Please tell me it won't be like the Bioshock 2 disaster where you couldn't save unless connected to the internet.

I expect Steam.

Could you specify on exactly what that would mean? I'm a little new to all this.

That would mean that even if you bought the game from the store, giving you a physical copy of the game, you'd have to go home, download the steam client and then register the game through them. Then, at any time, they can choose to strip you of the ability to play your game without even telling you why.

Oh, yeah. You also have to create an account with them and that copy of the game will be forever tied to your account. You also have to give them permission to take a peak at your hardware to see what you're running.

Some are saying Steamworks (like fallout: New Vegas) is confirmed but so far haven't seen anyone cite an official source

I haven't seen anything for skyrim on steam even though they have lots of fall releases in their coming soon section.

Well that sounds fun.

Someone asked Todd about Steamworks DRM in an interview from a few months ago and he said something to the effect that "We like Steam."

We don't know what Skyrim will use at this time as far as I know, though I wouldn't be surprised if it does in fact use Steam, which is also used in New Vegas, if the game does use Steam, then you will need to download the Steam cilent, create a Steam Account, and register the game with it, though after that, you no longer need the game disk to play and if you lose it, you can still download the game from Steam. It seems to be reletively popular these days and I've seen those who both like it and hate it amongst gamers. Me, I'm not a fan of it, but it wouldn't bother me as much if it wasn't forced on me.



In other words, he didn't directly answer the question but makes it sound like a srong possibility.

It also allows them to see what region you live in and then block anything that comes from a different region. For example, say you live in Australia and get a US copy of Skyrim. They can keep you from registering that version and thus keep you from playing the copy you bought.

Except they've never done that, so technically it's only legal because the system has worked so far. Never in the history have Steam have they ever just "cut someone off" without a reason. Usually if they do you're breaking the rules big time, and have been watched for some time or received a ton of warnings. Worse case scenario Steam someday runs out of money and they servers shut down locking everyone out of their games. I think at some point they were working on a way to get the games to people in the event that this happened, but no idea where those plans went.

While you do have to download the games there is an offline mode once you've already installed and verified the game via a connection.

You might have to download the client/make account/download game but at the same time you forever have it on your account and assuming you have an internet connection can download and play it anywhere provided you also have the computer to run said game.

Then there's the Steam deals of the day/week/or some other thing. With crazy savings that frequently pass 50-75% off games.

Edit
By rules I mean big things like modifying game files, or hacking into valve and leaking their info to steam users. Or credit card theft. You know BIG things. Though in game you can be banned from individual servers, though if it has VAC and you get enough bans it bans you from all VAC enabled servers. But that's just for the individual game.

I ask because I'm not sure how stable my connection will be come November (it's a weird connection). If I, for some reason, can't play Skyrim because my internet is being funny, I'll be severely pissed.

You can activate the game once and then after it verifies go into offline mode. Offline mode is limited to I think... 60 days? I have no idea to be honest. But it gives you a large window without needing a connection before needing to come back on. I'm sure a google could get you more detailed answers.

THey mentioned it would probably be Steam just like New Vegas, but that was like 6 months ago, so it could have changed since.

Also the Chinese want to have their way with your women.

Moving beyond fear mongering propaganda, Steam has never done any of the things Mitheledh has mentioned. It's DRM, so it's not a perfect feature, but it is the least intrusive of the DRMs. You only need to connect to the internet once to register your game, you can play it offline as much as you want. It also auto-updates all games for you if you do connect to the internet, so no need to worry about downloading patches manually. Also, because of the Steam Cloud, you can play with your save on any computer that has a copy of that game through steam on it. Also, you can put Steam and all your games on all your computers if you want. You can't play them all at the same time, but if you wanna play Skyrim on your PC then chill on your couch playing Super Meat Boy on your laptop, you can.

People who are scared of Steam have probably never used it.

You only need to have connected when you launch steam after you turn on your comp. Non-issue if you leave your computer on.

Actually to be perfectly honest Good old Games > Impulse > Steam. In terms of DRM and how free and loose it is. But good old games doesn't really apply since it only does older games. Impulse though can play the games without the client being open or an internet connection. Though I prefer Steam because it has a better selection of games and far more deals to entice me. Not to mention where my friends are ect. Then again this is when Impulse was controlled by Stardock, now that Gamespot has it.... I don't know. I'm expecting to see some policy changes in how it works.

I have a Steam account. I got it years ago along with a free copy of Half-life 2. So I have used it and I am familiar with it.

Whether or not they have is irrelevant. That they can is the problem. You can only do with the game what they permit you do to and they are able to change their minds at any time. And you have no recourse. I do not buy a single player offline game so that I can have a third party overlord looking over my shoulder while I play. They're basically the very embodiment of Big Brother. Call me paranoid if you want, but that doesn't change that fact.

As a DRM, it's actually pretty ineffectual.

Steam isn't really suitable as a distribution system for people with slow or unreliable internet connections. For DRM purposes it should be no worse than any other 'phone home' DRM system (and a damn sight better than some of the stunts pulled by EA, which required constant internet connection to play or to save - Steam lets you play your game offline, and automatically goes to offline mode if your internet connection is broken).

The only big problem with Steam is, I gather that you are obliged to download the day 0 patch before you can begin playing. For technical support purposes this makes a lot of sense - if a ton of bugs were fixed in the month between the game going gold and launch date, they want all their customers to have the fixes and not be pissed off and complaining about bugs that are already fixed. BUT, if you have a bad internet connection, you're not going to be a happy bunny.

Personally , I absolutely love Steam and almost all my games are bought through it. But I've got a fast and reliable internet connection and I pay a fair amount to have it. Steam may not be for you, and I hope Skyrim doesn't force all customers to use it.

This basically, I have a good internet connection. So it isn't really a problem for me.

Isn't that true of all DRM systems? The only copy protection systems that don't enforce (in theory) the whole "you've licensed the right to play the game subject to terms and conditions that may change without notice and consider yourself lucky we don't come round and take your family and home as hostages" deal are the old fashioned disc-check systems.

Do any companies still sell games using those? It's sad, but it seems to me that damn near the whole industry is going down the DRM path . At least CD Projekt disabled the DRM on the Witcher 2 about a week after the game went on sale, as they'd promised.

Read up a little on http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/ubisoft-drm-authentification-server-is-down-assassins-creed-2/. That is [censored] ridiculous, and only encourages piracy. The idiots.

It's not that my connection is bad, my PC is just on the other side of the house from the router & modem, so I on occasion may have connectivity issues. I can't move either, or get a wireless repeater (long story).

Well, it is an older game (but newer than Oblivion), but consider UT3. As long as I have my product key, I can play the game. Sure, I have to register an account with GameSpy to access certain features of the game, but I can have as many accounts as I want. Of course, one of their patches did do something rather annoying. That was that any time I launched the game from a different IP address, I had to re-enter my product key. It was very annoying because I had the game installed on a laptop and occasionally played the game from different locations.

Also, UT3 isn't exactly a single player offline game, so it's needs are a bit different.

To their credit, they're only guilty of enforcing the laws of a terribly backwards country. You can hardly blame Steam for that.