Family Sharing should allow different games to be played at the same time

[jshorr]

I'm sure it's been said 1000 times already, but it's worth saying again. There is no good reason that I can't play one game while my son plays a different one. In the same family, in the same house, with the same IP address, heck in the same room. This is a real PITA, and sorry I am just not going to purchase the game twice from Steam. I've invested a lot of money in my Steam Library, and it was very convenient just for me, but now that my son is older and gaming quite a bit. I'm going to purchase anything he might be interested in through different platforms that won't be so restrictive. I 100% get preventing running the SAME game at the same time, but a different game who cares, devs are not going to gain or lose any money from that.

[Ogami]

引用自 jshorr：

Seems like what they should be doing is fixing the offline workaround. You're telling me if the owner is offline then 5 or whatever family members can play the same game at the same time? What sense does that make?

No. If the owner is in offline mode and one family member plays via Family Share the library is "in use". Any further members cant play Family Share titles at the same time.

引用自 jshorr：

Then how is it developers allow their games to be sold on GoG for example? What prevents me from using my GoG account on my sons computer and him running the same or different games at the same time?

Because the whole point of GOG is that the games are DRM free? Its still against the TOS of GOG and the game publishers, they just cant enforce it like on Steam.
There is a reason only a fraction of publishers sell their games on GOG, many are not ok with their games being shared due to the forced DRM free versions that GOG requires.

[failsafe]

What you all seem to forget is that the piracy is still a huge problem, if not in Europe, then at least in Russia or China (just to name big markets). Every legal solution that is popular among playes is always better than very harsh policy. In my country piracy used to be like 80% of the market because the prices of games were just damn too high (I'm not saying that this justifies the whole thing). When prices dropped (direct drop is one thing, but they also dropped indirectly, that is when compared to the buying power parity that has grown a lot) suddenly almost nobody is buying pirate games and many of my friends have like 50 or 100 never played games in our libraries ("shame lists"). I believe that allowing little wider usage of purchased games within a family could work and not harm devs or steam. But it will never happen, also because most of the players will just always defend status quo. Which is funny: players in theory being very modern consumers seem to be very pro-system and conservative. Just the observation, I'm not trying to judge this.

[jshorr]

引用自 Snakub Plissken：

引用自 jshorr：

All due respect your comments don't make much sense to me. It is perfectly reasonable to buy one piece of media per family and share it.

Content makers sure do seem to feel differently though. So you can claim it doesn't make sense, but it's not like there's a lot of ignorance about the subject from the business side. And pretending like you're the only one with a legitimate perspective is just to stroke your ego. Which is fine, but it's not gonna change things.

引用自 jshorr：

Digital is supposed to make things easier, not more difficult.

The best laid plans... And buying two copies of a game isn't difficult, you just don't wanna.

Technology was supposed to end the 40 hour work week, and make offices paperless. But alas, that didn't happen either. Maybe you should stop gobbling up the PR and focus on reality.

The internet was supposed put the sum of human knowledge at our fingertips. And yet we find ourselves in the disinformation age and a post fact society.

Lots of things were supposed to happen just so, and they might have, as long as human beings weren't involved.

引用自 jshorr：

If I bought a physical movie or game, we couldn't watch/play on different screens at the same time, but we could sure watch different movies from our collection.

And it's so popular among content creators that's why physical media is dying and everything is moving to digital distribution where content creators have much higher control over products they couldn't control very well beforehand through physical media.

I think you're really missing the connection between the transition. It's not some accident that you can't just do whatever you want with your digital content. And you've got no clue as to why that is?

引用自 jshorr：

Sorry but you are just in the wrong here - there is no need to limit game play to one person at a time.

Confirmation bias is a hell of a drug. Well, good luck on reasoning with the entire industry. It's been going really well for every other person with a self-serving opinion.

We all understand how you feel, and why you feel the way you do. We've seen this exact same topic a thousand times. And it's gone the exact same way. An OP is married to their beliefs and everyone else is stupid. And an OP probably feels the same way about us. Case in point, I'm wrong and my arguments make no sense, right?

I don't love DRM, but unfortunately the honor system isn't gonna work and demanding gaming companies keep trying it because it would be really cool if they just pretended like the benefits outweigh the costs is wishful thinking. The industry has been around for decades. They know users better than you.

Ok. I get your points, fair enough. I'll just say this: I'm not anti-drm at all, but you don't need the "honor system" to allow different games to be played at the same time. I am reasonably certain that we are not going to move to a future where each individual inside a family is going to buy a AAA game separately for themselves.

Tell me I'm wrong....if you are on a Nintendo Switch or PS4 etc. and you own multiple consoles you can share the games among the consoles, and run different titles at the same time. In some cases you can even run the same title on both consoles (on Switch maybe) to play multiplayer. Steam should be doing the same thing. I've been a gamer for about 40 years and moving forward I will be buying DRM-free when possible if it means not dealing with this nonsense.

