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I like Netflix and Spotify, but dislike Steam. I just find it different to rent me content transparently, eg Netflix and Spotify, versus rent-by-pretending-to-

I like Netflix and Spotify, but dislike Steam. I just find it different to rent me content transparently, eg Netflix and Spotify, versus rent-by-pretending-to-sell, eg Steam. If you sell me something, I should be able to use and transfer it at my discretion without your permission. Steam, instead, leases you something on no fixed term and presumably without any guaranteed lifetime.

SteveNuts 10y ago
Yeah I prefer the GOG model, if something ever happened to my Steam library I'd probably revert back to curating my own DRM free library. I'd be inconsolable for a few days though.
shmerl 10y ago
I don't see why music should be different than games in regards to DRM-free.
- detaro 10y ago
  The parent doesn't seem to say that they should be different, just that they don't want DRM in "buy" models.
guitarbill 10y ago
By the time Steam goes out of business, several things might have happened: * I'll have stopped gaming * Most games need emulating because they won't run on our hardware in the future * The games are dirt cheap to buy on GOG * Someone will release a pirated collection most of them So I'm not too worried about my personal Steam collection. Preservation, that's a different story...
- generj 10y ago
  Steam has also promised that they have emergency de-DRM code they can execute if the company ever goes bust.
Freak_NL 10y ago
Interesting. For me Netflix and Steam are completely acceptable(ish), but Spotify is right out. With Netflix the backlog situation (region blocks, limited catalogue) is pretty dismal, but with Netflix at least I know that a good part of my money goes to creating content. With Steam most of the money ends up with the developers, again supporting content creation. I do buy games if, and only if, I find the price is right for playing the game once (or for a couple of weeks, depending on the type of game). If my Steam library is still accessible in ten years time than that is an added bonus. I do admit that a lot of the games I buy come with a Steam key, but are purchased from DRM-free stores (e.g., Humble Store). But music is a completely different beast. If I like a song or an album, then there is a good chance that I will listen to it periodically for a good deal of my life. I buy music for keeps. With Spotify my money doesn't end with the content creators themselves for the most part, and I don't get to keep the music. It just doesn't work for me.

SteveNuts 10y ago

Yeah I prefer the GOG model, if something ever happened to my Steam library I'd probably revert back to curating my own DRM free library. I'd be inconsolable for a few days though.

shmerl 10y ago

I don't see why music should be different than games in regards to DRM-free.

detaro 10y ago
The parent doesn't seem to say that they should be different, just that they don't want DRM in "buy" models.

guitarbill 10y ago

By the time Steam goes out of business, several things might have happened: * I'll have stopped gaming * Most games need emulating because they won't run on our hardware in the future * The games are dirt cheap to buy on GOG * Someone will release a pirated collection most of them So I'm not too worried about my personal Steam collection. Preservation, that's a different story...

generj 10y ago
Steam has also promised that they have emergency de-DRM code they can execute if the company ever goes bust.

Freak_NL 10y ago

Interesting. For me Netflix and Steam are completely acceptable(ish), but Spotify is right out. With Netflix the backlog situation (region blocks, limited catalogue) is pretty dismal, but with Netflix at least I know that a good part of my money goes to creating content. With Steam most of the money ends up with the developers, again supporting content creation. I do buy games if, and only if, I find the price is right for playing the game once (or for a couple of weeks, depending on the type of game). If my Steam library is still accessible in ten years time than that is an added bonus. I do admit that a lot of the games I buy come with a Steam key, but are purchased from DRM-free stores (e.g., Humble Store). But music is a completely different beast. If I like a song or an album, then there is a good chance that I will listen to it periodically for a good deal of my life. I buy music for keeps. With Spotify my money doesn't end with the content creators themselves for the most part, and I don't get to keep the music. It just doesn't work for me.