Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM!

Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! SimBin a well known and PROUD Starforce Publisher has UPGRADED its copy-protection system to a even more AGRESSIVE one, and off course it had to be STEAM, the top of the line in AGRESSIVE copy-protection. SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! http://www.race-game.org/ Is it surprising? Not at all! If a Publisher had the nerve and arrogancy to use Starforce it will also have the nerve and arrogancy to use STEAM. It suites well in SimBin personality. And like in the good old Valve tradition, all versions will force you to use STEAM, ALL! Even Retail! Yes even Retail! So No choice! No alternative! STEAM always! So beware, EVEN "RACE" Retail will FORCE and IMPOSE you STEAM. Also a big disappointment to Eidos for distributing the game, so they don't have any problem in being associated with more abuse done to PC Gamers. Links to Amazon so you can memorize this cover box. The game is due out in November 24, 2006 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000K2XK64/ And for those STEAM LOVERs that will say "that's good I like STEAM", let me tell the others don't pay attention to this, cause STEAM is a MILLION time worse than Starforce! at least a MILLION! Why? Well Starforce the version used in Retail PC Games is nothing more than a disk based copy-protection system... yes it is driver based, it creates incompatibility and stability issues and overall its a major headache and inconvenience for users, but that is it, it has no other reach. As for STEAM, its a totally new paradigm, its a SERVICE based system for PC Games, meaning, end users are turned into SLAVES totally dependant on the SERVICE PROVIDER (Valve), and no longer there will be FREEDOM, CHOICE, ALTERNATIVE and specially Privacy; Yes say GOODBYE to PRIVACY and FREEDOM with STEAM. STEAM basically turns your own PC into a PRISON with those selling the games having ABSOLUTE POWER and the customer having NONE! I know for some at least, at the "surface" STEAM looks better than Starforce but believe me you are being FOOLED, and please don't! STEAM is way more WORSE than Starforce. STEAM reaches are not as obvious as Starforce. Also I want to ask PC Gamers to not be LAZY. I know STEAM is very ATTRACTIVE for LAZY Gamers cause every thing is automatic and you almost don't do anything except PAY and PLAY, but with that comes less FREEDOM for you. And do you exchange doing less work for your own FREEDOM! Come on! we are talking about FREEDOM! Don't be LAZY! Don't let LAZINESS turn you into a SLAVE in a PRISON in your own computer! To all the boycott continues! If you boycotted Starforce infected games now with STEAM it must continue! IT MUST CONTINUE! And we must be UNITED! PC GAMERS MUST BE UNITED IN THE BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT STEAM! BOYCOTT GREEDY ARROGANT PUBLISHERS LIKE SIMBIN! Fight for a PC Game market with FREEDOM, CHOICE and consumer rights! For more STEAM INFECTED and PRODUCT ACTIVATION games check my list at: http://pcgames2006.tripod.com/pcgprodact.htm PS: Please help me build my list as complete as possible, so if you know of any Retail PC Games that is either STEAM infected or has Product Activation warn me and all other PC Gamers! Information is the weapon! INFORMATION is the only weapon we got!

[email hidden] (pc games) wrote: > Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! Oh f*ck, you've discovered this group as well. Is there no escape? Andrew McP

On 16 Nov 2006 23:41:57 -0800, "pc games" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! > >SimBin a well known and PROUD Starforce Publisher has UPGRADED >its copy-protection system to a even more AGRESSIVE one, and >off course it had to be STEAM, the top of the line in AGRESSIVE >copy-protection. > >SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! >http://www.race-game.org/

Excellent. I'm currently loading Medieval 2 and I will be loading RACE. I'm personally saving $25 per game due to having to pay US price. Local price for games is around $75US! It's also great to have steam automatically update my game the moment a patch is ready and not have to endure a CD check whenever I want to play the game! Backup is also an absolutely breeze. Kudos Valve. Cheers, Rod.