[jshorr]

引用自 jshorr：

引用自 Snakub Plissken：

Content makers sure do seem to feel differently though. So you can claim it doesn't make sense, but it's not like there's a lot of ignorance about the subject from the business side. And pretending like you're the only one with a legitimate perspective is just to stroke your ego. Which is fine, but it's not gonna change things.



The best laid plans... And buying two copies of a game isn't difficult, you just don't wanna.

Technology was supposed to end the 40 hour work week, and make offices paperless. But alas, that didn't happen either. Maybe you should stop gobbling up the PR and focus on reality.

The internet was supposed put the sum of human knowledge at our fingertips. And yet we find ourselves in the disinformation age and a post fact society.

Lots of things were supposed to happen just so, and they might have, as long as human beings weren't involved.



And it's so popular among content creators that's why physical media is dying and everything is moving to digital distribution where content creators have much higher control over products they couldn't control very well beforehand through physical media.

I think you're really missing the connection between the transition. It's not some accident that you can't just do whatever you want with your digital content. And you've got no clue as to why that is?



Confirmation bias is a hell of a drug. Well, good luck on reasoning with the entire industry. It's been going really well for every other person with a self-serving opinion.

We all understand how you feel, and why you feel the way you do. We've seen this exact same topic a thousand times. And it's gone the exact same way. An OP is married to their beliefs and everyone else is stupid. And an OP probably feels the same way about us. Case in point, I'm wrong and my arguments make no sense, right?

I don't love DRM, but unfortunately the honor system isn't gonna work and demanding gaming companies keep trying it because it would be really cool if they just pretended like the benefits outweigh the costs is wishful thinking. The industry has been around for decades. They know users better than you.

Ok. I get your points, fair enough. I'll just say this: I'm not anti-drm at all, but you don't need the "honor system" to allow different games to be played at the same time. I am reasonably certain that we are not going to move to a future where each individual inside a family is going to buy a AAA game separately for themselves.

Tell me I'm wrong....if you are on a Nintendo Switch or PS4 etc. and you own multiple consoles you can share the games among the consoles, and run different titles at the same time. In some cases you can even run the same title on both consoles (on Switch maybe) to play multiplayer. Steam should be doing the same thing. I've been a gamer for about 40 years and moving forward I will be buying DRM-free when possible if it means not dealing with this nonsense.

Apple has family sharing on most apps, where anyone in my household can download and use anything that I (or anyone else) has purchased.

[Black Blade]

引用自 jshorr：

Ok. I get your points, fair enough. I'll just say this: I'm not anti-drm at all, but you don't need the "honor system" to allow different games to be played at the same time. I am reasonably certain that we are not going to move to a future where each individual inside a family is going to buy a AAA game separately for themselves.

Tell me I'm wrong....if you are on a Nintendo Switch or PS4 etc. and you own multiple consoles you can share the games among the consoles, and run different titles at the same time. In some cases you can even run the same title on both consoles (on Switch maybe) to play multiplayer. Steam should be doing the same thing. I've been a gamer for about 40 years and moving forward I will be buying DRM-free when possible if it means not dealing with this nonsense.

I may be wrong on this, but is the part of sharing the game on console (I only know about the PS4) limited to the owner account, like they can play anywhere any time, but the "shares" can only get to play there games on the "main" console the owner set, not on any
I don't know how the Switch one works
I will say how ever I know a business that works on using the Sony share option so ya.. seems like that is abused, did not see anything that seem to mark them as a bussniss account or anything of that sort

I buy AAA games for my family mostly if interested to play together or if I think they may really enjoy it, but I do mostly buy stuff on sales, so get them cheaper

About GOG and playing separate games, its kind of the deal of how you put it, GOG is DRM free, your only suppose to let someone play your game if you playing with them really at least more or less as there DRM says
Steam allows Family Sharing on the library

If Valve allows family sharing to play per game and ont just per library then they make it legal, GOG did not make that use legal, they just made it possible
Smae with any outher system I know that may offer it
Mor over will say many games on Steam are DRM free, and technically you can play them without Steam even running at all, but its really inconvenient to find them and so on, because its not a legit way to use it that is meant for its use

[jshorr]

引用自 Black Blade：

引用自 jshorr：

Ok. I get your points, fair enough. I'll just say this: I'm not anti-drm at all, but you don't need the "honor system" to allow different games to be played at the same time. I am reasonably certain that we are not going to move to a future where each individual inside a family is going to buy a AAA game separately for themselves.

Tell me I'm wrong....if you are on a Nintendo Switch or PS4 etc. and you own multiple consoles you can share the games among the consoles, and run different titles at the same time. In some cases you can even run the same title on both consoles (on Switch maybe) to play multiplayer. Steam should be doing the same thing. I've been a gamer for about 40 years and moving forward I will be buying DRM-free when possible if it means not dealing with this nonsense.

