"Game unavailable"? wtf?

[Adeno]

The problem with DRMs that relies on constant stable net connection is that when you suddenly, for some reason, have no net access, you will never be able to play your legitimately bought games until you get your net connection fixed. This is why I dislike DRMs that rely on net connection. Especially in my case, there are times when the net connection just dies for no apparent reason. I get stuck with boredom at nights without the ability to play the games that I paid for.

 

Not all DRMs are horrible, but those that force you to be on the net constantly are the ones I despise because they're saying "If you have no net connection, you can't play the game you just bought!". They better come up with another kind of DRM that will let players enjoy the games with or without net connection. As a consumer, it's not our priority or obligation to think about how they can properly secure their games from being pirated. What we're supposed to be concerned about is if we're having fun with the game, if it works properly on our machines, and if we can play them without being hindered by anything at all. As consumers, we have the right to air out our wishes and complaints. We're not the DRM techies, we're gamers, we're not supposed to worry about their security issues. If their security methods are destroying our fun or stops us from playing the games we paid for, then there is an ugly problem that should be solved, and how to solve it, it's all up to them.

[audioave10]

Well said. Some people seem to think that reliable internet is available everywhere. Its just not the case. I don't understand why you can't buy a disc "OR" buy through Steam.

Its the lack of choice that bothers me.

[Sepherose]

The problem with DRMs that relies on constant stable net connection is that when you suddenly, for some reason, have no net access, you will never be able to play your legitimately bought games until you get your net connection fixed. This is why I dislike DRMs that rely on net connection. Especially in my case, there are times when the net connection just dies for no apparent reason. I get stuck with boredom at nights without the ability to play the games that I paid for.

 

Not all DRMs are horrible, but those that force you to be on the net constantly are the ones I despise because they're saying "If you have no net connection, you can't play the game you just bought!". They better come up with another kind of DRM that will let players enjoy the games with or without net connection. As a consumer, it's not our priority or obligation to think about how they can properly secure their games from being pirated. What we're supposed to be concerned about is if we're having fun with the game, if it works properly on our machines, and if we can play them without being hindered by anything at all. As consumers, we have the right to air out our wishes and complaints. We're not the DRM techies, we're gamers, we're not supposed to worry about their security issues. If their security methods are destroying our fun or stops us from playing the games we paid for, then there is an ugly problem that should be solved, and how to solve it, it's all up to them.

 

 

.... but Steam doesn't require a constant connection.. only a one time verification. I know this to be fact, as I have had this laptop not connected to the net for days on end and been able to play all my Steam games.

[Tlantl]

Just as an FYI, I moved recently and my cable internet was slow to follow. For the entire two weeks I was without a connection I was also denied access to any of my steam games. The off line mode was disabled by an update that I got just before unplugging my connection.

 

I went to the library to see what was going on and learned that the cause was valves fault as they keep messing with their code and breaking it. I wanted to download the beta version of the next update to fix the problem, but since the computer I was using didn't have steam installed I was out of luck.

 

Sorry, but steam is proving to be as unreliable and intrusive as any other system. They might be useful as a distribution source, but as a DRM it's a total fail. This especially since the bad guys seem to be able to ignore the system entirely, while I and many others have to suffer the indignity of not being able to play the games we spent our hard earned cash for, even if only for a few short weeks.

[dreamingof2004]

man you bought this game therefore you're not a pirate... Do what you have to do to get a game you bought and paid for working.

[minngarm]

yea steam could use some work on their offline mode. But otherwise its a great system for the above mentioned and not to mention you can make a backup of your game data which includes a steam supported ability to burn it to DVD. Keep in mind that any other method of getting a game, burning it to a DVD or CD is illegal.

 

And with steam allowing you to backup your game data to a DVD means you can store a hard copy if you wish.

Edited November 25, 2011 by minngarm

[Deleted3158906User]

was valves fault as they keep messing with their code and breaking it

 

Where's the proof for this? Well, any of this?

[swallow1106]

Love steam when they do crazy sales, hate steam when I switch between work computer and home computer and laptop to play games and have to input new verification codes every time.

As for DRM ? They are dumbest ideas, it's true pirates get to play game sooner than we do in numerous cases, Skyrim being one I believe, and they usually encounter less issue than paying customers.

It's true I still hesitate when purchasing a game that prints "require steam to play" and quite a few game lost my business due to that. I hated internet-bound DRM ever since Ass Creed 2, and vow to never purchase another UbiSoft game other than used console copy on eBay and I suspect I am not the only one who feels that way.