[email hidden] (Rod) wrote: > I'm personally saving $25 per game due to having to pay > US price. Local price for games is around $75US! My only problem with Steam is quite the opposite. I object to paying a premium just so I can have a game the moment it's released (thanks to pre-loading). Originally I thought Steam would cut out the middle men (publishers) and give us cheaper games. But I suspect the publishers used their leverage to make sure this didn't happen. Not yet anyway. Andrew McP

On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 11:08 +0000 (GMT Standard Time), [email hidden] (Andrew MacPherson) wrote:

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>[email hidden] (Rod) wrote: > >> I'm personally saving $25 per game due to having to pay >> US price. Local price for games is around $75US! > >My only problem with Steam is quite the opposite. I object to paying a >premium just so I can have a game the moment it's released (thanks to >pre-loading).

Depends on what country you live in I guess. Games are considerably cheaper on Steam than in Australia. Cheers, Rod.

I hated STEAM until I got a high speed Internet connection. Peoples with no Internet connection can't even play offline with Steam game which is a pain. If they could find a alternative for offline play without internet, Steam would be great.

"Claude Leclerc" wrote >I hated STEAM until I got a high speed Internet connection. > Peoples with no Internet connection can't even play offline with Steam > game which is a pain. Incorrect.

Partly incorrect ;-). With HL2 I went to a friend with Internet connection and was able to install and set it up for off-line play. It worked for about a month and, I don't know why, it ask me back to connect. (If someone know why it would ask to go back online, it could be usefull if I disconnect from the Web again) I had 2 solutions: - Moving my PC again to my friends place. - Desinstall. I selected the easiest. "Vince" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Zoj7h.181975$[email hidden]...

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> "Claude Leclerc" wrote >>I hated STEAM until I got a high speed Internet connection. >> Peoples with no Internet connection can't even play offline with Steam >> game which is a pain. > > Incorrect. >

You can pre-order Race for as little as 21GBP in the UK and most Internet shops will dispatch prior to release so you have it on the day of release. Race on Steam I think is $45 US (24GBP). Andi. "Andrew MacPherson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> [email hidden] (Rod) wrote: > >> I'm personally saving $25 per game due to having to pay >> US price. Local price for games is around $75US! > > My only problem with Steam is quite the opposite. I object to paying a > premium just so I can have a game the moment it's released (thanks to > pre-loading). > > Originally I thought Steam would cut out the middle men (publishers) and > give us cheaper games. But I suspect the publishers used their leverage > to make sure this didn't happen. Not yet anyway. > > Andrew McP

I think you need to go back into your shed in the woods and keep up on your manifesto..... I had Steam for a long time when i played HL2 and Counterstike. Never had an issue with them and wasn't worrying myself to death about them spying on me or something. Usually the only people who yell the loudest about privacy and freedom, are those that have something to hide... like copying games. "pc games" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! > >SimBin a well known and PROUD Starforce Publisher has UPGRADED >its copy-protection system to a even more AGRESSIVE one, and >off course it had to be STEAM, the top of the line in AGRESSIVE >copy-protection. > >SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! >http://www.race-game.org/ > >Is it surprising? Not at all! >If a Publisher had the nerve and arrogancy to use Starforce it >will also have the nerve and arrogancy to use STEAM. >It suites well in SimBin personality. > >And like in the good old Valve tradition, all versions will force >you to use STEAM, ALL! >Even Retail! Yes even Retail! >So No choice! No alternative! STEAM always! > >So beware, EVEN "RACE" Retail will FORCE and IMPOSE you STEAM. > >Also a big disappointment to Eidos for distributing the game, so >they don't have any problem in being associated with more abuse >done to PC Gamers. > >Links to Amazon so you can memorize this cover box. >The game is due out in November 24, 2006 >http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000K2XK64/ > >And for those STEAM LOVERs that will say "that's good I like >STEAM", let me tell the others don't pay attention to this, >cause STEAM is a MILLION time worse than Starforce! at least >a MILLION! Why? >Well Starforce the version used in Retail PC Games is nothing >more than a disk based copy-protection system... yes it is >driver based, it creates incompatibility and stability issues >and overall its a major headache and inconvenience for users, >but that is it, it has no other reach. >As for STEAM, its a totally new paradigm, its a SERVICE based >system for PC Games, meaning, end users are turned into SLAVES >totally dependant on the SERVICE PROVIDER (Valve), and no >longer there will be FREEDOM, CHOICE, ALTERNATIVE and specially >Privacy; Yes say GOODBYE to PRIVACY and FREEDOM with STEAM. >STEAM basically turns your own PC into a PRISON with those >selling the games having ABSOLUTE POWER and the customer having >NONE! >I know for some at least, at the "surface" STEAM looks better >than Starforce but believe me you are being FOOLED, and please >don't! >STEAM is way more WORSE than Starforce. >STEAM reaches are not as obvious as Starforce. > >Also I want to ask PC Gamers to not be LAZY. >I know STEAM is very ATTRACTIVE for LAZY Gamers cause every >thing is automatic and you almost don't do anything except >PAY and PLAY, but with that comes less FREEDOM for you. >And do you exchange doing less work for your own FREEDOM! >Come on! we are talking about FREEDOM! >Don't be LAZY! Don't let LAZINESS turn you into a SLAVE in >a PRISON in your own computer! > >To all the boycott continues! >If you boycotted Starforce infected games now with STEAM it >must continue! >IT MUST CONTINUE! >And we must be UNITED! >PC GAMERS MUST BE UNITED IN THE BOYCOTT! >BOYCOTT STEAM! BOYCOTT GREEDY ARROGANT PUBLISHERS LIKE SIMBIN! >Fight for a PC Game market with FREEDOM, CHOICE and consumer >rights! > >For more STEAM INFECTED and PRODUCT ACTIVATION games check my >list at: >http://pcgames2006.tripod.com/pcgprodact.htm > >PS: Please help me build my list as complete as possible, so >if you know of any Retail PC Games that is either STEAM infected >or has Product Activation warn me and all other PC Gamers! >Information is the weapon! INFORMATION is the only weapon we got!

