naticus

I don’t know of an instance where it’s not used as DRM. Maybe on F2P games since there’s no license management? Would be interested in knowing where you’ve found it isn’t used. And yes, more clarity on what is happening under the hood would always be welcomed by me. I do feel I have a decent grasp of things just because of my IT background and work with cyber security, but closed source software will always have its secrets.

Also, definitely like the play on words with your username lol. I have a domain that is a pun on my last name, so I always like seeing creative ways people use their own names.

I completely agree with you that Steam itself is DRM and that we use it for convenience.

But I do disagree with the same statement about GOG Galaxy because it doesn’t provide the same digital decrypting functionality that all DRM provides. They don’t do it because they don’t have to, proven by the ability to download the EXE and BIN files directly even in Galaxy. I liken the Galaxy app to using a VPN or other network tool like Hibachi people have used when a game only had couch co-op support.

Either way, your point is made, but I don’t see an issue with running a client app that provides so much. I don’t inherently trust Valve or GOG, but they haven’t done anything that I know of to betray me as a gamer or consumer. I do NOT however see a point in running a client app that also has additional launchers required afterwards like all Ubi games. DRM on top of DRM is anti gamer imo.

That’s news to me, but looked it up and confirmed you’re absolutely right. That blows my mind, because in many circumstances it can be impossible for players to connect, especially in a double NAT situation or you’re playing on a network you have no control over (e.g. university network).

But comparing a safety feature to a technical requirement is a bit misleading here, no? This is more about making sure gamers can just play rather than having to reconfigure network equipment, which they may or may not have access to.

Honestly if Steam is down at this point, I’ve got bigger things to worry about personally. Does it happen? Do I curse the name of GabeN? Sure, but it’s such a rare instance and happens maybe once a year for a matter of an hour or so typically.

But let’s not confuse using a client app as being DRM. On GOG Galaxy, it’s not doing anything DRM related other than providing you access to download the game itself. All the client is doing is providing a “friends network” that everyone is connecting to and creating a cloud bridged connection. This solves any double NAT problems, obfuscates your IP, removes any need to make network config changes, and no one has to think about it.

Doing things with a direct connection to friends is something no one does anymore. Port forwarding for a game? Yeah it’s fine for people who are technically minded like I’m sure anyone in the community is, but walking a friend through it on their router just to play with them is a nonstarter. No, the cloud connection is how this is handled now. I haven’t seen a game in a decade do it via a direct connection from player to player.

I will say that in general I also agree, but there are games where I have been completely okay with it, like DRG. But those updates are always free and really just define (formerly) time period in which a long-term event is contained within. I do love that the latest season is really more of a chapter than a season since you can pick and choose whenever you want to jump into whichever season you want to play and progress through. Only seasonal events have time constraints now.

This is particularly nice since my DRG group has moved to playing Grounded instead, with the occasional DRG night and don’t want to feel tethered to a release schedule.

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While I agree it can be painful to do anything multiplayer without dedicated network support in the game itself, it’s a nontrivial thing for devs to add. Expecting every dev studio to be network experts as well as having the infrastructure for the cloud peer connections is why Steam finally added a way for games to simulate couch co-op between remote players. I try to buy games on GOG as my first choice but there are definitely factors (including price) where I’ll consider Steam instead.

Me during arguments.

The best memes are the ones that have an ounce of truth to them. Legit had nothing to do with Microsoft, just their services going down as a result. They’d definitely have preferred this never happened lol.

Tell me you have zero fucking clue what actually happened without telling me you had no clue.

Time for the Kessel Run.

I wish I could say I’m also clean, but it’s so damn common I need to search for sysadmin help on Reddit. I can say I have not participated by commenting or posting in over a year though.

I’ve been lucky enough to always have a job in the public sector and it’s very common they are completely separate. Likely less pay, but far better retirement system than most private sector jobs.

Been using this for several months now and it’s been great. I even set up scripts to set my next boot to be Windows when I know I’ll be gaming with friends using a game on GamePass so it’ll be booted and ready when game night is about to start.

Yours is better, but not 12yo humor enough for me. Lol

Missed opportunity to call it the Wii Wii.

Living costs money. Biggest reason for people to work.

I’d seriously only ever want to learn banjo to play the Outer Wilds theme.

Let me just dust off my JNCOs from '98. I knew they’d be back!

I’m not commenting on the existence of it happening, I’m commenting on the use of the word “majority” to give themselves credibility. It’s dismissive of the issue and a way to ride out your bias as if it’s justified. Does it happen where minors get involved with OF on their own? I have no doubts. Is it the majority of OF accounts where a minor is involved? No one knows and making guesses isn’t productive.