It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
avatar
OldFatGuy: The file I get from gog is a setup file.
avatar
JMich: That's weird. The file I got from GOG was an archive containing a bunch of files. The very sames I got from Steam. Does this "setup" you speak of play Carmageddon, or does it just install the files I'm talking about?
Just as I thought, not identical.
Post edited July 27, 2015 by OldFatGuy
avatar
OldFatGuy: Just as I thought, not identical.
Just like a Benjamin (100 Dollar Bill) is not the same as 100 Washingtons (1 Dollar Bill).
This thread and this thread have the same issue. Nobody can friggen tell you want DRM free really means because nobody really knows, to many opinions for one simple concept & not enough general agreement to make something fact. Which in return reflects bad on both Steam and GOG for this reason.
avatar
BKGaming: This thread and this thread have the same issue. Nobody can friggen tell you want DRM free really means because nobody really knows, to many opinions for one simple concept & not enough general agreement to make something fact. Which in return reflects bad on both Steam and GOG for this reason.
The thing is it's up to CONSUMERS to demand what is DRM-free and what isn't. And consumers should demand the most, and that is what gog offers. No frills, no bullshit, portable setup/install file that has no DRM. As long as consumers are willing to move the goalposts from that, then the goalposts will remain fluid and arguable. That's why I said "utter stupidity" because as consumers we should demand that from all sellers rather the turn into "fan boys" for this site or that site or this platform or that platform and then settle for anything less.
avatar
ncameron: I consider installation to be part of execution, as per your defs. You consider it to be part of the delivery.
avatar
JMich: I consider installation to be part of installation. Not delivery, nor execution. Steam games do not have the installation part.
GOG has DRM'd delivery (authentication required to download the files), a DRM-Free installer (anyone can run it) and DRM-Free execution. GMG (I think, it might be GG, never paid much attention to those) has DRM'd delivery (authentication required to download), DRM'd installers (online check to run) and both DRM'd and DRM-Free executions, depending on the game.
Steam has DRM'd delivery and DRM'd and DRM-Free execution. I'm not sure if there is a check required for Steam to parse installscript.vdf or not, but the file can be parsed without Steam just fine.
Sorry, misread what you wrote.

I don't see any part of any delivery system as DRM. It's all part of ensuring that an individual gets what they pay for. Otherwise, we might as well consider buying via retail store to be DRM in that you (or whoever buys) is identified as the person who paid (by visual inspection + memory of retailer) to be handed boxed game. If you were to regard that as DRM, then the only truly DRM-free games are free downloads.

Steam does install your games. It puts all the files in the right places, and installs all dependencies. That sounds like installation to me. It's simply that it does it all transparently, and it occurs during the download phase. I consider it to be a similar case to GG, which is probably where you and I differ.

Edit: Continuing the retail analogy - Steam is doing the retail equivalent of, when you pay, going home with you, installing the game on your computer, then going back to the store taking the box with him. I consider that to be an unreasonable control of my purchase - pretty much part and parcel of DRM.
Post edited July 27, 2015 by ncameron
avatar
OldFatGuy: The thing is it's up to CONSUMERS to demand what is DRM-free and what isn't.
That's the problem, consumers can't form a cohesive joint opinion if there life depended on it. A game could come attached with a sign that says "I have DRM" and consumers would still argue over if the game really has DRM or not.

I know this might not relate to Steam, but GOG should have came out long ago and said this is what we see DRM free as and this is the games were going to sell, and clearly define it for their service. Then people could not complain or argue over it like they do now about GOG having what they feel is DRM games.

As far as Steam, I agree with JMich, the files themselves are DRM free... the delivery system (aka Steam) is not.
Post edited July 27, 2015 by BKGaming
I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day; same arguments over and over by the same people and nothing ever changes.
avatar
hummer010: How long do y'all figure it will be until someone comes in and argues that there is no such thing as a DRM free game on Steam?
avatar
Immoli: Reminder: Steam is DRM.
About that long.

avatar
Grargar: I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day; same arguments over and over by the same people and nothing ever changes.
Ain't that the truth!?
Oh, crap, I didn't know I couldn't edit the topic title after I posted it. I purposely kept "DRM-free" in there to keep everything related to GOG's DRM-free digital distribution stance, and because of my own personal view; I guess I dropped the ball.

