhere else.

>>57883015 Resale of a game is worse than having your rights circumvented?

That wasn't what I said at all, and I'm not repeating it.

lol at the poorfags wanting to resell their games

>>57883004
Oh, I get you. What OS does Steam not work on anymore?

>>57883069
It's the exact same argument. There has to be a time when developers have to stop supporting something that is out of date.

Who the fuck resells COMPUTER games? That shit doesn't fly because they all come with some sort of registration that can't be re-used. Your argument is fucking invalid right out of the gate.

>>57883118

Everything 9x. 2000 still works.

A lot of your anti-Steam arguments are crap. If you were anything less than a troll or an idiot, you'd know how to buy games for PC. If you ever want to make sensible selections for PC games (and this goes for just about any platform, too, so shut up consolefags.) you have to learn how to buy. Buying smart is something that will help you all your life, and not just in video games. Develop this skill, because you'll find there are things you just can't fucking pirate.

Don't buy games without checking them out first, and don't buy games you won't want to keep. If you just want to try it out, don't buy it. Play a demo. Play a friend's copy. Check out gameplay vids. Read up about it. Unless you absolutely have to have a game immediately, wait until it's on sale, or marked down. Steam does that shit all the time. Get games for $5 or less. And who the fuck buys PC games for "your family"?? Oh jesus crap, /v/ if you REALLY want someone to share games on a steam account, just make a group account and buy your shared games there. But I really don't see a lot of you going, "Hiya, sis! Want to play some Counterstrike? Oh, gosh golly, here, have a seat! Chuckle chuckle!" so this is a bullshit topic.

What is the point of trading PC games considering DRM vs Steam? I do not give away my hardcopies, because every time I have in the past, I've lost a game and had to get another copy. My games are mine, if you like it, sure, I'll let you play. If you want to play it on your machine, GET YOUR OWN.

Goddamn, /v/. No wonder you think PC gamers are idiots. Most of them are, and it pisses me off because I am a PC gamer myself, and I spend so very little for a completely legit library of entertaining games. I'm fast losing hope for PC, and pretty soon I'll only have indie games to choose from since major titles will move exclusively to consoles because the whole of gamingdom has an IQ lower than a fucking potato and can't operate anything more complicated.

>>57883205
Oh look, you're finally starting to understand the problem.

>>57880870

>your stance is one shared by very little people

>Steam doesn't support DOS 6.22
>Valve are douchebags
>waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

>>57883147

Um, no it's a completely different argument.

If your argument was that a patch came out that is required for online play, and it removes support for an OS that was previously officially supported, then your argument would be the same. But it isn't.

Holy shit, sure is corporate apologist central in here.

What the hell happened, /v/? What has gotten into you? Every other thread is now "PIRACY IS BAD" "DRM IS GOOD" "CONSUMER RIGHTS ARE FOR FAGS"

You guys... man.

>>57883232
>Buying

Huh?

>>57883441

It's a download service. It has to check to see who you are. That's the only DRM in Steam. Otherwise it would just be handing out all games to everyone. It's not obtrusive and doesn't make using the product at all difficult.

>>57883523
shutup piratefag, you're not part of this discussion.

>>57882716
As was stated before, it no longer functions on obsolete hardware. As a user of such obsolete hardware, you should expect things to not function.

End of discussion :)

>>57883305
Windows XP 32 bit
36.79%
Windows XP 32 bit
(-2.20%) 36.79%
Windows 7 64 bit
(+2.10%) 26.39%
Windows Vista 32 bit
(-0.40%) 16.15%
Windows 7
(+0.36%) 11.76%
Windows Vista 64 bit
(+0.14%) 7.67%
Windows XP 64 bit
(+0.05%) 0.64%
Windows 2003 64 bit
(-0.01%) 0.42%
Other
(+0.05%) 0.17%

>Other
>0.17%

pffthahahaha if I was in that .17% percentile I might think that I should upgrade from a computer made 10-20 years ago

>>57883546
That's its only saving grace. It does provide a level of convenience, but overall it's still a little shady in some aspects.

It's still DRM, it's still not all good, and the bad parts deserve to be looked at with scrutiny and disdain, not acceptance.

>>57883596
As a user of obsolete hardware, you should expect something that you purchased that met the system requirements of your obsolete hardware to continue functioning with it.

>>57883621

This is the stupidest post in this thread so far.

Steam doesn't function on any other OS besides the ones listed. That .17% are people using linux. It's impossible for Win98 to show up on that list.

>>57883779

This, seriously. How are people this stupid?

