Steamworks for Mafia 2...

http://store.steampowered.com/app/50130/

Oh wonderful. Just wonderful. My rights as a consumer are stripped away once again.

But, so long as Steam doesn't go down in a paroxysm of error messages and disconnects when I'm trying to activate the game, then I am cool.

Or, I could go the console route. Unfortunately, it would cost ten dollars more! And I already have the PC version pre-ordered on Amazon for $47 and $10 game credit.

No it's actually a good thing. Steamworks means Steam deals :)

No it's actually a good thing. Steamworks means Steam deals :)

ralph2190

I love the Steam deals too. But I hate it when companies are forcing me to "integrate" my license of a game into some account that I have little control over. Especially when I buy this game in a physical, retail copy.

Oh wonderful. Just wonderful. My rights as a consumer are stripped away once again.The_Capitalist

Not really your consumer right to not buy a product is still pretty much intact, if you are not happy with Mafia 2 using steam then don't buy the game. I personally have no issue with Mafia 2 using steam I do have an issue with them making exclusive content for other systems and there fore selling me the lesser version of the game. So I am going to exercise my right as a consumer and not buy it.

Seriously if steam is such a tool of the devil then don't buy the game, you won't die if you never play Mafia 2 will you ? Obviously the majority are quite happy with steam which is probably why they chose steamworks. I imagine if it had been announced they were using GFWL you would have had someone else doing a "GFWL for Mafia 2 .... my consumer rights are being stripped away".

Oh well. Consoles have their DRM... and well... PCs have their's.

It's not that bad, though. There are many benefits to this model. However, I am not a big fan of DRM in general, particularly DRM like this.

They should have gone with the standard disk check like EA did. Or a one-time online activation via SecuROM.

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]Oh wonderful. Just wonderful. My rights as a consumer are stripped away once again.charmingcharlie

Not really your consumer right to not buy a product is still pretty much intact, if you are not happy with Mafia 2 using steam then don't buy the game. I personally have no issue with Mafia 2 using steam I do have an issue with them making exclusive content for other systems and there fore selling me the lesser version of the game. So I am going to exercise my right as a consumer and not buy it.

Seriously if steam is such a tool of the devil then don't buy the game, you won't die if you never play Mafia 2 will you ? Obviously the majority are quite happy with steam which is probably why they chose steamworks. I imagine if it had been announced they were using GFWL you would have had someone else doing a "GFWL for Mafia 2 .... my consumer rights are being stripped away".

Good points, but you are missing the point, are you? Steam is not 100% bulletproof, though I have yet to encounter a problem with it. It is that thought that my ability to play this game (legally) rests in the hands of others. In the old days, it was up to you to keep your disks in good condition and out of the sunlight. Now... that responsibility has passed on to corporate powers greater than us... and in return, they are demanding control.

I'll still buy Mafia 2 on the PC, though. I have over 60 games attached to my account and I haven't been phished yet.

Well I never said steam was 100% bulletproof but then there isn't pretty much anything in life that is "100% bulletproof". However at the end of the day we are talking about a piece of entertainment here, we are not talking about something that your very life depends on. So like I said if you are not happy with the fact Mafia 2 uses steamworks then add some weight to your voice and don't buy the game. If enough people steer clear of Mafia 2 because it uses steamworks then you will find that T2 will quickly change their practices.

It just comes across as a bit hollow to come on a forum going "my consumer rights are being stripped away ........ but I am still buying the game". If you value these "rights" then don't financially reward the companies that are stripping them away.

I don't see why you're worried that you might get phished, that's your main concern with Steam? just don't talk to random people that add you, don't press links from anyone if they aren't for popular places (yes not even from friends maybe one of them was stupid enough to get his account hijacked) and don't look for Steam in other places except steampowered.com. Nothing can go wrong with your Steam account if you don't try to scam people and press random links or log in on questionable websites (keyloggers) or fake Steam websites, if Steam is in maintenance or your internet is down simply go into offline mode, I don't see why anything related to Steam would scare or stress you.

The only problem Steam might have is with the server load when popular games get released.

Well I never said steam was 100% bulletproof but then there isn't pretty much anything in life that is "100% bulletproof". However at the end of the day we are talking about a piece of entertainment here, we are not talking about something that your very life depends on. So like I said if you are not happy with the fact Mafia 2 uses steamworks then add some weight to your voice and don't buy the game. If enough people steer clear of Mafia 2 because it uses steamworks then you will find that T2 will quickly change their practices.

It just comes across as a bit hollow to come on a forum going "my consumer rights are being stripped away ........ but I am still buying the game". If you value these "rights" then don't financially reward the companies that are stripping them away.

charmingcharlie

Well, your argument is sound and I cannot argue with it.

But regardless of my position, I am merely raising the issues that comes with Steamworks integration.

On the contrary, this means that I can buy Mafia II from my local retailer and play it through steam :)

No it's actually a good thing. Steamworks means Steam deals :)

ralph2190

So I need to have Steam installed to play the game? Or just the Steam copies?ampiva

So Big Brother gets to control my game again, eh. Steam is very similar to Apple to me, bit too controlling for my taste and needs.