[email hidden] wrote:

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> I think you need to go back into your shed in the woods and keep up on your > manifesto..... > > I had Steam for a long time when i played HL2 and Counterstike. Never had an > issue with them and wasn't worrying myself to death about them spying on me or > something. > > Usually the only people who yell the loudest about privacy and freedom, are > those that have something to hide... like copying games.

I don't agree with his view of Steam, but your last sentence gives me the creeps. "You're with me, or you're a terrorist!" Right? And you could at least have removed his outburst...

This whole copy protection thing is kind of rediculous, if you ask me. I�m with Brad Wardell on the issue. I have taken the liberty to cut and past a part of an interview he gave to Gamasutra. <Start of quote> GS: Speaking of single player, how do you feel about copy protection? BW: I've always been pro copy protection in the general sense, but I don't like the way game companies approach it. It's like the game industry has lived in this cocoon that the rest of the software industry has already broken out of. I don't like having to keep a CD in my drive or having something installing spyware on my computer to tell me what I should be doing. When I want to run Photoshop or Word I don't have to put a CD in the drive. Microsoft and Adobe aren't installing drivers on my machine to monitor what I'm doing. "Oh look, you have a CD burner on your machine, I won't work." That's the sort of thing I really object to. I think so many game publishers are behind the time. The software industry went through this as well. Remember dongles? GS: Oh yeah. I used a lot of 3D Studio back in the day. BW: There were all kind of goofy things on all kinds of software, but they grew out of that. They realized that the goal of copy protection isn't to stop people from pirating but to increase sales. That's an important distinction. I don't like people pirating my game. GS: Naturally. BW: I find it annoying on principle. The question is "would they have bought the game anyway?" If they wouldn't have bought the game, then why should I be concentrating on them? I should be concentrating on maximizing my overall sales. Don't inconvenience legitimate users but inconvenience illegitimate users. Some percentage of them will buy the game. GS: You don't waste that time and money stopping someone who won't buy your product anyway. BW: Right. Did you hear that twenty eight percent of gamers won't even buy a game? This was a study put out by one of the copy protection companies as proof of why copy protection isn't negative. This study says that ONLY twenty eight percent of gamers won't buy a game with copy protection. I was thinking "HOLY COW, that's a disaster!" <End of quote> The industry screaming all over the place is much like the music business crying about people stealing their songs. Yes, there is a lot of trading going on, yes, if those people had all bought the music legaly, they would have earned a *huge* amount of money. Hello! Many of those trading songs back and forth wouldn�t have bought the music anyway, �cause they simply don�t have the money (does anybody think 12 year old kids would spend 100 bucks a month for music, if there weren�t any trading portals around?). So whatever you do, you won�t earn that kind of mony. Investing in copy protection, that doesn�t prevent illegal copies, won�t increase sales, and pisses off a substatial part of your customers is a big NO-NO, businiss wise. Perhaps the suits will somewhen get to understand this. In the meantime, the customers have the right to choose what they buy. If you don�t like the copy protection, don�t buy the game *and* let guys in the shop you regularly buy your games *know* why you don�t buy it. If there is enough complaint, maybe they will react. I, for example, am playing pc-games for at least 15 years and have bought some 300+ games over that time. Lets assume a game, on the average, costs 30?, then I have spent 9000? on games. Would you, as a business person, want to throw that kind of money away, because, well "we have to use a more agressive copy protection. I know it won�t keep our game from being cracked, and yes, it won�t help our sales, but hey, everyone does it"