I may be wrong on this, but is the part of sharing the game on console (I only know about the PS4) limited to the owner account, like they can play anywhere any time, but the "shares" can only get to play there games on the "main" console the owner set, not on any
I don't know how the Switch one works
I will say how ever I know a business that works on using the Sony share option :D: so ya.. seems like that is abused, did not see anything that seem to mark them as a bussniss account or anything of that sort

I buy AAA games for my family mostly if interested to play together or if I think they may really enjoy it, but I do mostly buy stuff on sales, so get them cheaper

About GOG and playing separate games, its kind of the deal of how you put it, GOG is DRM free, your only suppose to let someone play your game if you playing with them really at least more or less as there DRM says
Steam allows Family Sharing on the library

If Valve allows family sharing to play per game and ont just per library then they make it legal, GOG did not make that use legal, they just made it possible
Smae with any outher system I know that may offer it
Mor over will say many games on Steam are DRM free, and technically you can play them without Steam even running at all, but its really inconvenient to find them and so on, because its not a legit way to use it that is meant for its use

I mean what are we saying here. If you follow the letter of a GoG license for example, I'm supposed to forbid my family from playing my games. Buy your own I will scream at them. ROFL.

[Madkiller BoB]

The abuse would be as big as shared Netflix accounts.

[PaiN]

so ?!?!?

[jshorr]

引用自 Snakub Plissken：

引用自 jshorr：

I mean what are we saying here. If you follow the letter of a GoG license for example, I'm supposed to forbid my family from playing my games. Buy your own I will scream at them. ROFL.

But that's the point. You agreed to a single user license. And you would just ignore it at your own convenience. Only it's not just you it's tens of millions of other users. And you chuckle even at the thought of abiding by the GoG license without DRM to enforce it. So would millions of others. And that reality is not lost on Valve, publishers or developers.

Family sharing allows you to share games, so another person can try them. But the system is deliberately inconvenient enough and enough of a compromise so that the 2nd person will be encouraged to buy their own copy for the convenience.

But so many people seem to think this is some kind of oversight, because Valve doesn't know people have spouses and kids and friends? Oh, they know. All your complaints and wants are known. But the compromise, the tradeoffs are intentional.

Just like all a lock does is keep an honest man honest, so does a little DRM when it comes to the incessant want of users to share their single user licensed games like they did when there was no way to stop them. Now there is.

There is a big difference between sharing with your household and trying to sell the game/share with friends to avoid them having to pay. I'm no expert on GOG's licensing, but I seem to remember reading that you can install/play on any systems that you OWN. I own all the computers in my home.

Please show me anywhere there is a stated intention/expectation for each member within a household to purchase their own games and never to share with anyone else.

[jshorr]

引用自 Madkiller BoB：

The abuse would be as big as shared Netflix accounts.

Netflix accounts are SUPPOSED to be shared within a household. You're not asked to subscribe twice. You even specifically get a limit of simultaneous screens, which is never only 1.

[ุ]

引用自 jshorr：

引用自 Madkiller BoB：

The abuse would be as big as shared Netflix accounts.

Netflix accounts are SUPPOSED to be shared within a household. You're not asked to subscribe twice. You even specifically get a limit of simultaneous screens, which is never only 1.

Re-read what you've typed. Within a household. Family sharing is already abused as is on Steam to trade game access to complete strangers.

[Black Blade]

引用自 GOG info about downloading：

Can I enjoy my purchases both on my laptop and desktop computer at home?

Yes. We do not limit the number of installations or reinstallations, as long as you install your purchased games on computers in your household. So yeah, if you've got a render-farm in the basement, you might actually break the world record for the number of legal Witcher installations in one household. However, if you think about installing your game on a friend's machine or sharing it with others then please don't do it, okay? The same principle applies to movies - you're free to watch them anywhere you want, with anyone you want, as long as you don't share them with people who haven't purchased them.

Source: https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001942753-FAQ-Downloads-and-streaming?product=gog#:~:text=Can%20I%20enjoy%20my%20purchases%20both%20on%20my%20laptop%20and%20desktop%20computer%20at%20home%3F

引用自 GOG Legal：

3.3 Your GOG account and GOG content are personal to you and cannot be shared with, sold, gifted or transferred to anyone else. Your access to and use of them is subject to GOG’s rules which are set out here, as updated or amended when necessary.

Marked one important part and the source: https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/212632089-GOG-User-Agreement?product=gog#:~:text=3.3%20Your%20GOG%20account%20and%20GOG%20content%20are%20personal%20to%20you%20and%20cannot%20be%20shared%20with%2C%20sold%2C%20gifted%20or%20transferred%20to%20anyone%20else.%20Your%20access%20to%20and%20use%20of%20them%20is%20subject%20to%20GOG%E2%80%99s%20rules%20which%20are%20set%20out%20here%2C%20as%20updated%20or%20amended%20when%20necessary.

