Valve Unveils New Anti-Piracy, In-Game DLC

[Onkel Neal]

Valve Unveils New Anti-Piracy, In-Game DLC Features To Steamworks

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22884

Valve says it now "makes DRM obsolete" with key new features for its free Steamworks publishing and development tools.

Chief among these is a Custom Executable Generation technology intended to act as a complement to Steamworks' anti-piracy solutions. With CEG, users gets unique copies of a game that they can access on multiple PCs with neither install limits nor root kits.

Steamworks is also adding support for both paid and free downloadable content that can be delivered in-game. Users can purchase DLC and begin using it within the same play session.

Also among the new features is a lobby system for matchmaking -- the same one shipped in Left 4 Dead.

"Delivering this extension of services on Steamworks first anniversary demonstrates our commitment to continually develop the platform to better serve the community working with these tools," says Valve co-founder and president Gabe Newell.

"As we roll out these features, we continue to look for new ways make PC games easier to create and better for customers to experience."


No install limits, a good step.

Press release from Steam has more details (http://store.steampowered.com/news/2372/)

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[FIREWALL]

While I don't d\l games I see this as a step in the right direction.

Downloading games is the wave of the future as it helps to eliminate piracey and saves the consumer waiting to get their hands on the game sooner.

And I would hope at a saveings to the consumer.

[Dowly]

Downloading games is the wave of the future as it helps to eliminate piracey

There is nothing that helps to eliminate piracy. CP that is done by a human, can be cracked by another. Simple as that.

[TheBrauerHour]

Steam has not been a huge pain in the butt for me. It updates games for me and I have heavily modded games in there that work fine. I think this could be an alternative for some of us.

[Raptor1]

I doubt it'll even slow down piracy, but it's certainly better than those accursed DRMs EA has been dealing with lately...

[Rilder]

It annoys me that they are resorting to more and more "sorry can't buy your game on CD, only dl it" deals, for those of us with slower internet connection, downloading a new game basicly makes you unable to do anything but do offline stuff till it finishes downloading.

[Arclight]

On top of that, not all of us trust the systems in place to pay online. Personally I don't have a creditcard and I don't trust paypal, so just how should I pay for this stuff? :shifty:

[kiwi_2005]

As long as they dont require paypal and will accept the poor mans Visa (NZ Debit card) then im in! :woot: :DL

[Zachstar]

On top of that, not all of us trust the systems in place to pay online. Personally I don't have a creditcard and I don't trust paypal, so just how should I pay for this stuff? :shifty:

Um you dont... You get left behind.

And I am sorry you don't trust paypal. But I doubt small potatoes like you compared to a business using it will have problems.

[Zachstar]

Valve is crashing the DRM party. And look at the results of their slow but effective user policy over the years.

HUGE market for ones games. Indie developers reporting huge sells by offering simple deals within Steam. Even EA had to join the party eventually.

Why is this going to work and why is valve so successful. The learned from the days of modding that treating the customers as customers instead of potential pirates gains big profit!

[HunterICX]

I don't like the Idea of Downloadable games only....
My internet is not that fast to get it in a reasonable time.(would mean I have to turn it on perhaps for a day or more and I do not like the idea of that)

Hard Copy's for me
then I have something in my hands what I just purchased.

HunterICX

[NeonSamurai]

I have yet to buy a game in non hard copy format. The games I buy I don't resell later but I keep and play again down the road. I feel I wouldn't be able to do that with download games (especially phone home games). As such I refuse (and continue to refuse) to buy such games that limits installs or wont let me make a hard copy. I also don't like pdf manuals either.

[HunterICX]

I also don't like pdf manuals either.

I just can't bear reading things like manuals on the monitor.

HunterICX

[Arclight]

Um you dont... You get left behind.

And I am sorry you don't trust paypal. But I doubt small potatoes like you compared to a business using it will have problems.That's my point! :wah:

I'm not gonna be able to get a creditcard, so that leaves Paypal. If I have any issues with that, I'm out of options. How is that fair? :-?

As a gamer/consumer, they find some new way to screw you over almost on a monthly basis. :cry:

On a side note: compare that to the trouble pirates are having...

[michlian]

The lobby system in L4D for matchmaking sucks. You have no control over what servers you can play, resulting games with insane amounts of lag or games infested with trolls or crappy players.

[NeonSamurai]

Heh that is one of the reasons why I don't play online any more with people I don't know. To many *censored* people otherwise.

[Highbury]

That's my point! :wah:

I'm not gonna be able to get a creditcard, so that leaves Paypal. If I have any issues with that, I'm out of options. How is that fair?

It is fair because they give you a choice. Buy it with Paypal or don't. You have chosen not to. That is what makes it fair.

I have no idea what your "fear" of Paypal is but it is a proven-secure financial system. Just as safe as any credit card. If your only objection is unexplained and unsubstantiated fears then the gaming world will be passing you by my friend.. over 1200 titles on Steam.. some companies doing to digital distribution only..

This isn't some new fangled thing like that Rock N' Roll music (which will never catch on).. this is the way things are going, get on board or wave goodbye.

[Syxx_Killer]

The only downloadable game I ever bought was SH4 UBM. It will be the last. I would not have gotten that even, if SH4 Gold was out. If downloadable games are the future I will either go back to consoles or stop playing games altogether. It's no big deal. I have a connection fast enough, too. I don't game much anymore anyway. I just hate the idea of downloadable games. I much prefer the hard copies.

[Arclight]

It is fair because they give you a choice. Buy it with Paypal or don't. You have chosen not to. That is what makes it fair.

I have no idea what your "fear" of Paypal is but it is a proven-secure financial system. Just as safe as any credit card. If your only objection is unexplained and unsubstantiated fears then the gaming world will be passing you by my friend.. over 1200 titles on Steam.. some companies doing to digital distribution only..

This isn't some new fangled thing like that Rock N' Roll music (which will never catch on).. this is the way things are going, get on board or wave goodbye.I was not implying a fear or something. Say they block your account, and like I said a creditcard is not an option. You're screwed. :yep:

* and like Syxx Killer, if that's the way it's gonna go, count me out. :salute: