[The Obsidian Order of Eternity wants YOU! part 6]

I just wanted to pop in and said hello to everyone. I added $8 to my pledge (via PayPal) just now, so hopefully it can get verified before the cutoff and all.

 

Now, we wait.

[DRM-Free Option -- Why not just make all Steam copies DRM free?]

LIST OF DRM-FREE GAMES ON STEAM: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/list_of_drmfree_games_on_steam/page1

 

Thank you very much for posting that. It emphasizes the point the original poster was trying to make quite well, I think.

[Should food and food quality have any impact in the game?]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with the naysayers. In this context, it just doesn't fit. However, it's certainly a neat idea for other games, like Fallout.

[Immersive Journaling Concept]

I have nothing to add, except to say that I agree with you all. I very much hope they are having similar discussions about game theory and making things right the first time.

[DRM-Free Option -- Why not just make all Steam copies DRM free?]

So I don't believe it is possible to have a game sold on Steam that doesn't require the client. Also, not running the client disables cloud saving and achievements (unless the achievements are actually IN the game, Dragon Age: Origins being one such example).

 

Commandos 2 (according to the original post) is one game that does not require the Steam client to run. However, it seems to be the case that games not requiring the Steam client are far less numerous than games that do, so either: most developers/publishers choose to use the Steam 'DRM', or, perhaps more likely, the games that don't require it do so because of some idiosyncratic incompatibility with it, not because it is an option given to them by Valve.

 

That being said, it seems to be the consensus that achievements, et al. require Steamworks, so it seems unlikely Obsidian would choose to go without it in the case of Project Eternity. Those who would rather avoid Steam are free to choose the DRM-free copy, so in the end everyone can get what they want regardless.

[DRM-Free Option -- Why not just make all Steam copies DRM free?]

I think a few of you are focusing in a bit too much on the original poster's claim that Steam is not DRM and disregarding the intent of their post: Steam does not require the Steam client to run every time a game within Steam is run. Essentially, what that means, is that there are two 'levels' of Steam 'DRM':

1. Steam is used to download and install the game client, providing updates and other features like achievements, cloud saving, et cetera. This is the way most games use Steam, starting the Steam client (if it is not already started) when running the game, even from the game's executable.
   
2. Steam is used to download and install the game client as well as providing updates, but is not otherwise required to run when the game's executable is running. This means that you can run the game, from a shortcut for example, and it does not start Steam. This is the option the original poster is talking about.

Some folks have mentioned that in order to have features like achievements and cloud saving, the first option (running Steam alongside the game) is required. I do not know if this is true, but, if it is, I think it answers the original question. That is, making Steam copies "DRM free" (option two, and there seems to be contention as to whether it still counts as DRM) will disable the previously mentioned features that seem to be the impetus for (or at least a substantial benefit of) having it on Steam in the first place.

I can't seem to find a definitive answer as to whether the first option is required for the extra features, but, if it isn't, then I agree with the original poster and think allowing us the flexibility of running the game without Steam (while still enabling the extra features) seems to be a strictly superior option.

 

tl;dr: Whether or not Steam is or isn't DRM, it is possible to have a game through Steam that does not require Steam to run concurrently. Does anyone know if enabling this option precludes using the cloud saving/achievement features?