Will this be possible? I won't be able to download the game from Steam for a few weeks after launch, but I could buy it at retail right away. I was just wondering if you would be able to activate the CD key on steam?

I am a huge Steam fan, and being able to have the catalog of games and re downloading them is a big plus in my book, but I am not sure if it works outside of retail keys for specific Valve games.

Thanks

Yep, Steam DRM for the retail version has been confirmed for a long time.

Um the steam and retail versions will likely be different but they both use steam for drm. So if you buy retail thats what you have not the steam version.

You have to activate it on Steam in order to play it.

For sure Steam is our new way of Activating a Fallout game. But I doubt they had to UP the DRM much more than Fallout 3. Fallout 3 already had adequate DRM. If there is any other reason for using this Steam stuff than activating Fallout New Vegas, then you have a problem at the core of the decision.

Or is it they stripped the Fallout 3 DRM out, and now we have just this Steam stuff?

I don't see why they'd be different aside from the retail being on physical media & to me they are both steam versions as they both require Steam to work

@ NillaCakester, I'm pretty sure Steam is the DRM this time 'round

*grumbles*

I doubt that. I've bought other games on retail and after activacting on steam could download it from steam after I uninstalled. The games also patch through steam and have DLC's available through steam.

I am REALLY against being FORCED to tie up my copy of the game to an account on some third-party provider servers.....

I want classic .exe file, that I run and play the damn game....

I was really on a verge on deciding NOT to buy this game, just because of the damn Steam obliging...but then again I decided I will make an exception this once. I just really hope, that this STEAM technical resolutions won't handicap the modding and editing the .cfg files of the game .....

Oh yes and I do know, that Blizzard forced people to tie their copies of StarCraft II to an account aswell...but at least it's just an account without third-party crap and the account is stored on Blizzard controled servers....not on the servers of third-party provider.

This. Steam will be the only DRM for the game, no other type will exist.

Fallout 3 on retail used SecuROM. SecuROM is horrible and likes to meddle with things not at all related to the game. For example it divides by zero if it detects any drive emulator software. People don't like SecuROM because of that(I sure as hell don't), so Obsidian decided to go with the most community acceptable solution they could get past the Bethesda bean counters.

Between you and me the only better choice, on a gamer's standpoint, would be no DRM whatsoever. But the bean counters won't have any of that.



You are way too paranoid, dude. I've been using Steam for years and never once have I had issue with the account that wasn't my own dumb ass forgetting my password. Valve is a perfectly reputable company. In fact, Valve is one of the best game devs currently in the market. They actually care about their customers, something very few devs can claim. Besides that Steam gives you all sorts of other nifty features. How does an in-game overlay packing a text/group/voice IM and flash-enabled web browser sound? No more alt-tabbing to check that Vault page, which with Gamebryo is about a 90% chance of phail when you try to tab back in.

You have nothing to worry about. You can trust Valve more than you can trust Blizz. Also, Obsidian has already stated that modding will go unfettered in New Vegas. Steam will not hamper in any way modding the game.

:swear:

I have and use Steam for all my Digital Purcahases as well. have actually grown to really like and it has been trouble free for me, and my PC.

Having said that, sometime I want a Hard copy of the retail box.
If New Vegas works the same way as a few other STEAM enabled games,and Im sure it will, it will work something like this:

I just got the Retail version of Sid Meiers Civilization 5, which also uses Steam.

You have 2 Choices to install t he game.

1) Retail Disc Instal

Put the disc in and start the installer.
Choose the language and it then prompts you to install STEAM if you do not have it.

You then get a STEAM Window that wants the activation key.
Put that in and once it accepts, youll see a message that the key is now permanatly tied to your STEAM account. (If you open STEAM you will see it in your Game list)
At this point it will install the game to your steam games folder.
When finished installing STEAM will apply any game updates (if any) and your ready to play.


2) Steam Instal (For those who may not want to use the actual disc for anything, like the CEs maybe)

In the Games menu, choose add retail game to Steam and put in your CD Key.
It activates and is now permanatly tied to your Steam Account, and you will see it in your Steam games list.
DL the game and start playing.


You really only need the CD key, even with a retail box for STEAM. You do not need to install the game with the disc, only if you want or choose to.

It really is quite painless, and if we must use DRM, STEAM is the least intrusive & best option IMHO.

Steam is probably the least intrusive/best online DRM option.


A normal disc check would be less intrustive and better.
(But this topic has been beaten to death in a large number of very long threads over the last few months, so.....)

There are different types of SecuROM protection. The SecuROM protection used on Fallout 3 was just a disk check built into FalloutLauncher.exe. It didn't install hidden device drivers or software on your machine. After the initial install and setup of the game up the first time by running the launcher you could run Fallout3.exe without the need for the disk.