Free Valve Games For Debian Developers

Disharmonic: It might be true for some games (like with self contained directories) and might be not true for others (which have some installation scripts and etc.). Anyway, the lack of official support for such DRM free packages makes me consider Steam to be always DRMed (with ways to bypass it in cases when you can manually backup the game). It's the attitude that I consider bad the most, which is enough of a reason for me not to use Steam. In contrast, HB and GOG officially offer DRM-free packages and make an effort to support the usability of such approach.

Quoting: Quote from ShmerlAny DRM is DRM, far or not. If the service closes down, and let's say you own a few thousands worth of games there, is it far that you won't be able to install any of them because you didn't have an option to back them up when you bought them? I know quite a few people who avoid using Steam just for that reason. Any DRM is bad.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/18mzcn/i_asked_steam_support_what_happens_to_my_games_if/
http://i.imgur.com/4sa1Ln6.jpg

It is a response form valve about what will happen in the event of the discontinuation of steam. Ask them yourself if you want.

So one more problem solved.

If GOG or humble closes down, will they keep servers live to allow you to redownload the games? (not retorical, i don't know)

fowll: And? Why would you rely on any of their promises? Promises don't substitute backups, and promises aren't part of your user agreement with Valve, so they can always say they have no obligations to keep them if they go bankrupt (they even might not have an ability to keep them at that point).

I agree with Shmeri, the ability to install in addition to play without asking permission from a 3rd party is a requirement for me.  Also, Steam DRM does hinder legitimate customers, consider what happens if your account gets banned or you just want to install on multiple devices without downloading the game again.

Quoting: Quote from ShmerlDisharmonic: It might be true for some games (like with self contained directories) and might be not true for others (which have some installation scripts and etc.). Anyway, the lack of official support for such DRM free packages makes me consider Steam to be always DRMed (with ways to bypass it in cases when you can manually backup the game). It's the attitude that I consider bad the most, which is enough of a reason for me not to use Steam. In contrast, HB and GOG officially offer DRM-free packages and make an effort to support the usability of such approach.

Steam games are always contained within their folder. That is true even on windows and is part of how Steam actually handles updates afaik. I'm also not sure what attitude you mean. On the Steam platform DRM is an option, not a requirement. Of course Steam doesn't show which games use it's DRM and which not. That is something that they could and should improve upon.  

Quoting: Quote from torhamI agree with Shmeri, the ability to install in addition to play without asking permission from a 3rd party is a requirement for me.  Also, Steam DRM does hinder legitimate customers, consider what happens if your account gets banned or you just want to install on multiple devices without downloading the game again.

You can actually do the latter using Steam's backup ability. Getting banned is an issue but usually would require you to actually do something illegal, like fraud. Though i admit i had heard about some questionable bans several years back, but nothing recently.

Quoting: Quote from DisharmonicGetting banned is an issue but usually would require you to actually do something illegal, like fraud.

Getting banned no longer disables your existing catalog, it only prevents further purchases.

Steam backup ability doesn't work for installation without Steam. And I'm not sure about all games being self contained and not relying on installation scripts. But if you saw this documented somewhere, that's another matter.

About attitude - that was about not providing packages for download easily. Saying "go to the game directory, fish it out and let's hope it will work as is" is not a serious way to handle that. It's dismissive or unsupported in my book. That's the attitude I was talking about.

Not using Debian at all, but it's a nice sign of showing appreciation for all  the work Debian is doing (for Valve).
The guys have done that in the past, and will do in the future. They're doing Debian because they believe in it.

I'd consider this as a little "thank you" of Valve. And I'm sure that Valve will contribute to Debian as well in some extend, as they contribute to linux in some extend (graphics stack at the moment), which shows results already and is a great thing.

That games being given on Steam? Sure. It's Valve, and I don't consider it as a "biggie".

Though, I have concerns about Debian Devs now rather playing games in their spare time than devoting to Debian ;-).

A list of steam games with DRM is being made here
http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/The_Big_List_of_3rd_Party_DRM_on_Steam

And for DRM free games on Steam here
http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/The_Big_List_of_DRM-Free_Games_on_Steam

It doesn't filter just for Linux, but maybe in future.

Also it's not completely accurate for Linux either, some games have DRM on windows but not on Linux.

I'm confused how is valve doing something awesome like giving away hundreds of dollars of games to every Debian developer turn into an argument about DRM... Did I stumble onto phoronix? Q is that you? No couldn't be not promoting AMD free drivers.