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Is this page full of irony? I was to understand, that in order to play any game bought from Steaming pile of crap, one must have the client on, even offline.

Unless the user is playing a DOS game or something like Neo Scavenger, whereby the user can move the files to another location and it still runs without the client.

Steam has always been DRM, even when they claim DRM free...because yes, their mind set is "the DRM is always free*wink*" lol
...this again.
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Sachys: ...this again.
clarify please
*points at the 21 pages of the thread since it was started.
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Shmacky-McNuts: clarify please
OK, here is how DRM-Free is defined on this thread; once a game is installed, you can move its folder, run the executable and if it can run without the client being active, then it's DRM-Free. The best examples are the DOSBox games and the flash-based games, as Steam's DRM can't be applied on them.
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Ghostbreed: Okay. This thread is stupid for one single reason. There are NO DRM free games on Steam at all, since Steam itself is a fucking DRM. Is it seriously so hard to get into your thick skulls, you Valve fanboys?
You bitch and moan about Origin, UPlay and GFWL but still praise Steam, which is the exact same thing!
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Shmacky-McNuts: Is this page full of irony? I was to understand, that in order to play any game bought from Steaming pile of crap, one must have the client on, even offline.

Unless the user is playing a DOS game or something like Neo Scavenger, whereby the user can move the files to another location and it still runs without the client.

Steam has always been DRM, even when they claim DRM free...because yes, their mind set is "the DRM is always free*wink*" lol
Are we still having this conversation? I'll spell it out as clearly as possible: Steam is not now, nor has it ever been, DRM. There's an optional -- OPTIONAL -- component of the Steam platform that locks games to the client, and this list is a collection of games that DO NOT UTILIZE THAT *OPTIONAL* COMPONENT. The Steam program itself is as much DRM as GOG.com is, i.e., it isn't. The choice to utilize the *OPTIONAL* DRM that Valve offers is 100% up to the individual developer or publisher.
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Typical reply from an Valve elitist.
Post edited February 27, 2015 by Ghostbreed
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Ghostbreed: There are NO DRM free games on Steam at all, since Steam itself is a fucking DRM.
Here you are. Comparison between the Carmageddon: Max Pack files provided by Steam and GOG. GOG provides the exact same executable Steam does, so either Carmageddon: Max Pack is DRM-Free on Steam, or it's DRM'd on GOG.
If you want, I can also try to look for the comparison I did with Carmageddon 2.

Steam is a DRM'd delivery method that can deliver both DRM'd and DRM-Free games. But feel free to consider a DRM'd delivery method the same as a DRM'd game.
Add SanctuaryRPG: Black Edition to the list, a wonderfully innovative and original rogue-like :)
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MarkoH01: A bit OT:
Regarding "Dead Space (1)" it is funny. I have the Origin version of the game and you can copy this anywhere you like. So as long as the game has not been released on GOG there is a "DRM-Free" solution.
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pedrovay2003: Wait, what? You can copy Dead Space to a different computer and play it without a problem if it's the Origin version? I thought it had an activation limit.

EDIT: I just tried it, and it gives me an error saying that Origin isn't installed.
Oh, sorry. In this case I only tried to copy it to a different directory so I did not realize that it still checks if Origin is installed. Sorry for the confusion and for the incomplete checking. But if the game only checks if Origin is installed I could imagine that it would be enough to export the according registry key.
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Ghostbreed: Typical reply from an Valve elitist.
Typical reply from an ignoramus that doesn't actually know what DRM is.

The steam client, as a delivery method, operates pretty much identically to the GOG downloader / website. It requires a username and a password, and checks that you actually have the right to download the game in question. After that, there are several games available from steam that never need the client again. If you consider that to be too much DRM, you better stop buying at GOG, because they implement the same level of DRM.
Post edited February 27, 2015 by hummer010
everyone can have her/his opinion

for me steam is not DRM-Free

steam is even beyond DRM, its a service based system
meaning you play the games as long as the service lets you, and in the term they set and those terms can change at any time

as for the comparison what some call drm-free steam...
how about not having internet in the computer you are installing?
how about all the processes a game installation does?
how can you install a game without an installation setup?
how about registry keys created during setup?
how about icons and start menu shortcut entries?
how about DLL files needed and copied outside of the games directory?
how about third party software needed to run the game?
how about having a way to check the integrity of the installation and files?
how about archiving/backing-up the game in a organized way?
how about the garanty the version will remain this way, drm-free?
how about patching the game?
how about official information from the seller informing the consumer what she/he is buying?
how about making games installation a thing about you and the game and not involving third parties?
how about supporting alternative ways to install a game besides restrict client based ones like steam?
and how about supporting competition and not letting steam become a monopoly?

for me only a version with a stand-alone offline installer can be called DRM-Free
that is precisely what DRM-Free is, a stand-alone offline installer.
this is what GOG has
this is what DotEmu has
this is what HumbleBundle has
this is what steam doesn't have

also i find it troublesome steam supporters using GOG, GOGs servers, GOG bandwith, GOG forums to promote games from a competing system,
knowing that some games they advertise here are also sold in GOG so potentionly damaging GOGs sales.
so my question is doesn't steam have their own forum system which the steam supporters can carry on this?
unless steam forums would censor and ban this king of information? is that the case?

