So i've been reading a bit about how some people do not like that Skyrim is available through steam.

Why exactly? Just curious.

Read the appropriate threads.

It's not because that Skyrim is available through Steam. It's because Steam is required to play the retail version of the game.

Other than that I personally don't care as much. I have some gripes with Steam but that doesn't make me despise it or not buy a retail game if it has been Steamified.

There's plenty threads about it. Do a search and go read those.

If Steam goes down or I lose my internet connection then the Skyrim disc I bought is useless.

It just seems silly turning a one-player game on a hard disc into an online one. Its a bit like buying a music cd and then being told I can only play the music when I'm connected to the internet.

Because when one really thinks about what it does to what we really need- we don`t actually need it.

Many people are niave enough to think it`s great, but look at what Steam-Forced really does for you and it`s actually nothing.

You just lose your gaming freedom.

If it was optional then I`d have no problem.

Because it's an annoying DRM scheme.
Because it has to be running in order to play. Even in offline mode (Which is my default config), steam still runs.
Forced updates. I usually wait a few days to update any game. Why? Becuase sometimes a patch breaks more than it fixes.
Also, it allows features in games I don't care about.
Chat? Big whoop.
Ahcievments? Don't care.
Screenshot management? Really don't care
Most of what steam offers is irrelevant to me. Just give me some stupid DRM that requires the disk in the tray over steam.

In short this is what Steam is.

Steam makes you realize that the game you bought, ain't yours truly -.-
Steam is horrible and if you ever have to buy a game from Steam, it should be your last course of action.

I can't run my Steam because it would otherwise DELETE couple of MY games, just because some user / developer mods have been added. And the Steam is not going to delete those mods, no no no, Steam is trying to delete all necesary files to launch the game.

I liked Steam for...5 days. After that, I hated it.

while your technically right you don't own the games your Steam Account does.
Steam allows bethesda a much easier method of distributing patches that meant they didn't ahve to design one themselves
Steam in offline mode barely uses anything from your cpu compared to several other programs some games force you to run.

the alternative is GFWL do you really want GFWL really? seriously?

that or it's not available on steam where bethesda make the most proffit margin per item sold as they don't have to produce a box/cd jsut an electronic code.

Steam is great becasue it's able to get lower prices generally as the price can be lower and the maker stil make money.

this helps us consumers get cheaper games

Steam will never be "out of stock" of a game you want.

if you can make a better method of digital distribution and updating please try. GFWL did try and i do not know anyone who likes it, if Microsoft failed to make a 1/2 decent method of digial distribution i dought many others can.

Honestly, I love Steam and am a very happy steam user. Its a great way to buy your PC games and a great way for PC developers to combat piracy and also see that their games get out to the widest audience available. I hate Games for Windows Live, which thankfully wasn't included in Skyrim (was a bane of my existence in Fallout 3). Steam has been around since like 2003/04 and I still have 100% access to anything I've ever bought. I briefly lost access to my account because I hadn't logged in in 11 months and they changed security settings and it was cleaned up within 12hrs and I had full access.

Also, as far as I'm concerned the whole "you don't own (insert steam game) steam does" argument is silly, that is no more true than if you buy stuff on iTunes, Ebooks from Kobo or Kindle, iPhone apps etc, its a silly argument. Of course you own your game, you bought it and it is completely yours to alter and store on your computer. The day when entire video games are streamed you may have a case but really until then it just seems like people who don't like things that are different.

So in short, Steam = Win in my books.

Because I should not have to install 3rd party software on my computer which does nothing but provide a security check. It's treating me like a criminal and I take offense to that.

Steam is a VIRUS, it needs to be eradicated.

It's forced with no other options, that's the main problem.

Steam does nothing at all, except tracking achievements and uploading them, Steam Cloud syncing my saves, checking for Skyrim game updates and downloading and patching easily, gives me a space to upload images that doesn't svck like imageshack and co and etc...

Utterly useless, Steam integration didn't add a single feature for Skyrim.

Well as someone pointed out you just don't have the CHOICE...and that is THE SCANDAL when you buy a hard copy at €49.99.

I don't hate steam, in fact I pretty much like it so far. I can play my games wherever on the planet, I can take screenshot easily, I can write to my Bro or friends when playing (those that are registered steam members), patching is pretty much automatic (and you can block it if you want). You can easily see what's new for your game...In fact there are plenty of good stuff that goes with steam.

BUT there is one thing that steam doesn't allow you and that thing is FREEDOM.

Hell I don't want to have to connect to the internet in order to install or to play a game. Or at least I want to have the choice of doing so…

Sure you could run the game off line. But you HAVE to register at Steam, you HAVE to connect at least one time to the internet. And the game besides being dematerialized is still at an outrageous €49.99!!!

Damned you who took away my FREEDOM!!!

And D3 is going the same way.

Blizzard has said that it's necessary to connect to their servers when playing D3, regardless if you play with other players, or playing a single game.

Because I spent the weekend at my sister's where I don't have access to the Internet - too much hassle with registration and I don't come there to sit in front of my laptop anyway. She went to sleep early and I wanted to play Skyrim, but I couldn't. Steam didn't launch, not even in offline mode (some sort of error, I suppose, but still). So what did I pay the money for? A game I can't play?

Well, no. Try to install the game and play it without the game having been registered with Steam, it's impossible without a crack. So in actuality Valve determines whether or not you may install/play the game, not you. And if Steam ever drops support for your game for whatever reason, or perhaps if Valve gets taken over, then you may only hope for a patch that will nullify the on-line registration requirement because even the Steam EULA says they may drop support at any time. So in actuality you have no control whats however over a game that's supposedly "yours".

If I want a Steam game, I'll buy it on Steam. When I buy a retail game I really have no need nor desire for Steam at all

For me Steam adds absolutely nothing useful to retail games. Even the built-in update function is utterly useless to me, since it'll only ever want to update to the latest patch (which is not always beneficial, especially considering mods), and since Steam simply refuses to remember that I put automatic updates to "do not automatically update this game" whenever I re-start Steam.

I don't care enough about it to not buy a Steamified retail game, but I'd much prefer it to just be gone.

That bug is supposed to be fixed since a month at least.

Oh lol... And photo cameras steal souls.

It's the best (Read as: The least abusive) DRM out there.

It hasn't been fixed and it won't be fixed. It's a feature.

D3 is worse, Steam does at least have an online mode, D3 is using something similar to the Ubisoft DRM that sent everyone in an uproar. But since they're Blizzard, they lie through their teeth about it being a feature and everyone's like: Ok! *bends over*

as far as steam, I love/hate it. I get most my PC games off of steam, though prefer GoG if I have the choice. Sadly I don't think PC gaming is ever going back on the DRM and it's almost like we're lucky for being forced Steam where there's at least an offline option. Heck EA's forcing Orgin and I remember where they banned a guy and took away all his games because he was mentioned in a Forum post. Sadly the Pirate have ruined it for the rest of us and can still steal their games with impunity.

If you wish to discuss Steam please use http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1331715-unofficial-steamdrm-discussion-26/.