"Activates on Steam" -- What it Means

[heyo_speaker]

I am new to Steam (as you may have guessed by the title of my post). I have a few newb questions.....

About games purchased through Steam:

-- Can all games purchased from Steam be re-downloaded any time you want? I assume Steam makes no guarantees about this, but in practice, does Steam allow you to re-download games whenever you want on any number of computers?

-- Do games require an Internet connection for activation EACH TIME you play, or ONLY THE FIRST TIME YOU PLAY (or never)?

-- IF games CAN be re-downloaded any time on to any number of computers, and if an Internet connection is NOT REQUIRED EVERY TIME you play, then how does Steam prevent people from making & distributing lots of copies of games?


About games purchased elsewhere:

-- I am aware that some games purchased from other retailers must be activated on Steam before they can be played. Once a game purchased from a different retailer is activated on Steam, does that mean you get all the same benefits as if you had purchased the game directly from Steam? Such as the ability to re-download it freely? Even if it was not a downloadable game in the first place (such as a disc version)? Is that true for EVERY such game activated on Steam?

Examples:

-- If I go to Wal-Mart and buy Diablo III, and activate it through Steam, am I then allowed to download Diablo III from Steam if I lose my disc?

-- If I go to greenmangaming.com and buy Doom 3: BFG Edition (which is on sale for the next 3 hours!), download it FROM THEM, and activate it through Steam, am I then allowed to re-download it FROM STEAM in the future? Even though I bought it from Greenman Gaming?


Last question:

-- If games purchased from other retailers and activated on Steam CAN be re-downloaded from Steam itself, even though they were not purchased from Steam... isn't that kind of like taking advantage of Steam? Or do they get money from those other retailers/publishers for providing the activation & re-downloading service?


Thanks a lot. ....Sorry to overwhelm you with newbness.

[Aidan]

Your entire steam library may be downloaded as many times on as many computers as you want. BUT your steam acount may only be logged into a single computer at any given time. Internet is required to activate and download the game after which it shouldn't be required thanks to steam's offline mode. Offline mode has some problems though, and isn't all too reliable. it's basically an offline version of the steam client. Offline mode can be accessed by clicking "steam" in the top left hand corner of the steam client and then selecting "go offline", or by trying to connect to steam without internet (but your account credentials must be saved on your computer)

Steamworks games purchased elsewhere are identical to games purchased through the steam store and have all the same features. steam may lose a bit of money from this but they gain a lot of exposure. They might also take a small fee for every steam-redeamable cd key but i doubt it's much.

and yes, retail games that use steamworks as their meathod of copy protection can be download from steam servers as many times as you wish, unfortunately Diablo 3 isn't one of them (Doom 3 bfg is).

[Kiya]

Always check the Steam support list of retail/digital cd keys that can be activated on Steam before you buy a game - https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-WUSF-3601

Edited to add - you should also watch out for games that use third party drm on top of Steam. Games that require GFWL or UPlay for example, will require an online connection every time you play the game. You can check that information on the Big List of Third Party DRM on Steam website -> http://steamdrm.flibitijibibo.com/index.php?page=DRM_Lists/The_Big_DRM_List

[Aidan]

Originally posted by Kiya:

Always check the Steam support list of retail/digital cd keys that can be activated on Steam before you buy a game - https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-WUSF-3601

I don't think that list has been updated in a while. Valve, y u so lazy?

edit: good advise Kiya. BEWARE 3RD PARTY DRM. securom and tages make steam look drm free by compairison.

[Kiya]

not so much laziness as being so busy that it gets forgotten I think, but yes, it is also worth checking the store page if it is a trusted vender - Greenmangaming, and Amazon for example, usually say at the bottom of the store page for the game if it can be activated on Steam - if in doubt ask in the Steam forum for the game.

[Aidan]

Originally posted by Kiya:

if in doubt ask in the Steam forum for the game.

yep, as is usually the case with PC gaming, look to the community for help! http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1712878

[heyo_speaker]

Thanks for the info! I see now that Diablo III activates on Battle.net, not Steam. I think I was confusing my memories of the news reports about Diablo III activation issues with news reports about Skyrim requiring Steam activation.

One more question: Do I need to be worried about the fact that Doom III: BFG Edition is NOT listed at the link Kiya provided? I may hold off on ordering it from Greenman Gaming if there is any chance I will have problems re-downloading it from Steam in the future.

[Aidan]

Originally posted by heyo_speaker:

Thanks for the info! I see now that Diablo III activates on Battle.net, not Steam. I think I was confusing my memories of the news reports about Diablo III activation issues with news reports about Skyrim requiring Steam activation.

One more question: Do I need to be worried about the fact that Doom III: BFG Edition is NOT listed at the link Kiya provided? I may hold off on ordering it from Greenman Gaming if there is any chance I will have problems re-downloading it from Steam in the future.

check the link I provided. BFG is indeed Steamworks ( it uses steam as copy protection/drm for all versions)

[heyo_speaker]

Thank you!

[76561198078595075]

у ково можно ключ на доту попросит???? если че вот мое мыло..Vados.aka@mailru

[Aidan]

Originally posted by vados.aka:

у ково можно ключ на доту попросит???? если че вот мое мыло..Vados.aka@mailru

google translate says:
at Covo can key in dota ask?? if Che's my soap .. Vados.aka @ mailru

so.. you want soap shaped like che guavera as a dota 2 item?
or are you tryiing to press your dota 2 key into a bar of soap to make a duplicate?

[Tomislav]

well..the most stupid thing on steam with retail games is this..i pay for ORIGINAL game,with uniqe SERIAL..the game contains on the DISK..and then I MUST once more DOWNLOAD it from STEAM server..which idiot make this nonsense for buying dvd and redownload it from steam..halloooo people have original serial and all..only DVD SERIAL ACTIVATION is important to play while the game is installed from disc..and when i want to update my game thats my consern would i do that or not..not automaticly...for expl..50 gb game 2 time install OMFG thats idiotish and have nothing with nothing...why not make autentichator like World of Warcraft and the thing is SOLVED..and not REDOWNLOADING like an idiot a game you just buy offline -.- LOL LOL LOL LOL what a fail..with this procedure you made your costumers go from you and thats not what you want..you must make a digital buy and offline separate..for people who buyed a DVD with game contains on it can easly just install, activate and play..and not making tragic-comedy from this GREAT STEAM..thanks..but all WE want from you,just to take this in consern for all people who like Powerd by Steam games....and then you ll get a much more respect,reputacion and more SALE..which means MONEY for U for US just a good PLAYING...