Steam Is Down (steamstat.us)

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Posted by msmash on Friday December 23, 2016 @05:05AM from the outage-report dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The entire Steam domain seems to be down for everyone. The websites and Steam clients won't connect. No word from Steam on Twitter or Reddit about the outage. The status page of Steam as well as third-party monitoring sites have confirmed the outage. A tweet from an unofficial Steam Status page says, "100% of #Steam connection manager servers are still down."

183 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Russians! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:06 · Score: 0

Russian hackers are trying to help with America's unemployment rate.
Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by The-Ixian · 2016-12-23 05:08 · Score: 5, Informative

The gaming holiday DDoS's are becoming a xmas tradition.
I like the justification of "you need to be spending time with family"... as if pulling a gaming service offline is going to make anti-social gamers decide to go to their number 2 option of hanging out with family...

--
My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
1. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:13 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  ... decide to go to their number 2 option of hanging out with family...
  My number 2 option is masturbation. Hanging out with family is number 7 tops.
2. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by aliquis · 2016-12-23 05:14 · Score: 0
  
  To be fair whomever call themselves anonymous at-least here in Sweden is Ã¼ber-socialist and likely globalist-fascists if there's any such thing. It would had made most sense to me if an anonymous hacker group with a political agenda was very liberal I guess..
  Not that I think it's Anonymous who bring down Steam so on this subject it's totally irrelevant. They are very Swedish left over here though.
3. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:14 · Score: 0
  
  What about masturbating with the family?
4. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:19 · Score: 1
  
  The Steam sale does 90% of the work, DDoSing it wouldn't be that hard.
5. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Oswald+McWeany · 2016-12-23 05:22 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What about masturbating with the family?
  I think "masturbate with the family simulator" is already a game on steam.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
6. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by ScienceofSpock · 2016-12-23 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  Didn't you hear? Steam is down...
7. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Oswald+McWeany · 2016-12-23 05:34 · Score: 2
  
  Too many people trying to download "Masturbate with the family" simulator at once.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
8. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:37 · Score: 0
  
  There are pills to cure your ills.
9. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by PopeRatzo · 2016-12-23 05:44 · Score: 0
  
  I like the justification of "you need to be spending time with family"... as if pulling a gaming service offline is going to make anti-social gamers decide to go to their number 2 option of hanging out with family...
  When Steam goes down, gamers are more likely to kill their family than spend time with them. You can look it up.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
10. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:50 · Score: 0
  
  Groups like Lizard Squad are just immature, sociopathic assholes that use this excuse to duck any blame. You know, it's not their fault you're an antisocial twat, so they'll help you out by wrecking your games enjoyment. I hope every fucking one of them spends some time, preferably over Christmas, in a jail cell.
11. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:51 · Score: 1
  
  So, when did unmoderated discussion become synonymous with "neo-nazi"? 4chan, and the act of saying things anonymously, have been around for a very long time. And i'm not sure if you're aware, but they don't take orders from some organizing body en masse.
12. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:55 · Score: 0
  
  http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/c3...
13. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by CaptainDork · 2016-12-23 05:55 · Score: 1
  
  The "Anonymous" asshats are all in jail.
  Now, whenever something fabulously clever happens, "Anonymous," which consists of wannabe script kiddies, steps forward to take credit.
  Also, "Anonymous," often threatens to to DDoS someone (as if that really is effective) because it sounds cool.
  Real hackers are too smart to be "Anonymous."
  
  --
  It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
14. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by SumDog · 2016-12-23 05:56 · Score: 2
  
  Well you can still play it if you bought it previously. You just can't sync your save data.
15. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:58 · Score: 2
  
  This is why reliance upon external servers and requiring an internet connection just to run software is stupid. I'm happily playing games that I bought from gog.com because I actually own them.
16. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by lactose99 · 2016-12-23 05:58 · Score: 1
  
  A family that plays together, stays together
  
  --
  Fully licensed blockchain psychiatrist
17. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by tepples · 2016-12-23 06:00 · Score: 2
  
  Or if your copy of the Steam client has lost the receipts that enable offline play of games that use Steam digital restrictions management. Early on, the only way to save receipts was to choose "Go Offline" while both your Internet connection and the Steam servers were running. Later, receipt caching was drastically improved, but I still occasionally read anecdotal reports that the client might lose receipts if it crashes.
18. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:01 · Score: 0
  
  4chan is just 90% b-tards and other neckbeard losers who can't interact socially IRL
19. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by sexconker · 2016-12-23 06:14 · Score: 2
  
  Steam sales haven't big a big thing for the past 2 years now, or whenever they stopped doing the flash sales / daily deals / etc.
  Those deals are what drove traffic - everyone would sit on the page refreshing when the next deal was about to pop up. Steam stopped doing them because people simply waited for the shit they wanted to be offered in one of these deals, then bought other shit at the very end of the sale. This meant higher sales but lower revenues. People felt pressured to buy the daily deal because it was a time-limited offer at a deeper discount. So that title got more sales but ultimately, lower revenue. Further, with people being conditioned to wait for daily deals, they ignored the rest of the sale during the week because they were hoping for things to be priced lower during a daily deal. The regular sale items got ignored as a side effect.
20. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:19 · Score: 0
  
  Nope. Much more likely with Muslims when someone draws cartoon Mohammed.
21. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · 2016-12-23 06:33 · Score: 1
  
  I'm all for hanging the DDOSers by the neck until dead.
  
  --
  "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
22. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:34 · Score: 0
  
  But Steam isn't DRM! You can still play your games! If it goes down forever, they'll release the master keys to your bought software! Suckers.
23. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by mukinrestak · 2016-12-23 06:41 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Man, I get tired of this "neo-nazi" boogeyman. Every time you flap your yap to smear folks as being Nazis, you are doing an incredible disservice to each and every victim of the actual Nazis. Show some damn respect, for yourself, if not for anyone else.
24. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by DES · 2016-12-23 06:45 · Score: 1
  
  Also, "Anonymous," often threatens to to DDoS someone (as if that really is effective) because it sounds cool.
  Remember Operation Blackout, when “Anonymous” was going to take down the DNS root servers? All they did was show the world that they have no idea how DNS works.
25. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by The-Ixian · 2016-12-23 06:45 · Score: 1
  
  The "Anonymous" asshats are all in jail
  Clearly not anonymous enough, I guess.
  
