The only games I can remember downloading that were anywhere near the 50Gig size was Terra the MMO. Sure some recent games have been that big but it's insane. I kinda prefer my games 8Gig and under.

But sometimes you need to download a game more than once.
Yeah that post was making me scratch my head too...

I hate all sorts of Devolution... Just when Evolution was starting to go forward and produce some progress results, by some people accepting the DRM-FREE prospect for their products... Now those degenerates go two steps backwards and reintroduce DRM anew, going all the way back to the Ice Age! I wholeheartedly wish them to beget the very same natural outcome of any type of Devolution anywhere; them and their merchandise to go extinct! Doubly so, since going backwards in evolution trees, makes other apes more stupid and inclined to mimic the very same thing/idiocy! Imagine Square Enix setting the example for others to devolve too, into removing their DRM-FREE support and list of offered games!

Man, DRM is the second thing i hate the most in this universe! It was the main reason i became a pirate, once! I cross my fingers and repeat my wish from before: GOG, please sell that goddamn Square Enix complete pack once more for a final time, before they remove everything they own!

Depends on how careful you get. If you care about the discs, they won't suffer from a good chunk of these issues.

Otherwise authentic PS1 disks wouldn't be in sale anymore...right?
Digital downloads exist without DRM, sure. We have GOG here.
But the concept of digital downloads is what brought online activation DRM to fruition in the way you see it now, as now, those publishers can hide the DRM behind the fact that you need to download the game to get it.

I get that DRM-free digital downloads are possible, but even the concept remains flawed. A 50GBs DRM-free game will still suffer from delivery slower than a DRM-free disc.

Mm, I don't think so.
We already had online product activation before digital-only copies.
Publisher don't need any excuse to force it.

That depends on your internet connection. I doubt anyone can deliver me a disc in under 50 minutes. That's how long it takes me to download 50 GB.

Actually, where I am, it is possible to reach a store that sells games in, maybe, 10 minutes maximum. So, 10 minutes to go to the store, 10 minutes to find the game there and purchase it, and 10 minutes to get back home is 30 minutes total, or 20 minutes faster than your estimate.

But with an excuse, they can hide behind it and act as if what they're doing is for the greater good or whatever. That's what I'm referring to.

1GBs per minute? I'm afraid this is quite a rarity and a luxury. Plus. You didn't count the time it takes to install the game. As a GOG installer, you may add in 20 minutes at the least., or a few more minutes on Steam.

For people without that luxury, the majority of the world, going to the store is perhaps faster, too damn fast compared to a download.

You would still need to transfer them from disc to your hard drive, unless the store hands out usb sticks (which they could, maybe in a bring one / take one system). Disc speeds aren't that impressive.

Just found this thread. This makes me feel sad. It's very unfortunate.

Basically they are not saying the full truth. Of course putting all their games on Steam and thereby equipping them with DRM is not the only way available. They could just invest a bit of money and keep the state as it was or put them also on GOG (and let the customers pay a bit extra to cover their expenses for putting the games on GOG (those that aren't already here)).

I hope there was at least some notification, so people could download their games before they run out of links.

It all means that DRM free is not a given thing but has to be defended in order to remain. I don't even blame Steam much here but rather the publishers who think that going Steam only is a good idea. I think it isn't in the long run. We will see.

None, Nada, zilch

It was pure curiousity to see if anything new had been made available DRM free that led me to discover this.

I'm trying desperately to get any new group to actually publish this event, so other customers can complain and have a chance of getting their games.

I've made it clear to Square-Enix that Steam keys are not an acceptable alternative and they are still looking at it.

I had thought they'd just moth balled my ticket, but I got a reply yesterday. As I said, my biggest frustration is this should be news. I don't know how many people its effected. Sure compared to to number of sales via Steam, its going to be very small but it doesn't mean those people deserve to have the rug pulled from them with no notice.

While annoying they've turned their backs on DRM free, I understand them dropping a little used service. Its simple doing so with no warning was really bad customer service.