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Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

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Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#21

Post by fletchowns »

trycatch wrote: post #20
fletchowns wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main appeal of the game was apparently the multi-player, which isn't going to be that great if nobody bought the thing. You can't expect a refund for this type of purchase from either Steam or the studio that developed it, that is ridiculous. They shouldn't have removed it from people's libraries though, and the developer should have released one last patch that disabled the DRM and let you run your own server.

Wrong link. Order of War still works, it was multiplayer version "Order of War: Challenge" that was shutdown. It was not available for sale since April, and it was removed from Steam in September. http://www.steamprices.com/us/app/34670/order-of-war-challen...

Ah! Thanks for the correction.

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#22

Post by maaku »

namers wrote: post #16
gommm wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if it's included in EULA, it doesn't mean that this would be allowed in a lot of jurisdictions. A lot of clauses from most EULA are not applicable everywhere. I think there'd be a case in most european countries.

My point was that instead of getting screwed, you should not buy the game, this way you hurt them them most. If they break some local laws what are you, the buyer, going to do really.

Games aren't some fungible commodity you can shop around for. If you want to play that game, what else can you do?

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#23

Post by namers »

maaku wrote: post #22
namers wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My point was that instead of getting screwed, you should not buy the game, this way you hurt them them most. If they break some local laws what are you, the buyer, going to do really.

Games aren't some fungible commodity you can shop around for. If you want to play that game, what else can you do?

Keep your integrity.

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#24

Post by fletchowns »

DanBC wrote: post #18
fletchowns wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main appeal of the game was apparently the multi-player, which isn't going to be that great if nobody bought the thing. You can't expect a refund for this type of purchase from either Steam or the studio that developed it, that is ridiculous. They shouldn't have removed it from people's libraries though, and the developer should have released one last patch that disabled the DRM and let you run your own server.

Why can't people expect a refund? Why is that a ridiculous expectation?

Because it's in the contract that you agreed to upon purchasing. The only thing you can do is no longer agree to those types of contracts.

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#25

Post by forrestthewoods »

maaku wrote: post #22
namers wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My point was that instead of getting screwed, you should not buy the game, this way you hurt them them most. If they break some local laws what are you, the buyer, going to do really.

Games aren't some fungible commodity you can shop around for. If you want to play that game, what else can you do?

A single game isn't a commodity, but entertainment is. There is an almost unlimited amount of entertainment available for only a handful of dollars.

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#26

Post by abengoam »

Silhouette wrote: post #8

There is a broader issue here than just gaming, too. Many high-end applications now have obnoxious DRM/copy protection schemes that require varying levels of Internet connectivity to work. I have asked a reseller about how this operates if the original developer of the $X,000/seat software my business relies on goes under, and they basically laughed my question off, saying that would never happen. I have also, in an…

That's why enterprise customers demand source code escrow clauses, for protection against that same scenario.

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#27

Post by axefrog »

MichaelApproved wrote: post #15
fletchowns wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main appeal of the game was apparently the multi-player, which isn't going to be that great if nobody bought the thing. You can't expect a refund for this type of purchase from either Steam or the studio that developed it, that is ridiculous. They shouldn't have removed it from people's libraries though, and the developer should have released one last patch that disabled the DRM and let you run your own server.

Running your server is probably too much to ask for since their server is likely integrated ito many of their other systems and the code is probably something they want to keep out of public hands BUT I like your idea of one last patch for DRM free version. Online will no longer work but at least single player would.

As with WoW, Ultima Online and various other MMO's, unauthorized servers tend to be written from scratch using an analysis of incoming and outgoing client/server traffic. Nobody would expect Square Enix to release their server software, just simply to disable the DRM so that others can play the game and attempt to write their own server software if they choose.

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#28

Post by trycatch »

bjz_ wrote: post #3

Always on DRM is also a threat to the preservation of artistic works for future generations. Folks still play the early Civilization and Sim City titles even after all these years.

All server-based MMOs will be canceled sooner or later. Dead sites will be preserved by the Internet Archive, but dead MMOs will be known for future generations only in Let's plays and secondary sources. Relevant article, "MMO graveyard": http://mmohuts.com/editorials/mmo-graveyard

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#29

Post by mjn »

Silhouette wrote: post #8

There is a broader issue here than just gaming, too. Many high-end applications now have obnoxious DRM/copy protection schemes that require varying levels of Internet connectivity to work. I have asked a reseller about how this operates if the original developer of the $X,000/seat software my business relies on goes under, and they basically laughed my question off, saying that would never happen. I have also, in an…

In enterprise (and academic) settings a traditional approach has been to let the client run the license server. That's how Matlab works, for example: a network-licensed copy won't start up unless it can "phone home", but typically it phones home to the license server run by the client, on the client's network, not to centralized DRM servers run by the vendor. I know for consumer software things are slowly moving towards centralized-DRM as the norm, but I thought for enterprise applications this kind of self-hosted license server was still the norm. Maybe not?

Re: Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

#30

Post by belorn »

fletchowns wrote: post #24
DanBC wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why can't people expect a refund? Why is that a ridiculous expectation?

Because it's in the contract that you agreed to upon purchasing. The only thing you can do is no longer agree to those types of contracts.

You can not sign away all rights on purchase, or otherwise scam artists would have a much easier time.
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