  --
  My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
26. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by unixisc · 2016-12-23 07:05 · Score: 1
  
  What about masturbating with the family?
  You mean other than the wife? Or are we talking exclusively about single hetero guys and LGBTs?
27. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by JackieBrown · 2016-12-23 07:06 · Score: 2
  
  The point is to keep linking the word nazi with alt-right to legitimize that word. Then to expand alt-right to mean everyone not on the left
28. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by JackieBrown · 2016-12-23 07:16 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  I'm happily playing fallout 4 even though steam is down.
29. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by SuiteSisterMary · 2016-12-23 07:24 · Score: 1
  
  I saw the headline on the main page, and the first thing that popped into my head is 'Oooh, must be Christmas. I wonder when they'll get around to DDOSing XBL and PSN.'
  
  --
  Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
30. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:25 · Score: 1
  
  This is why reliance upon external servers and requiring an internet connection just to run software is stupid. I'm happily playing games that I bought from gog.com because I actually own them.
  Exactly. Game bought from GOG, for example.
  Moral of the story: support stores like GOG instead of DRM-cesspools like Steam, and you'll see more and more choice of games available on GOG. Games need customers. If their customers are all on no-DRM services, that's where the games will go.
  Support the services that treat you with respect, and not the ones that don't, unless you want there to be NO services left that aren't DRM-cesspools.
31. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by DNS-and-BIND · 2016-12-23 07:43 · Score: 0
  
  Barack Obama backs and approves of Nazis in Ukraine, who candidate Hillary was planning on further arming. She was backed and approved-of by Henry Kissinger and Dick Cheney, who are worse than any living Nazi by any measure.
  
  --
  Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
32. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:45 · Score: 0
  
  We sure it's a DDoS and not just all the customers hitting up the store? Ever since they changed their major sale formula to be a "no special gimmicks, what you see on Day 1 is the sale price for the entire sale" deal, the store had always been unresponsive or sluggish for the first day or three. For me anyway. :p
  (Yeah, I'm sure it's also a real DDoS on the go, but the unimaginative sale setup that brings weaker sale prices would probably make it easier to pull a DDoS off since you have millions of people trying to check the store so they can either buy something or ignore the store for the rest of the holiday season.)
33. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:46 · Score: 0
  
  lol @ the butthurt steam fanboi.
34. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:50 · Score: 0
  
  The one you downloaded while GOG was down? Or are you doing the exact same thing Steam users can do? DRM is not fundamentally evil, the same way putting a lock on your door isn't evil. It only becomes evil if you're a dick about the conditions under which you'll unlock it.
35. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by PopeRatzo · 2016-12-23 07:52 · Score: 1
  
  This is what gamers do when Steam goes down:
  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06...
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
36. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by leonbev · 2016-12-23 08:05 · Score: 1
  
  Do you really think that it's hackers DDOS'ing them? I figured that it was just a natural side effect of a million kids powering on their consoles for the first time and needing 20 GB of game and console updates.
37. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by bistromath007 · 2016-12-23 08:05 · Score: 1
  
  My wishlist is still full of 40-75s, my dude. Even a few 90s. The steam sales are still a big deal, just with less guessing and stress.
38. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 08:06 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Or are you doing the exact same thing Steam users can do?
  
  Apparently they cannot.
  Sorry, but the ability for someone to rescind your right to play a purchased game indefinitely into the future is NOT the same as being temporarily unable to buy a game to begin with.
  Once I buy the game from GOG, no server problem, remote de-activation, going-out-of-business, or other issue can prevent me from playing the game I bought. The same cannot be said of online DRM-ed games.
39. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 08:15 · Score: 0
  
  And if/when the service doesn't come back up? How long will the lease on your rented game last before you have to check in with the Valve mothership for a renewal?
  I have full use of all of my purchases from gog.com at all times without ever having to phone home or having a completely pointless, resource hogging spyware client running in the background. Funny how gog.com figured out how to sell and distribute games purely from a web site, but Valve can't.
40. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by ArylAkamov · 2016-12-23 08:27 · Score: 1
  
  Jack Thompson, plz go
41. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by thegarbz · 2016-12-23 09:17 · Score: 1
  
  Every time you flap your yap to smear folks as being Nazis,
  No one did. He labelled them as Neo-Nazi. They borrow elements of the Nazi doctrine, but are not the Nazis that killed people. Learn the difference or you'll never be able to have a sensible discussion.
42. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 09:18 · Score: 0
  
  Definitely---I don't get the hate about how steam does sales now. I'd much rather have a week or two to browse and see everything on sale than have to check every few hours. I often don't hear about a sale until the second or third day anyway.
43. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 09:36 · Score: 0
  
  The point is to keep linking the word nazi with alt-right to legitimize that word. Then to expand alt-right to mean everyone not on the left
  You mean like some are doing with linking the word "socialist" or "communist" with whatever is not quite extreme right enough? And then to expand leftist to mean everyone not on the absolute most extreme right?
  Yeah. I am sure we will all be better off with tactics like that. Sure.
  Or how about *both* sides give it a rest and try to actually discuss and make some progress?
  Too much to ask?
  Thought so...
44. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by SvnLyrBrto · 2016-12-23 09:39 · Score: 1
  
  I should think not. Neither the xBox or PS4 are the new hotness this year. And there are no real breakout games this winter. Sony and Microsoft have years of sales data, with which they most certainly have a fairly good projection of how many consoles have sold this year. That's a predictable burst of load for which any competent operations team will plan and spin up sufficient additional capacity to handle. Hell, Microsoft even has their own cloud computing service with which to do so.
  It's the unpredictable... who and when will the 4chan crowd decide to DDOS this time... that throws in the monkey wrench.
  
  --
  Imagine all the people...
45. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 09:50 · Score: 0
  
  dude, you went full retard on that reply. Took a completely rational observation, and then went "nuh-uh!", "I know you are but what am I?", and "I'm rubber, you're glue" all in one cherry-flavored vape-filled breath. You're not doing your point of view any favors by being that dickish.
46. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 09:54 · Score: 0
  