引用自 jshorr：

Netflix accounts are SUPPOSED to be shared within a household. You're not asked to subscribe twice. You even specifically get a limit of simultaneous screens, which is never only 1.

Is it not only one? did they change it?
From netflix site:

引用自 Netflix plans and pricing：

Basic

✓ Watch on 1 supported device at a time✓ Unlimited movies, TV shows, and mobile games✓ Watch in HD✓ Ad-free TV shows and movies✓ Download on 1 supported device at a time

Source: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926

And to point out, it was abused, and Netflix is going to change it soon, heard stuff at least about testing on limiting you per a location and stuff like that, because users online sales shared accounts, as in you share with a bunch of users the same shared account so 4 or more use the same to cut on cost (premium one)

[jshorr]

引用自 Leonardo Da Pinchi：

引用自 jshorr：

Netflix accounts are SUPPOSED to be shared within a household. You're not asked to subscribe twice. You even specifically get a limit of simultaneous screens, which is never only 1.

Re-read what you've typed. Within a household. Family sharing is already abused as is on Steam to trade game access to complete strangers.

The whole point of my post is limited to within a household. If they make sure you are within the same household/ip address, they would cut down on 99%. People aren't going to sell a family account, which can only allow them to play a game when no one else is playing it, and then force them to spoof their IP address. At this point the argument is ridiculous.

[jshorr]

引用自 Black Blade：

引用自 GOG info about downloading：

Can I enjoy my purchases both on my laptop and desktop computer at home?

Yes. We do not limit the number of installations or reinstallations, as long as you install your purchased games on computers in your household. So yeah, if you've got a render-farm in the basement, you might actually break the world record for the number of legal Witcher installations in one household. However, if you think about installing your game on a friend's machine or sharing it with others then please don't do it, okay? The same principle applies to movies - you're free to watch them anywhere you want, with anyone you want, as long as you don't share them with people who haven't purchased them.

Source: https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001942753-FAQ-Downloads-and-streaming?product=gog#:~:text=Can%20I%20enjoy%20my%20purchases%20both%20on%20my%20laptop%20and%20desktop%20computer%20at%20home%3F

引用自 GOG Legal：

3.3 Your GOG account and GOG content are personal to you and cannot be shared with, sold, gifted or transferred to anyone else. Your access to and use of them is subject to GOG’s rules which are set out here, as updated or amended when necessary.

Marked one important part and the source: https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/212632089-GOG-User-Agreement?product=gog#:~:text=3.3%20Your%20GOG%20account%20and%20GOG%20content%20are%20personal%20to%20you%20and%20cannot%20be%20shared%20with%2C%20sold%2C%20gifted%20or%20transferred%20to%20anyone%20else.%20Your%20access%20to%20and%20use%20of%20them%20is%20subject%20to%20GOG%E2%80%99s%20rules%20which%20are%20set%20out%20here%2C%20as%20updated%20or%20amended%20when%20necessary.

引用自 jshorr：

Netflix accounts are SUPPOSED to be shared within a household. You're not asked to subscribe twice. You even specifically get a limit of simultaneous screens, which is never only 1.

Is it not only one? did they change it?
From netflix site:

引用自 Netflix plans and pricing：

Basic

✓ Watch on 1 supported device at a time✓ Unlimited movies, TV shows, and mobile games✓ Watch in HD✓ Ad-free TV shows and movies✓ Download on 1 supported device at a time

Source: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926

And to point out, it was abused, and Netflix is going to change it soon, heard stuff at least about testing on limiting you per a location and stuff like that, because users online sales shared accounts, as in you share with a bunch of users the same shared account so 4 or more use the same to cut on cost (premium one)

You are proving my point. As long as it's within your household you are fine to run multiple copies of GoG games without violating anything.

This basic account must be a new thing. You were always allowed to watch multiple screens, by multiple people in your account, both home and travelling. Heck each one can set up their own profile, save their own shows. Now what the abuse has been is sharing with people outside your household. They absolutely should end that.

[Ogami]

引用自 jshorr：

The whole point of my post is limited to within a household. If they make sure you are within the same household/ip address, they would cut down on 99%. People aren't going to sell a family account, which can only allow them to play a game when no one else is playing it, and then force them to spoof their IP address. At this point the argument is ridiculous.

Not really feasible since many countries have dynamic IP distribution.
My IP in the morning is a complete different one then my IP in the evening.
On IP location detectors it may show cities here in Germany as far as 500 km from another as the source of my IP.
Thats normal with how IP are handled in most European countries.
So how would that help with the " one household" rule if they could not verify it in any form?