Not buying right away, gonna wait and see if FSAA works in this game on ATI cause Steam may prevent me from renaming the .exe. :(

eh I bought it for the PS3 port since my PC is crapping right now. I always buy stuff on steam for my PC except Mass Effect 1 & 2. But so far Steam is great I had my account hacked 3 times at least and I got them back because of the games. Oh I bought Mafia 2 for PS3 because free DLC and Collector's Edition, I know, wrong choices but what can I do?

I won't buy games on PC that utilise Steamworks (or indeed, any that get tied to an individual account). I'm not the only game player in my household, so why should I have to buy multiple copies of a game just because it gets tied to an account? That's just not on, in my book.

Unfortunately that means I'm buying less games on PC, and more games on console. At least that way everyone who wants to play the game in my household can do so, without having to jump through hoops.

Looks like Mafia II is another console purchase. *sigh*

Great :)

this means when I have to reinstall windows my save games will be stored online ( just like in just cause 2 )

it also means that when I buy the retail version I can play frisbe with the dvd because steam gives me the luxery to download the game wenether I want :)

Great :)

this means when I have to reinstall windows my save games will be stored online ( just like in just cause 2 )

it also means that when I buy the retail version I can play frisbe with the dvd because steam gives me the luxery to download the game wenether I want :)

freakshowfreak

Just to clarify no it does not mean your save games will be stored online like just cause 2. The cloud save game service is just one feature of steam works and it looks like Mafia 2 is not using the cloud saving feature of steam works. It is only using the achievements, steam leaderboards and steam drm. It is possible they may patch in cloud saving later but right now Mafia 2 will not support online saving.

I won't buy games on PC that utilise Steamworks (or indeed, any that get tied to an individual account). I'm not the only game player in my household, so why should I have to buy multiple copies of a game just because it gets tied to an account? That's just not on, in my book.

Unfortunately that means I'm buying less games on PC, and more games on console. At least that way everyone who wants to play the game in my household can do so, without having to jump through hoops.

Looks like Mafia II is another console purchase. *sigh*

RobertBowen

To me, that is a minor concern. If you play on a console, you would need to buy multiple copies as well if you and your siblings want to play simultaneously. That said, it would require multiple consoles to achieve as well.

I oppose Steamworks in principle. I don't mind one-time activations, but Steam is far more than a mere one-time activation. In fact, I have recently discovered that one must pass an activation check each time a game is launched on Steam.

Never had a problem with steam.

Steam is fantastic imo and games using it is a good thing imo.

Never had a problem with steam.

Steam is fantastic imo and games using it is a good thing imo.

kozzy1234

The Steam store is great. The DRM is terrible, though. Forcing us to surrender our ownership? It's almost as bad as SecuROM when you think about it.

[QUOTE="kozzy1234"]

Never had a problem with steam.

Steam is fantastic imo and games using it is a good thing imo.

The_Capitalist

The Steam store is great. The DRM is terrible, though. Forcing us to surrender our ownership? It's almost as bad as SecuROM when you think about it.

[QUOTE="The_Capitalist"]

[QUOTE="kozzy1234"]

Never had a problem with steam.

Steam is fantastic imo and games using it is a good thing imo.

DanielDust

The Steam store is great. The DRM is terrible, though. Forcing us to surrender our ownership? It's almost as bad as SecuROM when you think about it.

To hell with the EULA. It might not be my game in the sense that I have a copyright to it, but I own the disk, hence I can transfer ownership to someone else if I wished. The first sale doctrine has been upheld by the courts since the 1970's.

I am considering getting the PS3 version instead.

Honestly, Steam isn't a distribution platform that is very effective at fighting piracy. I mean, it does a pretty good job for Valve, but for other companies, not so much. Take for example F.E.A.R. 2 and Moder Warfare 2. They both require Steam, however, both were heavily pirated. And let me be the first to say, I personally hate DRM. But I'll have to say that Steam is alright, simply for the fact that it doesn't install garbage protection software on my system. Also, if one day Valve and Steam go out of business, it doesn't mean you are out of luck in playing your purchased retail copies, although I'm not sure about your digitally purchased copies.

While at the same time pirates create the very reason for why companies want to protect their intellectual property, they also help legitimate customers, who find themselves short of luck. Personally, I will continue to support developers if I like their game, I don't even care if the publishing company wants to infest their game with invasive DRM like Ubisoft's. It still doesn't stop pirates, and it doesn't stop me from playing my games. If I want to play Assassin's Creed II ten years from now, I will, even if Ubisoft's servers no longer exist.

On the other hand, some people will not buy games with DRM because they believe that one day their games will become unplayable. This is due to the publisher or whoever closing down the activation servers, or something of that nature. However, the truth is that there's always a way to play your game, even if you don't have a permanent internet connection. Plus, the developer always has the option of releasing a patch, and if they don't, you're still never alone.;)

So don't be afraid, buy Mafia 2 for PC. And if you ever need help, don't hesitate to take a look around.

Edit: And I forgot to mention that some people do not support games with DRM on the basis of principle. They simply don't want to buy a product by a company that treats them like a pirate. If that's your reasoning, by all means - don't buy the game.

[QUOTE="ampiva"]So I need to have Steam installed to play the game? Or just the Steam copies?DanielDust