  Anonymous's main organizing site, 4chan was for Trump. That places them as Alt-right, or Neo-Nazi to be more accurate, not liberal.
  No, it doesn't. They weren't FOR Trump, they were for pulling off the Holy Grail of Trolling, which is getting someone like Trump in the White House.
  Most of them aren't racist, but will say the most horribly racist things just to piss YOU off. Most of them are in fact equal opportunity assholes, they just like to see things burn and really don't care whose stuff goes up in flames.
  It's rather amusing to see all the Special Snowflakes on places like Tumblr wail and cower in fear at any mention of all the horrible Sexism and Gaybashing on 4Chan, when the majority of the porn on 4Chan consists of Furries and Traps.
47. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Sarten-X · 2016-12-23 09:55 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I'm going to have to disagree.
  The groups that get the neo-Nazi label are the ones promoting Nazi propaganda, ideals, and methods. There are groups actively using the swastika symbol as an identity and using Hitler's writings as a doctrine. They advocate the same racial cleansing the old Nazis did, and the same totalitarian fascism. They get the name neo-Nazis, because they only differ by being more recent.
  No, the label is not disrespectful to victims of the Nazis. Rather, what is disrespectful is to immortalize the Nazis by granting them some kind of unique status as the gods of oppression and death. By insisting that nobody today could compare to the Nazis, we further distinguish the Nazis as being something special, more powerful than mere mortal humans. In effect, declaring the Nazis as an untouchable evil would grant them status as a superior race, exactly as they wanted.
  That would be disrespectful. That would undermine the victory of World War II. That would be an incredible disservice to each and every victim of the actual Nazis.
  I'm not going to do that.
  I'm going to continue to declare that any group that tries to act like the Nazis are neo-Nazis. I'm going to continue to treat them as humans; no more and no less. I'm going to continue to do what I can to ensure that the horrors of the Nazis are always presented as a mundane evil that got out of control, and I'm going to continue to teach that every person, everywhere, has that same capacity for evil, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or economic status. They also have the same capacity for good, and it is the active choice to work toward that good that makes someone worthy of a unique place in history.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
48. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by SvnLyrBrto · 2016-12-23 09:56 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  Eh? If you don't see the parallels between Trump and the rise of fascism, you're being willfully obtuse.
  Alliance with white/aryan supremacist groups? Check.
  Elevation of the above to prominent public positions? Check.
  Demonizing entire ethnicities and religions to give the masses an enemy to hate? Check.
  Violent thugs running around and violently attacking opponents? Check.
  Proposals to round up undesirables and put them into camps? Check.
  Promotion of xenophobia, also to give the masses an enemy to hate? Check.
  A propaganda machine using the "big lie" method? Check.
  Promises to "make $country great again" with no specifics besides the claim that dear leader is the only one who can do so? Check.
  Trump may not literally be Hitler. But he's using more than a few of Adolf's techniques to gain and secure his base of power. Honestly, I hope you're right and it *IS* all overblown. But enough of the parallels are there to be very worrisome. And if anything even remotely resembling a Reichstag fire type incident takes place once he is in office... I guess the question becomes poutine or Vegemite.
  
  --
  Imagine all the people...
49. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 10:02 · Score: 0
  
  Oh please. The erotic visual novels you get from Steam are tame compared to what's readily available on J-List.
50. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Oligonicella · 2016-12-23 10:05 · Score: 3
  
  And you sir should learn that "elements of" is a bullshit argument as those elements could be shared by large swaths of humanity, good AND bad. Not every element of Nazism was evil, just the overall package. So yes, slapping Nazi after neo is a blatant attempt to link whomever with those who killed people.
  It's very similar to claiming that Trump supports the KKK because they support him even when he's publicly stated he doesn't.
51. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 10:16 · Score: 0
  
  right - because everyone knows all the sensible discussions attribute fringe behavior to moderate elements.
52. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 10:17 · Score: 0
  
  Groups like Lizard Squad are just immature, sociopathic assholes that use this excuse to duck any blame. You know, it's not their fault you're an antisocial twat, so they'll help you out by wrecking your games enjoyment. I hope every fucking one of them spends some time, preferably over Christmas, in a jail cell.
  You're calling them sociopaths, but yet you're the one advocating they rot in a cage because they knocked over your stack of toys.
53. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by CaptainDork · 2016-12-23 10:47 · Score: 1
  
  I get into a brawl with pseudo Anonymous now and then.
  One threatened to take me down with Low Orbit Ion Cannon.
  Really rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?
  smh
  
  --
  It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
54. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by CaptainDork · 2016-12-23 10:48 · Score: 1
  
  My thought, at the time, as well.
  
  --
  It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
55. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 10:59 · Score: 0
  
  Your entire post is off-topic, because the issue is people who's only crime is "being Conservative" are being labelled "Neo-Nazi". This isn't about people who actually use swastikas and follow Hitler. It's about labelling and demonizing by the Left. It's obvious, and it's pathetic. Thankfully, it is backfiring spectacularly as people see if for the dishonest hyperbole that it is.
56. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 11:14 · Score: 0
  
  I've seen certain people starting to claim that we gamers liked having Jack Thompson trying to censor our games and at one point even liked him enough to call him "Based Jack". Help me try and find the origin of "Based Jack" (you know, sometime before he was disbarred back when he was actually an active thorn in our side. Articles in the last couple of months or so claiming we called him "Based Jack" back then don't count.) so we can determine the truth of this once and for all, because I won't believe it until I see it.
57. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 11:25 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Enough with the DNC lie-list already. Provide proof of your libellous claims, or shut the fuck up.
  There's no alliance with any white supremacist groups, nor elevation to prominent positions thereof. The bullshit you hear about Bannon on CNN is a prime example of "fake news". Stop believing every lie they feed you.
  The Left has repeatedly demonized white people ("position of privilege" anyone?) and Christianity. They don't get to play holier-than-thou on these topics.
  What violent thugs running around attacking opponents? There have been many documented acts of the Left doing just that, and many CLAIMS by the Left of the Right doing this which turn out to be false flag hoaxes. Go look up the multiple cases of muslim girls who lied about being attacked by "islamophobic white males", the black guy who burned down his own church leaving a message on the side trying to pin it on Trump supporters, numerous bogus claims of "hate crimes" that have zero evidence behind them. It goes on and on. The Left has ZERO credibility on this.
  What is this shit about camps? Got an actual quote from Trump or his cabinet about this?
  Slowing down immigration and vetting who we let in after 50 years of massive immigration and resulting problems is not "xenophobia", it's common sense after half a century of insanity.
  Big Lie? LOL, go look at the Left with CNN, HuffPo, DNC, etc all spouting "the Russians did it!" if you want a prime example of the big lie.
  There were many specifics given on how Trump was going to MAGA. Go look at his first 100 days in office agenda instead of making shit up.
  This is why you think Trump is comparable to Hitler: You've been lied to by the MSM and the establishment, and you've fallen for their lies. You've fallen so hard for them, that you're acting as a worker-bee for them in spreading those lies.
58. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 11:45 · Score: 0
  
  Don't be stupid. The comparable here is some 3rd party putting the lock on YOUR door and they hold the key. Want to get into your house? Ask them to open the door for you. That could never be a problem, right?
59. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 11:55 · Score: 0
  
  I love you.
60. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 11:57 · Score: 0
  
