DRM: Is Steamworks The Way to Go?
Bethesda has said that Fallout: New Vegas will use Steamworks for DRM, and frankly, that sounds like a really good idea.
Wednesday Jason Bergman, Senior Producer at Bethesda Softworks, said that the upcoming game Fallout: New Vegas will use Valve's Steamworks for its digital rights management. While the mention of DRM sends a shiver of dread down our spines, this might actually be a good thing. Resulting intrusive software won't worm its way into the system's root; games won't be required to remain online so that players can experience the single-player campaign, and we won't be left with expensive drink coasters after using up all of our allowed installs.
"We’ve implemented Steamworks in as light and unobtrusive a way as possible," he reassured fans. "Yes, you will have to install Steam when you install Fallout: New Vegas if you don’t already have it. And yes, you will have to be online at the time of that initial install. However you can install the game on as many systems as you want (with no restrictions!), and you do not have to be online to play the game after your initial activation."
He goes on to say that once gamers have installed and activated the game on Steam via their account, the DVD can be discarded for good, as the digital version will be available immediately and indefinitely. Need to re-format the PC? Just download Steam again when Windows is replaced, and then re-install the game. There's no locked number of installs, and as Bergman stated, the game isn't locked to one specific Mac address. With all that said, it seems more environmentally-friendly to simply purchase the digital version.
Still, there are consumers who refuse to go digital. "If you don’t even have a DVD drive, you can just take the CD-Key from the box, enter it into Steam, and download it without ever using the disc at all," he added. Modders were also reassured that using Steam will have no effect of development--they will still be able to create and distribute their goods as they have in the past.
"We made the decision to use Steam after looking at all the various options out there and decided that it provided the best, least intrusive experience for PC gamers," he said. "We think you’ll agree."
Do you agree? Is this the best way to approach DRM without requiring limitations and compromising system stability? This seems like the best solution out there, and New Vegas might have a better chance on creating a community with Steam than with Microsoft's stagnant Games for Windows environment.
also i like steam it makes it easier when your reinstalling your OS (if you save the files for the games)
also i like steam it makes it easier when your reinstalling your OS (if you save the files for the games)
I mean really, how can you go wrong by going with steam? You can't, that's how.
however, even that wouldnt be a bad thing as long as steam keeps being the good service it is.
Solves:
1. Backup issues since games are all available in my Steam account
2. Don't need to enter any Keys
3. Provides me info on new games
4. Automatically updates my games
5. Might just save the PC gaming industry from Pirates/theives
6. Provides free demos of most games (try before you buy)
7. Provides SDK for game developers so copy protection is obfuscated within the game code itself
It's a pirates worse nightmare, and they seem to be the ones who don't like it (gee, big surprise), but do we paying customers give a rats ass about pirates, nope, and neither does steam nor the gaming companies -- they finally have a solution that ensures they get paid for consumer usage.
On another note, I believe that Steam is the answer that developers are looking for as it provides very strong, unobtrusive DRM while also advertises to an ENORMOUS gamer base nearly cost-free. If all PC games were to standardize on Steam today, I would bet that the current move to console would have stopped within two years.
However, I do prefer it against alternative DRMs. Of course, the best DRM is no DRM. I would even say that I'm more likely to buy a DRM-free game. For example, the game Demigod. No DRM. I downloaded a pirated copy to see if it was any good. I liked it. I got rid of said pirated copy and bought the game. If the game had DRM preventing the pirated copy, I never would have tried it, and never would have bought it.
The only worry about digital download I have is "Will this company still be in business 10, 15, 20 years in the future?" I re-played Eye of the Beholder last summer, about a 20 year old game. Will I be able to do that with FONV in 15 years if I digital download
Steam as a company, if it ever goes bust will not simply disappear.
It is the same as your house, if you dont pay the rent they repossess.
If Steam goes belly up then all their IP, including all the games and peoples accounts, will be taken by the receivers.
The bank will run it under administration until they can find an appropriate buyer at which point someone will carry it on.
At worst you may see a loss of service for a month or two and then all back to normal.