Silent Hill Homecoming DRM

[Red Irish]

I bought Homecoming a few days ago. You are forced to use Steam to activate it. The box says nothing about requiring an Internet connection. Why sell a retail version and a disk if you are forced to use Steam? Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I don't understand the need for, or purpose of the physical copy of the disk.

EULA's ...


If you have no Internet connection, be advised.

 

[alcoholbob]

This is one of the few times I'm glad we have EA.

We aren't forced to install Steam. I don't want to be forced to install ALL my games on the same hard drive, I've got an SSD, which has LIMITED space, and I don't want to cram low end stuff like TF2 or Counterstrike. So instead I have to backup the data and manually install when I want to play? What a chore.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Same thing with Dawn of War 2, I was extremely disappointed when I was installing it and it told me I had to use Steam. The box said internet activation was required, but it says nothing about Steam. I intentionally bought the boxed version of the game because I hate the most restrictive and unreliable DRM ever conceived, but had to use Steam anyway. Pretty pissed off about it. Steam sucks.

 

[lupi]

The DoW2 use was discussed a lot before release (was a pretty site on the week of release to check the relic forums and see almost half the threads being locked because of people complaining about the required use if steam.

 

[Red Irish]

All of this information should appear on the box, there is no excuse. Moreover, if Steam is required, I see little point in selling a physical copy of the game.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: Red Irish
All of this information should appear on the box, there is no excuse. Moreover, if Steam is required, I see little point in selling a physical copy of the game.

Only thing I can think of is to save the user the time of downloading the game initially, especially for people with a slow connection or a bandwidth cap. But I really can think of no reason why this single player game would require the use of Steam. I'm guessing some exec demanded online activation for the game, and Steam was determined to be the best (or cheapest) option, even if it was otherwise completely unsuitable for the game.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy

Originally posted by: Red Irish
All of this information should appear on the box, there is no excuse. Moreover, if Steam is required, I see little point in selling a physical copy of the game.

Only thing I can think of is to save the user the time of downloading the game initially, especially for people with a slow connection or a bandwidth cap. But I really can think of no reason why this single player game would require the use of Steam. I'm guessing some exec demanded online activation for the game, and Steam was determined to be the best (or cheapest) option, even if it was otherwise completely unsuitable for the game.

Seems like a pretty logical answer. I have to admit I was pretty cheesed when Steam was down for me last week, since I mainly play TF2, but I guess any onlines system can go down now and then. I could still play my SP games, so not a huge whoop.

By the way, sweet username, I love the Dresden Dolls. :thumbsup:

KT

 

[Red Irish]

Does it really save that much time? I'm sorry, but if Steam is required, I see little point in the physical copy, but that's just an opinion.

In any event, the fact that it requires Steam should be clearly printed on the box: that's not an opinion, it's a fact.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Red Irish
Does it really save that much time? I'm sorry, but if Steam is required, I see little point in the physical copy, but that's just an opinion.

In any event, the fact that it requires Steam should be clearly printed on the box: that's not an opinion, it's a fact.

Well no, it's still an opinion, just one you hold very strongly.

I don't really care whether I need to activate with Steam, or anything else for that matter, so whether it is clearly on the box makes zero difference to me. However, it probably should state it somewhere on the box, just to save people complaining after the fact.

KT

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Red Irish
Does it really save that much time? I'm sorry, but if Steam is required, I see little point in the physical copy, but that's just an opinion.

In any event, the fact that it requires Steam should be clearly printed on the box: that's not an opinion, it's a fact.

Well no, it's still an opinion, just one you hold very strongly.

I don't really care whether I need to activate with Steam, or anything else for that matter, so whether it is clearly on the box makes zero difference to me. However, it probably should state it somewhere on the box, just to save people complaining after the fact.

KT

Keith, what if you buy the game and have no Internet connection? That is why I believe it should be printed on the box.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Red Irish
Does it really save that much time? I'm sorry, but if Steam is required, I see little point in the physical copy, but that's just an opinion.

In any event, the fact that it requires Steam should be clearly printed on the box: that's not an opinion, it's a fact.

Well no, it's still an opinion, just one you hold very strongly.

I don't really care whether I need to activate with Steam, or anything else for that matter, so whether it is clearly on the box makes zero difference to me. However, it probably should state it somewhere on the box, just to save people complaining after the fact.

KT

Keith, what if you buy the game and have no Internet connection? That is why I believe it should be printed on the box.

That's what I was getting at with my last sentence in my previous post. Reading it now it comes across as snarky, but was not intended to be that way. It should be printed on there somewhere (internet connection required, or something) and to be honest I'm surprised it doesn't say it anywhere.

Honestly though, these days I just assume I need to have an internet connection, no matter what game I am purchasing.

KT

 

[Red Irish]

A friend of mine also bought it the other day. He has no Internet connection (60 ? per month in Spain). He was not happy.

I saw no snarkiness, but thanks for clarifying.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: Red Irish
I bought Homecoming a few days ago. You are forced to use Steam to activate it. The box says nothing about requiring an Internet connection. Why sell a retail version and a disk if you are forced to use Steam? Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I don't understand the need for, or purpose of the physical copy of the disk.

They are most likely using Steam for a DRM solution. I bought FEAR 2 and it was the same thing. The only ok part about it is that once you activate you no longer need to connect to Steam every time as you can run the SP game in offline mode.

I recently setup a wireless hub at my house and had to wait on a new wireless card to show up, so my internet was down on that machine for about a week. During that time I was able to play FEAR 2 in offline mode, which worked fine.

If that machine had been without internet when I installed the game I would have been fairly pissed, and i'm also not happy with the fact you can't change the drive where the game is installed. I use multiple drives for performance, but since Steam exists on my C drive, that's the only place it will install. Kinda stupid IMO.