  But you are a moron.
61. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 14:56 · Score: 0
  
  I actually agree with you. I figure the alt-right deserves a safe space because we certainly shouldn't hold them accountable for all that nazi symbology they accidentally keep adopting.
  You shouldn't blame them. Poor little basement dwelling dears probably never learned any history that wasn't presented in the form of a video game anyway.
62. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 15:29 · Score: 0
  
  I'm going to continue to declare that any group that tries to act like the Nazis are neo-Nazis. I'm going to continue to treat them as humans; no more and no less. I'm going to continue to do what I can to ensure that the horrors of the Nazis are always presented as a mundane evil that got out of control, and I'm going to continue to teach that every person, everywhere, has that same capacity for evil, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or economic status. They also have the same capacity for good, and it is the active choice to work toward that good that makes someone worthy of a unique place in history.
  And you're going to keep shrieking until the head of The Patriarchy hears you high atop His mountain fortress.
63. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by drinkypoo · 2016-12-23 16:32 · Score: 0
  
  It's very similar to claiming that Trump supports the KKK because they support him even when he's publicly stated he doesn't.
  The difference is that the alt-right really are neo-Nazis. They're racist, they favor redesigning society along racial lines and actively work towards that end, and they would rather just kill all the inconvenient people off than live with them.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
64. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Sarten-X · 2016-12-23 21:09 · Score: 1
  
  Eh..... not so much.
  "Alternative right" and "conservative" are not really synonymous. The term "alternative right", often shortened to "alt-right", was coined by a white supremacist to distinguish his movement from the more traditional conservative views.
  Broadly generalizing, the focus of the typical conservative is economic strength, usually through privatizing services and promoting individual liberty, within the limits of societal conformity. The alt-right emphasizes the conformity to the exclusion of other races and ideologies, with any economic efforts coming secondary, as they are seen as being more easily manageable once white supremacy is established. It is most easily contrasted with the Libertarian label, which typically emphasizes the economic principles while minimizing the social aspects.
  No, not everyone who fits the "alt-right" category fits the "neo-Nazi" category, but there is significant overlap, especially (as crypticedge's comment mentions) in the Trump-supporting sections of 4chan. There are some alt-right folks who try to stay away from neo-Nazism, but 4chan's preference for anonymity makes it very difficult to isolate that distinction in the community.
  No, it's not about "labeling and demonizing by the Left". The left-leaning folks who are inclined towards demonizing already compared conservatives to Nazis. Rather, the new prevalence of neo-Nazi and alt-right labeling is coming mostly from those who align with the more traditional conservatism, in an effort to separate themselves from the white supremacist (and other) controversies.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
65. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by thegarbz · 2016-12-23 23:00 · Score: 1
  
  Oh? So are you saying the Neo-Nazis are running around gassing jews? Because that would be news to many, including the Neo-nazis.
  Lumping them together when talking about politics in a modern context is just stupid.
66. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 00:48 · Score: 0
  
  Nah, some of them are socially aware. They just don't give a shit and take nothing seriously, which attracts terrible people by default.
67. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 00:52 · Score: 0
  
  yeah totally choice of media determines the quality of your character hurr durr lets sit and watch tv and movies and read books all day my opinion isnt dickish at all
68. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by sjames · 2016-12-24 04:08 · Score: 1
  
  DRM is inherently buggy.
  Most software's job is to run. It should run even when conditions aren't ideal. If it can run with reasonable defaults when configuration is missing, it should. If the nice to haves are all missing, it should run. It should do it's best to not care what machine it is running on. The default condition is run. Only halt when running is impossible. Robustness is a virtue. All of this will depend on the skill of the programmer, of course.
  DRM is the opposite. It's job is to only run if conditions are exactly met, however irrelevant to the ability of the program to run. The default is to not run. If anything looks the slightest bit out of place, halt. It is fragile by design. It does all the don'ts on purpose. It goes out of it's way to not run.
69. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 04:09 · Score: 0
  
  stop being such a moralist. he just said than he wants every one of them to spend SOME time in jail. you do know that DDOS is illegal, don't you? not only that, but immoral too. if I want to use an online service all weekend, especially if I pay for it, then let me do it. I am not hurting anyone. it is my life, after all...
70. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 05:42 · Score: 0
  
  Incest, boy. Come on!
71. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 05:50 · Score: 0
  
  You serious right now?
  I've had discussions with elders in my home comparing Trump and Hilary (I know, rare right?)
  I say Trump has the support of the KKK and the American Nazi Party (he does, no denying that). They say Hilary has the support of Communists (she does, no denying that).
  Like...wut? Who gives a shit if they're Communists, or Socialists, or Libertarians, or whatever? The only thing that matters, in my mind, is the equality of humanity. Everything else is debatable (how you'd like your tax dollars spent; how you'd like to punish criminals; how you'd like to conduct foreign policy)
72. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 05:53 · Score: 0
  
  Was "dickish" on your word-of-the-day calendar?
  Anyways, yeah, the people (including talking heads) you surround yourself with determines your character. Your parents should've taught you that.
  Not sure why you're bashing reading and watching TV though - there's nothing inherently wrong with either of those things.
73. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by syntotic · 2016-12-24 06:15 · Score: 1
  
  NONE, OF YOU, CAN YET, UNDERSTAND: those populations are PRE DAWN OF FIRE AGE. They will NOT evolve in History time up to Human. They can imitate well but close down quickly. I already LIVED it! That computer was so well treated... not using it... it stopped working at some point after so very little use; my electronics 1980 organ was used every day by infantile hands, for years, and twenty three years later was still functioning well, EXCEPT, for the _plastic_ switch that would push the selector contacts to start it on. The plastic was soft and got softer, so it would not push down the contact, but everything else was working perfectly! Unlike those guys computer, bass guitar, electric guitar, who know what else was stored without use. GAMING is not in their genetics! They go maniac on some games but gaming? No. If it is not mentioned in an old religious text, forget it! Unacceptable. Those populations cannot resist Gaming, much less videogaming! It is not a current affairs issue, it will be like it forever! As if we Humans did not know how to manage our lifetime time... Expect all kinds of difficulties, obstructions, underpar games, sabotages, viruses, DoS attacks, game hiding, etc. I think it will be worse the more time passes as videogames and their meaning will be slowly realized by more and more of the populations who will say NO and that it is, back to simpler times. Right now: at pains trying to search my IE history, seems to have vanished...
74. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 07:40 · Score: 0
  
  ... decide to go to their number 2 option of hanging out with family...
  My number 2 option is masturbation. Hanging out with family is number 7 tops.
  Can I upvote you? Consider it done.
75. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by ebvwfbw · 2016-12-24 12:26 · Score: 1
  
