Sadly I bet there isn't, if it was announced the contracts are likely signed. Maybe there is a way they could offer an offline install still, which would be VERY much appreciated Bethesda, but they probably can't even do that because of the contract.

More or less yeah, were all idiots

Yeah, it depends on what sort of contract they have. Oh well, I kind of would have liked to see Avellone's vision but I guess I'll survive without it. It's still the same mediocre FO3 at it's core anyway (at least the gameplay).




Yeah, that isn't really going to work. But I'm glad to see you at least read my post.

Steam is convenient and is always on. People tend to forget that the spigot can turn off after seeing how it's turned on all the time.

As a Steam user, I am well aware of such limitations and take steps on my own initiative to ensure that my games (the non-Valve ones, at any rate) are playable if Valve does go under.

It's the future. Don't like it? Buy the console version then and deal with its set of limitations (i.e., no mods).

Console versions aren't even an option if there's a PC version available, and if the PC version has stupid BS I just won't buy it. It's that simple. People really need to learn to vote with their wallets.

I've been thinking about it and I've decided not to support the initial release. I'm hoping that after all the DLCs are released that they will bundle them with a non-steam version of the game for the GOTY edition and then I shall buy it.

Yes, let's hope that happens.

The moment steam closes its doors is going to be a long, long time in coming because it's so popular. Further, if your internet gets disconnected, there's still offline mode, and I still haven't encountered this dreaded "ZOMG, offlinemode will randomly stop working because the evil steam needs to reauthenticate!" issue. How long is it supposed to take to come up, exactly? :\



No game in this day and age is selling "the game" to us. They all sell licenses for use of the software. It's been like that ever since pretty much the first EULA. Your running around screaming like the sky is falling is making you look quite silly. Yeah, if steam closes then the game is useless (unless you decide to crack it, or unless Valve releases a patch to allow play based on the stored profile), but steam closing is a lot less likely than, oh, the Securom servers for that game shutting down, or the UbiCloud servers shuting down, or pretty much any other example you can think of because steam is profitable, while UbiCloud or the Securom install limit servers are nothing but a burden on a company.

Strictly speaking, over a long time period, it's a lot more likely that you'll lose your disks than Valve shutting down something as huge and profitable for them as steam.

Again, it'd be just dandy if we could get away with no DRM. Or just a simple CD key. But that's not one of the options. I'll be happily playing NV on steam because as far as DRM goes, it's not that bad compared to the alternatives, and because I very highly doubt that a large and growing service like steam will "close its doors" any time soon.

Actually, it could. And I can tell you form actual personal experience...

I take it you think Steam has its servers in their office building, but most likely than not, they are in a hosting center, and most likely Steam doesn't even own the servers and they are being managed by another company. You also may think because a company sells a lot of stuff that they wouldn't be in financial trouble, but that is far, far from the truth. Revenues do not equal net profits.

Back in 1999-2001, I worked for the now defunct PSINet, the then leader in the hosting center business in the US. The location I worked at had about 4000-5000 servers, serving about 300 customers. We are talking from companies running one server or "renting a room in a hotel" to private, caged racks with 100-150 servers.

Many a time, especially after the .com bubble burst, companies could not pay their hosting fees,and not only did we simply pull the plugs off, if they owned the servers, they got unracked and sold in auctions. Owners and CEOs would call begging us to bring the servers back online because of their customers were suing them, or because they were close to get some financial backing, etc, but it was too late by then.... I personally disconnected plenty of servers, from pormographers, to financial services, to internet portals, etc...

So it very well could happen to Steam. You don't know of a company's true financials until the stock stops trading...

That won't be happening.

But still, vote with your wallet.

Good point. If that happens, then we are all doomed.

Don't think because something is popular, the financials of the company that sells it are rock solid. In this day and age, you really don't know.

Well, at this point all we have is Valve's word that steam is profitable.

True.

But you're still chicken little'ing over Steam going under.

As are you, Facehugger.

You don't know that. Your opinion on what may or may not happen in the future is about as valuable to me as the contents of my toilet bowl.

What? I'm confused. I'm the one saying that Steam going under is rather unlikely. Wouldn't that be a reverse chicken little?

I am not chicken-anything. I'm just pointing out it is very possible that Valve could go under, just like any other company in the world. That is why I don't have my money in just one bank, or own just one type of stock, because you never know.

I like Steam as a digital distribution service. I prefer to buy games in a box, with a disk that I can use whenever I want without having to be online. The games I've bought on Steam were games that I passed on when new, and snagged them when they were on sale. I buy from Steam knowing the risk of losing access to them in the future, which is why I don't buy games from them at full price, or buy games that I think I might want to keep.



I'm in a difficult situation. Like I said, Steam is a great digital store for buying games, but I don't like this trend of Steam being required as a form of DRM. It is great for multiplayer games, because if you cheat, you're gone, but it is absolutely unnecessary for a single player only game. I'm torn between boycotting the initial release because I'm against intrusive DRM, or getting it because I love Fallout and since I already use Steam, FNV isn't forcing it on me.

I have time to make up my mind since the release date of FNV is still several months off, if it even comes out on time. Hopefully gamesas will do the right thing and make a statement to address the issues. I may chose not to buy the initial release of the game and pick it up later when Steam puts it on sale for $15 or less.



You are assuming that FNV will win a GotY award and there will be a GotY release.

I bought the original Fallout 3, and later the GotY version. I didn't buy the individual DLC because I don't like GFWL and did not want to give them my money. I would do the same for FNV if there is a GotY version.

Those two have nothing to do with each other, as absurd as this is. There was one for Arkham Asylum, there was one for Gothic 3, heck, there even was one for the admittedly not good Two Worlds.

No games which have used Steamworks has suddenly been sold in a non-Steamworks form. I have been using Steam long enough to know this. Get over it; Steam is here to stay, comrade.

I doubt Bethesda would really listen to your pleas. Steam is a fantastic service, despite its problems. It's the future. Don't like it? Don't buy NV, then. We'll all be enjoying our achievements and our ability to download our copies of NV whenever we want, where we want.

Wow. Nvm.

Very true... Sadly very true...

And i need to confirm with the cat guy...IF steamworks goes under an emulator which allows you to play your games will be released.... and for a limited time you can download your games untill they shutoff the servers 100%... it was also mentioned a small app could be run to convert them to DRM free copies... another mentioned of a fully emulated steam client to launch your games. And I've personally gotten an email response from there PR department about it as well; back when i first started using steam.

Even knowing that I'm very hesitant, I'll still need community confirmation that i can launch the game WITHOUT steam running... if that is true them you have my Collectors edition purchase!

All Steamworks-enabled games need Steam to launch. You may use the offline mode if you wish (after logging in, of course), but Steam itself must be launched.

There are ways around this requirement, but they are illegal and do no necessitate discussion.

Note that you don't have to be "online" to log in, you just have to have a stored profile on the computer.

There are a few games that launch outside of steam from there EXE inside the Steam apps folder... this is an options the devs have at there disposal when using steamworks.