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Valve Claims New Steamworks Update "Makes DRM Obsolete"

Lulfas writes "Steam is implementing a new anti-piracy solution that, according to them, removes all DRM. Called Computer Executable Generation (CEG), this system creates a unique copy of the game when it is purchased through Steam, essentially using a 100% unique keygen system. It will be installable on any system, but only playable by one person at a time (hooked into the correct Steam account, of course). Will this be enough to satisfy anti-DRM players while at the same time giving the publishing companies what they require?"

9 of 731 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Steam by Camann · · Score: 5, Informative

    Thank you, Mr. Uninformed Ranter. It has been said, again and again that if Steam's servers are taken offline, access controls will be removed.

    --
    I can't believe you don't know what a Hasemalphaginnojinglanaporphomism is.
  2. Re:Steam by ericrost · · Score: 3, Informative

    I know, don't feed the trolls, but Steam works well through Wine.

  3. Re:Huh? by modmans2ndcoming · · Score: 4, Informative

    because it does not restrict what you do with your copy, just how many copies can be played on Steam.

  4. Re:What happens when Steam fails? by BigJClark · · Score: 3, Informative


    Awesome. You get modded insightful for your, ahem, less than fully educated post.

    First off, steam can be run in offline mode. You don't need servers to play your fusking game. You can play offline, LAN, do whatever you want.

    Second, Gabe himself said that if steam were ever to go down, he would remove any and all restrictions from playing your game, without the steam servers.

    Become educated instead of braying along with the masses. Its cool.

    --

    Hi, I Boris. Hear fix bear, yes?
  5. Re:What happens when Steam fails? by AndrewNeo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Valve isn't a publicly traded company, so he can't forcefully be removed from office unless they're bought out (unless there's some part of business law I'm terribly missing). Now if EA bought them, I'd have a lot more concern..

  6. Re:My only problem... by FictionPimp · · Score: 4, Informative

    Except for it does. You can not play in offline mode indefinably. Eventually steam forces you to reconnect up and say hi.

  7. Re:Huh? by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes you can. In fact Steam allows you to save your save games in their "cloud" which means you can play your game on any computer along with your save files on any computer.

    Just as long as you don't have two instances running then your fine so if your computer blows up then you're covered.

  8. Re:Huh? by vux984 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Nothing in the article or press release says you are unable to run two *DIFFERENT* games on two different PC's at the same time.

    Except that's exactly how the steam system works. You can't play two different games on two different PCs online at the same time.

    This article isn't even "new" its just rebranded marketing rubbish. Instead of those vacuous linked articles. Read the actual brochure:

    http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/SteamWorksBrochure2009.pdf

    Its pure unmitigated rubbish. CEG is DRM despite what they claim. And if CEG is linked to steam authentication, (which it *is*), then you've got to log in to authenticate each time you play.

    Worse, now if you and your son both have a steam account, and both own a copy of left for dead, you have to install it on the computer twice, because you can't play his copy, because each copy only works with one account. At least hard disk space is cheap...

  9. Re:Steam by Zedar · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just so you know, region locked DVD players were deemed illegal by the high court of Australia so all players sold here are able to play DVDs from any region. For once the Australian legal system got something right.