  Ever been caught red handed?
76. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by CommanderRyalis · 2016-12-25 06:01 · Score: 1
  
  If I could mod all of you down for devolving this discussion to petty political bickering I would, now get off my lawn.
77. Re: Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-28 05:27 · Score: 0
  
  DRM is:
  1. Evil - Anything that removes rights is evil
  2. Doesn't even work - Is there a game with DRM that isn't cracked? Usually before the game hits retail
  3. Pointless - See 1 and 2
  Only corporate slave dumbshits accept DRM.
78. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-28 05:35 · Score: 0
  
  These poor little racist, xenophobic trailer-dwellers are so misunderstood.
  We should find a safe-space for your gentle souls.
79. Re:Ah, I was wondering when it would begin by Anonymous Coward · 2017-01-03 09:33 · Score: 0
  
  Bannon is behind all the racist bullshit on breitbart.
  Fucktard
But The Cloud! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:09 · Score: 5, Funny

But it's The Cloud! The Cloud is more secure, safer, and more reliable! The Cloud can't go down!
1. Re:But The Cloud! by waspleg · 2016-12-23 05:13 · Score: 1
  
  If only this were sarcasm the whole world could understand.
2. Re:But The Cloud! by Aaden42 · 2016-12-23 05:39 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  The cloud has not gone down. We just call it rain now.
3. Re:But The Cloud! by SeaFox · 2016-12-23 07:11 · Score: 1
  
  Raindrops hide gamers' teardrops.
4. Re:But The Cloud! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:32 · Score: 0
  
  "But it's My Butt! My Butt is more secure, safer, and more reliable! My Butt can't go down!"
  https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cloud-to-butt-plus/apmlngnhgbnjpajelfkmabhkfapgnoai?hl=en
  Captcha "arouses"
5. Re:But The Cloud! by im_thatoneguy · 2016-12-23 13:39 · Score: 2
  
  Everybody who whines about Steam outages clearly never played valve games prior to Steam. What used to happen was every time a new Counterstrike patch was dropped, every gaming site on the internet would crash from the load as everyone overloaded every hosting site on the internet. It would be hours sometimes before you could get a download and even then connection drops were common.
  Steam is a 1,000x more reliable and was a direct response to that sort of inconvenience and lack of reliability by third party hosting companies.
  Also, your alternative to online downloads of some variety is to drive to a store. I would say that it's impossibly inconvenient to get to a game store more often than Steam is down. So yes, the cloud is *more* reliable, and it is *safer* than the alternatives. Nobody is saying the cloud is invincible. They're just saying it's better than the alternative.
6. Re:But The Cloud! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 04:44 · Score: 1
  
  When the cloud comes down like this it becomes fog.
Thanks Obama! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:10 · Score: 0

He took the site down so he could blame Russia again.
1. Re:Thanks Obama! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  Democrat hyperbole and tsunami volumes of malicious traffic from eastern "Ukraine" and Russia are not mutually exclusive factors.
  Be weary of those who would exploit the left's tantrums to whitewash infamous propaganda campaigns, but be equally weary of those who would use the mere existence of this onslaught to dismiss DNC failings, systemic corruption, and so forth.
  Kettling people into a false dichotomy is an excellent means to limit discussion without people realizing they've had their opinions blinkered down to a conditional statement. You still control both outcomes of the branching instruction. Trump's campaign is shrewdly aware of these techniques and I have to say it's almost glorious how he's managed to hoodwink the entire political compass.
  Get ready for some bigly Internet legislation, boys.
2. Re: Thanks Obama! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:39 · Score: 0
  
  Off your meds again I take it.
3. Re:Thanks Obama! by Pinky's+Brain · 2016-12-23 06:37 · Score: 1
  
  Ehh, Trump doesn't really have to be shrewd when the media are being idiots.
  After halfway pulling off the Alt-Right bait and switch they got overconfident, they were doing so well and then they had to make a ridiculous song and dance about Russian as some bogey man behind all Fake News. Glass houses and throwing stones and all. The sheep don't quite realise how the media lies to them, but confirming their suspicion by pointing out other sources of fake news was not a great idea. Now everyone just trusts them less.
4. Re:Thanks Obama! by unixisc · 2016-12-23 07:09 · Score: 1
  
  He took the site down so he could blame Russia again.
  Maybe they are re-hosting steam on Hilary's server, now that it's of little use beyond the investigations. All Brian Pagliano has to do is copy the mail services to a backup for the FBI, and then on what's left of the server, install Steam. Incidentally, don't include Bleachbit - Steam does like to keep records of how many hours someone's played, their scores and so on
5. Re: Thanks Obama! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:09 · Score: 0
  
  Pssht, this is nothing new. The news about Russia hacking the election is "fake but accurate".
and yet by sucko · 2016-12-23 05:13 · Score: 0

slashdot is up. Life just isn't fair.

--
-linux... they can't *give* that shit away.
Trump! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:14 · Score: 3, Insightful

Can't wait till Jan 20 when Trump makes Steam great again! Trump will not tolerate such abuses against truly Great American companies like Steam!
Build a great firewall and protect our inner tubes Dear Leader!
Sounds like a hack by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:20 · Score: 0

They must have a trove of credit card data in there. I wonder if they're going to be the next leak... If they shut down the servers it must be pretty serious stuff.
1. Re:Sounds like a hack by LesFerg · 2016-12-23 09:42 · Score: 1
  
  They must have a trove of credit card data in there.
  No, they don't store the whole number. On the purchase page it says Do you want to use the credit card ending in "***77", so they only store the last two digits!
  heh. settle down, it was a joke.
  
