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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

#91

Post by rmc »

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…

Copyright reform has been vigorously opposed by Big Media and mostly successfully so far

Actually no. Big Media is very much in favour of copyright reform (such as extending the period of copyright) if it benefits them. They are very opposed to copyright reform that benefits the customer/little guy.

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

#92

Post by moron4hire »

This case is clearly SquareEnix's fault and not Valve's. When are gamers going to finally wake up and start voting with their dollars against DRM? This couldn't happen in a market where the consumer doesn't just swallow whatever shit is flung their way.

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

#93

Post by clone1018 »

lt wrote: post #86

Another disaster about to happen is Games for Windows Live, a online DRM scheme, used by many games, but in particular GTA IV, which doesn't have much on online features except for the DRM check. It has been announted that GFWL is going to shutdown July 1st. Many developers/publishers have indicated that they are going to remove/replace it, but Rockstar not only hasn't mentioned anything in that sense, it has recentl…

Thankfully the community still has an active group of modders so even if Rockstar doesn't fix it, we should eventually get a patch.

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

#94

Post by K0nserv »

rtkwe wrote: post #90
sp332 wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't matter, because Square Enix doesn't own the games that were in players' libraries.

I think the important point missing from that is that Challenges was a free multiplayer add-on given to the owners of the base game. That really changes the nature of them removing the game from user libraries from they removed software that users paid for to they removed a free program that's useless now.

Those circumstances does make the removal less controversial. However the better course of action for Square Enix would be to release the server software and let people host their own servers. Why destroy the whole community and prevent people from playing your game?

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

#95

Post by qwerta »

StavrosK wrote: post #65
qwerta wrote: post #42

We had similar problem: InstallShield is very expensive software. The company which sells it was renamed, and they changed domain name together with license activation server... So we could no longer activate software we bought. Suggested solution was to buy new version. Pretty bad since we could not make new build without this software. Luckily for us we had everything virtualized already (not so common a few years…

Hah, nice suggested solution there. I've been wondering why NSIS isn't more popular, it was fantastic when I was using it, very light, fast and extensible.

NSIS is light years ahead of InstallShield. But all sucks compared to APT or other Linux installation systems.

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

#96

Post by Avenger42 »

rmc wrote: post #91
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…

Copyright reform has been vigorously opposed by Big Media and mostly successfully so far Actually no. Big Media is very much in favour of copyright reform (such as extending the period of copyright) if it benefits them. They are very opposed to copyright reform that benefits the customer/little guy.

That's not "reform", that's "keep everything the same except the numbers".

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

#97

Post by mortyseinfeld »

rtkwe wrote: post #90
sp332 wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't matter, because Square Enix doesn't own the games that were in players' libraries.

I think the important point missing from that is that Challenges was a free multiplayer add-on given to the owners of the base game. That really changes the nature of them removing the game from user libraries from they removed software that users paid for to they removed a free program that's useless now.

You're still missing the point that Steam is "reaching into people's systems" and removing programs.

That said, it's done all the time via apt-get or windows update or other program updates. People think that this rises to a new level though, and given the fact that Steam users are younger, tech-saavy, and more vocal it's no wonder that it's raising a stink.

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

#98

Post by Qualman »

lt wrote: post #86

Another disaster about to happen is Games for Windows Live, a online DRM scheme, used by many games, but in particular GTA IV, which doesn't have much on online features except for the DRM check. It has been announted that GFWL is going to shutdown July 1st. Many developers/publishers have indicated that they are going to remove/replace it, but Rockstar not only hasn't mentioned anything in that sense, it has recentl…

I wouldn't be too worried about this. Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City both utilized GFWL, and Rocksteady (the developer) simply released a patch that removed the GFWL software. They play just as great as ever.

EDIT: Just kidding. I did not read your comment close enough, clearly. Here's to hoping that Rockstar is as stand-up as Rocksteady, at least.

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

#99

Post by Qualman »

mandelbulb wrote: post #76
shangaslammi wrote: post #61

The article claims incorrectly that the game had 18 single-player missions. The FAQ linked from the article is for the game "Order of War". "Order of War: Challenge" is a completely separate, multi-player-only game that had its servers shut down and was removed from Steam. The original "Order of War" is still available ( http://store.steampowered.com/app/34600/ ). In addition, the "Challenge" add-on was given free to…

The issue at hand is that Steam removed something from the users library. Usually people consider anything on his computer to be his property, no matter at what cost it was purchased. While I don't know whether that was as claimed the first instance of content removal or whether under the terms of service any content is only leased it is certainly a wake up call. It is especially concerning if you bought your games f…

If you were Valve, what would you do? Without the servers, the game is completely useless, and they probably recognized that fact. Being that this is the first time in 9+ years that they have done this, and only in this particular circumstance where--beyond their control--a game is rendered disabled, I believe there is not much reason to fear them removing your games at random.

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

#100

Post by teddyh »

baby wrote: post #87
aerique wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know this game, but if for example Blizzard would shut down the World of Warcraft servers you could still play it on private servers. Same for a lot of other MMOs that do not have their official server anymore like Star Wars Galaxies and Earth & Beyond. People can still play these on private and / or emulated servers.

private servers on WoW are illegal, and you might have to downgrade to be able to join one.

Illegal? What law is being broken?
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