Why aren't more new games coming out DRM free instead of using Steamworks?

I use Steam and I like it overall, but why are many major developers and publishers switching to Steamworks instead of going DRM free? I'm not boycotting Steamworks games by any means but I am just curious as to how they think this DRM is protecting their games? It still beats Games for Windows Live and other intrusive schemes like Ubisoft's online DRM, Securom, Tages, and the dreaded Starforce. I am aware their are still many DRM free new games coming out but many publishers, like THQ, Bethesda, and Square Enix have switched to Steamworks.

Steam is the wave of the future

It allows easy access to games while still keeping them protected from the dirtbags that try to steal them

The more publishers that decide to use Steam the better. Making Steam more popular is a big plus if you ask me.

I for one would rather use steam when buying online then anything else. No need to enter my information when buying with steam.

Worry free DRM. So I can't sell my games? I perfer to keep my collection, boxes are a waste of space anyways. Also, I like being able to install the games on as many machines as I want, as many times as I want.

As for needing a internet connection.. I am never without one. Its cheap and I can count the times on one hand its been down over the last two years.

I havent really heard of many Steam games (Except MW2, but they didnt use VAC) that have problems with pirating. I mean, when have you ever seen a TF2 that has been pirated?Iantheone

I think in this day and age most publishers have accepted the fact that their DRM will be broken (ok most publishers except Ubisoft). The key goal for the protection these days is to prevent "before release" piracy. That is stopping pirates from cracking the game before people can actually purchase the game. Now as far as I am aware steam is actually pretty good at that kind of thing. I certainly haven't seen a game recently that had steamworks and was pirated before the game was actually released.

The other thing about steamworks is that it is "popular" which is why publishers are moving towards it and away from GFWL. In a publishers eyes steamworks provides as much protection as they are possibly going to get and the service is popular with customers so in their books it seems to be a win win situation for now.

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]I havent really heard of many Steam games (Except MW2, but they didnt use VAC) that have problems with pirating. I mean, when have you ever seen a TF2 that has been pirated?SinfulPotato

That's crap

The majority of Vale's games are online multiplayer so that cuts down the piracy rate right there

[QUOTE="SinfulPotato"][QUOTE="Iantheone"]I havent really heard of many Steam games (Except MW2, but they didnt use VAC) that have problems with pirating. I mean, when have you ever seen a TF2 that has been pirated?Jaysonguy

That's crap

The majority of Vale's games are online multiplayer so that cuts down the piracy rate right there

The problem I have with Steam is I can't let a friend of mine borrow a game without letting his have my accoutn for an unspecified period of time. I just do a mix of buying retail and buying online.

There are other digital distributors that use less DRM.

I believe they are using steamworks since it gives them the securities of DRM without as many people bashing them for their system, take UBI for example.

Wasnt it Gabe Newell who pointed out that he thinks two of the biggest problems with piracy is that the pirates are pestering devs with bugs and also when people who are running usntable cracks post reviews that may not be close to the reality and in that way cost sales by discouraging people?

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

[QUOTE="SinfulPotato"] Because Value makes good games and does not need to blame lack of sales on pirates.Iantheone

That's crap

The majority of Vale's games are online multiplayer so that cuts down the piracy rate right there

Steam is a pain in the rear POS DRM no matter how you look at it. Even offline mode requires an internet connection before it can be enabled even if all the games are activated and updated. That makes no sense at all. It also disables selling your old crummy boring games, they will forever hunt you in your game list. I hate steam.BDK-Soft

Well it does come with a warning on any box that a game that uses Steam REQUIRES and online connection....so it's not like people should be super surprised by this. Is it a problem sometimes, yes, but it's better than trying to get ahold of cutomer supports just because you want to intall your game on another machine.

If you bought a bad game then that is your own fault was well, i've been there before, but hey, my fault for not doing research.

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

[QUOTE="SinfulPotato"] Because Value makes good games and does not need to blame lack of sales on pirates.Iantheone

That's crap

The majority of Vale's games are online multiplayer so that cuts down the piracy rate right there

[QUOTE="Iantheone"][QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

That's crap

The majority of Vale's games are online multiplayer so that cuts down the piracy rate right there

DanielDust

The point I was trying to make is that just because a game is online only does not mean that it will be pirated less. I know MW2 isnt Valve, but it still uses Steam for its registration and such. The only problem that IW did was using IW.net instead of a server list and VAC.

