First,
An important difference between the original Half Life and HL over Steam, including modifications such as Counter-Strike, is that, read agreement:
SOFTWARE LICENSE
Steam and your Subscription(s) require the installation of the Steam client and the automatic download of software, other content and updates thereto onto your computer ("Steam Software"). You may not use Steam Software for any purpose other than the permitted access to Steam and your Subscriptions. You understand that Steam may automatically update, pre-load, create new versions or otherwise enhance the Steam Software and accordingly, the system requirements to use the Steam Software may change over time.
So thereby steam can update, ‘enhance’, or install new versions of itself or any application it may deem necessary to run.
In other words, it will install or update on your computer anything it wants without asking you.
So the reason I trusted HL was because it was bound by it’s original EULA that did not allow any of the previous. Steam does and therefore I simply cannot trust it.
Valve was hacked once, it can be hacked again, but what if next time it’s hacked the hackers don’t just steal some unfinished source, but instead reprogram steam to automatically install every subscriber with a virus!
The virus could simply allow backdoor access to your system, or maybe it will reformat your hard drive. And you know if it does happen, there is nobody you can run to for help, your on your own, your screwed, there is nobody to sue, Valve does not even have an incentive to provide acceptable security measures, after all they can’t be held liable for anything.
See when I buy a new car and I have to sign something that says “The manufacturer of the vehicle can not be held liable for any damages to you or others through the use of this vehicle.” Then I think… yea sounds ok.
But if the paragraph above it reads “The manufacturer of this vehicle reserved the right to remotely take control of the vehicles steering at any time it deems necessary. The purpose of such action may include testing the practical performance of certain safety measures on human occupants” then are you still thinking its all good and alright?
Steam comes with a build in updater that has the power to not just update but to install any component it want to, and if that is a virus because Valve has been hacked once again, well then it’s a virus, and valve can not be held liable. That’s why it’s no ok.
But whatever, go use steam, be happy with it while you can, just remember, when you get screwed there is nobody you can run and cry to.
Second:
Steam IS a DRM client!
Its entire purpose is to provide a secure platform for subscription based distribution of selected products.
Subscriptions need to be enforced, that means if you pay for a subscription of HalfLife2 then it needs to be validated, the validation information is cashed but valid only for a limited time (3 days), and thereby allowing offline play of singe player content without the need to be online, and this validation can be achieved via the use of email.
After a certain time (3 days) however the cached validation becomes invalid and needs to be renewed. If you are online you will not even notice this, if you are offline however you have to revalidate over email.
This means that if you bought HL2 over Steam you need to be online to play it, even in single player, or you will need to validate it via email at certain intervals (3 days
The same pertains to future offline LAN games, validation will be required and will be valid for only a limited time.
Againm have fun, let's just hope your internet will always work and Valve never goes offline to provide you with current validation...
This comment was edited on Feb 26, 05:28.