Done with buying games on Steam until they fix Family Sharing.

[Meat]

I've always been a huge supporter of Steam. I've been around since the beginning and bought many games. I will not be buying any more.

I didn't have children when I first bought into the Steam ecosystem. At the time, it was not a big deal to share game discs with your friends when you were done playing them. It certainly would not be a big deal for a parent to let their child use a game disc inside the same household. This was an expectation. You'd pass it around like a magazine or a book. You're not duplicating it illegally, you're just sharing what you legally purchased.

Why then can I not share my games with my family? Family sharing is not sharing. It's ridiculous that I can't let my daughter play Skyrim while I play L4D2. I'm not asking to use the same license twice, I just want to use two different licenses at the same time. Like the old days.

Fix this and I will start buying games on Steam again. Maybe restrict it to people behind the same IP address?

[Meat]

Publicado originalmente por Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

If you're hoping to install games on multiple PC's from one account, then I suggest go to GoG for DRM free as they're all about doing DRM free.

If this is a single player game, launch Steam in offline mode with your account on those PC's, or when doing family share, launch game on family share PC, then block internet connection using a script, or something to block Steam connection on the spot, or just disconnect the internet on that PC for the time being after have run the game.

Thank you for the one helpful comment here. I will be buying all of my games on GOG in the future.

Your second tip reminded me of another reason why this scheme is ridiculous. I share my library with my kid, she wants to play a paid game. She starts playing said paid game. I can't even play a free to play game on my account without her getting kicked off...

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

The only issue you face is that the fact some publishers, and game devs want DRM for their games, and only optional places to get them is Steam, Epic, or etc that allows, provides, or comes with DRM. Which why not all games will be on GoG, such as Skyrim which is only on Steam.

So take it with grain of salt what has to be done, I buy games for 3 of my kids, and not really bother by this at all, I just get them games they want to play.

[Washell]

Publicado originalmente por Meat:

A game should be like a book. When you're done with it, you pass it (give away or sell your license). I don't like it but I accept not being able to sell or give away my licenses, but I think it's weak that I can't play a game while my kid plays another game.

That's not something the industry is going to do. Politics might. Contact your representative. Just be careful what you wish for.

Alternatively, none of the restrictions apply if you buy each game on its own steam account, though it is a bit of a hassle logging in all the time.

[Meat]

Publicado originalmente por Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

The only issue you face is that the fact some publishers, and game devs want DRM for their games, and only optional places to get them is Steam, Epic, or etc that allows, provides, or comes with DRM. Which why not all games will be on GoG, such as Skyrim which is only on Steam.

So take it with grain of salt what has to be done, I buy games for 3 of my kids, and not really bother by this at all, I just get them games they want to play.

You must be more flush with cash than I am. I have to consider my spending (yes I got myself where I am, I know it's on me) and buying 3 or more copies of even a $15 game is crappy, especially so when it's for kids that are probably going to be bored of it and onto something else in the next couple days. If I could share my games with them (and still play games myself), I could buy them the ones that they really get into and would actually be worth buying.

The whole point of my post is that it sucks that I can't let my kids use something that I paid for and am not currently using if I want to use a similar thing that I also paid for at the same time. I guess I made a sacrifice in freedom of use of the games by choosing Steam. In the future will be choosing DRM free in lieu of many AAA titles.

[Meat]

Publicado originalmente por Washell:

Publicado originalmente por Meat:

A game should be like a book. When you're done with it, you pass it (give away or sell your license). I don't like it but I accept not being able to sell or give away my licenses, but I think it's weak that I can't play a game while my kid plays another game.

That's not something the industry is going to do. Politics might. Contact your representative. Just be careful what you wish for.

Alternatively, none of the restrictions apply if you buy each game on its own steam account, though it is a bit of a hassle logging in all the time.

Except don't they restrict credit cards to a single Steam account? I'm sure hackers have a way around this but I don't want to beat the system, I just want it to be fair.

I don't ever expect them to loosen up and make licenses transferrable but I don't think it's unreasonably to let a family share licenses within one physical household.

Edit: Thanks for the genius idea! Buy games on different accounts with Steam Gift cards. I'll just make an app to change my Steam login before launching the game!

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

I normally plan things ahead by putting money away for them for their birthdays, and holidays, so it wouldn't be a problem in my case. Planning ahead helps a lot.

Another tip, is there are game subscription plans, like Xbox game pass for Xbox and PC, there also EA play, Uplay Plus, and other services. Which may be usefully if you buy often, which can give them access to all kinds of games on a plan, and you only have to pay anyone fixed price for the year, knowing exactly how much it cost. But again may vary on the family, or personal situation if valued.

Publicado originalmente por Meat:

Publicado originalmente por Washell:

That's not something the industry is going to do. Politics might. Contact your representative. Just be careful what you wish for.

Alternatively, none of the restrictions apply if you buy each game on its own steam account, though it is a bit of a hassle logging in all the time.

Except don't they restrict credit cards to a single Steam account? I'm sure hackers have a way around this but I don't want to beat the system, I just want it to be fair.

I don't ever expect them to loosen up and make licenses transferrable but I don't think it's unreasonably to let a family share licenses within one physical household.

Edit: Thanks for the genius idea! Buy games on different accounts with Steam Gift cards. I'll just make an app to change my Steam login before launching the game!

