[Flash]

Due to threads about Steam/DRM in Bethesda games being scattered in many game sections across the forum which makes it very difficult to moderate and the number of problems in each one, we have decided
to have one thread for the discussion for everyone to discuss various forms of DRM/Steam in one place.

At the present we have no information about what DRM future games being published by Bethesda will have. There has been no formal announcement about it so this thread is merely for expressing your thoughts on various possibilities and expressing your thoughts about Steam and/or other DRM options which may be used.

The following rules will apply to this thread as well as all forum rules already in place.

1. No flaming, attacking or demeaning one another for their opinion about Steam/DRM (pro or con)
2. Any encouragement of piracy will result in a warning and temporary suspension of your account. Admission of piracy will result in a ban. This includes circumventing DRM of any kind.
3. Repeated posts by the same member to say the same thing can be considered spam and result in a warning against your account.

Important Info:
Bethesda has not announced what DRM will be used for any upcoming games. As we know we will try to include it in the OP of this thread.

One of the frequent complaints about Steam is that it can't be played offline. We are providing a link for instructions to do so. If it will not work for you, please contact Steam to assist with the issue.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-AGCB-2555
http://bethblog.com/index.php/2011/04/12/steamworks-feature-set-and-system-requirements-for-brink-revealed/

[STEVI INQUE]

I love Steam and will most likely buy Skyrim (and 90% of my other games) off of it.

[Cheville Thompson]

I prefer steam as well.

But some games I want as physical copy. I don't care if it needs steam to play it (like Fallout New Vegas) but I just want that game box into my
shelf with rest of my collection. While I don't require this for all games, but those games what hold real value to me are required to have one.

[Maria Leon]

I love Steam and will most likely buy Skyrim (and 90% of my other games) off of it.

This

I prefer steam as well.

But some games I want as physical copy. I don't care if it needs steam to play it (like Fallout New Vegas) but I just want that game box into my
shelf with rest of my collection. While I don't require this for all games, but those games what hold real value to me are required to have one.

I always create a dvd backup of my Steam games so I don't need to download them again

[Sami Blackburn]

I prefer steam as well.

But some games I want as physical copy. I don't care if it needs steam to play it (like Fallout New Vegas) but I just want that game box into my
shelf with rest of my collection. While I don't require this for all games, but those games what hold real value to me are required to have one.

Yeah I buy my games retail, because I like collecting the boxes. If it's a Steamworks game, then even better.... best of both worlds.

[James Shaw]

This


I always create a dvd backup of my Steam games so I don't need to download them again

Indeed. But I still want that to see that shiny Skyrim collectors edition box in my shelf.

[Kerri Lee]

Indeed. But I still want that to see that shiny Skyrim collectors edition box in my shelf.

Step 1: Print out the covert art for Skyrim
Step 2: Glue it on an empty DVD case
Step 3: ????
Step 4. PROFIT!!

seriously, I'm on fire today, is there a problem I can't solve?

[Silvia Gil]

I think Steam doesn't pose a problem for me cause I'm not a Collector's Edition guy. I see how it can be an issue for you people ("What do you mean 'you people'?") who want the CE.

[jaideep singh]

Step 1: Print out the covert art for Skyrim
Step 2: Glue it on an empty DVD case
Step 3: ????
Step 4. PROFIT!!

seriously, I'm on fire today, is there a problem I can't solve?

But that is not the same thing! :cold:

[Melanie Steinberg]

Step 1: Print out the covert art for Skyrim
Step 2: Glue it on an empty DVD case
Step 3: ????
Step 4. PROFIT!!

seriously, I'm on fire today, is there a problem I can't solve?

You forgot the shiny part. Nothing a few sprinkles of craft glitter won't fix, though.

[TOYA toys]

But that is not the same thing! :cold:

pff not with that attitude! It's all about your state of mind. Do some breathing exercises and tai chi or something to calm down, then convince yourself that the weird sticky box you have is really the CE of Skyrim.

[Milagros Osorio]

I'm glad that you guys can enjoy Steam and/or Steamworks & it makes sense that Brink would use the system but any game exclusively Steamed will exclude me for one & I enjoy Beth's RPG's so I hope they give me an option to continue to do so.

Added: With Bethesda I also buy the CE as well, get cool stuff & I have the game faster than downloading it.