>>57883811
Linuxfags have more sense than people who still use 98

>>57881770
>I love that steam forcibly updated its UI, not making a choice even if you preferred the old UI.

he's still mad over the UI update

>>57883950

You clearly have never met a linux user, on his Pentium 2 and 64 MB of RAM.

>>57883735
>it's still a little shady

What about Steam could you possibly call shady?

I registered an account. It's my account only and forever.

I buy games. They are registered to my account only and forever. (No "CD-Key in use", CDs, etc)

To run my games, I auto-login to my account. Nobody else can run my games.

I can play my games anywhere, on any computer. Ultimate portability.

The only issues I can think of are if you buy games for multiple people in the household to be playing. That's annoying because you must register the game with an account. Only one account can use it, and thus only one instance of the game can run at any one time. Kinda sucks.

Other than that.. it's problem free. I have heard people complain that 'oh you can't play offline', but let me state that for one, I have NEVER in the 6-7+ years of using Steam been UNABLE to run my games offline, let alone at all. The only issues like that that I can remotely remember are when the whole Steam service is down for a couple hours or something. No biggie, I can live with that. Especially since similar services like Xbox Live are down for much more than that, and you have to pay for it.

>>57883811
By that then I can assume that people who did use 98 have upgraded to a supported operating system and you're just going on about something that no one cares about except for the strangest neckbeard ever?

>>57884056
>I have never had a problem with Steam, therefore there are no problems with Steam.

>>57884014
At least they can use Steam if they wanted to

>>57883868
>>57883779
This a painfully obvious samefag, but you have a point. If you bought Half-Life 1 on Steam and the system requirements listed an obsolete OS, then I suppose you should expect it to always work on that OS.

Things change, though. Oh well. You gonna keep crying about it?

>>57884142
>99.9% of users haven't had problems with Steam
>All users have problems with Steam

>>57884124 neckbeard

So now you're just throwing out catchwords without actually knowing what they mean?

Some people don't buy new computers, and Valve has no reason to make their computers stop working. Your entire argument is "You have a reason to upgrade, and that reason is that Valve broke your computer".

You're also assuming that I have a Win 9x computer, which I don't. You really are the dumbest.

>>57884142
Thank you so much for shedding some light on the other side. I was having trouble imagining what sort of problems people could have with Steam, even though I made an attempt at guessing and rebuking a few.

Oh wait, you did none of that. Shit.

>>57884258
Oh, hey, nice statistics you got there. Whose ass did you pull them out of?

>>57884219 This a painfully obvious samefag

No it wasn't.

>>57884320
Yes it was.

>>57884315
So I have to restate things that have been mentioned numerous times throughout the thread? You seriously want me to do that because you're too lazy or stupid to just read the other posts people have made?

>>57884219
You are wrong. Please read >>57882716

Wait, wait, wait a minute. Windows 98 support ended in June 2007.

What are we getting upset about?

>>57884440
There's a difference between support and compatibility.
Windows 98 COMPATIBILITY has ended, locking anyone with legacy hardware out of otherwise functional games.

>>57884374
Yes.

>>57884384
No, you are wrong.

>>57884440

Because it'll happen again, whenever Valve pleases. So if you'll have to continue buying new computers just to use software you already paid for.

>>57884508
And compatibility ended.. well, a few weeks ago.

Get over it.

>>57884284
Not the guy you are replying to but I fix PCs for a living and I've only come across a machine that predates 2000 twice and they were used by old people that wouldn't use steam.

Name one kind of person that isn't a neckbearded faggot who is resistant to change who would primarily use an outdated OS on obsolete hardware for gaming?

>>57884527

No, you are wrong.

>>57884546
99% of people who play games have recent hardware. Valve has no reason to care about the remaining 1% because they are only 1%.

Why are you surprised by this?

>>57884609
Here's the real question:
So what? So what if someone wants to use outdated hardware to play an older game. If you want to do that, more power to you.

There's absolutely no legitimate reason why someone who wants to do that should be unable to.

>>57884609

My uncle. He was big into computers and isn't anymore. He still plays Settlers and Quake frequently enough. He doesn't have any reason to buy a new computer.

Also, I'm pointing this out yet one more time because no one has addressed it >>57882716. Answer this, faggots.

>>57884508
Valve gave everyone a 3 year warning. I don't see how this is unreasonable.

Hmm... Seems to be another thread filled with concerned buyers, captain! Oh wait, I'm the captain!

>>57884784
It's unreasonable because there's no valid reason to do it in the first place.

>>57884716
>If you want to do that, more power to you.

Except for the fact that you cannot do that any more.

The legitimate reason is that Steam has been updated for modern operating systems. What else do you want to hear? Send Gabe a whiny email why don't you.

