Steamworks To Include Anti-Piracy Alternative To DRM

[ad_hominem]

Popular Source-orientated website Halflife2.net is reporting that a new form of anti-piracy measures developed by Valve is to be included in the new Steamworks publishing and development tool set. It looks set up to directly rival the much hated DRM systems currently found in a large number of recent PC games:

CEG is a customer friendly approach to anti-piracy, CEG makes unique copies of games for each user allowing them to access the application on multiple machines without install limits and without having to install root kits on their PC.

The new features also include support for in-game downloadable content (DLC) and matchmaking. The in-game DLC support allows developers to deliver new content as they choose (paid or free) from inside the game itself, allowing users to make immediate purchases and experience the new content in the same game session. The Steamworks matchmaking now includes the robust lobby system shipped and tested in Left 4 Dead.

This is undoubtedly good news for customers who are tired of having to prove they own a game before they play it, and another indication that Valve actually listens to the complaining of the masses.

Find the story on Halflife2.net, or read Valve's news article.

[Lobstar]

Only stuff i dont like is the part with the DLC, i hate the idea of paying for patches. And the lobby system for l4d was terrible :S just give us a server list instead! Dont need more 'consoleization' on the PC platform.

[1447]

Wow, Valve takes a totally fucked up concept and makes something awesome out of it. Now that's a new one.

[Dionysos]

Well, from what I gather (regarding Fallout for instance) DLC is pretty much more gaming content, as in new story additions etc. Dunno if that counts as updates...

[ad_hominem]

Only stuff i dont like is the part with the DLC, i hate the idea of paying for patches.

The way I see it is those companies who charge for DLC using this system would have been the ones who would charge anyway (eg. Fallout 3). What this achieves is those companies being able to charge without using other terrible systems such as Games For Windows or the EA store.

[Lord Anubis]

Only stuff i don't like is the part with the DLC, i hate the idea of paying for patches. And the lobby system for l4d was terrible :S just give us a server list instead! Dont need more 'consoleization' on the PC platform.

I don't see why people see "consoleization" of PC games as a bad thing. I mean it makes finding a game a lot easier. Personally I hate the server list, I mean when I play CoD4 on the PC most of the games being played is hardcore death match. Which sucks, because I like to play search and destroy, and regular death match. It gives people the freedom to make the games that they want to play, but you see people gravitating to a handful of game types/maps. Sometimes those game types are completely stupid, in the PC version of Halo CE. You get a lot of severs filled with rockets slayer on beaver creek.

Also I don't play Half-Life 2 Deathmatch anymore, because barely anyone plays the original maps anymore. All you get is shitty, ugly, full bright user generated maps with the gravity turned way down. With worse games types, like once I played a game where all you do is shoot SODA CANS at each other with the gravity gun in a full bright map was a giant box. On that note I hate having to wait while the map downloads in order to play.

frankly, PC games needs this like a cancer patient needs chemo.

[ghost12332]

Well anubis, with a server list you know it's going to be a fullbright ugly map. In the l4d server browser when you hit the custom button, your not going to have one clue, and eventually it will be the same idea in l4d as hl2:dm.

At least give us an option for the steam browser.

[GalantnostS-]

I don't see why people see "consoleization" of PC games as a bad thing. I mean it makes finding a game a lot easier. Personally I hate the server list, I mean when I play CoD4 on the PC most of the games being played is hardcore death match...

Well, if you live in Hong Kong like I do, you will find that the probability of me being auto-matchmade to a 500-600 ping Europe/Russia Server is far greater than a nearby XX-1XX server due to their sheer number. . I want a browser that allows me to find low-ping servers without the need to do 1 hour of trial-and-error before I can actually start playing.

[ghost12332]

Thats an issue I have in L4D. Sometimes Ill get great servers, other times they lag like fuck and I have all red bars.

[Lord Anubis]

Well anubis, with a server list you know it's going to be a fullbright ugly map. In the l4d server browser when you hit the custom button, your not going to have one clue, and eventually it will be the same idea in l4d as hl2:dm.

At least give us an option for the steam browser.

You do got a point there, however you can't tell if it's a fulbright map or not unless you actually know the map. Any you like you said, sever lists cannot be just thrown out. Maybe have like custom and matchmaking play lists thingies in the same game.

Matchmaking is the official maps, with the official games. match make into a lobby/game

Custom is user generated maps, with sever lists instead of matchmaking.

[dissonance]

Added content is one thing, but I will never pay for a patch. Ever. If the developer fucked up, there is no reason my wallet should have to suffer.

And fuck L4D; it's matchmaking system is complete and utter shit.

[Lord Anubis]

I don't think they were talking about you having to pay for patches, it said nothing about that.

It just said that the developers can sell DLC for their games if they wanted to.

[dissonance]

I think I get all my exercise from jumping to conclusions. Excuse my tinfoil hat.

[Wills]

Thats an issue I have in L4D. Sometimes Ill get great servers, other times they lag like fuck and I have all red bars.

I want a browser that allows me to find low-ping servers without the need to do 1 hour of trial-and-error before I can actually start playing.

Start L4D; Open Console; Type openserverbrowser; Order by Ping!

See, Valve think of everything

[Lord Anubis]

I think I get all my exercise from jumping to conclusions. Excuse my tinfoil hat.

I lol'd