Claude Leclerc wrote:

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> Partly incorrect ;-). > > With HL2 I went to a friend with Internet connection and was able to install > and set it up for off-line play. > It worked for about a month and, I don't know why, it ask me back to > connect. > (If someone know why it would ask to go back online, it could be usefull if > I disconnect from the Web again) > I had 2 solutions: > - Moving my PC again to my friends place. > - Desinstall. > > I selected the easiest. >

Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to keep it running is a VERY BAD THING. Aside from the privacy issues, what if the company goes belly up, dosen't release an unlock patch, and you get to sit with a dead game that you can no longer play?

[email hidden] (zeez) wrote: > Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to > keep it running is a VERY BAD THING. In theory, yes. In practice, I'm sure it's unlikely Steam would just vanish without a parting shot of patches. Bottom line though... life's short, and we're talking about games, not a cure for cancer or throwing away thousands of lives in Iraq. The older I get, the harder I find it to get upset about gaming. Andrew McP

zeez wrote:

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> Claude Leclerc wrote: >> Partly incorrect ;-). >> >> With HL2 I went to a friend with Internet connection and was able to install >> and set it up for off-line play. >> It worked for about a month and, I don't know why, it ask me back to >> connect. >> (If someone know why it would ask to go back online, it could be usefull if >> I disconnect from the Web again) >> I had 2 solutions: >> - Moving my PC again to my friends place. >> - Desinstall. >> >> I selected the easiest. >> > > Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to keep it > running is a VERY > BAD THING. Aside from the privacy issues, what if the company goes > belly up, dosen't release an unlock patch, and you get to sit with a > dead game that you can no longer play? >

"Aside from the privacy issues, ..." care to explain this one a bit more?

"zeez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> > Claude Leclerc wrote: >> Partly incorrect ;-). >> >> With HL2 I went to a friend with Internet connection and was able to >> install >> and set it up for off-line play. >> It worked for about a month and, I don't know why, it ask me back to >> connect. >> (If someone know why it would ask to go back online, it could be >> usefull if >> I disconnect from the Web again) >> I had 2 solutions: >> - Moving my PC again to my friends place. >> - Desinstall. >> >> I selected the easiest. >> > > Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to keep it > running is a VERY > BAD THING. Aside from the privacy issues, what if the company goes > belly up, dosen't release an unlock patch, and you get to sit with a > dead game that you can no longer play?

There's already a Steamless HL2 out there, so that argument gets tossed.

>>STEAM reaches are not as obvious as Starforce.<< You should try to at least once describe some problem with Steam. Aside from just accusing -- where is your proof that Steam is doing ANYTHING???? I've had no problems with Steam since day1 (I would "prefer" that the online interface closed with the game - but I understand why they do that and it is not too difficult for me to right click and close manually) ==--== "pc games" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! > > SimBin a well known and PROUD Starforce Publisher has UPGRADED > its copy-protection system to a even more AGRESSIVE one, and > off course it had to be STEAM, the top of the line in AGRESSIVE > copy-protection. > > SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! > http://www.race-game.org/ > > Is it surprising? Not at all! > If a Publisher had the nerve and arrogancy to use Starforce it > will also have the nerve and arrogancy to use STEAM. > It suites well in SimBin personality. > > And like in the good old Valve tradition, all versions will force > you to use STEAM, ALL! > Even Retail! Yes even Retail! > So No choice! No alternative! STEAM always! > > So beware, EVEN "RACE" Retail will FORCE and IMPOSE you STEAM. > > Also a big disappointment to Eidos for distributing the game, so > they don't have any problem in being associated with more abuse > done to PC Gamers. > > Links to Amazon so you can memorize this cover box. > The game is due out in November 24, 2006 > http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000K2XK64/ > > And for those STEAM LOVERs that will say "that's good I like > STEAM", let me tell the others don't pay attention to this, > cause STEAM is a MILLION time worse than Starforce! at least > a MILLION! Why? > Well Starforce the version used in Retail PC Games is nothing > more than a disk based copy-protection system... yes it is > driver based, it creates incompatibility and stability issues > and overall its a major headache and inconvenience for users, > but that is it, it has no other reach. > As for STEAM, its a totally new paradigm, its a SERVICE based > system for PC Games, meaning, end users are turned into SLAVES > totally dependant on the SERVICE PROVIDER (Valve), and no > longer there will be FREEDOM, CHOICE, ALTERNATIVE and specially > Privacy; Yes say GOODBYE to PRIVACY and FREEDOM with STEAM. > STEAM basically turns your own PC into a PRISON with those > selling the games having ABSOLUTE POWER and the customer having > NONE! > I know for some at least, at the "surface" STEAM looks better > than Starforce but believe me you are being FOOLED, and please > don't! > STEAM is way more WORSE than Starforce. > STEAM reaches are not as obvious as Starforce. > > Also I want to ask PC Gamers to not be LAZY. > I know STEAM is very ATTRACTIVE for LAZY Gamers cause every > thing is automatic and you almost don't do anything except > PAY and PLAY, but with that comes less FREEDOM for you. > And do you exchange doing less work for your own FREEDOM! > Come on! we are talking about FREEDOM! > Don't be LAZY! Don't let LAZINESS turn you into a SLAVE in > a PRISON in your own computer! > > To all the boycott continues! > If you boycotted Starforce infected games now with STEAM it > must continue! > IT MUST CONTINUE! > And we must be UNITED! > PC GAMERS MUST BE UNITED IN THE BOYCOTT! > BOYCOTT STEAM! BOYCOTT GREEDY ARROGANT PUBLISHERS LIKE SIMBIN! > Fight for a PC Game market with FREEDOM, CHOICE and consumer > rights! > > For more STEAM INFECTED and PRODUCT ACTIVATION games check my > list at: > http://pcgames2006.tripod.com/pcgprodact.htm > > PS: Please help me build my list as complete as possible, so > if you know of any Retail PC Games that is either STEAM infected > or has Product Activation warn me and all other PC Gamers! > Information is the weapon! INFORMATION is the only weapon we got! >

On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:07:24 +1100, Rod <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>On 16 Nov 2006 23:41:57 -0800, "pc games" <[email hidden]> >wrote: > >>Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! >> >>SimBin a well known and PROUD Starforce Publisher has UPGRADED >>its copy-protection system to a even more AGRESSIVE one, and >>off course it had to be STEAM, the top of the line in AGRESSIVE >>copy-protection. >> >>SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! >>http://www.race-game.org/ > >Excellent. > >I'm currently loading Medieval 2 and I will be loading RACE. I'm >personally saving $25 per game due to having to pay US price. >Local price for games is around $75US! >

Good for you All I get is a full retail price, no CD, and many times no documentation all at the same price as the store version that has all that other stuff.

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>It's also great to have steam automatically update my game the moment >a patch is ready and not have to endure a CD check whenever I want >to play the game! > >Backup is also an absolutely breeze. Kudos Valve. > >Cheers, >Rod.

pc games wrote: > Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! Wow! What else can he turn into?

