Steam versus Physical Copy

[<font face='ravie'>MeRockAll]

This discussion is meant to find the cons of using Steam to buy games and the pros of buying the physical copy of games when it comes to sharing games to players who cannot afford to purchase the games. Is there a way for Steam games to be shared to unlimited number of people without the need for a Steam account? (Not through Family Sharing but through game files)

[Cathulhu]

Originally posted by <font face='ravie'>MeRockAll:

Is there a way for Steam games to be shared to unlimited number of people without the need for a Steam account? (Not through Family Sharing but through game files)

No.

And almost all physical copies of games require an activation on a platform like Steam, UPlay, Origin etc. anyway.
The only difference would be the presence of data you can install from DVD, which most likely is already outdated and/or incomplete.

[<font face='ravie'>MeRockAll]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

And almost all physical copies of games require an activation on a platform like Steam, UPlay, Origin etc. anyway.
The only difference would be the presence of data you can install from DVD, which most likely is already outdated and/or incomplete.

Does this rule include all games released even before Steam became a thing? Let's say back then, I had a physical copy of an offline game which I can install on anyone's PC. Then today, I had to install it again but I lost my copy. Now, I can only download it through Steam. If I purchase it again on Steam, is there no way I can install it on anyone's PC without the need for Steam?

[Crazy Tiger]

For any game on Steam it means that Steam is needed to download and install the gamefiles.

[Theblaze]

If you purchase the steam version, you need steam to be able to play and install it.

There are only 'few' games on steam you can play without having steam running in the background but those are usually the ones that wasn't well implemented into steam and basically only an "import" of the original version.

[Kargor]

Originally posted by <font face='ravie'>MeRockAll:

Then today, I had to install it again but I lost my copy. Now, I can only download it through Steam. If I purchase it again on Steam, is there no way I can install it on anyone's PC without the need for Steam?

No. Games used to be "linked" to a physical media, usually by means of a "copy protection" mechanism that was meant to ensure that the original disk would be accepted, while rejecting copies.

Nowadays, games are linked to an online account such as your Steam account. In order to play the game, you don't insert your disk into the drive anymore; instead, you insert your accountname/password into the Steam login window.

[<font face='ravie'>MeRockAll]

I appreciate all your help. This means I cannot transfer my games to anyone. It's not like when I'm done with the game, I can just pass it on to another person. Or is there a way I can pass the ownership of a game?

[Theblaze]

Originally posted by <font face='ravie'>MeRockAll:

I appreciate all your help. This means I cannot transfer my games to anyone. It's not like when I'm done with the game, I can just pass it on to another person. Or is there a way I can pass the ownership of a game?

No, you can't transfer ownership of a product on steam.

[rawWwRrr]

Technically speaking, even when games were solely sold on physical media only, you were still subject to a license agreement that prohibited you from sharing your game with someone else. It's just back then there was no feasible way to enforce it. Now with digital distribution it's much easier to enforce the license.