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Old 02-29-2012, 04:58 PM   #41
ozzie
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Germany
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TopCat View Post
@kuze - i don't think it's that simple... If the said DRM is not present the developers would have to come up with an achievements system, auto updates system, cloud system on their own.. Steamworks provides them with an established and most importantly working system that includes all of those benefits and it is very easy to implement. Microsoft ( achievements ) has such a system and Sony (trophies) has such a system.
There's no reason why Steamworks should cease to exist just because DRM isn't inflicted onto your games anymore. This idea is absolute nonsense, pure and simple. None of the benefits depend in any way on DRM, none. Why would or should this be? DRM is no glue that holds everything by its mere existence magically together and acts itself as a unifying system that can be shared between multiple games.
That's what Steamworks is for, but it has little to do with the DRM. Steamworks is a collection of tools that Valve opened up to third parties some time ago. With it developers can integrate their games into services offered by Steam, like matchmaking, microtransactions, achievements,etc.. But that happened a long, long time after Steam already launched with its DRM. This should be proof enough that yes, it's just that simple.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TopCat View Post
@ozzie - sorry man, but Germany's stupid rating system is to blame here. If you want to provide a service in a certain country you have to have this country's laws in mind. If for example 2K had to cut content from the German version of GTA IV, Steam can't just allow its German customers to buy the uncut version, because that would be A) a breach of contract B) a disobeyment of the country's laws.
This is no issue of legality, this is an issue of Steam not offering a better service. Steam could offer German costumers the ability to prove their maturity so they could buy uncensored games. German laws don't forbid such a procedure.
I'll just quote kuze who said already more on that matter, which you apparently skipped by:
Quote:
German's laws are not Valve's fault, but not providing any means to authenticate your persona on Steam is. Germany in particular even offers an electronic infrastructure specifically for cases like this (eID, ePA).

Last edited by ozzie; 02-29-2012 at 05:32 PM.
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