No they don't restrict any payment method to one account only. Also you can just use one account to gift to all the other accounts or send funds to their account without having to login to each of their account, and don't need to enter your payment method on their account, only on your account alone if you wanted. This just makes things easier on you really. All your kids have to do is login for themselves, accept your gifts, and that about it. If they don't claim the gift from you within 30 days, it automatically refunds back to your payment method you used.

I just tell my kids to claim their games, and that's about it, they normally just do it on the spot, or a day later.

[Meat]

Publicado originalmente por Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

I normally plan things ahead by putting money away for them for their birthdays, and holidays, so it wouldn't be a problem in my case. Planning ahead helps a lot.

Another tip, is there are game subscription plans, like Xbox game pass for Xbox and PC, there also EA play, Uplay Plus, and other services. Which may be usefully if you buy often, which can give them access to all kinds of games on a plan, and you only have to pay anyone fixed price for the year, knowing exactly how much it cost. But again may vary on the family, or personal situation if valued.

Publicado originalmente por Meat:

Except don't they restrict credit cards to a single Steam account? I'm sure hackers have a way around this but I don't want to beat the system, I just want it to be fair.

I don't ever expect them to loosen up and make licenses transferrable but I don't think it's unreasonably to let a family share licenses within one physical household.

Edit: Thanks for the genius idea! Buy games on different accounts with Steam Gift cards. I'll just make an app to change my Steam login before launching the game!

No they don't restrict any payment method to one account only. Also you can just use one account to gift to all the other accounts or send funds to their account without having to login to each of their account, and don't need to enter your payment method on their account, only on your account alone if you wanted. This just makes things easier on you really.

Thank you! I appreciate you providing helpful tips rather than just telling me I should shut up and read the EULA better. My kids are just starting to get into games and today was the first time this has bitten me bad enough to make me speak out. I'll keep the subscription thing in mind and I do like the idea of putting away money for them to pick a game when there's enough. Allowance incentive to get chores done, haha!

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Another tip on saving, game bundles, there humble bundle that has weekly, and monthly game bundles, which you may see really good games at low prices in a bundle. There also site such Fanatical another good bundle site. Worth to check out, if you ever plan to multi buy games if they show up in a bundle.

There are other sites that sells single games at lower price, such as GreenManGaming, and etc you can use isthereanydeal.com to help you find the best deal for the game across all sites.

This basically all advice I can offer to saving on, and helping yourself on your own purchases choices you make.

And definitely planning ahead saves you headaches for sure, as buying games on discount sale, is the best way to save your wallet, and your peace of mind.

[Washell]

Publicado originalmente por Meat:

I'll just make an app to change my Steam login before launching the game!

Someone already beat you to that ;)

Steam Account Manager
https://github.com/rex706/SAM

[nullable]

Publicado originalmente por Meat:

Publicado originalmente por rawWwRrr:

Technically, you weren't supposed to do that, but there was no way for them to enforce it at the time so you were able to get away with it. Was still wrong.

You honestly think this is wrong? I grew up on cartridges and CDs. It was the expectation that you could borrow a disk and use it.

Yeah, so did everyone over the age of 20. I mean if you want the freedom and flexibility of cartridges, many games are still released on disc or cartridge. Steam doesn't provide cartridges or discs and they's no obligation for one media type to behave like another just because that's what you'd prefer. And it's not like you don't get anything for that trade off either. After all when's the last time a Steam game of yours was lost, damaged or stolen?

When I'm buying Switch games if it's something both the wife and I want to play I get it on cartridge. Because if I buy it on the eShop the wife won't be able to use it on her Switch.

You being clueless how digitally distributed licenses work after 17 years isn't a Steam problem. It's a you problem. You're not the first person to feel inconvenienced or put out. So good luck demanding changes a million other people failed to achieve. Once you tire yourself out you'll just have to learn how to manage gaming in 2020 because 1995 ended a long time ago.

[Meat]

Publicado originalmente por Brockenstein:

Publicado originalmente por Meat:

You honestly think this is wrong? I grew up on cartridges and CDs. It was the expectation that you could borrow a disk and use it.

Yeah, so did everyone over the age of 20. I mean if you want the freedom and flexibility of cartridges, many games are still released on disc or cartridge. Steam doesn't provide cartridges or discs and they's no obligation for one media type to behave like another just because that's what you'd prefer. And it's not like you don't get anything for that trade off either. After all when's the last time a Steam game of yours was lost, damaged or stolen?

When I'm buying Switch games if it's something both the wife and I want to play I get it on cartridge. Because if I buy it on the eShop the wife won't be able to use it on her Switch.

You being clueless how digitally distributed licenses work after 17 years isn't a Steam problem. It's a you problem. You're not the first person to feel inconvenienced or put out. So good luck demanding changes a million other people failed to achieve. Once you tire yourself out you'll just have to learn how to manage gaming in 2020 because 1995 ended a long time ago.

Why bother posting if you're just going to say what the first few poster said? If you read any of my replies to the helpful posters, you'd know that this is the first time that I've had any real issue with the way that Steam worked. I'm old enough that my friends buy all of their games. I've never had a game disc stolen and I still have (in perfect condition) all the game discs that I cared to keep.

I think it's stupid that I can't play Osmos or L4D2 while one of my kids plays Skyrim on the computer next to me.

I clearly understand that Valve/Steam don't care about my opinion and expected this to be a vent post but there were some very helpful comments (unlike yours) that will help me have a better gaming experience in the future.

If no one ever speaks up about what they don't like, nothing will ever change. And for the record, I didn't demand anything. I simply stated that I was voting with my dollars, and that they wouldn't go to Steam unless things change.