On 16 Nov 2006 23:41:57 -0800, "pc games" <[email hidden]> wrote: >SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! >http://www.race-game.org/ I have HL2, and I'm not really pro or anti-STEAM yet, but I see this game being released on STEAM as a positive. I like race sims, and many of the World Touring and Rally sims are difficult to find in the US. Since the market isn't huge here, some are delayed by months after a European market push, and some don't make it here at all. This is one case where I welcome the availability to download. I've never once used a download service for a retail game. This might be the one.

I have always had a liking for NFL type computer games/sims - in fact I owned a thing called Broderbund Playmaker Football b4 I even owned my 1st PC. This is why I got the PC! :) Anyway, I was keen to get NFL Head Coach by EA but it is not relesed in Australia. It would have taken a few weeks to get it shipped by a local company for an overall cost of $40 including postal costs. Then I realised I could download it via EA Link and it only cost me $27. I only have a 512kb connection and it took me over 24hrs to finally get the entire 2.1 GB down but that is a lot better than the alternative. It's by far the cheapest non bargain bin game I have ever purchased and there is no stuffing about hunting a copy down or waiting for shipping. This sort of thing is a great developement. The only thing is that refunds/exchanges are a no go so you need to be sure it's what you want. "Tim O" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> On 16 Nov 2006 23:41:57 -0800, "pc games" <[email hidden]> > wrote: > >>SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! >>http://www.race-game.org/ > > I have HL2, and I'm not really pro or anti-STEAM yet, but I see this > game being released on STEAM as a positive. I like race sims, and many > of the World Touring and Rally sims are difficult to find in the US. > Since the market isn't huge here, some are delayed by months after a > European market push, and some don't make it here at all. > > This is one case where I welcome the availability to download. I've > never once used a download service for a retail game. This might be > the one.

"Hank the Rapper" wrote > pc games wrote: >> Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! > Wow! What else can he turn into? Is he a Super hero?

Vince wrote:

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> "Hank the Rapper" wrote >> pc games wrote: > >>> Ex-Starforce Publisher turns to STEAM! > >> Wow! What else can he turn into? > > Is he a Super hero? >

Is it some fog, is it a car exhaust on a cold morning, is it a bonfire, no it's Steam Man ...

On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:18:32 GMT, JAB <[email hidden]> wrote: >Is it some fog, is it a car exhaust on a cold morning, is it a bonfire, >no it's Steam Man ... "Stop right there evil-do'ers, or I'll humidify you!"

"Well Starforce the version used in Retail PC Games is nothing more than a disk based copy-protection system... yes it is driver based, it creates incompatibility and stability issues and overall its a major headache and inconvenience for users, but that is it, it has no other reach." Yeah, just like Diarheaa is only a minor inconvience. Thanks for the monday-morning laugh! -Larry

It's a good point though. If a developer goes under, one could lose access to something they paid good money for. It's already happened once in the Software industry. The same thing applies to digital music downloads. You could spend $1000 on music, and the music store could go under. With all the cut-throat dealing going on in that industry right now, I have no doubt that someone, eventually, will throw in the towel and the courts are gonna get a good workout over it. -Larry "Andrew MacPherson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> [email hidden] (zeez) wrote: > >> Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to >> keep it running is a VERY BAD THING. > > In theory, yes. In practice, I'm sure it's unlikely Steam would just > vanish without a parting shot of patches. > > Bottom line though... life's short, and we're talking about games, not a > cure for cancer or throwing away thousands of lives in Iraq. The older I > get, the harder I find it to get upset about gaming. > > Andrew McP >

I dunno. Some people just care about such things as privacy and freedom. I realize they ain't in-vogue these days, but some people do care. -Larry <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:EGo7h.111$[email hidden]... > Usually the only people who yell the loudest about privacy and freedom, > are > those that have something to hide... like copying games.

Larry has brought this to us :

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> I dunno. Some people just care about such things as privacy and freedom. I > realize they ain't in-vogue these days, but some people do care. > > -Larry > > <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:EGo7h.111$[email hidden]... > >> Usually the only people who yell the loudest about privacy and freedom, are >> those that have something to hide... like copying games.