Anyway it goes, i'll most likely be steering clear of Steam required retail games from here on out. I'll either buy them from Steam online or not at all.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: Red Irish
Does it really save that much time? I'm sorry, but if Steam is required, I see little point in the physical copy, but that's just an opinion.

Then you're short-sighted. My current internet plan is capped at 10gb/month. Yeah, you read that right. If I downloaded a single modern game it would blow my cap, so don't tell me there isn't a point in physical copies.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: Red Irish
Does it really save that much time? I'm sorry, but if Steam is required, I see little point in the physical copy, but that's just an opinion.

Then you're short-sighted. My current internet plan is capped at 10gb/month. Yeah, you read that right. If I downloaded a single modern game it would blow my cap, so don't tell me there isn't a point in physical copies.

Yes, that is a good reason, but I'm still waiting for someone to explain why the need for Steam (and Internet) is not clearly printed on the box.

 

[coloumb]

Maybe they "forgot" to tell the art department to put that on the back of the box.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: coloumb
Maybe they "forgot" to tell the art department to put that on the back of the box.

:thumbsup:

 

[fatpat268]

Originally posted by: Astrallite
This is one of the few times I'm glad we have EA.

We aren't forced to install Steam. I don't want to be forced to install ALL my games on the same hard drive, I've got an SSD, which has LIMITED space, and I don't want to cram low end stuff like TF2 or Counterstrike. So instead I have to backup the data and manually install when I want to play? What a chore.

Errm... uninstall steam and reinstall it on another drive. Now any game you install won't be on your ssd.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Same thing with Dawn of War 2, I was extremely disappointed when I was installing it and it told me I had to use Steam. The box said internet activation was required, but it says nothing about Steam. I intentionally bought the boxed version of the game because I hate the most restrictive and unreliable DRM ever conceived, but had to use Steam anyway. Pretty pissed off about it. Steam sucks.

This is why I wait until the game is released, and I know what I'm getting into before I buy anything anymore. Of course, I've never been a big fan of pre-orders anyway. It's like telling the publisher, "Hey, release the game full of bugs, ridden with DRM, as I don't have the time to spend 10 minutes contemplating a $50 purchase; I'll buy it no matter what condition you release it in." It's kind of like paying for a nice sit-down dinner before the meal is served.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Same thing with Dawn of War 2, I was extremely disappointed when I was installing it and it told me I had to use Steam. The box said internet activation was required, but it says nothing about Steam. I intentionally bought the boxed version of the game because I hate the most restrictive and unreliable DRM ever conceived, but had to use Steam anyway. Pretty pissed off about it. Steam sucks.

This is why I wait until the game is released, and I know what I'm getting into before I buy anything anymore. Of course, I've never been a big fan of pre-orders anyway. It's like telling the publisher, "Hey, release the game full of bugs, ridden with DRM, as I don't have the time to spend 10 minutes contemplating a $50 purchase; I'll buy it no matter what condition you release it in." It's kind of like paying for a nice sit-down dinner before the meal is served.

and then the food is cold when it arrives

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy

Originally posted by: Red Irish
All of this information should appear on the box, there is no excuse. Moreover, if Steam is required, I see little point in selling a physical copy of the game.

Only thing I can think of is to save the user the time of downloading the game initially, especially for people with a slow connection or a bandwidth cap. But I really can think of no reason why this single player game would require the use of Steam. I'm guessing some exec demanded online activation for the game, and Steam was determined to be the best (or cheapest) option, even if it was otherwise completely unsuitable for the game.

People on dial-up won't be able to update the game, and broadband users will have no problems. The real reason for Steam games being sold at retail is to keep the brick and mortar stores happy, so that a game publisher's non-Steam games still get shelf space.

Although this isn't about Steam, the same logic goes for Patapon 2. Sony was going to release it on PSN for $5 less than the retail box, which just had an activation code inside the case, and then raised the downloadable version's price to equal the retail version. You can't tell me Best Buy et. al. didn't have something to do with that.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Same thing with Dawn of War 2, I was extremely disappointed when I was installing it and it told me I had to use Steam. The box said internet activation was required, but it says nothing about Steam. I intentionally bought the boxed version of the game because I hate the most restrictive and unreliable DRM ever conceived, but had to use Steam anyway. Pretty pissed off about it. Steam sucks.

This is why I wait until the game is released, and I know what I'm getting into before I buy anything anymore. Of course, I've never been a big fan of pre-orders anyway. It's like telling the publisher, "Hey, release the game full of bugs, ridden with DRM, as I don't have the time to spend 10 minutes contemplating a $50 purchase; I'll buy it no matter what condition you release it in." It's kind of like paying for a nice sit-down dinner before the meal is served.

and then the food is cold when it arrives

Or like ordering a drink with unlimited refills, then having to talk to the manager and get approval for every refill after 3.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: Golgatha
It's kind of like paying for a nice sit-down dinner before the meal is served.

and then the food is cold when it arrives

Or like ordering a drink with unlimited refills, then having to talk to the manager and get approval for every refill after 3.

...unless you use the special spoon they've given you to force yourself to puke up the 3 prior drinks? Maybe we've taken this analogy as far as it can go...

 

[Red Irish]

... or the waiter stabs you three times in the back with a spoon (and I promise to take this no further).

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Red Irish
Does it really save that much time? I'm sorry, but if Steam is required, I see little point in the physical copy, but that's just an opinion.

In any event, the fact that it requires Steam should be clearly printed on the box: that's not an opinion, it's a fact.

Try downloading HL2 over a dialup connection and you'll wish you only had to download the updates for it.