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Linux Gaming DRM Free promises: Do they stack up?

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A disturbing announcement from Obsidian Entertainment was made a few weeks ago. The new Project:Eternity game has a native Linux version being made with the Unity engine. However the distribution download options may make it impossible for Linux supporters to get a truly DRM Free version.

It was announced that the distribution would done via Steam or gog.com. (no direct-download option mentioned) Steam clients are a form of DRM (you may be possibly able to surgically remove the installer once downloaded). Now Obsidian may not ADD DRM, but the Steam platform was designed as method of DRM. gog.com is indeed DRM Free (I've done a few tests), but they have never had Linux offerings (they have MacOS) and has no announcements regarding future plans. Could this loophole be used to push Linux fans/users into a DRM platform?

It seems clear that we have to get very specific promises in writing. The magic phrase being: "Do you promise to have a direct-download option available as 3rd party distribution offerings prove unacceptable in regards to platform availability, privacy or DRM-free options?"

What is your view on the obligations of game makers to sure their advertised promises are met? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Misc
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Just another fan of the power of Linux, just like all of you. I work as an IT Consultant, musician, part time technology/music instructor and an full time geek!  Blessed are the Cheese Makers. And when in doubt, just remember the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42.
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Kame Apr 26, 2013
Quoting: HamishAs someone who has willingly opted out of using Steam, I am surprised to be the first one to mention that it is only games using Steamworks that are tied to the Steam client, which Project: Eternity has already confirmed to use with regards to its Steam version. So if you see a game with achievements support, steamplay, and other such miscellania, it is going to be tied to the Steam client. If it does not boast these features, the game itself is probably DRM free.

Not exactly, you can both use steamworks and still not have DRM. See: Dungeons of Dredmor.
s_d Apr 26, 2013
Quoting: HamishAs for the whole platform war here, I must admit to Desura being my favourite for most of the reasons s_d described.

"Platform war"? Oi... mea culpa, friends.

Quoting: Hamish..they willingly sell games that consist of nothing more than Steam keys, which just galls me...

I agree. That one seemed particularly beyond the pale, when I first saw it. I actually sifted through the forum to see if anyone else had noticed, and there was in fact a thread going with iNtense & Henley, in which they stated that this is what the customers wanted. That may be true, but it is a huge disappointment.
s_d Apr 26, 2013
Quoting: Kame
Quoting: HamishAs someone who has willingly opted out of using Steam, I am surprised to be the first one to mention that it is only games using Steamworks that are tied to the Steam client, which Project: Eternity has already confirmed to use with regards to its Steam version. So if you see a game with achievements support, steamplay, and other such miscellania, it is going to be tied to the Steam client. If it does not boast these features, the game itself is probably DRM free.

Not exactly, you can both use steamworks and still not have DRM. See: Dungeons of Dredmor.

And conversely, Steam carries games with third-party DRM which doesn't require Steamworks (like in Flibit's list:  http://steamdrm.flibitijibibo.com/index.php?page=DRM_Lists/The_Big_DRM_List ), as does Desura (as mentioned by Hamish above).
Hamish Apr 27, 2013
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Quoting: KameNot exactly, you can both use steamworks and still not have DRM. See: Dungeons of Dredmor.

There are versions of Dredmor that do not use Steamworks, yes. That does not mean you can use Steamworks and not have that version of the game tied to Steam.
Kame Apr 27, 2013
Quoting: Hamish
Quoting: KameNot exactly, you can both use steamworks and still not have DRM. See: Dungeons of Dredmor.

There are versions of Dredmor that do not use Steamworks, yes. That does not mean you can use Steamworks and not have that version of the game tied to Steam.

If you run that version without steam you won't get things like achievements (obviously), but the same version WILL run without steam though.
muntdefems Apr 27, 2013
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Just to clarify some things that have been said: yes, the vast majority of Linux games on Desura can be downloaded from the web page without installing any client. I own more than... (let me check) 55 games on Desura and only one of them (Steel Storm: Burning Retribution) cannot be downloaded from either the webpage or the client. On the other hand, I think there's no way to tell if a game has a downloadable installer before purchasing it. :(

Apart from that, I inmensely prefer Desura above Steam, and I recommend it to everyone. I don't like the aforementioned practice of selling Steam keys, though. However, in many cases is just a consequence of including Steam-only games on Indie Royale bundles, whose games must be available on Desura (see for example the recent additions of Cargo Commander or Dungeon Hearts).
berarma Apr 27, 2013
Even if Desura requires a client, it's open source and that means the service is open so that you can download the games yourself if you take the time to see how the client does it or you can build your own client. Of course, there's no reason to build your own client since you don't build your own web browser.

So you can download any game. You can't use a browser, but that's just an inconvenient, it's not any sort of DRM.
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