Introduction
Now, let me start by saying that I have no real issue with Steam. I've used it, it works, it is [can be] useful. I'll admit I'm not overly fond of it, but I don't hate it per se.

However, I'm still struggling to accept that Skyrim is FORCING me to use Steam. This just seems like a really bad move. There is no justification that I've heard so far as to why Steam should be mandatory. If you buy the game from Steam, then Steam is obviously necessary and I can understand that some people will prefer to do this. However, I'm buying the retail version of the game. Steam is a Digital Distribution service, keyword being Digital. Don't make me use something I don't need or want.

Now, I'd like to pre-counter some of the more common arguments that defend the use of Steam in games that by all rights should not need Steam.

But Steam provides achievements, cloud saving, automatic patching, chat service, etc.

Yes. Steam does indeed provide these extra services. However, I don't want them nor do I need them. These things should be OPTIONAL. And that's all I'm asking for, Steam should be an OPTION.

But, without Steam PIRATES will get it! D=

Pirates will always get it. Steam won't change this. Don't put out the honest customer.

Well, companies need SOME sort of DRM, Steam is better than other forms of DRM

True, Steam is not as bad as some other forms of DRM but a sandwich with a little bit of crap on it is better than a sandwich with a lot of crap on it. Either way, there is still crap on my sandwich. (Paraphrased from a member of another forum.)
But still, I can't deny that DRM, whether it's necessary, works or not, is going to be around for a long while. Why can't we just have disc checks and CD keys? Retail games have a disc for a reason, let me use it. I want to use it!

Just svck it up, the only people that don't like Steam are people with a bad internet connection

So what?! It seems like a pretty damn good reason to not like it to me. Not everybody has a flawless, high speed connection. I think a lot more people lack this than others realise.

Get used to it. This is the future.

It's only the future because nobody gives a [censored] and the majority just accept it! I'll reiterate my point, I'm not saying to get rid of Steam or boycott it or anything like that, just keep it optional.

Conclusion

Feel free to dispute my points, I'm human and therefore prone to mistakes and being wrong. I just wanted to vent a little and hopefully gain a deeper understanding into why this is happening. And at the very least demonstrate that a paying customer of theirs is dissatisfied. No, it's not their job to conform to my every whim, but I'm paying so I get a say as to what I do and don't like. They can do with that information what they will.

Get ready, your post is about to be locked and you will be directed to the unofficial Steam topic.

Basically, Steam provides a good DRM and distribution system for PC games.....companies use them instead of developing their own DRM as the Steam DRM is already fairly excepted by alot of PC gamers.

It also allows PC games to be more excessable, as it provide auto-patching, cloud saving etc, that although many older PC gamers might not use, is really liked by more casual PC gamers.




Steam is fine, its the best choice they could have made for DRM.....other then having next to none at all.

/thread


EDIT: see the topic about Steam: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1231831-unofficial-steamdrm-discussion

I love steam <3 Steam will mean achievements

Wait. We're using Steam instead of GFWL?! Why is this a problem?! I've /never/ had a problem with Steam.

I can't help but to completely agree with the OP.

*clapping hands*
Bravo, bravo!

I just hope I can turn off any messages regarding achievements in game.

Or that it doesn't have 400+ achievements so that you get one popping up ever couple of minutes.

*Ding you discovered your 10th cave!*
*Ding you discovered your 13th cave!*
*Ding you killed your 1st bandit!*
*Ding you killed your 5th bandit!*
*Din- FFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU-

Bravo, and a http://images.uesp.net/c/c4/Fishystick.jpg for you my friend!

You can completely turn off the steam interface.

Are you trying to give me nightmares!?
It would certainly ruin the game for me if any message regarding achievements were to pop up during game play.

Which begs the question, 'why can't I remove it entirely from my system?'. Steam doesn't add anything to the game which interests me. It should, after registration, have an 'evaporate' option. I'd push the hell out of that button.

Yeah, I'd like to know why it's on the hard copy, it definitely aint to combat piracy that's for sure.

This is a trend that seriously, seriously needs to die... but it won't... because Bethesda knows people will buy the game even if they hate Steam. And everyone with a brain knows that their violent outrage expressed online isn't actually going to convince anyone else to not buy this game they've been drooling over for nearly a year now.

So what to do? What to do?

I don't know... but I know it's not my problem. My computer can't run Skyrim anyways... so I'm getting it for the console.


It just amuses me that the industry has gotten itself so ass-backwards that they don't realize they're actually -creating- the new generation of pirates by making it less and less appealing to be a paying customer. Oh well. Adapt or die.

Please use the "Steam/DRM" thread linked below in my signature for discussion about Steam, Steamworks and DRM.