  --
  If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
Oh no... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:21 · Score: 0

Oh no! Kids coming out of their rooms to sit with me. Apocalypse.
1. Re:Oh no... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:50 · Score: 0
  
  are you in a nursing home?
Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:22 · Score: 0

Let me just laugh at everyone who said Steam was different*. That they're a good form of DRM. Remember your history. You didn't used to need a central server for you to play in online multiplayer modes (all those games still work and their owners are long dead). You could legally install your game on multiple computers and make backups. All the benefits people claim Steam gives you were things you used to be able to do without requiring to go through a 3rd party.
*See the refund lawsuit article a couple slots below this one.
1. Re:Let Me Just by TheSunborn · 2016-12-23 05:30 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Hu? All my games on steam still work perfectly in offline mode. Playing factorio on Linux right now in fact :)
2. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:37 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah all those games that require you to scour message boards for private servers were really superior. They didn't rely on a third party in any way... and what was the last game without a central server browser? The Doom II?
3. Re:Let Me Just by Sarten-X · 2016-12-23 05:41 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Steam is different... it's not your perfect ideal, but it's different from the abysmal pit we were headed for before Steam. Steam is a decent compromise between the anti-cheat and anti-piracy efforts of vendors, and the pro-consumer model apparently favored by you and others.
  See, what I remember from my history is that those multiplayer games were full of cheaters and hackers, to the point where half of the game was figuring out whether your game was legitimate or not. I remember seeing casual piracy with cloned disks and hundreds of "backups" being passed around my networks. I also remember seeing the start of server-side games that lost functionality when their studio closed and their servers shut down. I remember the predictions that that would be the only effective way to combat piracy, and I remember reverse-engineering efforts claiming to ensure the longevity of games... and I remember their failures, too.
  Steam is not perfect, but it is different... It mostly works.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
4. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:41 · Score: 0
  
  You are easily amused, since most of those points are irrelevant or fulfilled by Steam quite well without compromising the DRM. We win, developer wins, Steam wins.
  (like many others, I am just fine with my offline mode)
5. Re:Let Me Just by duke_cheetah2003 · 2016-12-23 05:42 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  You could legally install your game on multiple computers and make backups.
  You do know you can do that with Steam, too. Install on as many computers as you want, frankly. And it has game backup built right in. Try using something before criticizing it, eh?
6. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:50 · Score: 0
  
  Whenever somebody on slashdot says "You could legally install your game on multiple computers and make backups" they mean "I could download it for free and get a hacked key to unlock it."
7. Re:Let Me Just by lactose99 · 2016-12-23 06:05 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Steam has done more to bring quality games to Linux than anyone besides perhaps Unity3D. I'll take the occasional outage (neverrmind that offline mode works wonderfully in these scenarios) if they continue to bring good games to my platform of choice.
  
  --
  Fully licensed blockchain psychiatrist
8. Re:Let Me Just by tepples · 2016-12-23 06:06 · Score: 1
  
  But how do you install a game on an additional PC while Steam is down?
9. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:14 · Score: 0
  
  Memba when slashdot was news for nerds? And readers knew that if it's on my computer I can copy it? No, you don't memba.
10. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:14 · Score: 1
  
  Back it up on one pc and restore the backup on the other. Easy peasy. Its how I moved all my games to my new laptop.
  In fact you can even cheat and not use the "backup" option in steam and just copy the folder over. That works just as well.
11. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  But how do you install a game on an additional PC while Steam is down?
  Well, you could do as I do: Put Steam and Linux on a bootable flash drive and play your games on whatever machine you like. \0/
12. Re:Let Me Just by ledow · 2016-12-23 06:18 · Score: 2
  
  And, sorry, but on my laptop Steam is still running and letting me play ALL my games.
  I've suspended and resumed 20+ times tonight and it's still working just fine. I'm in a Steam game now, in fact.
  Maybe it wouldn't work if you didn't have Steam loaded and were running for the first time to try to update, but it's working fine for me (yes, the website is down and likely matchmaking).
13. Re:Let Me Just by sexconker · 2016-12-23 06:18 · Score: 2
  
  Mine don't. Any game relying on Steam's DRM or Steam's multiplayer APIs, even if it's just social/matchmaking and not server hosting, is fucked. If I had known Steam was going to be down today I could have entered offline mode last night, had Steam generate a token for my client, and then have my client use that token so I could play games using Steam's DRM.
  As it stands, all I have access to are games that can simply be launched by running the executable. Steam's offline mode really is nothing more than a UI to do that.
14. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:34 · Score: 0
  
  Well it is the only game you own, so....
15. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:46 · Score: 0
  
  Nobody seems to ever understand that there needs to be a matchmaking service to the server browser will actually run. Yes you can run your own server independent of it (as you should always be able to) but unless you advertise it somewhere else nobody will ever connect
16. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:58 · Score: 0
  
  Mine don't. Any game relying on Steam's DRM or Steam's multiplayer APIs, even if it's just social/matchmaking and not server hosting, is fucked. If I had known Steam was going to be down today I could have entered offline mode last night, had Steam generate a token for my client, and then have my client use that token so I could play games using Steam's DRM.
  As it stands, all I have access to are games that can simply be launched by running the executable. Steam's offline mode really is nothing more than a UI to do that.
  Multiplayer is grayed out at the moment, but single player is working fine. Might depend on the skill of your game's programmers me think.
17. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:30 · Score: 0
  
  I'm with you. I hate steam and all these "platforms" that was never needed before to enjoy a game. Now everything requires this stupid thing. It almost killed PC gaming for me. It's ok if it stays as an option to release and purchase games, but I still prefer getting the box version and play it independently from any unnecessary third-party software. This is why I like Nintendo's cartridges and always buy physical. I can still charge up my gameboy advance and play all my games from 10+ years ago.
18. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:53 · Score: 0
  
  Ha ha ha. How sad! You're using Linux, so you can only enjoy a small fraction of the entire Steam library. Suck on that, you pathetic little bitch.
19. Re:Let Me Just by TheSunborn · 2016-12-23 07:55 · Score: 1
  
  Multiplayer which uses Steam is obviously offline.
  But anything which relay on Steam's DRM should really be working. Just hit the "Work offline" button and play.
20. Re:Let Me Just by Sarten-X · 2016-12-23 09:05 · Score: 1
  
  Today is the first time my gaming computer has been powered on in about two weeks, and I was able to launch DRM-protected games just fine in offline mode.
  I'm not familiar enough with Steam's DRM to address your concerns about a token, but it does appear to work just fine in offline mode while offline.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
21. Re:Let Me Just by sexconker · 2016-12-23 10:49 · Score: 1
  
  This never works for me. What happens is it then asks me to sign in, which I obviously can't do.
  Offline mode for these titles only ever works if I preemptively trigger offline mode while Steam is online (and I am as well, obviously). Then I can play offline, for a time, before Steam asks me to reauthenticate. If I launch Steam again later while I have a network connection (internet connected or not) Steam reverts to online mode and prompts me to log in.
  Offline mode is basically useless to me.
22. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 10:57 · Score: 0
  
  Hackers and studios shutting down is still a problem with Steam. But, yeah it's a better platform than the DRM they used to put in a lot of these games.
23. Re:Let Me Just by drinkypoo · 2016-12-23 16:36 · Score: 1
  
  See, what I remember from my history is that those multiplayer games were full of cheaters and hackers, to the point where half of the game was figuring out whether your game was legitimate or not.
  And that's still how it is. I've got people glitching into my walled base in Rust, there was massive cheats in Robocraft, by all accounts even TF2 is still a playground for cheaters.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
24. Re:Let Me Just by drinkypoo · 2016-12-23 16:38 · Score: 1
  
  Back it up on one pc and restore the backup on the other. Easy peasy. Its how I moved all my games to my new laptop.
  That's fine as long as the games don't have Steam DRM, and as long as you have Steam already installed on the other machine. You can't restore a Steam backup without having Steam installed. You can't install Steam if Steam is down.
  