Well it kinda does, multiplayer only games don't get pirated as much as those that also include a singleplayer campaign, Steam has nothing to do with that, just as any other DRM it'll be cracked maybe even easier that other DRM.

I think it's a good service and a DRM I can live with, start the game once in online mode then you will be able to start it in offline mode whenever you need it.

Personally I think STEAM is the future of PC gaming, and the sooner STEAM becomes the standard release platform then the stronger the PC platform will become. Thats what I think anyway.

...start the game once in online mode then you will be able to start it in offline mode whenever you need it.

ventnor

Steam is the wave of the future

It allows easy access to games while still keeping them protected from the dirtbags that try to steal them

Jaysonguy

publishers are using steam because steam ties the game to a person. There is zero resale valve, unlike tons of other DRM. Its nothing to do with anti-piracy. Its all about stopping second hand sales. Steam games are pirated day 1.

publishers are using steam because steam ties the game to a person. There is zero resale valve, unlike tons of other DRM. Its nothing to do with anti-piracy. Its all about stopping second hand sales. Steam games are pirated day 1.

bonafidetk

[QUOTE="ventnor"]

...start the game once in online mode then you will be able to start it in offline mode whenever you need it.

BDK-Soft

...and there are few that would bother doing so for an "not so popular" game like TF 2, but they do bother for CS 1.6 and Source, still there aren't many.DanielDust

[QUOTE="DanielDust"] ...and there are few that would bother doing so for an "not so popular" game like TF 2, but they do bother for CS 1.6 and Source, still there aren't many.SerOlmy

Try pitching DRM-free to investors after previous DRM-free disasters like Demigod. The fact is they use it because it's harder to crack, and if cracking groups were to magically disappear it would be pirate-proof.

Well, they have every right to do so. If games were DRM free they'd all be 100% open to being hacked, copied and pirated. Games need DRM because every developer needs a way to protect it's goods.

Steam is great because it is a very user friendly platform, allows a whole new market(digital sales are a huge % of the market now) and it works. You don't need a CD, and honestly who doesn't have a web connection nowadays?

Well, they have every right to do so. If games were DRM free they'd all be 100% open to being hacked, copied and pirated. Games need DRM because every developer needs a way to protect it's goods.

Steam is great because it is a very user friendly platform, allows a whole new market(digital sales are a huge % of the market now) and it works. You don't need a CD, and honestly who doesn't have a web connection nowadays?

Drazule

It is the future.

I hope everyone is keeping those accounts secure and avoiding phishing scams. Because otherwise... no games for you!

They day steam doesn't have to be opened to play a game will be one of the best days for PC gaming.SF_KiLLaMaN

Steam does seem good at stopping zero day piracy which seems to be a lot of devs primary concern, and obviously stops second hand sales, another thing publishers want to eliminate. Captain__Tripps

@dakan, read my post again, I'm saying I don't like using steam.

[QUOTE="Captain__Tripps"]Steam does seem good at stopping zero day piracy which seems to be a lot of devs primary concern, and obviously stops second hand sales, another thing publishers want to eliminate. SF_KiLLaMaN

[QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"]They day steam doesn't have to be opened to play a game will be one of the best days for PC gaming.dakan45

No, it's not faster

You can have load up when you start up your comp and then anytime you want to play a game just find the game in the start menu and clikc it, heck if you really want to cut down on the time just put a shortcut on the desktop of your game.

Steam doesn't slow anything down at all

[QUOTE="Captain__Tripps"]Steam does seem good at stopping zero day piracy which seems to be a lot of devs primary concern, and obviously stops second hand sales, another thing publishers want to eliminate. SF_KiLLaMaN

@dakan, read my post again, I'm saying I don't like using steam.

