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Steam Family Sharing

store.steampowered.com

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Re: Steam Family Sharing

#61

Post by lucaspiller »

chris_mahan wrote: post #18
Pxtl wrote: post #6

... on closer inspection, it seems functionally equivalent to logging into steam on a friend's computer, except that you don't have to type in your password on their machine and you can kick them off easily. Considering how much trouble Steam has with phishing and accounts getting hacked, it's obviously a good idea to minimize any use-case where users are allowing others to get at their passwords. This kind of featur…

I have two machines with steam on it (desktop, laptop) and I get logged out of one if I use the other. Frankly I'm getting tired of it. (that and the "verifying installation..." window)

You can always launch Steam in offline mode.

Re: Steam Family Sharing

#62

Post by aw3c2 »

forrestthewoods wrote: post #59
darkchasma wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems like baby steps though. We really should have a way to loan games at the very least, and this still isn't really scratching that itch.

Why? Loaning digital bits literally makes no sense. That's nt a thing. It's not something the laws of physics allow. Loaning digital goods is a gibberish statement. I obviously understand the appeal. Who doesn't like free shit? If you want to "borrow" a game from a friend just pirate it. That at least saves the platform holder some bandwidth costs.

With DRM, you can "lend".

Re: Steam Family Sharing

#63

Post by michaelmior »

andrewmunsell wrote: post #54
Raphmedia wrote: post #4

"Can a friend and I share a library and both play at the same time? No, a shared library may only be accessed by one user at a time." So, if one of my friend play on my game, I can play none of my games? Or am I reading this wrong?

Well, consider offline mode-- you share your own library with a friend, then go into offline mode. Potentially, your friend can play any game he or she wants from your library, and you still are able to play single player (or non-Steam multiplayer) games yourself.

That's assuming sharing doesn't handle this case. I'm guessing Valve has thought about things like this.

Re: Steam Family Sharing

#64

Post by andrewmunsell »

michaelmior wrote: post #63
andrewmunsell wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, consider offline mode-- you share your own library with a friend, then go into offline mode. Potentially, your friend can play any game he or she wants from your library, and you still are able to play single player (or non-Steam multiplayer) games yourself.

That's assuming sharing doesn't handle this case. I'm guessing Valve has thought about things like this.

Well, they essentially have to allow it-- especially in the case you disconnect from the internet entirely. There's always a way around it, and offline mode is likely going to be allowed.

Re: Steam Family Sharing

#65

Post by MartinCron »

duskwuff wrote: post #56
Lockyy wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"As the lender, you may always access and play your games at any time. If you decide to start playing when a friend is already playing one of your games, he/she will be given a few minutes to either purchase the game or quit playing." So I can authorise a person to use my account. I can then, at any time, play my own games. But if that other person is playing a game it will kick them off. I am really excited about th…

But note that this still doesn't allow you and a friend to play a game with each other unless you both own a copy.

Which is a pretty reasonable restriction. If you're going to both get the simultaneous value out of a game, you should probably both pay for it.

Re: Steam Family Sharing

#66

Post by flexd »

zalzane wrote: post #34

Valve often talks about trying to provide a service that is more convenient than pirating, and this looks like another step in that direction. If I'm playing a pirated game and want to share it with a friend, it would involve getting them to torrent/crack it, or uploading it to a file sharing host. Using Valve's new program, sharing a purchased game is as simple as sharing it with them on steam. I'm curious as to wha…

When it comes to that I like how it is with xbox 360 games. I can just lend my friend the disk and he can play the game.

A PC game is not that easy, why is pirating a bigger problem on computers than consoles? Or is it so? I'm not entirely familiar with the numbers but since you can still swap used console games I'd imagine it's like that.

I am glad Valve is doing something to improve this.

Re: Steam Family Sharing

#67

Post by mmanfrin »

tibbon wrote: post #40
mmanfrin wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really wish they would fix this. Why should I not be able to have two separate games of mine running at once?

How/why do you play on two computers at once? Seems difficult.

Purchase all my games on steam. Son/daugher/parents/cousin wants to play a game I own, but I am currently playing a different game I own. Only one person can play a game at a time, even though licenses have been purchased for both.

Re: Steam Family Sharing

#70

Post by michaelmior »

andrewmunsell wrote: post #64
michaelmior wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's assuming sharing doesn't handle this case. I'm guessing Valve has thought about things like this.

Well, they essentially have to allow it-- especially in the case you disconnect from the internet entirely. There's always a way around it, and offline mode is likely going to be allowed.

You're probably right. I just have the sense that their engineers though this through far more than anyone here.
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