Shadowrun Returns!

[Stark]

No physical release...

Not only that, but it's only available online from Steam. No other digital distribution services are being considered. I verified this myself by contacting the developers directly. I was going to buy this game but considering it's Steam-only currently then they won't be getting my money. If it was on GOG or Desura instead they'd already have it. Oh well maybe they'll change their minds further down the line.

Or you could buy it on Steam and thank your lucky stars that if a title has to have DRM that it has Steam's version of it, instead of something truly terrible like uPlay.

[MrPopo]

No physical release...

Not only that, but it's only available online from Steam. No other digital distribution services are being considered. I verified this myself by contacting the developers directly. I was going to buy this game but considering it's Steam-only currently then they won't be getting my money. If it was on GOG or Desura instead they'd already have it. Oh well maybe they'll change their minds further down the line.

They won't, as the DRM is being imposed by the license-holder, Microsoft. There was a bit of a kerfuffle earlier when Harebrained told backers that user-designed content was going to require Steamworks due to Microsoft requiring them to use Steam DRM. They were able to negotiate the ability to give backers a DRM-free version of the main campaign and Berlin, but any additional content (user or official) would require the Steam version.

[Menegrothx]

Not only that, but it's only available online from Steam. No other digital distribution services are being considered. I verified this myself by contacting the developers directly. I was going to buy this game but considering it's Steam-only currently then they won't be getting my money. If it was on GOG or Desura instead they'd already have it. Oh well maybe they'll change their minds further down the line.

There's always piracy for a DRM free, non Steam version I really hope this game gets a physical release later on, but even if it doesn't, it's still the best we've got at the moment (though the game is more linear than other games like it, but it'll get even better over time with all the fan made campaigns)

[MrPopo]

Every time I see someone saying that they're staying away from something because they want it to be physical, what I really see is someone who is slowly weening themselves away from video games.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Every time I see someone saying that they're staying away from something because they want it to be physical, what I really see is someone who is slowly weening themselves away from video games.

............ or people in rural areas with limited internet connectivity.

[MrPopo]

Every time I see someone saying that they're staying away from something because they want it to be physical, what I really see is someone who is slowly weening themselves away from video games.

............ or people in rural areas with limited internet connectivity.

But you must see the writing on the wall: digital-only is coming, it's only a matter of time.

[Menegrothx]

It's a game developed by a small independent company. This is their first game. They can't afford to physically release the game. You can see that they're on a limited budget from how oldschool the game is. No voice acting. No 3D character models, but hand drawn 2D portraits. Turn based combat. Etc. And it's only 20 dollars brand new. I'd understand if it was a 60 dollar game published by a major studio, but it's a budget title and an "oldschool" RPG (=publishers have no intrest in it, "because people are only intrested in playing RPGs like Mass Effect, Skyrim and Fallout 3, people would never buy a game like this").

[Exhuminator]

Or you could buy it on Steam and thank your lucky stars

No. I will not roll over and be yet another enabler for Valve's ever growing indie monopolizer.

There are actually myriad other ways to force a lawyer appeasing DRM method into a PC game, and still have it run off its own independent executable, and not require online activation, or a login client running in the background. Truthfact: every Steam release eventually gets cracked (usually zero day). So why not just use a simple serial number and make your release future proof for offline archiving. If I could download SRR and use a serial number to unlock it locally I'd buy it. If SRR was released via GOG I would have already bought it. But if my only option is Steam then NOPE.

They won't, as the DRM is being imposed by the license-holder, Microsoft.

As I said, there are other ways to impose DRM without falling back on non-future proof online only activation. License serials and offline activation gives the power to the consumer, Steam gives all the power to Valve.

[Stark]

Or you could buy it on Steam and thank your lucky stars

No. I will not roll over and be yet another enabler for Valve's ever growing indie monopolizer.

There are actually myriad other ways to force a lawyer appeasing DRM method into a PC game, and still have it run off its own independent executable, and not require online activation, or a login client running in the background. Truthfact: every Steam release eventually gets cracked (usually zero day). So why not just use a simple serial number and make your release future proof for offline archiving. If I could download SRR and use a serial number to unlock it locally I'd buy it. If SRR was released via GOG I would have already bought it. But if my only option is Steam then NOPE.

I think the way you are thinking about this is in the minority and they aren't losing much business by doing it this way.

They won't, as the DRM is being imposed by the license-holder, Microsoft.

As I said, there are other ways to impose DRM without falling back on non-future proof online only activation. License serials and offline activation gives the power to the consumer, Steam gives all the power to Valve.

There are a lot of pluses to Steam that you're ignoring by focusing on DRM. Such as a software patching system.

[MrPopo]

They won't, as the DRM is being imposed by the license-holder, Microsoft.

As I said, there are other ways to impose DRM without falling back on non-future proof online only activation. License serials and offline activation gives the power to the consumer, Steam gives all the power to Valve.

There are a lot of pluses to Steam that you're ignoring by focusing on DRM. Such as a software patching system.

I wouldn't bother. He's one of those people who finds the very idea of Steam abhorrent, and nothing will change his mind. There's tons of them on the GOG forums.