>>57882358
>You look like a fucking idiot when you do that.
you're on an anonymous image board you dipshit

>>57884854
>Except for the fact that you cannot do that any more.
Congratulations, you've discovered the point!

>>57884748
If he were big into gaming and still plays a few games that were released in the 90's would it be too far to assume that he would've bought them before Steam was established?

>>57884748

I think that the anon whining about the legacy hardware no longer being supported is the type of person that will be the first to bitch when they find out that certain aspects of a new service were withheld in order to keep compatibility for the largest number of users.

>We have to suffer because others faggots can't get with he times

>>57884890
No, I think it is you who needs to discover it. You can't do it any more. You cannot do it any longer. It cannot be done.

You can't play on legacy hardware.

>>57884842
Because they don't want to fork their development team, even if it is only one guy, for <0.2% population?

>>57884629

That's great, and then your game doesn't work on the new OS and Steam doesn't work on the old OS, and you can't play your game for no reason at all.

>>57885022
...again, that would be the entire problem.

>>57884146
>All games $60.
>Most of those games actually worth less than $50 NEW.

>>57882358
Why doesn't AOL work with my Win 3.1 anymore?

>>57885041
And therein lies the problem with DRM.
Uh-oh!

>>57885041

BZZZZZZT wrong. Again, see >>57882716

>>57885066
It's only a problem for those who want it to be.

You should not expect to be able to run modern applications on legacy hardware. This includes old games being served through current programs (Steam).

Let me restate that. You have no right to expect this shit to work on outdated, unsupported, incompatible hardware.

>>57885149
I wouldn't do it. No company with their right minds would even if DRM wasn't involved.

>People complain about all kinds of problems with Steam
>Encounter none of those problems despite using Steam from the start
>People whine about not being able to resell games
>Keep games for years because I'm not a poorfag, replay them every now and again and really enjoy them all
>People complain about how it's "just a license" and other legal things
>Recognize that it's identical in every way to the physical sale model

Feels good, man

Also, protip: Digital Distribution promotes small developers and independent games over big, shitty companies like Actblizzion.

The Steam-haters are just trying to weasel in scenarios of which Steam may not play a game and failing. Stop falling for their bullshit, people will always hate something for no reason at all.

>>57885239
inb4
>lol you haven't had problems doesn't mean anyone else didn't have problems!!1

>>57882716
>using a 15 year old OS

>>57885295 with a 13 year old game

>>57885221
>You have no right to expect this shit to work on outdated, unsupported, incompatible hardware.
Yes, you do.
If I buy a game, and the system requirements state that it will work on my hardware, I have a reasonable expectation that it will, in fact, work on my hardware.

ITT: Faggots miss the point entirely.
DRM is ugly business, but at when you line up all the DRM solutions out there Steamworks is the one who has seen the ugly stick the least.

>>57882716
lol what a faget

>>57882716
Valve doesn't need to do anything. In the ELUA everyone agrees to Valve has stated they can change the minimum recommended requirements and they don't have to continue to support anything they don't want to and can remove compatibility for whatever they want when they deem it is necessary.

If you don't like it don't agree to it.

>>57885373
This.
Again, Steam is easily some of the most tolerable DRM in use... but it's still DRM.

>>57885284
Well, sure I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for me, all my friends, all my acquaintances, all my steam friends, and everyone I've ever spoken to about Steam in an online game.

>>57885342
Not after fifteen years have passed, my friend. It is unreasonable to expect such things.

>>57885434

Appeal to authority fallacy.

>>57885493

Yes you do, because >>57882716

Sure Steam is DRM, but wouldn't you rather have someone's DRM who believes this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLC_zZ5fqFk

over some dick who thinks pirates and sharing games are actually cutting into their profits in any considerable way, and that the solution is viruses and not just making better fucking games?

>>57885547
Simple logic, actually.

Or, y'know, you can keep mouthing off these excuses "blah blah my decade old computer won't run games any more wtf!!! i have rights!" I'm sorry for what has happened to you. Maybe the next welfare check will enable you to purchase a modern system.

>>57885239
I'm a PC user, and I support this post.

>>57885628 Simple logic, actually.

Nope, that was a textbook appeal to authority fallacy.

>>57885547
Take Valve to court because they took away the ability to play games on ancient computers.

See what happens.

>>57885320
>15 year old operating system still
>not staying current with technology

it's your own fault, no one else is responsible for YOUR FUCKING COMPUTER. And if it's that fucking enraging to you, pirate a non-steam crack.

>>57885596
It's interesting to see you quote that post of yours so much, considering it's totally wrong and misguided. They (Valve) made the decision to no longer support compatibility with outdated operating systems. You act as if they didn't think of that.

