Question about Steam games ...

[gregorsamsa]

I agree, but it's still an onerous standard if you like the ability to sell used games. Some games I keep forever, like HL2, but here have been several occasions where I was so happy I could sell a title that I did not like. Some companies offer a set number of activations and even that is much better for resale, because it makes resale possible.

I suppose as Steam games tend to be cheaper than boxed versions anyway, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot by offering resale activations. But quite agree about the appeal of reselling boxed games.

Also, most Mac games maintain close to their original value, so resale can be fairly profitable.

Just looking at my collection of 20+ OS X games now, I realize that if I sold the lot I could buy a gaming PC! Hmm. Luckily, Steam's imminent arrival probably renders that more trouble than it's worth. Maybe one day I'll sell those boxed games anyway to help part-fund a new Mac. I could then re-buy some favourite titles at (hopefully) a cheaper price via Steam.

 

[txa1265]

I agree, but it's still an onerous standard if you like the ability to sell used games. Some games I keep forever, like HL2, but here have been several occasions where I was so happy I could sell a title that I did not like. Some companies offer a set number of activations and even that is much better for resale, because it makes resale possible.

Sorry I wasn't clear enough that I strongly agree with you ... lack of 'first sale rights' is a major blow to gamers and has significantly impacted my buying habits.

 

[TheSpaz]

Just looking at my collection of 20+ OS X games now, I realize that if I sold the lot I could buy a gaming PC!

There are 20+ Mac games???

 

[phil1984]

No ability to transfer game ownership. I like being able to sell games when I'm done with them. I use Steam on the PC when I'm forced to, but I much prefer to install a game independent of this service if I can. I do admit it's a good method of meeting up with others if you are going to game online, but you pay for the right to do so.

Then you will be waiting quite awhile I think before a major digital service company offers you the ability to resell your game on a second hand market.

Secondhand makes perfect sense in the physical world. There are genuine reasons why someone might choose a secondhand copy or a brand new copy over the other. To someone a few scratches on a disk, a slightly mangled box or a somewhat damaged or even missing manual may persuade them to buy a brand new copy. Likewise someone else may not care and pick up the secondhand version at a reduced price.

Yet this makes no sense in the digital world. Your digital copy does not degrade, it does not change, there is no advantage in buying a game at full price on steam compared to from you for a few dollars less. Indeed, it will greatly reduce the profits of any company who allows digital copies to be resold and hence companies will either go out of business or cut back on game production. I realise that for some people, the ability to sell the game after they have bought it is a must. However to them I recommend that they stick with physical media because it will be a cold day in hell when on-selling occurs in the digital world to any great extent.

Calling Steam DRM "onerous" is clearly hyperbole when you look at some of its competitors such as Ubisoft that requires an active internet connection when playing there game or the game automatically stops dead in its tracks. That is the very definition of onerous.