  In fact you can even cheat and not use the "backup" option in steam and just copy the folder over. That works just as well.
  Again, only if the game lacks Steam DRM. If this is not the case, then the "backup" copy has to be blessed by the Steam servers before you can play it, even if you do already have Steam installed.
  Not every game has Steam-based DRM, but many if not most of the networked games on Steam do, and some of the non-networked ones as well.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
25. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 10:29 · Score: 0
  
  I am more a fan of single player games myself, but my experience with Steam are favourable too. I've suffered plenty in the past from draconian copy protection schemes, having to download no-CD cracks so you didn't have to play with a 48 speed CD drive constantly spinning next to you, draconian online services from EA with constant failures and cuck-ups. Ever since Steam, I just buy a game (usually at 10-20% the listed price at a sale), download it, and play it. Never had a problem with Steam or my ISP being offline either, you can play your single player games fine (I personally don't care about Steam achievements so I don't know if you miss out on those or if it updates next time you connect). No more scratched 'uncopyable' CD's, the sales and occasional giveaways are great. They even force gaming companies to change or relinquish unreasonable EULA's or copy protection and have the clout to do so. I really can't think of much disadvantages.
  It's quickly become my one stop gaming shop (or at least first stop, I have some games on Uplay too which is the same sort of thing as Steam). It's all a lot better than it was in the 90s and 00s.
26. Re:Let Me Just by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-28 05:43 · Score: 0
  
  Eventually, offline mode will shut down your game.
  DRM with a smiley face is still DRM.
Probably the Russians by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:23 · Score: 0

It's gotta be the Russians.
Is this relative? by kapoios · 2016-12-23 05:23 · Score: 4, Interesting

https://games.slashdot.org/sto...
1. Re:Is this relative? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 09:10 · Score: 0
  
  Do you mean "relevant?"
Re:bit3h by Sarten-X · 2016-12-23 05:24 · Score: 0

...You know that site doesn't even exist any more, right?

--
You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
OH MY GOD by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:24 · Score: 0, Insightful

I can't play my video games like a teenager! My life is oveeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!
1. Re:OH MY GOD by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2016-12-23 05:50 · Score: 1
  
  Dude, it's Christmas break time. That's one of the few times people can play games like a teenager.
  waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
  
  --
  (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
I bet Valve did this to themselves. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:25 · Score: 0

In before Valve just messed up a last minute change during the busiest shopping period of the year. Again.
This is the Half Life 3 release. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:29 · Score: 1

Steam couldn't handle the load of Half Life 3 being released.
Good by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:29 · Score: 0, Troll

Steam is a pile of DRM shit, the sooner it dies the better.
Long live GoG!
1. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:37 · Score: 0
  
  You're a pile of shit. The sooner you die, the better.
2. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-24 08:34 · Score: 0
  
  Poor little butthurt Valve cock eater
totally yay by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:33 · Score: 0

Rejoice! its time to leave the basement and experience reality! and nothing of substance was lost.
1. Re:totally yay by unixisc · 2016-12-23 07:12 · Score: 1
  
  If only we could come out and actually meet everyone that we were interacting w/ on social media, worldwide
Re:bit3h by mrchaotica · 2016-12-23 05:37 · Score: 1

I've been curious about those troll posts and their odd pattern of l33t-speak / typos for some time now. I wonder if it's some kind of coded message or something.

--
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Just Hurry Up and Take my Money by krakrjak · 2016-12-23 05:39 · Score: 1

I woke up to an awesome email about every game on my wishlist and I just want to give them my damn money! I got into the office a little late and now I'm having to do work instead of drool over a bunch of killer cheap games.
I hope valve hurries up and fixes the problem so they can take my damned money! I guess this will be a productive Friday after all... What yak shaving tasks do I have today?
Gamer freaks get out from your basements! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 05:43 · Score: 0

Gamer freaks get out from your basements!
1. Re: Gamer freaks get out from your basements! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:39 · Score: 0
  
  Boring normies, go back to your lives! Leave us alone!
  The ddosers are being just as anti social sitting at their computers..
Sucks to be them by GameboyRMH · 2016-12-23 05:45 · Score: 3, Informative

Just enjoying my still-operational DRM-free games from GoG over here...

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
1. Re:Sucks to be them by skam240 · 2016-12-23 06:00 · Score: 2
  
  And I'm enjoying all my Steam games that I have installed in Offline Mode which can be used as long as I'd like and playing a ton of games not available on GoG.
  Don't get me wrong, I hate the fact that I HAVE to use their service for most recent games (the first time I bought a physical copy of a game and discovered the disc was just a Steam installer I was pissed) but at least all my installed games are still usable when their servers crash unlike Origin (which I do refuse to use)
  
  --
  I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
2. Re: Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:18 · Score: 0
  
  Nobody cares whether you can play your lack of proper online experience games. There's a reason why there are no articles about gog going down, it's because it's irrelevant and uninteresting. They don't even provide matchmaking services.
3. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 07:29 · Score: 1
  
  Don't get me wrong, I hate the fact that I HAVE to use their service for most recent games
  
  But you're enabling the very thing you say you hate!
  You can't have it both ways. If you want more games to be available on DRM-free services like GOG, you have to buy exclusively from those stores. If studios sees that tying themselves into Steam, Origin, or other DRM-ed stores means death in the marketplace, well sure enough, they'll release DRM-free, because they actually need customers. They need YOU more than you need THEM. The only way to get to the place you (and I) want to be, is to give DRM-free stores your business, and not give business to DRM-enabling stores.
  But if you keep teaching them that DRM is OK, they'll keep doing it.
4. Re: Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 08:12 · Score: 0
  
  There's a reason why there are no articles about gog going down
  Yes, because gog going down cannot possibly prevent me from playing games I bought through gog.
5. Re:Sucks to be them by CrashNBrn · 2016-12-23 08:38 · Score: 0
  
  All 100 games that GOG has in their catalog? Yeah me too!
6. Re:Sucks to be them by thegarbz · 2016-12-23 09:20 · Score: 1
  
