Linux Gaming DRM Free promises: Do they stack up?

Quoting: FutureSutureWhat I believe he is saying, Liam, is that there are in fact some games which do not require the Steam client to run. I have never tested this, only heard of it, and it's likely only a small minority that benefit from being DRM free.

I haven't been able to try Steam but I also read about that. If that's the case I would like to know for sure which games will work without the Steam client before trying and still they could stop you from doing so after some update. I see services like Steam more like renting than buying, you can get some games DRM-free now without even knowing because there's no promise they will always work.

QuoteWe do not yet have a DRM-free distribution partner for Linux yet, but we expect to have one available as an option by the time we ship for our Linux customers.

Well, how about Gameolith or Desura? :)


As for Steam, I can confirm that at least "Dynamite Jack" and "The book of unwritten tales" work without it. I'm quite sure there are a lot more.
(Although Dynamite Jack seemed to lag from time to time. I'm guessing it was because of trying to access the net/steam to synchronize achievements or other stuff.)

The one thing I haven't tested is trying to "install" a game downloaded through Steam. Being able to somehow download DRM/Steam-free installers for multiple platforms would be nice.

Yes, some games can be played without the Steam client, but the reason because I am avoiding Steam for now is because even if there are DRM free games there, there is no way to identify them. Or at least I do not know how to do it. I found some lists done by users, but none complete nor updated (nor reliable?).

And all the DRM free games in Steam I know can be purchased outside Steam. Unity of Command is my last acquisition. If Steam offers more exclusive DRM free games in the future I might reconsider my relationship with it though.

I recently got into Desura, I like the way the client works by offering me only games that work on my platform, Linux. I wish Steam would do that also, I can't count the number of times I almost bought a game because I unknowingly rambled into a different platform.

And to my surprise, Desura seems to have a lot more games that Steam just doesn't have. Even some AAA titles like Fallout and Freespace. I really like it and Steam is turning out to be a letdown for me as far as Games I want to play.

Quoting: FutureSuture

Quoting: liamdawe

Quoting: Kame

Quoting: liamdaweActually the difference here is that gog.com's downloaders once downloaded will still work (you could backup your collection).

If Steam went down you don't have that choice since your game downloads are tied directly to their client?

Not exactly sure what you're saying here? If steam went down you'd still be able to play any games which the devs didn't put drm into.

I don't know about you but I don't have every game I own on Steam downloaded, what would happen if it went down - I wouldn't be able to download my games and play them.

It's a risk we all take and it is a risk.

What I believe he is saying, Liam, is that there are in fact some games which do not require the Steam client to run. I have never tested this, only heard of it, and it's likely only a small minority that benefit from being DRM free.

Yes, that's correct. An example of such a game is Faster Than Light. It has no DRM and you can run it even without the Steam client running.

Quoting: Mike FrettI recently got into Desura, I like the way the client works by offering me only games that work on my platform, Linux. I wish Steam would do that also, I can't count the number of times I almost bought a game because I unknowingly rambled into a different platform.

And to my surprise, Desura seems to have a lot more games that Steam just doesn't have. Even some AAA titles like Fallout and Freespace. I really like it and Steam is turning out to be a letdown for me as far as Games I want to play.

Yeah, Desura is a no-brainer here.

They have a serious messaging problem;  Steam people see it as weird and small, with some old games like GOG.  GOG people see it as DRM (it is not!).  For heaven's sake, if the developer bothers to post one, it even lets you download a GOG-like installer for any platform, directly off the webpage, no desktop client required.

And the desktop client?  If someone doesn't actually believe that it will be DRM-free, they can just read the sources... because the desktop client is GPL3.  I really can't see what more they could possibly do make the point more clear that they are cool & different.  :-(

inXile entertainment is pretty much ahead in this, and Wasteland 2 is announced to be on Desura.  That's where I'll redeem my copy.

Folks, there is a basic point you all may have forgotten where gog.com does differ from both Steam AND Desura which I believe is VITAL to keeping a clean computer (having learned much from M$ Windows$): The big difference between gog.com and the others (Desura, Steam, and probably many more) is this: you don't have to install a client. I don't know about you but in my experience that is BIG. Its really not possible to say that Steam and Desura are totally DRM free because all require you to install a client. gog.com does not. The problem with installing anything other than the game is you have a 3rd party who you have no idea what stuff they are installing in your system, similar to other DRMs. While Steam and Desura may not use DRMs that are as infectious, their purpose is to track what you download on your computer and report back to them at a minimum (and possibly add stuff depending on their policies and deals with partners). Otherwise, why bother with the client? There could be all kinds of "stuff" the clients installers leave lying in your profiles. Has any Steam or Desura user done a file diff on their accounts after removing their Steam or Desura download clients? Point is, no 3rd party provider is truly DRM free unless they don't require you to install a client. gog.com is the only group I've found so far that doesn't require this so I've gotten quite a few things from them before more Linux options were available. Now that they are, I've told gog.com my support drops unless they catch up with Desura and Steam in the Linux availability. (and voted of course). Now that the client installer issues is on the table, can anybody confirm what is installed by these clients and what is removed upon uninstall and what is left behind to "tag" you? Only that will confirm whether either Steam or Desura is truly DRM free (regardless of whether the game itself is). We can all download using virtual machines I suppose, but what a hassle...

Quoting: Kame

Quoting: liamdawe

Quoting: Kame

Quoting: liamdaweActually the difference here is that gog.com's downloaders once downloaded will still work (you could backup your collection).

If Steam went down you don't have that choice since your game downloads are tied directly to their client?

Not exactly sure what you're saying here? If steam went down you'd still be able to play any games which the devs didn't put drm into.

I don't know about you but I don't have every game I own on Steam downloaded, what would happen if it went down - I wouldn't be able to download my games and play them.

It's a risk we all take and it is a risk.

Right, which is no different from GOG, which is the point I was trying to make.

(and yes actually, I do have all of my steam games downloaded :p)

No, I disagree.

There is a difference between your local Steam library, and someone else's folder full of game installers.  Valve could go out of business (I hope not), or offline, and you could continue play games in your local library.

What if you change gaming machines?  Say, you buy a new one, and want to sell or gift the old one?  If you still want to play your games, you'd have to transplant your Steam library from one machine to another manually, if you were unable to log in.  They must keep their service running indefinitely for you to have proper access to all of your games, indefinitely, on whatever future machine you wish to play them on.

With GOG, and most Desura games, simply keep a copy of the installer.  No matter which distributor goes out of business, you've still got a version of the game installer.  Yes, it may be unpatched (update clients are nice for that), yes, there may be content unavailable, like Steam workshop mods, but the basic game is yours in 15 years from now.

If we choose not to download all of our games, then yes, that risk is the same.  If we do choose to download all of them, I contend there is still a difference.  :-)

It is completely fair to say "well, I don't care about that risk", but not so fair to say "that risk doesn't exist".

Quoting: jlibster because all require you to install a client

Wrong.  Desura does not.  I just explained that. :-(

Quoting: s_d

Quoting: jlibster because all require you to install a client

Wrong.  Desura does not.  I just explained that. :-(

Indeed it's up to the developers of the games if they have stand alone downloads, client downloads or both on Desura.