Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries • Hacker News Board

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

#121

Post by freehunter » Wed, Jan 01, 2014, 6:53 AM UTC

goggles99 wrote: post #117

freehunter wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft certainly did remove apps from Windows even after they are purchased. They had Crackdown on WP7 as a tower defense game. They shut down the servers and the game disappeared, never to be seen again. Really pissed me off. They also refused to update their Texas Hold'em game, so when I moved to WP8, the game I had purchased disappeared.

FYI, When someone says "Windows" they generally are talking about a PC desktop. Not a phone version. I am guessing that you probably already know this, but want to push any angle for a rebuttal. I am referring to Windows 8 specifically (yes the PC version) because this is the version that Steam was vying as evil.

Comparing Steam to Windows is invalid to begin with. The only valid comparison is comparing Steam to a similar Microsoft offering. The Windows 8 marketplace and the Windows Phone marketplace are not dissimilar, so my point remains valid. Microsoft cannot remove applications from Windows because they do not control the distribution. They can and have removed apps from their controlled distribution channels which are comparable with Steam (which is what Valve considers their competition). Valve isn't worried about Windows 8 desktop, they're worried about Windows Marketplace. Your attempted comparison is like saying Netflix has never broken into your house and stolen your DVDs. They can't do that because that's not a distribution channel they control. They can and have removed movies from their own distribution channel.

If you want to argue Windows desktop versus Steam, though, Microsoft does control Windows Defender anti-virus which can force-remove applications or prevent them from running. In that sense, Microsoft surely can deny you access to application you've purchased. Your comparison is still uniquely inappropriate, though.

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

#122

Post by MichaelApproved » Sat, Jan 04, 2014, 8:01 AM UTC

axefrog wrote: post #27

MichaelApproved wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That's amazing. I agree that would be a fair outcome with no losers in the deal.

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

#123

Post by rmc » Thu, Jan 09, 2014, 9:38 PM UTC

Avenger42 wrote: post #96

rmc wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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".

But reducing copyright term to (say) 20 years would be "just changing a number", but I'd regard it as a reform.