Valve's Steamworks makes DRM/Crippleware Obsolete

[Bateluer]

Steam link

Suite of Services Expands With Customer Executable Generation (CEG), Support for DLC, Matchmaking, and More

March 24, 2009 - Valve today announced a new set of advanced features delivered in Steamworks, a complete suite of publishing and development tools that are available free of charge to developers and publishers worldwide.

Headlining the new feature set is the Custom Executable Generation (CEG) technology that compliments the already existing anti-piracy solution offered in Steamworks. A customer friendly approach to anti-piracy, CEG makes unique copies of games for each user allowing them to access the application on multiple machines without install limits and without having to install root kits on their PC.

The new features also include support for in-game downloadable content (DLC) and matchmaking. The in-game DLC support allows developers to deliver new content as they choose (paid or free) from inside the game itself, allowing users to make immediate purchases and experience the new content in the same game session. The Steamworks matchmaking now includes the robust lobby system shipped and tested in Left 4 Dead.

"Delivering this extension of services on Steamworks first anniversary, demonstrates our commitment to continually develop the platform to better serve the community working with these tools," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "As we roll out these features, we continue to look for new ways make PC games easier to create and better for customers to experience."

Steamworks was launched in early 2008 and has already shipped in products distributed at retail and electronically with major PC releases such as Empire: Total War, Dawn of War II, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, and Football Manager 2009.

The Steamworks services are offered free of charge to developers and publishers around the world. In addition to the services added in this spring's extension, Steamworks offers support for Steam Achievements, Steam Community, Auto Updating, Statistics, Steam Cloud and more.

Steamworks is fully integrated with the Steam, a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC games that has grown to reach 20 million accounts throughout the world, up from 15 million accounts just one year ago. Steam now offers over 500 applications to gamers in every country of the world.

For more information, please visit www.steamgames.com

Locked pending moderator review of replies.
-Schadenfroh (AT Mod)

 

[sactoking]

Doesn't give a whole heck of a lot of info on how the CEG works.

 

[Stuxnet]

Sweet. Now if only Steam was more reliable.

I'm a huge supporter of the concept, but I uninstalled Steam just 5 or 6 hours ago. I couldn't launch UT3 because Steam decided it was time to re-validate my account credentials. When I tried to log in, the network was unavailable and could not access my software. So I installed UT3 from a game disc, used my UT3 key from my Steam purchase, and ripped Steam off my system. This has happened before and it gets old.

Awesome system, awesome concept, but being locked out of software that's installed on my own machine that I paid for = SUCKS.

 

[videogames101]

I've had 1 problem with steam and it was fixed by restarting my computer, so.... lol?

 

[zerocool84]

Ugg not more of the crappy matchmaking like in L4D. Just give me server lists. I hate the consolized matchmaking.

 

[thecrecarc]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Ugg not more of the crappy matchmaking like in L4D. Just give me server lists. I hate the consolized matchmaking.

It said lobby based matchmaking is now INCLUDED, not that developers have to use it. I am sure server list matchmaking would be completely available and used for FPS games, but what about other games like RTS? Well, now steamworks includes lobby based matchmaking if the developer so chooses.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Ugg not more of the crappy matchmaking like in L4D. Just give me server lists. I hate the consolized matchmaking.

except server lists for L4D is next to useless for casual play, and those that need the server browser can access it easily enough

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: sactoking
Doesn't give a whole heck of a lot of info on how the CEG works.

It sounds like they're just watermarking the executable, but this wouldn't stop piracy directly. It might let them track down the account the executable came from, if the pirated release hasn't had the executable obfuscated, but it's not like the major piracy sources aren't above using stolen accounts and credit cards. It would just lead to a dead end.

So I'm not sure what they're hoping to establish here. From an end-user perspective, it sure doesn't sound any different.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: sactoking
Doesn't give a whole heck of a lot of info on how the CEG works.

It sounds like they're just watermarking the executable, but this wouldn't stop piracy directly. It might let them track down the account the executable came from, if the pirated release hasn't had the executable obfuscated, but it's not like the major piracy sources aren't above using stolen accounts and credit cards. It would just lead to a dead end.

So I'm not sure what they're hoping to establish here. From an end-user perspective, it sure doesn't sound any different.

it sounds like PR to me

March 24, 2009 - Valve today announced a new set of advanced features delivered in Steamworks, a complete suite of publishing and development tools that are available free of charge to developers and publishers worldwide.

Nothing for us .. it just means [evidently] that ANY publisher can eschew DVD DRM and now use the MOST RESTRICTIVE DRM ON THIS PLANET - which is what Steam actually is.

they are sugar coating a turd

 

[coloumb]

Isnt' it still DRM if you can't resell the game?

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: coloumb
Isnt' it still DRM if you can't resell the game?

I've never really understood this one, honestly. I know some people like to do it, but i've just never understood why.

Reselling to cover costs of a new game is the only reason I could think of, but it's not like games are expensive, unlike hardware - sell a $200 videocard to buy a $300 one, for example.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: videogames101
I've had 1 problem with steam and it was fixed by restarting my computer, so.... lol?

Yay for you. I didn't realize your experience set the problem limit for the rest of us. Is this your reply whenever the 1% of the population that encounters problems with SecuROM voices their frustrations, too?