I love freedom and privacy too, don't get me wrong, hell, I'm in the military for crying out loud and defend it every day! I just don't think every person out there is evil and trying to do sinister things with my data. His email struck me as paranoid and over the top. It's like the NSA/CIA wiretapping overseas calls from terrorists fiasco, everyone was screaming about privacy and freedom relating to that too, but if you're talking to terrorists.... That was my point, if you scream the loudest, you are usually the one doing wrong and not wanting to get caught.

Andrew MacPherson wrote:

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> [email hidden] (zeez) wrote: > > > Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to > > keep it running is a VERY BAD THING. > > In theory, yes. In practice, I'm sure it's unlikely Steam would just > vanish without a parting shot of patches. >

That is, if they decide to do this in the first place. Right now, gamers can only *hope* that if Steam goes under, that it will indeed release patches, rather than just disappear one day leaving their customers hanging. I don't want to invest hundreds or even thousands of dollars in games with Steam only to find my self one day finding that I will no longer be able to play what I paid for if they decide to close down and skip town. > Bottom line though... life's short, and we're talking about games, not a > cure for cancer or throwing away thousands of lives in Iraq. The older I > get, the harder I find it to get upset about gaming. Well, I imagine you would still get POed if something you put alot of money in became completely worthless and unusable. Bottom line, don't rely on others to keep your software running, especialy a company. > > Andrew McP

Larry wrote:

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> It's a good point though. If a developer goes under, one could lose access > to something they paid good money for. > > It's already happened once in the Software industry. > > The same thing applies to digital music downloads. You could spend $1000 on > music, and the music store could go under.

Great point. Thankfuly, the music can still be captured via analog, and re recorded in a non "protected" format. ( though there is a group of people *cough*TRUSTEDCOMPUTINGGROUP*cough* that are working hard to close this loophole, but it doeen't affect the current hardware on the market.) > With all the cut-throat dealing > going on in that industry right now, I have no doubt that someone, > eventually, will throw in the towel and the courts are gonna get a good > workout over it. > The dot-BOMB bubble of the late 1990's/early 2000's was a great lesson on just why you don't want to put too much failth in companies.

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> -Larry > > "Andrew MacPherson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > [email hidden] (zeez) wrote: > > > >> Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to > >> keep it running is a VERY BAD THING. > > > > In theory, yes. In practice, I'm sure it's unlikely Steam would just > > vanish without a parting shot of patches. > > > > Bottom line though... life's short, and we're talking about games, not a > > cure for cancer or throwing away thousands of lives in Iraq. The older I > > get, the harder I find it to get upset about gaming. > > > > Andrew McP > >

Larry wrote:

Quoted text (7 lines)

> It's a good point though. If a developer goes under, one could lose access > to something they paid good money for. > > It's already happened once in the Software industry. > > The same thing applies to digital music downloads. You could spend $1000 on > music, and the music store could go under.

Great point. Thankfuly, the music can still be captured via analog, and re recorded in a non "protected" format. ( though there is a group of people *cough*TRUSTEDCOMPUTINGGROUP*cough* that are working hard to close this loophole, but it doeen't affect the current hardware on the market.) > With all the cut-throat dealing > going on in that industry right now, I have no doubt that someone, > eventually, will throw in the towel and the courts are gonna get a good > workout over it. > The dot-BOMB bubble of the late 1990's/early 2000's was a great lesson on just why you don't want to put too much failth in companies.

Quoted text (18 lines)

> -Larry > > "Andrew MacPherson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > [email hidden] (zeez) wrote: > > > >> Any system that forces you to have to "talk" to a provider to > >> keep it running is a VERY BAD THING. > > > > In theory, yes. In practice, I'm sure it's unlikely Steam would just > > vanish without a parting shot of patches. > > > > Bottom line though... life's short, and we're talking about games, not a > > cure for cancer or throwing away thousands of lives in Iraq. The older I > > get, the harder I find it to get upset about gaming. > > > > Andrew McP > >

> SimBin's "RACE - The Official WTCC Game" will be STEAM INFECTED! > http://www.race-game.org/ Thanks for the update. It's nice to see people giving free publicity and distributing announcements. Ms. PC Games is doing more good for Steam and related products than actually achieving with her rants. It's always nice to see she has posted something, those are always worth many laughs.