Steam starts it's own form of Alpha Funding!

Quoting: edgleyTrue but other than it being tied to an account, I don't seem any other serious issues -- I'm not 100% sure at what point a game is "activated" (whether it's at checkout or download initiation), but as soon as it's downloaded you can go offline and play forever and as Steam requires a restart to go in to "Online mode", you can't completely unknowingly loose access to your games from that.

So far as I'm aware, there is (or was) an expiry period after which you had to return to online mode to be able to play your game. Offline mode also precludes players from being able to play multiplayer games for titles that use Steamworks for multiplayer stuff.

Quoting: HamishPersonally what annoys me more is not users being seduced but developers. I would not have a big beef with Steamworks and the like if developers still put out non-Steam versions for those of us that find the "pitfalls" unacceptable.

I think almost everything I own on Steam has another version available ^_^

Vote with your wallets, friends :)

Quoting: CheesenessSo far as I'm aware, there is (or was) an expiry period after which you had to return to online mode to be able to play your game.

Ah, didn't know that -- though I would still rather Steam's implementation that any others around.

Quoting: CheesenessI think almost everything I own on Steam has another version available

Vote with your wallets, friends

While, more out of fluke than anything, I also have almost all games in multiple places -- Ubisoft, EA, Activision and the rest of the big "AAA" producers are not going to listen. I don't think most Windows users want DRM either, but with a lot the big names it will be a case of DRM or bust.

And, as I say, I want to play games on Linux; so I will make that sacrifice. Not to say I'll be thrilled with it, mind.