but credit to GOG for the freedom of speech we have here
and it also proves GOG forums are a safe place for gamers to come and discuss anything with freedom and no fear of being banned
and i hope, no matter how many pages this thread has, there always will be GOG supporters that will challenge the argument steam can even be DRM-Free

ps: isn't it ironic linux supporters promoting steam?
steam is the closest thing to monopoly and killing alternative and choice in personal computing gaming which is precisely the reason why linux was created in the first place, to fight against monopoly and give choice and alternative to personal computing

pss: double irony; in the GOG forum, a GOG costumer defending GOG is down rated!?!? isn't something wrong?
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hummer010:
I'm not even gonna bother with you.
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triple_l: [...]
for me only a version with a stand-alone offline installer can be called DRM-Free
that is precisely what DRM-Free is, a stand-alone offline installer.
[...]
Why installer? Arguable, an installer can be broken with OS / Software upgrades. Is not the most DRM free software packages those who are delivered 'as is' without any wrappers, such as an installer?

Also, if a game is delivered DRM free, what is the difference between a archived games (i.e. zipped folder) and one delivered as an installer?
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hummer010:
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Ghostbreed: I'm not even gonna bother with you.
are going to bother with JMich :)
Post edited February 27, 2015 by amok
Let me reply to you point by point, taking Carmageddon: Max Pack as the game being discussed. See my post above for the comparison between GOG files and Steam files of said game.

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triple_l: how about not having internet in the computer you are installing?
No problem, copy paste the game and you play.
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triple_l: how about all the processes a game installation does?
Carmageddon doesn't have them. Games that do need them contain the info in installscript.vdf, in a human readable format.
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triple_l: how can you install a game without an installation setup?
Unzip and/or copy the folder
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triple_l: how about registry keys created during setup?
Installscript.vdf contains them, if they are needed
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triple_l: how about icons and start menu shortcut entries?
Right click on exe, send to desktop. Copy said shortcut to start menu if wanted.
Bit more complicated with DOSBox games, but I think a script or two should already exist for that.
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triple_l: how about DLL files needed and copied outside of the games directory?
Part of dependencies, see installscript.vdf again
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triple_l: how about third party software needed to run the game?
See folder redists for any needed redistributables
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triple_l: how about having a way to check the integrity of the installation and files?
Zip it. Archives do have a self check, or you can keep an md5/sha1 hash list somewhere. Whatever works for you
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triple_l: how about archiving/backing-up the game in a organized way?
Archive with program of your choice, organize them according to taste
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triple_l: how about the garanty the version will remain this way, drm-free?
None. If you do keep the files backed up though, those don't need steam, and won't be revoked. Similar to Imperial Glory Mac edition from GOG
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triple_l: how about patching the game?
Steam required to download patch. Copy files to offline computer, play (assuming game remains DRM-Free of course)
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triple_l: how about official information from the seller informing the consumer what she/he is buying?
1 license to the game Carmageddon: Max Pack. Additional software may be required.
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triple_l: how about making games installation a thing about you and the game and not involving third parties?
Innosetup is a third party. Nullsoft is a third party. MSI install scripts are a third party. Archivers are a third party.
Copy pasting the game though isn't.
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triple_l: how about supporting alternative ways to install a game besides restrict client based ones like steam?
Copy pasting the files?
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triple_l: and how about supporting competition and not letting steam become a monopoly?
Take your pick. Origin, UPlay, GMG, GG, DotEmu, GOG, GetGamesGo, Fireflower Games etc. All have both DRM and DRM free games.

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triple_l: this is what GOG has
GOG Galaxy doesn't. Linux games come (also) as archives, not installers. Are those not DRM-Free, even though the exact same files are provided to you?
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triple_l: this is what DotEmu has
Haven't used DotEmu, no idea
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triple_l: this is what HumbleBundle has
HumbleBundle offers quite a bit of games as archives, not installers. Are said games not DRM-Free?
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triple_l: this is what steam doesn't have
Yes, Steam skips the installation part of Deliver/Install/Play. Delivery is DRM'd, Play may be DRM'd or DRM-Free.

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triple_l: also i find it troublesome steam supporters using GOG, GOGs servers, GOG bandwith, GOG forums to promote games from a competing system,
knowing that some games they advertise here are also sold in GOG so potentionly damaging GOGs sales.
so my question is doesn't steam have their own forum system which the steam supporters can carry on this?
unless steam forums would censor and ban this king of information? is that the case?

but credit to GOG for the freedom of speech we have here
and it also proves GOG forums are a safe place for gamers to come and discuss anything with freedom and no fear of being banned
That is exactly the reason we discuss it here. Because people want to discuss it, and because we can discuss it.

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triple_l: and i hope, no matter how many pages this thread has, there always will be GOG supporters that will challenge the argument steam can even be DRM-Free
And I hope at least a few of them will question what is DRM after reading this thread, and not blindingly go with a very strict definition. People have different definitions of DRM. Some require all 3 of the Deliver/Install/Play to be DRM-Free, others require only the Play part to be DRM-Free, some want both the Install and Play to be DRM-Free.

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triple_l: pss: double irony; in the GOG forum, a GOG costumer defending GOG is down rated!?!? isn't something wrong?
I've said it before, I'll say it again. What most Goglodytes don't tolerate is intolerance. Feel free to discuss and debate, but do have arguments. Don't just go "Your argument is false because I say so". Explain your reasoning. It may be different from others, but proper discussion is always encouraged.