  Just enjoying my still-operational DRM-free games from GoG over here...
  I'm just enjoying my still-operational DRM encumbered games from Steam over here...
  What's your point? Or are you another one of those people blasting a service without having a clue?
7. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 10:23 · Score: 0
  
  Playing my PS4 here
8. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 10:47 · Score: 0
  
  Steam 'blips' about once or twice a week. You can see it with their online stats. Usually a nice 'wave'. But every few days massive dip for 20-30 mins. In the 10 or so years I have used it. Only one of those blips affected me. I just cracked open one of the other several thousand games I have collected over the years.
9. Re:Sucks to be them by Imrik · 2016-12-23 12:11 · Score: 1
  
  GOG isn't any better with respect to what he said that he hated.
10. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 13:14 · Score: 0
  
  1800 games.
  That tidbit of information probably just doubled your education, ignoramus.
11. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 21:01 · Score: 0
  
  All 100 games that GOG has in their catalog? Yeah me too!
  Wow.. You haven't been to Gog.com in a loooong time have you?
12. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2017-01-03 09:37 · Score: 0
  
  Offline mode only works for so long, then your DRM infected games die.
  Once downloaded, a GoG game never needs to phone home.
13. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2017-01-03 09:40 · Score: 0
  
  Yes it is.
  All steam games need to contact the mothership sooner or later.
  GoG games never do
14. Re:Sucks to be them by Anonymous Coward · 2017-01-03 09:48 · Score: 0
  
  Until you no longer can because your steam client has gone to long in getting permission to run.
Twitter silence by PopeRatzo · 2016-12-23 05:46 · Score: 1

I'm not surprised that there hasn't been anything on Steam twitter about the outage. Steam_Support hasn't tweeted anything since July 14.
They're probably too busy testing Half-Life 3.

--
You are welcome on my lawn.
1. Re:Twitter silence by sexconker · 2016-12-23 06:20 · Score: 2
  
  > Steam_Support hasn't tweeted anything since July 14.
  Have you ever dealt with Steam Support? 5 months of silence is nothing. You're lucky if you ever get a reply beyond the first 2, which are always auto generated robo replies. I'm surprised they even have a twitter account.
Christmas is by slazzy · 2016-12-23 05:51 · Score: 1

Christmas won't be much fun until it's fixed :( http://justdownforme.com/www/s...

--
Website Just Down For Me? Find out
Re:bit3h by Yvan256 · 2016-12-23 05:57 · Score: 1

This one only has the characters TEN in uppercase. Anyone care to view the previous trolls to see if there's a whole sentence being sent?
Steam takes up 1,600 ... by CaptainDork · 2016-12-23 05:59 · Score: 1

... times the same volume of water so maybe the site has simply cooled off into a puddle of condensate.

--
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
W/drawing from society or cash for kids for cards? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2016-12-23 06:01 · Score: 1

Well, shit!
I might as well go Christmas shopping a day early. :frowney-face:

--
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
Lonely in my basement by sinij · 2016-12-23 06:02 · Score: 2

With Steam down, I had a chance to clear old Doritos bags and a pile of Mountain Dew cans, go look for my missing cat, and take a shower. I found dead and dried husk of my cat in the shower. I think I forgot to feed him this months. I also talked to my elderly mom upstairs, who didn't recognize me at first because I also shaved off my neckbeard. She asked me if I run out of Mountain Dew. I told he it was much worse - Steam is down.
1. Re:Lonely in my basement by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:43 · Score: 0
  
  I also talked to my elderly mom upstairs [...] I told he it was much worse - Steam is down.
  One of those progressive "families" I see.... fukin' Obama!
  TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP WOOOOOO *bang* *bang*
Re:bit3h by tepples · 2016-12-23 06:04 · Score: 1

It exists all right. It just moved to Goatse.info after Christmas Island decided it didn't want to enable male porn.
Wrong by sexconker · 2016-12-23 06:09 · Score: 2

The status page of Steam
The Steam status pages are down. https://steamstat.us/ is not "the status page of Steam". That site is not affiliated with Valve at all.
Click on the fucking link and read the line in the big Zoidberg box at the top.

SteamDB is not affiliated with Valve Software. This is a third party website brought to you by xPaw.
1. Re:Wrong by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 06:30 · Score: 0
  
  That link is used to see if there's connection problems to Steam. It's not affiliated with Steam, but since Steam is unable to speak for themselves this is one way to find out WTF is happening.
2. Re:Wrong by unixisc · 2016-12-23 09:45 · Score: 1
  
  Precisely! I had no problems logging on to Steam right now
whois query: clientTransferProhibited by danieldids · 2016-12-23 06:45 · Score: 0

whois query on steampowered.com gave me this: Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTr... What does that could mean?
1. Re:whois query: clientTransferProhibited by aicrules · 2016-12-23 07:20 · Score: 1
  
  That's Valve setting up it's mission critical domain name to NOT allow transfers under any of the standard methods. They would have to first unlock it with the registrar it's owned through. This prevents someone either accidentally transferring it or maliciously transferring it thereby rendering the service inoperable. Both types of things have happened to some pretty notable sites and services.
Australia's Fault by JackieBrown · 2016-12-23 07:03 · Score: 2

Thanks Australia!
https://games.slashdot.org/sto...
1. Re:Australia's Fault by syntotic · 2016-12-24 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  Be SURE it was not a nuke or similar in the servers. Are they geographically distributed, redundant, isolated in bunkers, with redundant hard copy backups, etc? I DO NOT THINK SO. Try passing the voice, we have been very confident in Occident about this technological revolution which INDEED turns many people obsolete, old interests, dumb families, personal tricks of power, etc.
Steam is back up by SpencerWilliams · 2016-12-23 08:14 · Score: 1

Steam appears to be back up... for now.
1. Re:Steam is back up by drinkypoo · 2016-12-23 16:34 · Score: 1
  
  Steam appears to be back up... for now.
  It's flapping. I was able to load my library but not update a game.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 09:33 · Score: 0

Where a gaming service going down warrants three times as many comments as a cure for ebola.
Wait.... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-23 14:34 · Score: 0

Wait a second...I thought this was slashdot....this topic *actually* is news for nerds...I must have followed a wrong link somewhere...
EA Origin (The Sims, etc.) is atrociously slow by kriston · 2016-12-23 17:54 · Score: 1

EA Origin (The Sims, etc.) is atrociously slow.
For Mac owners, you can't use your DVD and you must download the 10 GB The Sims 4 game.
Estimated time of completion is 24 hours.
Online gaming broker service providers like this are the Christmas Day "batteries not included" tragedy of today's generation.

--
Kriston