[Emma louise Wendelk]

pff not with that attitude! It's all about your state of mind. Do some breathing exercises and tai chi or something to calm down, then convince yourself that the weird sticky box you have is really the CE of Skyrim.

Yeah, I guess so...

I'm just too fond to the good old boxed games. But I do see Steam and other digital distribution channels as future of PC gaming, which is good.

[cosmo valerga]

I buy pretty much every PC game on Steam, unless I really want the collector's edition. I have no problem with Steam.

[Kelly Osbourne Kelly]

Anything is better than Ubisoft's atrocious DRM, but Steam is great.

[Sara Johanna Scenariste]

GoG has the best, least intrusive and generally most tolerable DRM. Bethesda should consider that when deciding what to use.

[.X chantelle .x Smith]

GoG has the best, least intrusive and generally most tolerable DRM. Bethesda should consider that when deciding what to use.

There is no DRM on GOG products :huh:

[Sandeep Khatkar]

There is no DRM on GOG products :huh:

Which was the point.

[Natalie Harvey]

Another frequent complaint is that Steamworks is bloatware for people who do not use its features. For instance, Steam's strength seems to lie in its online multiplayer functionality. It makes little sense for a single-player game to require Steamworks if such features aren't used - particularly because I don't see Steam DRM being any more effective at protecting the software from illegal distribution than other, less intrusive forms of DRM.

I don't mind if Steamworks is supported but not required for installation and play of, say, Skyrim. I don't use Steam's features, but other people like to use them.

[STEVI INQUE]

Another frequent complaint is that Steamworks is bloatware for people who do not use its features. For instance, Steam's strength seems to lie in its online multiplayer functionality. It makes little sense for a single-player game to require Steamworks if such features aren't used - particularly because I don't see Steam DRM being any more effective at protecting the software from illegal distribution than other, less intrusive forms of DRM.

I don't mind if Steamworks is supported but not required for installation and play of, say, Skyrim. I don't use Steam's features, but other people like to use them.

Well Steamworks has some pretty cool features that can be used in all sorts of games. Achievements and stats, IM service, screenshots service (no more running Fraps in the background yay), the ability to look up stuff on the web from within the game via the Steam browser.

I run all of my games through Steam, even the ones that don't require Steam.

[Philip Rua]

I like Steam, just some things bother me about it. Will still buy Skyrim and any other game that requires Steam though.

[Sammygirl]

Well Steamworks has some pretty cool features that can be used in all sorts of games. Achievements and stats, IM service, screenshots service (no more running Fraps in the background yay), the ability to look up stuff on the web from within the game via the Steam browser.

I run all of my games through Steam, even the ones that don't require Steam.

I'm quoting myself to prove a point

http://steamcommunity.com/id/bjarkijonasson/screenshot/558653617787948311 I added Minecraft to my Steam account and then I pressed the Steam screenshot key while in-game

[Sophie Miller]

Well Steamworks has some pretty cool features that can be used in all sorts of games. Achievements and stats, IM service, screenshots service (no more running Fraps in the background yay), the ability to look up stuff on the web from within the game via the Steam browser.

I run all of my games through Steam, even the ones that don't require Steam.

When I'm playing a game I want to be playing the game. , I don't want Achievements, stats or IM or the browser, the "Print screen" key works fine for me.

Running your games through Steam is fine, it is your choice to do so, but Steamworks takes the choice from us who don't wish to.

[Vivien]

When I'm playing a game I want to be playing the game. , I don't want Achievements, stats or IM or the browser, the "Print screen" key works fine for me.

so you're complaining about optional features that do nothing but enhance your gaming experience?

You seem to think that there will be popups and ads cluttering up your screen and demanding your attention every second you are logged on to Steam. Well I'm here to tell you that you're worrying over nothing. All of those features I mentioned are completely optional. You can even completely disabled Steam in-game if you want.


I'm not saying that your opinion of Steam should be completely ignored, I'm just asking... is Steam really that bad?

[Penny Flame]

so you're complaining about optional features that do nothing but enhance your gaming experience?

I believe the complaint is about having optional features that do nothing to enhance the gaming experience. If you like them, great! But if someone has to disable every single option to play the game their way, what's the point of even having the Steam client?