I don't have many problems with Steam, either... but when I do, the consequences are harsh. It's not like I just can't get into a multiplayer match or access some other online feature. Having locally installed software hijacked, locked up, and the key inaccessible simply because Steam's network is snafu'd is quite a piss off. I purchased UT3 from Steam. My copy is legit and it's been authenticated, yet I can't play it due to a fault of Steam.

It's marginally better than traditional DRM, the difference being that my PC isn't crashing on me. I still couldn't access my own software.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: sactoking
Doesn't give a whole heck of a lot of info on how the CEG works.

RSA encryption perhaps?

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
Sweet. Now if only Steam was more reliable.

I'm a huge supporter of the concept, but I uninstalled Steam just 5 or 6 hours ago. I couldn't launch UT3 because Steam decided it was time to re-validate my account credentials. When I tried to log in, the network was unavailable and could not access my software. So I installed UT3 from a game disc, used my UT3 key from my Steam purchase, and ripped Steam off my system. This has happened before and it gets old.

Awesome system, awesome concept, but being locked out of software that's installed on my own machine that I paid for = SUCKS.

Running peer guardian or another piece of software that might be blacklisting IP/hosts from your machine?

 

[lupi]

Seems they are insistent on speeding the end to pc gaming with this crap.

 

[sandorski]

Steam is the greatest.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: lupi
Seems they are insistent on speeding the end to pc gaming with this crap.

Weird, I never thought the end of PC gaming would be such a flawless content delivery service / achievements / server search / friend tracking program.

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Ugg not more of the crappy matchmaking like in L4D. Just give me server lists. I hate the consolized matchmaking.

I thought you stopped playing?

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: Raduque

Originally posted by: coloumb
Isnt' it still DRM if you can't resell the game?

I've never really understood this one, honestly. I know some people like to do it, but i've just never understood why.

Reselling to cover costs of a new game is the only reason I could think of, but it's not like games are expensive, unlike hardware - sell a $200 videocard to buy a $300 one, for example.

Buying 3-4 50$ games without reselling can definitely end up to be costly.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: jbourne77
Sweet. Now if only Steam was more reliable.

I'm a huge supporter of the concept, but I uninstalled Steam just 5 or 6 hours ago. I couldn't launch UT3 because Steam decided it was time to re-validate my account credentials. When I tried to log in, the network was unavailable and could not access my software. So I installed UT3 from a game disc, used my UT3 key from my Steam purchase, and ripped Steam off my system. This has happened before and it gets old.

Awesome system, awesome concept, but being locked out of software that's installed on my own machine that I paid for = SUCKS.

Running peer guardian or another piece of software that might be blacklisting IP/hosts from your machine?

No.

The service went down for a few hours and then came back up. This happens occasionally, which is to be expected. What is NOT to be expected, however, is to have Steam designed to lock you out of your programs when it can't phone home. I purchase(d) games through Steam whenever possible, and to not be able to access the majority of my games library through no fault of my own really sucks.

The least they could do is build in some sort of grace period. For instance, if Steam wants to re-validate your credentials and it can't contact the mothership, then you have 7 days to sort it out. Simply shutting down the entire library is ridiculous.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: lupi
Seems they are insistent on speeding the end to pc gaming with this crap.

Weird, I never thought the end of PC gaming would be such a flawless content delivery service / achievements / server search / friend tracking program.

And the jews thought they were just getting de-licing showers.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Oh FFS, it's still page one, are we really invoking Godwin's law already?

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: apoppin

March 24, 2009 - Valve today announced a new set of advanced features delivered in Steamworks, a complete suite of publishing and development tools that are available free of charge to developers and publishers worldwide.

Nothing for us .. it just means [evidently] that ANY publisher can eschew DVD DRM and now use the MOST RESTRICTIVE DRM ON THIS PLANET - which is what Steam actually is.

they are sugar coating a turd

Agreed; this is a ploy to get more publishers to use Steam. But I disagree that it is the MOST RESTRICTIVE form of DRM, at least from the point of view of the average consumer. Steam already allows unlimited installs to unlimited machines as far as I know. I also never noticed Steam breaking my optical drives or stopping me from using some other software on my computer.

The worst parts of Steam are that it's tied so tightly to online authentication and there is no easy or authorized way to resell purchased titles.

 

[Genx87]

I dont buy games unless they are on Steam.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: videogames101
I've had 1 problem with steam and it was fixed by restarting my computer, so.... lol?

Yay for you. I didn't realize your experience set the problem limit for the rest of us. Is this your reply whenever the 1% of the population that encounters problems with SecuROM voices their frustrations, too?

I don't have many problems with Steam, either... but when I do, the consequences are harsh. It's not like I just can't get into a multiplayer match or access some other online feature. Having locally installed software hijacked, locked up, and the key inaccessible simply because Steam's network is snafu'd is quite a piss off. I purchased UT3 from Steam. My copy is legit and it's been authenticated, yet I can't play it due to a fault of Steam.

It's marginally better than traditional DRM, the difference being that my PC isn't crashing on me. I still couldn't access my own software.

The many problems I have had with Steam is the primary reason I won't buy a full priced game on the service. If the game is cheap enough though, I can live with those problems. I just purchased Assasins Creed, and had a hard time getting it to run; but since it only cost me $10, I wasn't really that upset about it.