Okay, everyone, let's come to some kind of truce here. It's obvious that the definition of DRM-free will never fully be agreed upon, so from this post forward, let's assume this thread is called "How to run these Steam games without Steam." I'll edit the main post to reflect this change when I get home from work.

I apologize if my wording caused the off-topic spiral we've had to deal with up to this point; I'm only trying to post things that will help GOG users (and everyone else who happens across this topic) in the long run.
avatar
pedrovay2003: Okay, everyone, let's come to some kind of truce here. It's obvious that the definition of DRM-free will never fully be agreed upon, so from this post forward, let's assume this thread is called "How to run these Steam games without Steam." I'll edit the main post to reflect this change when I get home from work.
Start a chat conversation with Judas and ask him to rename the thread to something else, like "Steam games that can be run without the client". It's your call, of course.
avatar
pedrovay2003: Okay, everyone, let's come to some kind of truce here. It's obvious that the definition of DRM-free will never fully be agreed upon, so from this post forward, let's assume this thread is called "How to run these Steam games without Steam." I'll edit the main post to reflect this change when I get home from work.
avatar
Grargar: Start a chat conversation with Judas and ask him to rename the thread to something else, like "Steam games that can be run without the client". It's your call, of course.
I'd actually just start another new thread and get this one locked. Once the scent of battle is in the air... it will never be the same!

*prepares kilt
Steam is not DRM. I can't believe this discussion comes up every time someone mentions Steam and DRM. It's just a service to buy and download games. Many of the games on the list are 100% DRM-free. You download the game and can then use it however you want. You even get the necessary installation files the game needs. Some games on the list are not DRM-free, but with a small tweak they can be made DRM-Free, which does not involve downloading a game crack. You can then do whatever you want with the game.
Post edited July 27, 2015 by Teppic
avatar
Teppic: Steam is not DRM. I can't believe this discussion comes up every time someone mentions Steam and DRM. It's just a service to buy and download games. Many of the games on the list are 100% DRM-free. You download the game and can then use it however you want. You even get the necessary installation files the game needs. Some games on the list are not DRM-free, but with a small tweak they can be made DRM-Free, which does not involve downloading a game crack. You can then do whatever you want with the game.
Sorry, but the bolded part of your post is only possible by using a crack or cracking the game itself. The only exception would be an official patch which would eliminate the DRM because the publisher wanted it so.
Post edited July 27, 2015 by MarkoH01
avatar
MarkoH01: Sorry, but the bolded part of your post is only possible by using a crack or cracking the game itself. The only exception would be an official patch which would eliminate the DRM because the publisher wanted it so.
No? Most of these tweaks involve removing one file form the game folder. Can this really be considered to crack the game? Nevertheless, for me the inconvenience of downloading a crack far outweighs the inconvenience to remove one file.
avatar
Teppic: Steam is not DRM. I can't believe this discussion comes up every time someone mentions Steam and DRM. It's just a service to buy and download games. Many of the games on the list are 100% DRM-free. You download the game and can then use it however you want. You even get the necessary installation files the game needs. Some games on the list are not DRM-free, but with a small tweak they can be made DRM-Free, which does not involve downloading a game crack. You can then do whatever you want with the game.
avatar
MarkoH01: Sorry, but the bolded part of your post is only possible by using a crack or cracking the game itself. The only exception would be an official patch which would eliminate the DRM because the publisher wanted it so.
I think he means deleting a .dll file from the installation folder, or appending -nosteam to the end of a shortcut target, or something like that; I'm pretty sure he's just looking at the list we've already put together.


avatar
the.kuribo: Thanks pedrovay2003 for starting the new thread, It's very well-written and I think will cause much less confusion than the old one where the first post hadn't been updated in years.

I'm not sure if including the link to your excellent guide on how to play non-CEG Steam games offline forever would confuse/blur the line of fully portable vs games that require the client and muddy people's understanding, but that guide is also incredibly useful and also relevant to this thread I think. If anyone needs a link to the thread I'm talking about, it's here: https://www.gog.com/forum/general/how_to_run_steam_games_offline_forever_tutorial/page1
I'm really glad you found that thread so useful. :D I think I'm going to keep them separate for the time being, since just the mere mention of running Steam games in the future WITH the DRM involved might actually throw people into convulsions.

As for this thread, I've contacted Judas, and I've asked him to lock this thread, at which point I'll repost it with a reworded initial post and a different title.
Post edited July 27, 2015 by pedrovay2003