3 ms·

Steam should be a crime. There was a time you could launch an executable without a middleman at all.

tharkun__ 2y ago
Most games (I own on) steam can launch just fine without using steam. In fact I do that all the time. Come to think of it, I've never launched a game I bought on steam through steam except maybe the first time and then I "pin to taskbar" and launch through there.
fooker 2y ago
Would you say the same thing about 'apps'?
- add-sub-mul-div 2y ago
  It's definitely terrible that half of mobile users can't run code without the permission of their platform and the other half could eventually lose the ability to do so. But the stakes are lower because the phone is a time-wasting/consuming device and not a general purpose/productivity device like a desktop.
  - fooker 2y ago
    >general purpose/productivity device like a desktop. It's sad that a good majority of homes don't have desktops nowadays. Maybe the parent will have a work laptop. I remember a CS professor mentioning on twitter that the recent crop of undergrads arrive without knowing what files and folders are.
happymellon 2y ago
At least for the most part, you can. I use Steam as the launcher because the interface for SteamOS Big Picture mode on my TV is great.
bob1029 2y ago
Using steam for sales and activation is quite rational. Do you think we should go back to CD keys or other preshared secrets written on paper? I've had to repurchase many games over lost/stolen activation codes. I don't really want to go back to that place. It's like cryptocurrency - sure you have total control but you better never fuck it up even one time or it becomes worthless.
pjmlp 2y ago
Also why I don't use it at all. I can survive with the games that exist outside Steam, no FOMO over here.
Rebelgecko 2y ago
For DRM free games you can just run the executable directly without steam even being open. Maybe we should prosecute the publishers who don't check the box that allows that?

Most games (I own on) steam can launch just fine without using steam. In fact I do that all the time. Come to think of it, I've never launched a game I bought on steam through steam except maybe the first time and then I "pin to taskbar" and launch through there.

fooker 2y ago

Would you say the same thing about 'apps'?

add-sub-mul-div 2y ago
It's definitely terrible that half of mobile users can't run code without the permission of their platform and the other half could eventually lose the ability to do so. But the stakes are lower because the phone is a time-wasting/consuming device and not a general purpose/productivity device like a desktop.
- fooker 2y ago
  >general purpose/productivity device like a desktop. It's sad that a good majority of homes don't have desktops nowadays. Maybe the parent will have a work laptop. I remember a CS professor mentioning on twitter that the recent crop of undergrads arrive without knowing what files and folders are.

happymellon 2y ago

At least for the most part, you can. I use Steam as the launcher because the interface for SteamOS Big Picture mode on my TV is great.

bob1029 2y ago

Using steam for sales and activation is quite rational. Do you think we should go back to CD keys or other preshared secrets written on paper? I've had to repurchase many games over lost/stolen activation codes. I don't really want to go back to that place. It's like cryptocurrency - sure you have total control but you better never fuck it up even one time or it becomes worthless.

pjmlp 2y ago

Also why I don't use it at all. I can survive with the games that exist outside Steam, no FOMO over here.

Rebelgecko 2y ago

For DRM free games you can just run the executable directly without steam even being open. Maybe we should prosecute the publishers who don't check the box that allows that?