>>57882716
I can't play Crysis on my Tandy with Windows 3.1! I demand compensation!

>>57880227

This is a stupid way of looking at it. You can run the games without steam by simply opening executables in your steam folder. Steam is a content delivery service and a game overlay, not some sort of gateway into the games that you play.

Sony is discontinuing the floppy disc.

Shit just got real folks.

>>57885680
That does not make it incorrect.

>>57885735

They didn't. It didn't deny the update, it just stopped working altogether.

>>57885342
>If I buy a game, and the system requirements state that it will work on my hardware, I have a reasonable expectation that it will, in fact, work on my hardware.

Return the game then.

Also, there's a reason car manufacturers are allowed to stop providing parts for cars older than 8 years old.

>>57885747
correct me if i'm actually wrong, but i don't think clicking on the .exe actually works for ;some; games. some games need you to be logged into steam.

>>57885775

As a logical claim, yeah it does.

>>57885769
How dare they! I just installed Fallout 3 using floppy disks! It only took 7,540 disks! How am I supposed to run it now?

>>57885786
..That doesn't mean they didn't think of that. They decided against it, for reasons unknown. They don't care. Less than 0.1% of the Steam population use such systems.

>>57880151
try and log onto the same account on two computers, retard

>>57885747
That is only true with a very small number of games. Most require steam to be open and a connection with the servers unless you're in offline mode.

Since, you know, it's DRM.

>>57879841
I read the backstories in the Starcraft and Homeworld manuals so fucking much.

>>57885823 Also, there's a reason car manufacturers are allowed to stop providing parts for cars older than 8 years old.

Terrible analogy. First of all, I didn't say Valve isn't allowed to do this. I said it's retarded that they did. Second of all, car manufacturers selling parts has nothing to do with a perfectly functioning product that STOPS working because of a company's action.

>>57880573
>You can play offline without having access to the internet now.

That's just a lie. You still can't play a game if it's not updated to the latest version, and you still have to check in from time to time

>>57885823
Steam doesn't allow returns.

>>57885863
an infinitely more tolerable sort than some, though. i could maybe give them a CD check. anything else is stupidly invasive and should be fought.

>>57885863 That is only true with a very small number of games.

No it isn't, it's true of almost all steam games. You only own Orange Box, don't you?

ITT One retired neckbeard (try to picture it in your head) complains to young'ins that his computer doesn't run games anymore, while the young'ins and Steam don'tgiveafuck.

I'm tired of this thread so I'm going to stop posting in it.

>>57886014

>>57885978
>Hurr I use a computer from the 1960s and if you don't continually support my computer with your modern software I'm going to get mad!

>>57879338

The games have been cracked, and now only you users have problems with server, ta da waiting fags while i play unrestricted by fail servers

>>57886044
Let's see. I just bought Terran Conflict.
Let's try closing steam and launching it.

OH BOY, WHAT'S THIS, STEAM LAUNCHED.
HOW ABOUT THAT.

>>57886014
>Can't use a game unless its at its latest version
>Latest version is checked by connecting to the internet
>If you have no connection Steam thinks its at its latest version

wtf,seriously. Are you braindead or something?

>>57886099 HURR that's not his argument at all, I'm a dumbfuck DURR

>this thread

>>57886209
Let's see, his argument is this:

>Using outdated soft/hardware
>Valve changes Steam
>Steam no longer works on his computer

And my parody was

>Using outdated soft/hardware
>Valve changes Steam
>Steam no longer works oh his computer

>>57886135

AMAZING. ONE GAME. MUST MEAN ALL OF THEM.

LET'S TRY EU3. OH STEAM DIDN'T LAUNCH. LET'S TRY PENUMBRA. OH STEAM DIDN'T LAUNCH. LET'S TRY BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT ISN'T STEAMWORKS. OH STEAM LAUNCHED TWO OR THREE TIMES OUT 300.

>>57885978
you're retarded then if you can see the similarities.

Hey guys. I will now educate you.

1. Steam or Valve cannot take away games you own, under no circumstances.
The EULA does not say they can, they cannot do it legally, and even with the "license" bullshit, they do not own the licenses to those games.
Valve ALWAYS have to provide you access with your games. If they charge for their service, they have to give you the games you already own, if they shutdown, they also have to give you the games.

2. If Steam changes in a significant way, that effects users. Such as changing the EULA, or maybe in 10 years it no longer supports windows XP, they are legally obliged to give every user a warning. It is usually 28 days (or a month).
In this event, they are still legally obliged to allow you access to games you have purchased.