[QUOTE="dakan45"][QUOTE="SF_KiLLaMaN"]They day steam doesn't have to be opened to play a game will be one of the best days for PC gaming.Jaysonguy

No, it's not faster

You can have load up when you start up your comp and then anytime you want to play a game just find the game in the start menu and clikc it, heck if you really want to cut down on the time just put a shortcut on the desktop of your game.

Steam doesn't slow anything down at all

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

[QUOTE="dakan45"] Why? I mean it does not stop piracy and i would prefer to run games without having to run steam. Its faster.dakan45

No, it's not faster

You can have load up when you start up your comp and then anytime you want to play a game just find the game in the start menu and clikc it, heck if you really want to cut down on the time just put a shortcut on the desktop of your game.

Steam doesn't slow anything down at all

Ohhhhhhhh

You're talking about the download and install

I getcha

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

[QUOTE="dakan45"] Why? I mean it does not stop piracy and i would prefer to run games without having to run steam. Its faster.dakan45

No, it's not faster

You can have load up when you start up your comp and then anytime you want to play a game just find the game in the start menu and clikc it, heck if you really want to cut down on the time just put a shortcut on the desktop of your game.

Steam doesn't slow anything down at all

um everygame has to install somehow...plus it only takes 5 mins max to do the steps

[QUOTE="dakan45"][QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

No, it's not faster

You can have load up when you start up your comp and then anytime you want to play a game just find the game in the start menu and clikc it, heck if you really want to cut down on the time just put a shortcut on the desktop of your game.

Steam doesn't slow anything down at all

edinsftw

um everygame has to install somehow...plus it only takes 5 mins max to do the steps

[QUOTE="edinsftw"]

[QUOTE="dakan45"] Let me explain what i mean, you see when you download something from steam, it give you the false idea that its ready to play after you download it, however when you click the shortcut, it has to setup and install directx and microsoft c++ I would like for steam to finish those things so when i click the shortcut it would just run....a small rant nothing special but it kinda annoys me :PCaptain__Tripps

um everygame has to install somehow...plus it only takes 5 mins max to do the steps

I have only used Steam briefly several years back. I'd like to verify my assumption about how Steam works. Say a game makes use of Steam's offline mode. Does it mean that I only need Internet connection the one time I install the game and can subsequently block Steam using a firewall but still play the game without problems (related to Steam) in perpetuity? EULA and contract laws aside, is it possible in a technical sense to install the game on a number of family machines using that one steam account and have all of them play simultaneous as long as they all block Steam's internet connection? This could be the case in family of multiple kids playing a single player gameI

I am concerned that the EULA for SteamWorks games are gravitating from "We the company (say Bethesda) grant you a license to this game (say Fallout New Vegas) for personal use..." to something like "We the company grant Valve a license to provide you with access to this game through Steam for personal use. We simultaneously grant you a license to access this game from Steam for personal use. However, your use of this game is also contingent on your accepting an EULA from Valve for the use of Steam and the game as accessed through Steam.Valve may, at its discretion, limit or otherwise prohibit your access to Steam and consequently this game for reasons and conditions not covered by your EULA with us, which we may not foresee, and for which we have no liability..."

If Steam bans your account, thus causing you to lose access to all games associated with that account, has Steam just illegally denied your right to property since some or all of the games on that account were not purchased from Valve and to which Valve has no copyright. Whatever you have done to deserve banning from Steam is irrelevant to the issue of license of those games. If indeed Steam can legally restrict your access to these games, one can easily see this level of monopoly, if indeed standardizes as some supporters suggest, will inflict a harm on the gaming community far exceeding any harm MS could possibly do to the PC industry. As there have constant competition between MS and Apple since the days of Windows 3.1 and additional players in the form of Unix and Linux, there is no such big-time competitors to Steam. Indeed most companies with the potential to compete, like EA and Ubisoft, have been booed and boycotted to the point where they have no choice but to consider adopting Steam. Many, perhaps most, in the gaming community embrace this type of monopolistic control yet at the same time backlash fiercely against any perceived right-restriction by big software publishers. This contradiction seems to me at best hypocritical and at worse harmful as it may ultimately affect my right as a consumer to own or at least license a game from its creator without the constant oversight of Big Brother Steam.