Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is coming to Steam and Crystal Dynamics has assumed we're all going to be angry. After all, by using Steam, Lara Croft is using DRM, and that's evil. Of course, considering that most people actually like Steam, Crystal Dynamics is probably gearing up to apologize for something very few people will have a problem with.
"We've gone down the road of implementing Steam DRM where we've committed to the US being an exclusive and we're going to make a decision as to whether or not we'll use different distribution channels," says CD's Karl Stewart. "Tomb Raider's got a huge following, when you look at Tomb Raider games in the past and how many times they've been pirated. I go on some BitTorrent sites and within the first 48 hours there's like four hundred thousand downloads, it's crazy."
"The biggest fear we have is that people are going to be inquisitive and are going to download it."
While it's sad that Crystal Dynamics is worried about piracy far more than it's worried about making sure customers have the best service available, it's lucky that both concerns pretty much lead to Steam. So, a rather unnerving motivation, but an acceptable result. Unless you hate Steam of course, in which case you're f*cked.
Steam DRM for new Lara Croft game [CVG]
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Contest:
8:00 AM on 05.20.2010
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Fixed that for you.
If i was a PC gamer I'd use the fuck out of Steam.
Steam sucks in the uk? Im in the uk and this is the first I'd heard of this lol!
I use steam on my iMac Lol.
Also, did you know portal is free.
And wait it wasn't going to be on Steam? That would have sucked.
wouldn't say it sucks, but then again I don't really know what the US has on steam that the uk doesn't.
They do exist.
--Oh wait...
I agree with Jim. How is this bad news? Steam's DRM is one of the most non-invasive schemes I've seen. Since DRM of some sort is here to stay, let it be Steam.
Public tracker fail?
BTW:
Steam versions are much more expensive then the retail ones. It keeps the prices way high for months. So the only positive things about it wich i can imagine are:
- comfortable way of getting a game (you don't need to go to the shop for purchase)
- Cloud (if it's supported by the game)
- Achievements (if there are), because we all like them
- Not unhackable, but good DRM
Anyways, this doesn't bother me at all. I don't mind Steam, in face, I actually run a few games through it so I can talk to people.
"8 hours there's like four hundred thousand downloads, it's crazy."" Oh, really? Please, show me THAT site lol.
Some aspects of it are not great. It's not a very well-designed software package, for example. The regional pricing was a dick move. But nevertheless, it's a great service, great community (mostly) great value, and it's great to be able to take your games wherever and make as many backups as you want.
I just hope that Gabe really does press the magical 'release all games' button if Valve ever does go under. We can only hope that he doesn't have to get out of his chair to do so.
I've also heard, as someone else pointed out, that it's a total rip off in terms of pricing compared to the retail.
I don't get the mind that thinks these are good things?
Steam games can actually cheaper then brick and mortars, because you don't have to pay sales tax on them, except in a few states.
Other than Modern Warfare 2 I don't think any other game has been 'dropped' by other digital distribution places due to the need for Steam Cloud support.
But they made a right choice - for a downloadable title Steam is the best
People treat Valve like they can do no wrong and are quick to shift the blame off to th publishers but at the end of the day Valve are just as if not more guilty for the bullshit prices, region locks and poor support that we get outside the states. Not to mention breaking dozens of European consumer rights laws on a daily basis.
But some of steam's best stuff like community, friends lists, chatting, the overlay with web browser, etc are only possible when online so there's no reason to run in offline mode unless your internet is out.
It's pretty much like xbox live except tailor made to work with PC's and PC gamers.
since this is a single player game, no need to pay it to enjoy it, on steam or at the shop.
publick tracker win!
But at least the situation allowed me to dust off the words hath and upon. That's all I care about. I'll game through all hurdles...without stealing.
The community aspect helps, but Steam's real innovation is in making PC gaming almost as plug and play as console gaming is.
Years later... "yay, Steam DRM! It's so friendly!"
I guess in 5 years people will say "yay, constant internet access needed, how friendly!" as long as they add messaging and some cheap weekend deals on their DRM infected games.
It is a contradiction, but I hate DRM and love Steam. No more searching for patches, downloading no-cd cracks, no more storing tons of DVDs and boxes in my cramped room- it's simply the future for PC gaming. Combined with synced saves, achievements, and community features, this truly is the best service out there.
Add to that the fact that it's the one true hope of finally bringing about cross-platform gaming. Valve is clearly doing good by doing well.
Exactly. Years ago, people pirated the bejesus out of Spore because of its DRM, and now we don't consider it to be that bad because of how Ubisoft has raised the bar.
@fart
"DRM is a hell gamers hath brought upon themselves. Didn't steal, they wouldn't need to come up eith stuff."
Yeah, take that, people who have never pirated a game before! That'll teach ya!
More proof that software piracy isn't really a problem! Oh, wait.