Short description on why that won't happen here. I won't post this again on this forum, so here it goes:
I tend to not get into arguments about minor things with people I don't know. I will just end up agreeing not to agree after trying to understand ones position and evaluating that against my own unless I am in the wrong. I am happy to give credit where credit is due when I am wrong, as not only am I wrong in cases, I get to learn something from it.

I have more important things to do than argue about semantics though.

Just that I saw people wanted HL2 on GoG and saying they want a DRM free version when they probably already own it and can just download it.

Tons of people on the Wishlist asking for it too which currently stands at 7865 people as I type this.

Just pointing out the option to zip the directory and save it.

If you don't need it, then you don't need it. Case closed.

That's fair. Just think most people understand that option, but want the game on GOG.

The main issue isn’t just about semantics - it is that there is no single, clear definition of what DRM actually is.

Beyond the broad and vague breakdown of the acronym, Digital Rights Management, the term is often just understood as something digital that manages your rights to use some software. Simply saying "DRM" is so nebulous and vague that it means very little on its own. Beyond this, the details, are where the shouting begins. This leads people to break it down differently, define it in their own way, and then accuse others who don’t use their exact breakdown or definitions of being wrong. At this point, I start comparing it to religion, specifically Christian denominations, who all start from the same book (the Bible), yet interpret it differently, resulting in multiple sects that each claim their interpretation is the correct one while declaring all others false.

Unless we all agree on a common definition of what DRM actually means, discussing it becomes pointless.

(PS. And in the Christiand denomitaion analogy, v221 is Westboro Baptist Church,)

I’m used to your pro-DRM discourse, but insults are a new low. That’s not unexpected from you, but still disappointing to see on a public forum.

Yep, I get it. I didn't create this thread to discuss DRM though. I creat4ed it to point out that HL2 and many other games already are DRM free.

I think the general consensus however is not how you download said game as that will always be from some sort of service that is behind some sort of paywall... I think the consensus is what you can do with the digital material after you obtain it and what restrictions you have on it. If there are no restrictions such as the case with HL2, I think the general consensus would be that HL2 is DRM free.

People seem to be getting lost on this idea. Again, I am not here to debate it. Really don't care as long as I can take that code and play it on any machine I want without restriction. This is what I can do here.

i believe even if you take the files, that when you installed it from steam, it creates a "key" stuck to that hardware. so when you change hardware eventually the game wont work anymore.

Yes because now you need SteamCMD, a web browser to get SteamCMD, and an account to get your games. Whereas GOG only requires the last two for your games, the minimum requirement to be a DRM-free store. Therefore, SteamCMD is technically a client.

Let's get the basics out of the way:

- Do you need SteamCMD to run the game after downloading it? No.
- Is it DRM? No.
- Is it a tedious step to download and execute? No.

But it's an extra unnecessary 53+ MB client that further separates yourself from your games. That and the fact that almost no devpub will see that you bought a game partly because it was DRM-free will go unseen. That's all I wanted to say.

My apologies, I didn't mean you will be involved the DRM definition argument. It's just that once it starts there is a select group of people here that jump into threads to keep it the DRM talks going.

Again my apologies I wasn't implying you would be the one responsible.

I call it as I see it.

Just as WBC has a narrow, black-and-white interpretation of the Bible, you have the same rigid view on DRM. Just as WBC claims to be the only true Christians, and therefore, anyone who disagrees with them is not a true Christian, you’re calling me pro-DRM simply because I don’t adhere to your strict dogma of what DRM means.The irony? I’m not pro-DRM, I just have a different interpretation. So in this analogy, I’m the denomination that accepts gays, while you’re the one insisting they should be stoned.

And just as WBC shows up everywhere with their placards, you appear in every single thread like this with your digital placard. You knew what this discussion was about, you didn’t have to jump in and post the same message you always do. But you were compelled by your 'religious' beliefs to do so, just as you feel the need to challenge anyone who dares question your dogma.

So to me, the shoe fits.

I was unaware this was such a hot topic. Thanks for the heads up! I will step out stage left on that one.
Well I will move it to my laptop and try again. i will report back!

Update: Runs fine on the laptop which is running an old 1060 GTX, and has a completely different CPU. I used the same version I used on the desktop.

I am guessing you are just doing something wrong as I can move this anywhere and play it without Steam from a download I just did yesterday of HL2. Note I used the Windows Binary in this case.